Invoicing and Payments

Course Fees

We review and set course fees annually. Our goal is to publish updated fees on each course’s webpage by June, ahead of the next academic year (e.g. June 2024 for September 2026).

Fees listed are for one academic year, unless otherwise stated. If your course lasts more than one year, fees for subsequent years may increase. Because many fees are based on Government decisions, there may be delays in final confirmation. We’ll update our webpages as soon as possible - once the information becomes available.

Accommodation Fees

Students in University accommodation are charged weekly, as outlined in their contract.  More details on accommodation can be found on the accommodation webpage. If you have a query with the amount charged when you receive your invoice it is important your discuss this with an accommodation officer and advise the Finance Office that you are querying this.

Other Fees and Charges

• Field Trips

Students may be given the opportunity to participate on trips.  Please note these charges are not normally invoiced to a students, he related payment terms and conditions for each field trip will be available via the University’s Online Store.  

• Printing and Photocopying

Students have access to combined printing, photocopying and scanning machines installed in various locations across the University campuses.  Students will need to add credit onto their student card in order to use these machines.  For information including pricing and how to apply credit please visit our website.

• Library Charges and Fines

Students who fail to return library books on time will incur a charge or a fine.   For information regarding charges and fines, students should visit the library webpage This weblink also provides details of the charges related to interlibrary loans. 

• Additional Costs for Research Students

In some cases, postgraduate research students will be required to meet additional costs outside of the programme’s fee. Where this is the case, these fees will be made clear before the commencement of the programme. 

• Equipment Hire

The University may choose to request deposits from students who are using equipment. If this equipment is damaged or not returned, the deposit may be retained and further charges may be passed to the student. Full details of any deposits or charges in place will be made clear before equipment is loaned to a student. 

Invoices are issued based on the type of fee being charged. Regardless of the source, all invoices are payable immediately upon receipt.

You will receive invoices via your University of Cumbria email address, and—if provided—your personal email address. To ensure you receive all communications, please keep your contact details updated through ICON.

If you receive an invoice you weren’t expecting, contact the Finance Team immediately. We’ll help clarify the charge and make any necessary adjustments.

Ignoring an invoice won’t make it go away—please reach out for support.

Here’s how the different types of fees are invoiced at the University of Cumbria:

Course Fees

• Annual Fee Courses: Invoiced at the start of each year of study, determined by your start date.
• Module-Based Courses: Invoiced at the start of each module.

Accommodation Fees
Invoicing is based on your contract:

• Some students are charged for the full year upfront.
• Others are invoiced termly, in line with funding body maintenance loan and grant schedules.

Other Fees and Charges
These are ad-hoc invoices raised by university departments. You should be informed in advance—either through terms and conditions or direct contact—before receiving these charges.

Paying your invoices on time is essential to avoid disruption to your studies. All invoices are due immediately upon issue. However, we understand that the cost of university can feel overwhelming, which is why we offer flexible payment options, for accommodation and course fees, to support you.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty and unable to pay through the flexible payment options available to you, please contact the Finance Office to discuss a solution that works for both you and the University.  

We’re here to support you - don’t hesitate to reach out to either the Finance Team or Money Advice if you are facing financial difficulty.

Important: Failure to make payment or contact with the Finance Team on time will result in the University initiating debt collection procedures.

Paying your course fees

In some cases, students may be asked to pay part of their fees before registration. Full details are available in our Financial Regulations.

We offer flexible payment options, including:

• 5-month instalment plans for students paying the full annual fee, starting from the beginning of term.
• Termly instalments aligned with Student Loan or Grant disbursements.

Paying your accommodation fees

As most of our students are invoiced on a termly basis this is in essence allowing flexible payment options that align with Student Loan or Grant payments.

Students who are invoiced in full at the start of the year for their accommodation or self funding their accommodation and struggling to pay their termly invoices, may be able to set up an instalment plan.

We strongly encourage students to contact the Finance Team as soon as they receive their invoice to discuss available options. The earlier you reach out, the more support we can offer.