Pay by instalment
You can request to pay your tuition fees by instalment with a debit or credit card by completing a recurring card payment (RCP) instruction and Finance Registration Form. This gives the University permission to take scheduled automated instalment amounts from the chosen debit or credit card on confirmed dates.
The University does not charge transaction fees for debit or credit card payments.
Payment by RCP enables you to spread your payments in line with the University's standard instalment scheme or to match your external funded disbursements. RCP instalments are similar to direct debit instalments but you do not require a UK bank account to set up a RCP instruction. To set up the online RCP instruction you will need your student number (for example 1234567) and a valid (not expired) debit or credit card.
The scheduled amounts for the standard instalment scheme are:
- 50% of the tuition fees on 3 October 2022
- 25% of the tuition fees on 3 December 2022
- 25% of the tuition fees on 3 February 2023
If you intend to pay by instalment complete the RCP instruction by the date shown on the payment timetable:
It is the student's responsibility to check that high value recurring transactions to pay for student fees will be allowed by the bank or card issuer.
Please make sure that you have completed the Financial Registration Form as well as the RCP instruction if you intend to pay by instalment.
If you matriculate in August, September or October 2021 then the RCP instruction must be completed by 27 September 2021 for the 1st instalment collection on 3 October 2021. If you matriculate later in the year then check for alternative RCP instruction and collection dates on the payment timetable.
It is the student's responsibility to check that high value recurring transactions to pay for student fees will be allowed by the bank or card issuer. If for any reason your transaction is declined then you should contact your bank or card issuer in the first instance.
Students who matriculate late (one month or more after the programme start date) without good reason may be unable to take up the instalment option to pay their tuition fees.
If the card details used for the RCP instruction are yours then you will receive an advance notice of your instalment plan by email to your SMS email account. If the card details are for the person paying on your behalf then then they will receive your instalment plan by email. It is your responsibility to check that your RCP instruction has been activated and you can view the instalment plan on My finance, MyEd at least one working day after your invoice has been sent and the RCP instruction has been completed.
All successful payments will be shown on the credit or debit card statement sent by the card provider.
If a payment fails, we will email you to say that we'll try to take the instalment a second time within the next three days. If the second attempt fails, the instalment must then be paid immediately by a one time card payment or bank transfer.
The RCP instruction will remain valid for the full period of study and used each year for the payment of tuition fees providing it is not cancelled and the card is still valid (see Changing your card details).
You can cancel the RCP instruction at any time. This will also remove the option to pay by instalments and your instalment plan will be cancelled. You will then be required to pay the outstanding balance in full immediately by a one time card payment or bank transfer.
To cancel the recurring card payment plan, you must contact Income Section at least five working days before the next payment is due to be taken from your account. Send to finance.helpline@ed.ac.uk with the subject heading: CANCEL RCP PLAN.
You'll need to change your card details if:
- your card is lost or stolen
- your card has expired
- your card provider changed supplier e.g. from Visa to MasterCard
- you change your bank account
An administration charge of £20 will be levied against your student fees account if the second collection attempt is unsuccessful.
If you do not pay the missed instalment by another payment method the RCP instalment plan will be cancelled. You will then be required to pay any remaining sums due for the year in question immediately including the administration charge. In addition any future years fees will have to be paid in full rather than by instalments.
You will not be able to pay by instalment if:
- you have fees outstanding from previous years
- you have repeatedly defaulted on instalments in the past
- you are a visiting student admitted to full-time study for one semester only
-
your tuition fees are £500 or less
-
you have a sponsor who is not a family or friend (the invoice term for sponsors is strictly 30 days
Students who matriculate late (one month or more after the programme start date) without good reason may be unable to take up the instalment option to pay their tuition fees.
Only tuition fees and dissertation fees can be paid by instalment, module fees and all other tuition related charges must be paid in full in advance of the start of the academic year or the start of the module.
List of accepted cards
The following cards are accepted:
- MasterCard
- Visa
- Maestro (UK and International)
- Visa Debit
- Visa Electron
- American Express
Reasons for a declined card
In many cases, declined transactions are for your own protection to prevent fraudulent activity on your account.
To protect your privacy your card issuer will not share the declined reason with the University. You should contact your card issuer direct if you need more information.