Financial Registration

Financial & Academic registration is achieved by meeting one or a combination of requirements:

1. Payment of tuition fees in full at registration 
2. Payment of the first instalment of an instalment plan * at registration 
3. Proof of an approved student loan to the value of your fees for the academic year
4. Proof of a sponsorship, scholarship or bursary to the value of your fees for the academic year

*Only applicable to some students and courses

If you are self-funding and meeting conditions 1 or 2, instructions for how to pay or set up a payment plan are explained on this page.

If you are meeting conditions 3 or 4, you can upload your proof when you complete online registration or email the document to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk quoting your Student ID. Please note that if you fall under partial contribution and partial self-funding the combination of requirements will apply, 

The conditions of  registration are different from those that you have already satisfied through the admissions process, such as your interview or deposit payment. Deposit payments to confirm placement are deducted from the total fee due.

Calculating tuition fees

We make an initial fee status assessment on all applicants based upon information provided in their application form. This assessment is made in line with EU regulations on fee status assessments, which are published on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website (opens in a new window). Your fee status category will be listed in your offer letter. If you feel that we have assessed you incorrectly please contact us early as possible.

Deposits

To accept a place at the School you must also pay a deposit. This is non–refundable and will be deducted from your fees at registration. It is used to discourage students accepting a place when they are unlikely to register which means that another applicant will unnecessarily miss out on gaining a place on the course. The deposit is £1,000 for Home/EU postgraduate courses, £2,000 for students paying ELQ fees and non-EU, overseas students. 

Additional costs

There may be some limited additional costs not covered by the tuition fees for materials, equipment or field trips required for your course of study. Information regarding these additional costs sent with your offer is available on the Tuition Fees and Additional Costs webpage (opens in a new window). 

Studying for an Equivalent or Lower qualification

Home/EU students who join programmes of study for an equivalent or lower qualification than they already hold will not be eligible for UK government funding support, i.e. students must normally be studying for a higher level qualification, but there is one notable exception:

• Those in receipt of a DSA (Disabled Students Allowance (opens in a new window))

This change means that a student entering an undergraduate course and who already has a degree or post-graduate qualification, and is not in receipt of the DSA, will not be eligible for OfS funding support and will need to pay the full fee for the course, headed the ELQ fee in the fees tables in this document.  Likewise, a student entering an MA course who already holds a Master’s degree, MPhil or PhD and is not in receipt of the DSA will not be eligible for OfS funding support and will need to pay the full fee. This is an illustrative example and the School will always conduct its own ELQ assessment prior to offering each student a place on a course. However, a student entering an MA programme who holds a PGCert or PGDip will be eligible for OfS funding as the MA is a higher qualification.

Students who become eligible for DSA during an academic year may be ELQ exempt for their next year of study (this applies to Home/EU full-time Undergraduate students and full-time MFA and part-time MA students).

Accredited Prior Learning (credit or experience based)

If the School has agreed to give you credit from prior study or experience, whether at Central or elsewhere (APL entry), the fees will be charged depending on the number of credits you are required to take at Central to complete your course. The School charges pro rata for the remaining units plus 10%.

Channel Island and Isle of Man residents

Students residing in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man are classified as ‘International students’ for fee purposes. Self-financing and postgraduate students are charged the appropriate international tuition fee, whilst undergraduate students sponsored by Island Governments pay a fee agreed between Department for Business and the Island Governments. The fee for 2022/23 applicable to Central’s courses will be £9,250.

Research degree continuation and writing-up

At the end of the three years of full-time registration or equivalent part-time period, subject to academic regulations, students on the Research degree programme at Central must either be in a position to transfer to Writing Up status as the request of the Research Degrees Committee or they must pay for a 4th and final year (or equivalent part-time period) of registration at the full tuition fee for their student status.

Writing Up status begins at the start of the following academic year, (or January for January pathway students only) no refund will be given pertaining to tuition fees for the current academic year. The fee is £600 for full-time students and £300 for part-time students per academic year. Fees should be paid with 30 days of the invoice date. No reimbursement is given to students who complete their writing up during an academic year. Writing Up status will also be given to any student who has submitted and is awaiting the viva only and no further fee will be charged.

