Further information for Nigerian students with outstanding tuition fee payments

This webpage provides information for students who were contacted by the Finance department on 12 July 2023 about further extensions to the deadline for completing payment of outstanding tuition fees.

The university’s decision

What has the university decided?

Because of the current situation with the Nigerian currency and exchange rates, the university is offering Nigerian students who started their studies in January 2023 the opportunity to extend the deadline for paying the final instalment of their tuition fees should they be impacted by the changes to currency. This decision is an exception to our Fees Policy and the Student Agreement. Under the Fees Policy and the Student Agreement, we would normally be withdrawing any student who had not paid 100% of their tuition fees policy by this point in the year. The decision we are taking means that sanctions for non-payment set out in our Fees Policy and the Student Agreement may still be applied but not until a later date (see below).

Why has the university taken this decision?

This is an exceptional response to the unique circumstances in terms of the Nigerian currency and foreign exchange rates. Recent events (the currency flotation of the naira and its subsequent devaluation and the removal of the discount rate applied to all Form A payments on 14 June 2023) may have had an impact on Nigerian students’ ability to pay the full fee. The cost to students in naira of paying outstanding fees in UK pound sterling is nearly double in comparison to what they would have paid if using the Form A rate. This represents a substantial change to what students would have expected prior to the original deadline for the second instalment of their tuition fees. However, the extended deadlines we are setting now are firm deadlines and you will be withdrawn if you don’t meet the payment requirements by those dates.

Next steps

What action do I need to take now?

If the email from Finance states that you have already paid 75% of your total tuition fees and you are unable to pay the remainder at this time, you do not have to take any immediate action and should concentrate on your studies. You will not be withdrawn from your course at this stage. You will then have a further extension until 22 January 2024 to pay the rest of the outstanding fees should you need it.

If the email from Finance states that you have not already paid 75% of your total tuition fees, you must take action immediately to ensure you have paid 75% or more of your fees by 27 July 2023. The email from Finance states the minimum amount you need to pay. This amount must be received in the University’s bank account by 4pm on 27 July 2023. If it is not, you will be withdrawn from your course on 28 July 2023.

I applied to pay my outstanding fees through the Form A process. Could payment still be made through that route?

We understand that the Form A process has not been officially cancelled, but we have heard of some banks cancelling outstanding Form A applications. Even if your application is still processed, this will not now give you access to a lower exchange rate. The only exchange rate for the naira is the general rate on the open currency market, so there is no benefit to be gained from waiting for your Form A application to be approved. We recommend that you cancel any outstanding Form A application.

If I pay 75% or more by 27 July, what happens next? Do I still need to pay the rest of my fees?

Yes, you must still pay your outstanding fees, however we have extended the deadline until 22 January 2024 (the end of core teaching on your course). If you have not paid all of your fees by that date you will be withdrawn. This might mean that you leave without gaining your intended degree or any qualification for your studies. We encourage you to pay the remaining balance as soon as you can, as any further delay may result in the cost to you increasing (if the naira weakens further against the pound sterling). You can pay us smaller amounts over the period between now and 22 January 2024. If you wish to agree a payment plan please contact Finance.

How the extension and new deadlines might affect your course

Who does this apply to?

What happens if I fail a unit?

Can I complete my dissertation to achieve a Master's?

What happens if I originally signed up for a 2 year course with a placement?

If you have paid all of your fees by 22 January 2024, you can proceed to the dissertation and then onto the placement. Please remember there is an additional fee of £1850 to undertake the placement and this will be requested by BU in May 2024 and will need to be paid by 31 July 2024 or you will be withdrawn from your course on this date. You will then be considered for your Master's Award (without placement) at the next Assessment Board. If you have not paid all of your fees by 22 January 2024 you will not be able to proceed to your dissertation and then your placement. Please see the question above for more information.

I have been feeling very stressed and anxious about the situation with my finances and the threat of withdrawal. Can I submit exceptional circumstances to gain an extension on my work, or support board considerations?

We are sorry that this situation has caused you worry and anxiety and want to remind you of the various ways that you can receive support at BU through SUBU Advice, the Student Assistance Programme and various student health and wellbeing support services. We have made the decision to extend the payment date to help to reduce your anxiety and enable you to focus on your studies. This means that financial worries would not be an eligible reason for exceptional circumstances.

Immigration and visa implications

I can’t pay 75% of the fee before the deadline. How will this affect my visa?

If you are unable to pay 75% of your total fee by the allocated deadline of 27 July 2023 then you will be withdrawn from your course and BU’s sponsorship of your visa will be cancelled. The UKVI will cancel your visa and you will usually have 60 days to either switch into another immigration category or leave the UK. We are unable to advise you on any options you would have at this stage and recommend you speak to an independent immigration advisor if you are likely to have your sponsorship withdrawn. You can find one local to you on the UK government’s website. Please note we do not know on which date the UKVI will cancel your visa and you must ensure that your contact details are up to date with the UKVI as they will contact you directly. You can do this on the UKVI webpage.

What happens if I fail to make 100% payment before the deadline?

If you are unable to pay in full before the deadline of 22 January 2024, you will not be able to undertake any further studies or placement and will be withdrawn from BU. If this means that you are unable to complete and pass all elements of your Master's course you will not be able to apply for the Graduate route visa. If you are withdrawn from your course at this point then our sponsorship of your visa will also be cancelled. The UKVI will cancel your visa and leave you with 60 days to either switch into another immigration category or leave the UK. We are unable to advise you on this and recommend you speak to an independent immigration advisor if you are likely to have your sponsorship withdrawn. You can find one local to you on the UK government’s website. Please note we do not know on which date the UKVI will cancel your visa and you must ensure that your contact details are up to date with the UKVI as they will contact you directly. You can do this on the UKVI webpage.

Can I apply for the Graduate visa if I leave with a lower qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma?

Can I work more to earn enough money to pay the fees?

You must stick to the UKVI’s prescribed limits on working during term time. There are no circumstances that will allow anyone who is in the UK on a student visa to work more than 20 hours a week. At BU, we recommend that you do not work more than 15 hours to prevent any accidental breaches of this limit. If you are found to have breached this condition of your visa the repercussions can be severe for you and may mean that you must leave the UK. If we discover that any students whom we sponsor breach their visa conditions, we are legally obliged to inform the UKVI.