Aim: To Ease the burden of fees instalment for International students at Anglia Riskin University (ARU), so that students can experience university life stress-free.

Objective: To spread the fees instalment payment in 3 deposits. 60:20:20. (September: January: April)

Reasoning: The current fees instalment plan is 60:40, where the international students pay the 60% on enrolment and the remaining 40% in their second trimester of study. The difficulties of settling in a new country and finding affordable accommodation, coupled with the high cost of temporary accommodation, create financial uncertainties. These challenges often lead to budgetary struggles for students, particularly during term breaks when they seek employment for over 20 hours- to make enough to pay the remaining 40% of tuition fees. This financial strain has emotional and mental repercussions, impacting their ability to enjoy festive periods or engage in student life.

It is known that the UK government suggested at one point that international students pay the 60% in advance and 40% on enrolment. This would be very difficult for the underprivileged international students to receive education at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). For example, Nigerian students hold a high percentage of international student recruitment at ARU. The current Nigeria currency crisis and increase in annual inflation (economist.com, 2024), has made it difficult for international students to study in UK universities. If there is a good fee instalment distribution in Anglia Ruskin University, it would make it more manageable for these students to study at ARU.

Impact on university:  The university would have fewer dropouts. Students could graduate with better results, with less mental struggle. Money wise there wouldn’t be any difference to the university’s financial income as students can only graduate after they have paid 100% of their university fees.

 

What other universities are doing?

At UCL students are expected to pay 1/3rd of their tuition fee on enrolment and the remaining in two instalments, which in total are three instalment ratios (ucl.ac.uk, 2021)

The standard instalment schedule for fees instalments at Warwick university is 50:25:25 (Warwick.ac.uk, 2024).

In University of York for International undergraduate and postgraduate (research) students the fees instalments are 50:25:25,  if the fees amount is more than £1,380 for an academic year (York.ac.uk, 2023).

University of Westminster does a 33:33:34 instalment for international undergraduate students and 50:25:25 for international postgraduate and PHD students (Westminster.ac.uk, 2023). 

 Brunel University London does a 40:30:30 fees instalment plan for its international students (Brunel.ac.uk, 2023).

 

References

·      Brunel.ac.uk. “Making a Payment: International Students.” Www.brunel.ac.uk 2023, www.brunel.ac.uk/international/fees-and-funding/making-a-payment

·      economist.com. “Nigeria’s Currency Crisis Is Decades in the Making.” The Economist, 7 Mar. 2024, www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/03/07/nigerias-currency-crisis-is-decades-in-the-making

·      ucl.ac.uk. “Tuition Fees.” Prospective Students Graduate, 10 Aug. 2021, www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/tuition-fees

·      Warwick.ac.uk. “Frequently Asked Questions - Student Finance - University of Warwick.” Warwick.ac.uk, 4 Jan. 2024, warwick.ac.uk/services/finance/studentfinance/faqs/#monthly. Accessed 23 May 2024.

·      Westminster.ac.uk. “Paying Your Fees | University of Westminster, London.” Www.westminster.ac.uk 2023, www.westminster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/fees/paying-your-fees Accessed 23 May 2024.

·      York.ac.uk. “Tuition Fees - Student Home, University of York.” Www.york.ac.uk 2023, www.york.ac.uk/students/finance/tuition-fees/#tab-1 Accessed 23 May 2024.