Students on Continuation status following a viva will be charged a continuation fee of £200. Once students have re-submitted and/or are awaiting a second viva, they will not be charged a further continuation fee. No reimbursement is given on the continuation fee charge.

Bachelors to Masters level discount

All graduates of Central’s full-time undergraduate courses are entitled to a 10% discount on tuition fees when they register for further study on one of its MA/MFA courses. Refer to your offer from the Admissions office for further information and contact details.

Establishing total tuition fees for your programme

As a general guideline, tuition fees for the following student categories are increased year on year in line with the expected annual UK “Consumer Price Index” (CPI):

• Overseas/ELQ Undergraduate
• Part-time MA
• MFA
• Research

The School, however, retains the right to set fee levels which may represent a departure from this guiding principle. 

Withdrawals

If you permanently withdraw during the course of the academic year you will receive a proportionate refund of tuition fees they have paid, in line with the School’s terms and conditions

If you are on a course of more than one year in length, and do not intend to return for a subsequent year, you must complete a permanent withdrawal form.

Break in studies

To undertake a Break in Studies you must be up-to-date with your fee payments for the academic year. If a Break in Studies is approved you will normally return to the course at an equivalent point the following year and be charged the difference in published tuition fees rates for the academic year. If you return to study at an earlier point in the following year to repeat part of your course, then you will normally be charged for that repeated tuition. The amount of fees due for your return to study will be noted on your Break in Studies form and will be payable in advance of your return to study date.

Transfers of Programme, course or mode of study

The application process for transfers between programmes or courses prompts fee changes. Academic Registry and Finance work to define any change in tuition fees due before transfer can proceed.

The PhD programme and some MA courses also run on a part time basis. If the Academic Registrar and Director of Academic Services agrees a transfer to the part time mode of study, your fees will be prorated. This will be based on the number of credits completed and the number of credits still to complete for the current year of the part time course.

Referencing payments with Student ID

All payments should be made with a reference including the relevant student ID number. See your offer or registration confirmation email for this number.

Due dates

Tuition fees due are payable in full prior to or at the point of registration:

Students registering on a new course starting in September/October - 1 August

Students registering on a new course starting in January - 1 December

Continuing student moving on to the next year of their course - 1 September

Students in receipt of a formal student loan, where tuition fees are paid directly to Central by the loan provider, are not expected to pay their fees by the dates listed above. In most cases the loan provider will forward the fees to Central once the student’s enrolment has been confirmed. Such students must forward to Central confirmation of their loan agreement by their fee deadline date noted above.

If you are self-funding there is an option to settle tuition fees in 2 installments, 1st prior to your first term/at the point of registration and the 2nd at mid-term to be for full fees to be settled by your last term to be on path to graduation, exam board publishing and certification publishing. This scheme is available upon a signed installment plan agreement form and credit check via the following sent to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk:

1. A copy of your latest bank statement 

2. A copy of your last 3 pay slips 

3. A copy of your contract of employment

4. A signed Installment Plan Agreement Form

If a student is in receipt of a loan, such as a Postgraduate Loan (PGL) or a Professional Career Development Loan (PCDL), whereby funds are paid directly to the student for the student to be liable for settlement of the fees, please note fees are released to you at the point of enrollment, you must forward confirmation of the loan agreements and payment schedule by fee deadline dates noted above to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk or at the point of each academic years registration. If necessary, we can set up a payment plan agreement parallel to your loan disbursement dates. Having contributing tuition fee funds being paid to you, you are ultimately ‘self-funding’ with loan support and liable for the settlement of the years fees.    

See the Tuition Fee Payment Methods section below for information on how to make your payment.

Bank account details

Sterling bank transfers may be made to Central’s UK Bank Account Lloyds Bank plc, Kilburn Branch, 106 Kilburn High Road, London, NW6 4HY. 

