Suspending students

(Please be aware that the following information only applies to Home/EU students who are in receipt of tuition fee support from the UK Government)

Due to changes in the way the Student Loans Company pays Higher Education institutions from 2012/13, should you intermit at any point during your course, your Student Finance statement may not appear as expected. This is because the University will not be able to collect your full funding in the year of intermission, so will collect the outstanding balance in the year of return. This is on top of the balance for the returning year.

Please be aware that this will not result in you paying more tuition fees, and will in fact reduce your interest payments.

2012/13 Tuition Loan Payments

The Student Loans Company will pay the University your tuition fee loan in weighted instalments during each term.  However, the University considers you liable to pay a third of the total annual tuition fee in each term.

Period of Funding

% of tuition loan paid

% of tuition fee due

Term 1

25%

33%*

Term 2

25%

33%*

Term 3

50%

33%*

(*where 33% refers to a full third of the annual fee)

As such, if you suspend before term 3 then your tuition loan will not fully cover the amount you are expected to pay.

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if fee = £9000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if fee = £9000)

Term 1

£2,250 (25%)

£3,000 (33%*)

Term 2

£2,250 (25%)

£3,000 (33%*)

Term 3

£4,500 (50%)

£3,000 (33%*)

In the above example, if a student suspends after term 2, they owe the University £6000 for tuition but will only be funded for £4,500. This leaves a balance of £1,500.

In order to prevent you having to pay the difference, we will ask the Student Loans Company for the shortfall upon your return to study.

Illustrative example 1 - Suspending while paying £9000

In this example, a student is initially liable for the £9,000 fee. They are in attendance for 1st term (Michaelmas 2012) and suspend for 2nd and 3rd term (Hilary and Trinity term) 2013. The student returns to their studies in Hilary term 2014 and continues to be liable for a tuition fee equivalent to £9,000 for the 2013/14 year.

2012/13

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £9000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £9,000)

Term 1

£2,250

£3000

Term 2

£0

£0

Term 3

£0

£0

2013/14

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £9000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £9000)

Term 1

£0

£0

Term 2

£2,227.50

£3,000

Term 3

£4,522.50

£3,000

Total over both years

£9000

£9000

Illustrative example 2 - Suspending while paying £6000

In this example, a student has received an income-linked fee waiver and is initially liable for the £6,000 fee. They are in attendance for 1 term (Michaelmas 2012) and suspend for Hilary and Trinity term 2013. The student returns to their studies in Hilary term 2014 and continues to be eligible for the same fee reduction, meaning they’re liable for a tuition fee equivalent to £6,000 for the 2013/14 year

2012/13

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Term 1

£1500

£2000

Term 2

£0

£0

Term 3

£0

£0

2013/14

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Term 1

£0

£0

Term 2

£1485

£2000

Term 3

£3015

£2000

Total over both years

£6000

£6000

Illustrative example 3 - Suspending while reassessed from £9000 to £6000

In this example, a student is initially liable for the £9,000 fee in 2012/13 but is in attendance for 1 term (Michaelmas 2012) and suspends for Hilary and Trinity term 2013. The student returns to their studies in Hilary term 2014 and is newly eligible for a fee reduction, meaning they’re liable for a tuition fee equivalent to £6,000 for the year.

 2012/13

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £9000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual  fee without suspension = £9000)

Term 1

£2250

£3000

Term 2

£0

£0

Term 3

£0

£0

2013/14

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Term 1

£0

£0

Term 2

£1583

£2000

Term 3

£3167

£2000

Total over both years

£7000

£7000

Illustrative example 4 - Suspending while reassessed from £6000 to £9000

In this example, a student is initially liable for the £6,000 fee in 2012/13 but is in attendance for 1 term (Michaelmas 2012) and suspends for Hilary and Trinity term 2013. The student returns to their studies in Hilary term 2014 and is no longer eligible for a fee reduction, meaning they’re liable for a tuition fee equivalent to £9,000 for the year.

 2012/13

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension = £6000)

Term 1

£1500

£2000

Term 2

£0

£0

Term 3

£0

£0

 2013/14

Period of Funding

Tuition loan (if annual fee without suspension = £9000)

Tuition Fee Liability to Oxford (if annual fee without suspension  = £9000)

Term 1

£0

£0

Term 2

£2167

£3000

Term 3

£4333

£3000

Total over both years

£8000

£8000

Total loan released to University from SLC for a completed year of their course = £8,000

If you have any further queries about this, or any other matters relating to your funding, please contact the Fees Clerk.