⚠️ All students are required to pay their tuition fees in line with the published liability dates provided to you with your offer letter
- What will happen if I have a tuition debt to the university?
- How to pay outstanding debts
- What should I do if I am blocked from Studynet and Canvas?
- University debt support and guidance
What will happen if I have a tuition fee debt to the University?
If you have not paid the applicable instalment of your tuition fees within 28 days of the liability date, or has not made alternative arrangements which are acceptable to the University, the University may do one or more of the following:-
- Withdraw the facilities of StudyNet and Canvas, which will prevent you from accessing study materials and submitting assignments.
- Withdraw you from your course. If you are an international student this means we will withdraw your visa sponsorship meaning you will have to leave the country.
- Prevent you from registering to study in the next academic year.
- Prevent you from registering for and attending your graduation ceremony.
- Refuse to provide results or confer a University award (for international students on a Student visa this means you will not be able to apply for the Graduate Route visa).
- Not examine research students and require them to leave the research programme.
- Not arrange work placements for students and/or require them to leave their placement.
The University may also take more formal steps to recover any unpaid tuition fees, such as engaging a debt collection agency and/or commencing legal proceedings. If it does so, the University reserves the right to require the student to pay in addition any costs and expenses (including legal costs) reasonably incurred by the University in recovering the unpaid sums.
The University will withhold examination results but may issue such results in non-standard format to enable you to undertake any referred/deferred assessment. The University will not normally bar you from attending resit examinations, provided that arrangements have been made with Student Finance to pay your debt.
If you have withdrawn or applied to suspend your studies you will still be contacted to pay any outstanding debt. You will not be entitled to resume your studies or register to study a new course until all outstanding debt has been cleared in full.
⚠️If you are an international student on a Student visa please note that once visa sponsorship has been withdrawn it may not be reinstated even if you pay your fees and are permitted to return to study. In this case you will need to leave the UK and apply for a new visa.
How to pay outstanding debts
The easiest way to make a payment is online. Alternative ways to make payment can be found on our website.
What should I do if I am blocked from Studynet and Canvas?
⚠️If you are blocked from Studynet and Canvas due to debt you should make every effort to make payment as soon as possible and the Studynet block will be subsequently lifted within a 48 hour maximum period.
- You should continue to attend classes.
- You should attend any in person assessments and/or examinations.
- You will not be able to access learning materials from Canvas and you must not contact staff to get access to these (this is part of the sanction associated with being in debt).
- You will not be able to submit assignments via Canvas or take part in online tests. You must not email assignments to staff.
- You will not be able to see your results for assessments/examinations as these are released via Canvas and you should not ask staff to let you know your results.
- You will not be able to apply for an extension to the assessment deadline on the grounds of the Studynet block.
University debt support and guidance
If you are having trouble paying your tuition fees:
- Contact the Student Account Management team
Email: finance-tuition@herts.ac.uk
They can help you explore other funding options.
For visa support:
- Email the Student Immigration Team (SIT) Advice team
Email: SITadvice@herts.ac.uk
For independent advice about tuition fee debt:
- Remember, Herts SU is separate from the University, and all students are members.
- Herts SU Advice offers free, confidential, and impartial guidance.
- They can help you understand how to speak to the University about tuition fee debt and connect you with other support services.
Email: advice@hertssu.com
Or: complete their appointment request form.
For emotional or wellbeing support:
- Contact the University’s Counselling Service
Phone: 01707 284453
Email: studentwellbeing@herts.ac.uk