Online and Distance Learning fees

Payment overview

Our online learning programmes offer two payment options:

  • Pay in full: make a single payment for the entire programme at the time of your first enrolment.
  • Pay as you learn: pay per module, meaning you only pay for what you've enrolled in. You must pay fees for each module in full by the end of the enrolment period. 

2025/26 fees

CentreFeePer module
Financial and Management Studies (CEFIMs)£12,000£2,000
Development, Environment and Policy (CEDEP)£12,000£3,000 (inclusive of dissertation stages where applicable)
International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD)
Development Studies
Gender Studies
Global Media and Communications

Students continuing on programmes that started prior to the 2025/26 academic year will continue to pay previous module fee rates for CEFIMs and CEDEP programmes: £1,820 and £2,054 (with a separate payment of £513.50 for dissertation stage modules) respectively.

Module fees exclude the customs duties/taxes incurred when we send your module materials and fees paid to local examination centres for sitting your exams.

For any questions relating to distance learning programme fees, please contact onlinestudentrecords@soas.ac.uk.

Payment methods

Funding sources

Changes to payment structure from Sep 2026

Continuing students returning in September 2026 who started their course in an earlier academic year will now need to register for all the modules they plan to study over the next 12 months, rather than just those in the upcoming session. You will be invoiced for all of these modules at the time of registration

To reflect this change, you can now pay your tuition fees in either two equal instalments of 50% each, or in three equal instalments if you have an approved Postgraduate Loan from Student Finance England. 

The payment rules for students whose fees are covered by an external sponsor will remain the same. Tuition fees will remain at the current level.