The fees for a postgraduate programme depend on the particular circumstances of the student, and on the bench costs of the research project. Full details are given on the website and in the Fees schedule. Here are the main points.
Student circumstances
For the purpose of fees, students are considered as ‘home’, ‘international’ or ‘staff’.
A home student – which currently includes all students from the EU – will have their studies subsidised by central government. Therefore they pay substantially lower fees than our international students.
As a special concession, members of staff receive a 50% discount on the home student fees. Honorary staff, for example MD candidates from Newcastle Hospitals, must have held their honorary status for at least 1 year before being eligible for staff fees.
Bench fees and fee bands
In the ICM and indeed many areas of the medical school, the costs of samples, reagents and equipment to pursue a postgraduate project can be substantial. These costs have to be met from the fees. Before the student is admitted, the supervisory team will estimate these ‘bench fees’, and will allocate a ‘fee band’ to the project, as follows:
Band 1 − applies to the majority of programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and exceptional programmes in the other two faculties. This fee band applies to academic disciplines with a significant proportion of class-room based research and study.
Band 2 − applies to the majority of programmes in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering, the Faculty of Medical Sciences and to exceptional programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This fee band applies to academic disciplines with a significant proportion of laboratory or studio based research and study.
Band 2a − applies only to individual postgraduate research programmes deemed by the Head of School to have a considerable element of intensive laboratory and/or fieldwork.
Band 2b − applies only to individual postgraduate research programmes deemed by the Head of School to be substantially based on high-cost laboratory, clinical and/or fieldwork particular to the project.
Band 2c − applies only to individual postgraduate research programmes deemed by the Head of School to be substantially based on very high-cost laboratory, clinical and/or fieldwork particular to the project.
Band 3 − applies only to clinical medical and dental study and individual postgraduate research programmes deemed by the Head of School to be heavily reliant on sophisticated laboratory, clinical and/or fieldwork specifically tailored to the project.
Band 4 − applies only to individual postgraduate research programmes which require specific and identified research costs, these costs to be identified and added to the standard band 3 fee and approved by the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
What are the bench fees?
In the medical school, the very high infrastructure costs mean that most projects attract at least a Band 2 fee; this covers the core facilities and basic consumables that every student can access.
If the project attracts a higher banding, then the excess costs above Band 2 fees are termed the ‘bench fees’. The bench fees are placed in a research account that is associated with the project. This account is held by the lead supervisor, and will be available to pay the research costs.
In exceptional cases where the specific research does not involve a substantial amount of studio, laboratory or clinical work, a lower international fee − normally Band 1 or equivalent − may be charged at the discretion of the Academic Registrar. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Summary of annual fees for 2017/18
Here are the annual fees for a full-time postgraduate research student, current for the academic year 2017/18. For a part-time student, the fees are reduced pro-rata so that the total cost of the degree is the same.
| FEE BAND | International | Home | Staff |
| Band 1 | £12 680 | £4 540 | £2 270 |
| Band 2 | £16 585 | £4 540 | £2 270 |
| Band 2a | £19 395 | £7 350 | £3 675 |
| Band 2b | £22 210 | £10 165 | £5 083 |
| Band 2c | £23 900 | £11 855 | £5 928 |
| Band 3 | £26 710 | £14 665 | £7 333 |
| Band 4 | Band 3 + | Band 3 + | Band 3 + |
Summary of annual fees for 2018/19
Similarly, the projected fees for the next academic year. These will be the fees applied to new students making their first application for postgraduate studies to start next academic year.
| FEE BAND | International | Home | Staff |
| Band 1 | £15 600 | £5 000 | £2 500 |
| Band 2 | £21 000 | £5 000 | £2 500 |
| Band 2a | £23 900 | £8 000 | £4 000 |
| Band 2b | £26 800 | £11 000 | £5 500 |
| Band 2c | £28 600 | £12 800 | £6 400 |
| Band 3 | £31 500 | £15 800 | £7 900 |
| Band 4 | Band 3 + | Band 3 + | Band 3 + |
What if I have special circumstances that aren’t covered here?
The fees for 3 years into the future are tabled in the fees schedule, linked at the top of this document. If you have other questions then please contact us.
When do I have to pay?
If you are paying your own fees, then you can pay in two equal instalments. One is due at registration, and the other is due 4 months later in January (assuming a September start).
Do please be aware that the University take the payment of fees quite as seriously as you would expect. Until you pay, you cannot register for your degree. If you have any outstanding debts to the University, you cannot graduate. If you have any difficulties or questions then please, contact Tuition Fees immediately.
How are Tuition Fees paid?
There are several ways to pay fees, and your choice depends on your personal situation.
- Self-funded students are required to make a direct payment to the university.
- If a sponsor is taking care of your fees (government, industry, charity), a sponsor letter will be required and they will then be charged directly for the fees by the University
- If there’s a sponsor paying the fees, but the money is in your supervisor’s research account, this will be arranged via the Institute following completion of a tuition fee contribution (TF003) form
- If your fees (and stipend) are part of a fully funded studentship, this will also be arranged via the Institute after completion of the RS002 form.