Overpayments

The School monitors all student fees accounts. If your account is in credit we can use as contribution to future fees or refund the balance. Refunds will be returned to the original method of payment or via BACS by completing a refund request form.

Please contact  credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk for a refund request form

Late payments and debt

All tuition fees and proof of third-party contribution must be sent 1 month before your start date to confirm academic years funding of your fees.  If you do not pay or provide evidence of sponsorship you cannot be fully registered at the School. The School normally allows new students 2 weeks beyond the first day of term to complete registration. You will be in ‘temporary registration’ status and will have full Student Status during this time until fully registered. 

Failing to meet your conditions of registration (academic and financial) beyond your temporary registration deadline without valid explanation will force deregistration from your course and the School. To avoid this, ensure that you keep in contact with Finance and Registration.

If there any defaults on tuition fee payments as self-funding or from a third-party contributor your progression/completion is prevented and you are liable to be de-registered from the School. This means that your student status could be revoked, you will not be able to attend classes, not be invited to graduation, no exam board results published, have no certifications released and you will remain legally liable for the fees.

After de-registration, reinstatement of student status can only occur on payment of tuition fees. 

If you are having difficulty paying your fees, or an instalment of your fees, you should immediately contact the School’s Credit Controller credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk and explain your situation. Whilst all fees have to be paid, we may still be able to help and automatic de-registration may be avoided. 

Liability and Debt Collection

In accepting a place to study at the School, you, as the student, assume legal responsibility for the payment of your tuition fees be it self-funding or your third-party contribution. You must have sufficient financial resources to meet the fees, maintenance and other expenses that may be incurred throughout your programme of study.

In cases of non-payment, the School may take action to recover the fees, and this may include submission of your account to your assigned external debt collection organisaton (STA International - UK & International Debt Collection Agency). Please be aware if submitted this will affect your credit score. STA International will facilitate the school in setting longer-term payment agreements for your fees. Once settled any exam board and certification publishing that are due will be released. 

You can either upload your proof of a loan when you complete your online registration task or email it to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk quoting your Student ID Number.

UK student loans

Most Home students are not required to pay the tuition fee up front because most are eligible for a student loan to cover their tuition fee. This means that you will not have to find the money before you start your course or whilst you are studying, and your fees will be paid directly to the School. You can find out how to apply for a student tuition fee loan at the Gov.UK Student Finance webpages (opens in a new window).

If you have applied for Student Finance in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Island or the E.U. (as a student with pre-settled or settled status) to pay your tuition fees, the School will be notified once your assessment is completed and will not expect to receive a fee payment directly from you.

If you are applying to study an equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) to one that you already hold (for example, you already have a Bachelors degree and are applying to study a BA at Central) you are no longer entitled to government support for your course. This means that you will have to pay the ELQ fee rate. 

Note that Postgraduate Masters Loans are not considered a student loan because the funds are paid to you, not directly to the School.

US Federal loans

If you are receiving U.S. Federal Loans, the School will have endorsed your loan application and will be aware of how you are paying your fees. The Student Finance and Funding page has more information about U.S. Federal Loans, including how to apply.

Students on undergraduate and two-year MFA courses have three loan disbursements whilst students on one-year MA and Research Degrees have four disbursements. Your tuition fee balance will be split into three or four equal instalments (depending on which course you are on) and this will be deducted from your disbursements. The School will accept this payment schedule without charging the instalment fee. The remaining balance – for living expenses – from the first disbursement will be paid by cheque with subsequent balances from your disbursements being paid by BACS (bank) transfer to your UK bank account. 

U.S. Department of Education regulations state that you cannot receive your money prior to enrolment. Their regulations also state that you cannot be paid your total loan amount upfront in one payment at the beginning of the year. Disbursements cheques are usually ready during the first week of term, but please ensure you have funds for the first three weeks of term available to allow for any potential delay in Central receiving the funds from the U.S. Department of Education. Loan applications are typically accepted from 1st June of the same year you are due to the start your course.

