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Postgraduate

Fees, Payments, Scholarships and Loans

If this does not answer your query, then please e-mail the Scholarships Office: scholarships@soas.ac.uk.
  • When should I pay my fees?

    Fees must be paid in full for the whole academic year before or at enrolment unless you are self-funded and have an instalment agreement.

    Information about tuition fees can be found on the postgraduate Tuition Fees page. If you have any queries related to fees please contact fees@soas.ac.uk   

  • How can I pay my fees?
    Information about fees and ways to pay can be found on the Tuition Fees pages. You must quote your six digit SOAS student reference number when making payments.
  • Can I pay by bank Transfer?
    Yes, you can pay your fees by bank transfer. Your bank must quote your SOAS student six digit reference number when making the payment. The School’s bank account details can be found on the Tuition Fees page. You should bring confirmation of the payment to enrolment.
  • Can I pay my fees earlier than enrolment week?

    You can pay your fees before the start of your course if you hold an unconditional offer to study at SOAS.  Please ensure that you quote your Student ID Reference Number (your 6-digit admission reference number) when making payments.  Information on ways to pay can be found here

  • Can I pay my fees in instalments?

    Yes. A fee payment by instalment option is available to all self-funding students undertaking on-campus degree programmes. The minimum tuition fee for instalments is £1500. The fees are paid in two equal instalments:

    • the first instalment is due before or at enrolment
    • the second is due by 31 January 2014

    An administration charge of £150 is payable for the instalment option.

  • Can my fees be waived?

    No, unfortunately, fees cannot be waived. 

  • Can I have a refund if I have paid my fees but do not enrol?

    If you do not enrol the payment can be returned to the payee less a £50 administration charge. For full details on the School’s refund policy please see our refund policy page.

  • I have paid my fees,can I have a receipt?

    Receipts can be issued by the Finance Office on request.

    If you have paid your fees by credit or debit card online you will get an email confirmation as a receipt of payment.

    If you have paid your fees before enrolment via bank transfer, e-mail banking@soas.ac.uk for a receipt. They will need your ID number, the bank's name, the date of payment and amount. 

    If you have paid by Cheque and Banker's Draft, contact the School's Cashier Phone: 020 7074 5030 

    If you have paid  in person by cheque, card or in cash, you will be given a receipt when you pay.

  • Do I need an invoice to pay my tuition fees?

    No, you do not need an invoice to pay the tuition fees.

  • I have been assessed as an ‘Overseas’ student but I believe I should be paying ‘Home’ fees. Can you please review my status?

    The main criterion for Home/EU fee status is settled residency: 3 years ordinary residence in the UK or EU country for purposes other than full-time education. The 3 years is normally the period preceding 1 September before the start of your course. Your fee status will not normally change during your degree. Full details on how your fee status is determined can be found on the UKCISA web-site (www.ukcisa.org.uk).

    If you have a query about your fee status, you can contact mastersadmissions@soas.ac.uk and we will send you a fees questionnaire to complete. You should return this ideally before enrolment so we can apply the correct fees.

    If you have been granted indefinite leave to remain, you must submit the relevant pages from your passport or a letter from the Home Office confirming your status. On receipt of the completed questionnaire, and relevant evidence, we will then review the decision on your fee status and you will be informed of the outcome. If you have been working overseas on a temporary contract, you must submit a copy of your contract and the conditions of your employment.

  • Can I apply for funding at SOAS only after I have received a positive decision to my MA / MPhil-PhD application?

    You should apply for funding and submit your application as soon as possible to the SOAS Scholarship Officer, even if you have not yet received a reply regarding admission on the Master's/ MPhil-PhD programme

    For more information about Scholarships please see the Scholarships pages

  • I am preparing the application form for a scholarship/bursary and I must provide an Applicant/Student Reference no (six digit number). How can I get this?

    If you submit a paper application you will be given a six-digit reference number when Admissions acknowledge receipt of your application .

    If you apply online, you will be given initially an application reference number starting with "APP" and then a six-digit reference number, which will given to you once your application has been logged in by Admissions. You may write either your "APP" number or your six digit application number on the scholarship application form.

    If you do not know your six-digit application/student reference number at the time you submit your scholarship application, please leave it blank. Please do not miss the scholarship deadline because of this.

  • I need an unconditional offer to apply for a scholarship in my country. Could you please send me an unconditional offer or proof of admission to SOAS?

    We can only provide an unconditional offer once all the entry requirements have been satisfied. 

    If you hold a conditional offer, we can only revised the offer once we have received evidence that all the conditions set out in the offer letter have been met. However this should be sufficient as proof that you have been offered a place to study at SOAS albeit conditional.

  • What scholarships are available and how can I apply?

    For information about SOAS scholarships and bursaries and how to apply please go to the Scholarships page and refer to the Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I apply for a Professional and Career Development Loan?

    Professional Career Development Loans are private educational loans. The School cannot advise on these loans but full information is available on the DirectGov website.

    The School Learner Provider Number is: 2484. Please send the part of the form that needs completing by SOAS to the Fees Section, Registry at the main SOAS address. The CDL normally pays 80% of your fees. You should apply for your loan before the start of the course and bring confirmation of the loan and the dates when they will pay your fees to enrolment. You will need to pay the remaining 20% of your fees at enrolment. If you apply for the loan after enrolment you will need to pay your fees at enrolment and we will refund the payment when we receive the CDL confirmation.

  • I am a US Citizen - how do I apply for a US Loan?

    Eligible US Citizens with an unconditional offer for a degree place at SOAS can apply for Federal loans to fund their studies. The full details are on our US Loans page.
    Distance Learning students and Certificate/Diploma students are unfortunately not eligible for Direct loans.

  • I am not a US Citizen - can I get a US Loan?

    No, if you do not have a US Social Security Number you are not eligible for a US loan. There have been cases of students applying through companies outside the US who say that they will arrange a US loan for a fee. These companies are fraudulent and cannot obtain a loan for you.

  • I have Norwegian, Danish or Swedish government funding payable in instalments can I pay my fees in instalments?

    You should bring confirmation of your government funding to enrolment. With confirmation you may pay your fees in two equal instalments at enrolment and in January.

  • Can a sponsor pay my fees?

    If you are being sponsored you will need to bring a confirmation letter from them with you when you come to enrol or e-mail it before enrolment to fees@soas.ac.uk. Sponsorship is accepted from a funding body or government organisation. The Sponsorship Confirmation Letter should confirm that the tuition fees will be paid for the relevant academic year and should give the name, address and contact details of the person to be contacted for payment. If your sponsor does not pay, you are responsible for paying your fees.

  • I am applying for a Canadian Loan where can I send my form for completion by SOAS?

    Please send your form to the 
    Taught Masters Admission Officer
    School Of Oriental and African Studies
    Thornhaugh Street
    London WC1H OXG
    tel: +44 (0) 207 898 4311
    fax: +44 (0)207 898 4039

     or e-mail it to mastersadmissions@soas.ac.uk to the attention of the Admissions Officer

    Canadian loans are paid directly to you rather than to SOAS. You will be responsible for your paying your tuition fees at enrolment.