For any questions relating to U.S. Federal Loans, please contact student.funding@cssd.ac.uk

Fees should ideally be paid at the beginning of your academic year at the point of online registration unless otherwise agreed.

For payments from overseas please consider cross border transaction fee charges, any fees must be added for the full GBP tuition fee value to be paid.

If you have a parent/guardian settling you must reference them as your guarantor during registration

The School does not create an invoice until registration is completed, liability should be confirmed on or before registration so finance are aware of who to address the invoice to. A Statement of Account can be requested at any time following via credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk quoting your student ID to confirm payments and fees.

Convera for Students - Online Payment

The School now offers a simple, secure and smart way to pay you fees using our online payments platform. This platform is trusted by 800+ institutions worldwide to enable payment in 140+ currencies across 200+ geographies.

Why choose this service

• Students, parents and sponsors can use this platform to pay tuition deposits
• Avoid costly transaction charges from your bank
• Pay online via popular options including bank transfer, credit or debit card or eWallet
• Compare payment options instantly and with an exchange rate that is held for 72 hours
• If you find a cheaper quote from your bank, we will match it with our Price Promise Guarantee
• Track your payment status by SMS and email
• Multilingual platform available in 10 languages
• Fully secure platform so your money is protected

Need assistance?

• 24/7 live chat on the platform
• Email: studentsupport@convera.com
• Telephone: +44 1733 871 871

Other payment methods

At this time, the School cannot accept tuition fee payments by cash, cheque or banker’s draft.

Instalment Plans

A scheme is available to assist self-financing students by permitting  tuition fee payments to be made in 2 instalments. There is a £250 set up fee and this is payable with the first instalment. This scheme does not apply to undergraduate students who are eligible for a UK/EU student loan, but have chosen not to take up the loan or international students. 

Please note that failure to pay to the agreed dates may result in de-registration, graduation attendance revoked and exam board publishing being held. It is important for the fees to be paid at the beginning of term and at mid-term to have full fees settled by the final term. 

To apply for installment plan you must pass credit checks by providing the following to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk quoting your Student ID:

1. A copy of your latest bank statement

2. Copies of your last 3 payslips 

3. A Copy of your contract of Employment 

4. A signed Installment Plan Agreement Form (Provided by finance following credit checks) 

Once approved payments should be made to the agreed dates. Payment confirmations can be sent to credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk

Instalment payments from new students are due from 1st August and 1st December. From continuing students, they are due from 1st September and 1st December. To apply to pay by instalments, please sent credit check documents to the School’s Credit Controller.

All third party payor agreements must be provided in writing prior to or latest at the point of registration 1 month before your start date. You can email any agreement documents to  credit.controller@cssd.ac.uk quoting your Student ID Number.

Central Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

See the Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards web page  for more information about what Central provides to new and continuing students.

If you hold a scholarship, bursary or award for tuition fees you can upload your documentation when you complete your online registration task.

External Sponsorship, Scholarships and Bursaries

If you have secured partial or full funding from an external organisation, trust, governing body, embassy or employer. This could be named a sponsorship, scholarship, bursary or similar where that organisation makes payment towards your fees directly to Central. 

You should ensure that your sponsor provides Central with the following information on a company headed letter or email, purchase order or similar:

1. Your name and student ID number
2. The amount they are paying and for which academic years (or a specific date range)
3. The name of the responsible individual, organisation and billing address to whom an invoice should be sent
4. where possible, a unique reference number (ie purchase order number) or agreement reference 

Notes:

• Central reserves the right to not accept an organisation or person as a valid sponsor, or to reject a sponsor’s documentation if the requested information is missing.
• A new sponsorship document is required after the stated academic years or date range has elapsed.
• If your sponsor fails to pay your fees or withdraws their support, you are responsible for the outstanding fees as self-funding and you will be held liable for that amount.

Other financial support and funding

Postgraduate Masters Loans and Doctoral Loans from the UK government are available to eligible students on some postgraduate courses.

For any questions relating to your financial support one your course starts, please contact student.funding@cssd.ac.uk