phd course fees uk

Course fees

Classification of fee status, fee liability, payments and refunds.

This page sets out information about course fees and other costs that will apply to your course.

The course fees paid by matriculated students* are for the provision of tuition, supervision, academic services and facilities by the University (including your department or faculty) and the colleges, but do not include residential or other living costs.

Up to and including the academic year 2018/19, separate figures have been published on the university website for university fees and for college fees: the total payable is the sum of these two figures. From the academic year 2019/20, course fees for matriculated students are published as a single figure. This change is intended to ensure that the total level of fees payable is in all cases completely clear. Home PGCE students can access a tuition fee loan from the UK government to cover their course fee in full.

The course fees you pay include your fees for both University and college services and are divided between the University (including your department or faculty) and your college on a formula basis. More details are available from the Student Fees Team on request.

For graduate courses, course fees are payable each year for the duration of your fee liability, please see the fee liability section of this page for further details. 

Fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our  guidance on likely increases to fees and charges .

*For an explanation of the term ‘matriculated students’, see our  Matriculation  page.

Information for students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

EU students applying for courses starting in 2025-26 should visit our fee status page for more information. 

Where can I find details of course fees for each course?

The Funding and costs section of each  individual course page  provides details of the course fees, including whether the amount shown is a fee for the entire course, an annual fee or a modular fee. Alternatively, you can use the Fees, funding and scholarship search to look for fees for your course as well as information about potential funding options that may be available to you.

Course fees are charged according to your fee status which will either be Home or Overseas.

How is my fee status decided?

All English universities use the same criteria to assess students' fee status which can be found on the UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website . If you are unsure about your fee status you should read this information first. The information provided by UKCISA is a summary of the government regulations for assessing fee status.

Broadly speaking, your fee status depends on your nationality, your immigration status in the UK, where you have been living and what you have been doing for the three years prior to the start of your course.

Universities are required to assess each students' fee status independently which means that we cannot take into account decisions made by other Universities. 

Once you have applied, the University can make an assessment of your fee status using the information you have provided on your application form. If we need further information in order to complete this assessment, and you are offered a place, we will contact you to request this. 

Can my fee status change?

It is not usually possible for your fee status to change once your course has started, except in certain specific circumstances. These circumstances include if you gain Settled status (such as Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK or if you or a relevant family member is recognised as a refugee or is granted humanitarian protection and you can meet the residency requirement. A change in fee status is not automatic and you should contact the Student Fees Team if you think you might be eligible.

Unless the circumstances above apply to you, your fee status will not be reassessed for Year 4 of an integrated Master's qualification (for example, MMath) or for the clinical part of the BM BCh qualification as these are a continuation of your current course.

If you start a new course, then your fee status is re-assessed. If your circumstances have changed since you started your previous course, your fee status may be different.

Information for applicants from the EU, EEA and Switzerland

If you are an EU national and do not live in the UK then you are likely to be charged Overseas fees. Students with settled and pre-settled status granted under the EU Settlement Scheme and some other categories of students who work in the UK can qualify for Home fee status as long as they meet the residence criteria. For more information about fee status criteria please visit the  UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website .

Information for applicants from the Republic of Ireland

Irish nationals who have been living in the Republic of Ireland or the UK can qualify for Home fees as long as they meet the residence requirements which can be found on the  UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website .

UK nationals who have been living in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar and are returning to England to study

UK nationals living in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar from December 2020 until the first day of their course and for the three years before the first day of their course will also be charged Home fees subject to the requirements on the  UK Council for International Students' (UKCISA) website . Children of UK nationals will also be eligible on the same terms, even if they are not themselves UK nationals, as long as both they and their parent meet the above criteria.

More information

If you have received an offer of a place, have read all the information here and on the UKCISA website, but are still not sure what fees you are likely to pay, or if you are a current student and would like a re-assessment of your status, please complete the  fee questionnaire  and contact the  Student Fees Team  for an assessment.

Please note that we do not normally carry out assessments if you have not yet received an offer of a place from the University.

Detailed information for applicants regarding the regulations we use for assessing students' fee status can be found on the UKCISA website . 

Further Information

Please direct any questions about fee status to the Student Fees Team .

Your length of fee liability is the length of time that you have to pay course fees to the University. Your normal period of fee liability will usually be the same as the standard length of your course.

Fee liability information

You are required to pay your course fees for the year no later than Week 1 in the term in which you commence study or seven days after the actual start date of your course if this is later. We recommend you contact your college to check payment arrangements.

What fees or charges are payable after I've reached the standard period of course fees liability?

Currently some colleges apply a termly continuation charge once students have exceeded the standard period of course fees liability. 

The University will apply a continuation charge for graduate students starting research study in 2011/12 or later (this includes any students progressing from a postgraduate taught degree to a research degree in 2011/12). The charge will apply to all students regardless of Home or Overseas fee status.  

Further information about University and college continuation charges can be found on the  Continuation charges  page.

Fees may also be payable if you need to re-sit an examination, change your options after the deadline re-submit a thesis or dissertation, or need a transcript beyond the first copy. 

Does the University apply any fees or charges in addition to course fees?

Some charges are made in addition to course fees, for example if you need to re-sit an examination, change your options after the deadline, or need to re-submit a thesis or dissertation, or need a transcript beyond the first copy. More details on these fees are available on the other charges page available from the right hand side of this page.

I'm a research student and I'm conducting research outside Oxford, do I still have to pay course fees?

Yes, course fees are payable whether you are in Oxford or are conducting research elsewhere. Research programmes have a standard period of fee liability, more information on this is available below.

Standard completion times and standard fee liability by qualification

Maximum liabilities quoted on this page are taken from detailed information contained in the University's  Regulations on Financial Matters , which are the definitive source for information on course fees.

Postgraduate certificate/postgraduate diploma

• Expected completion time: dependent on course.
• Standard fee liability: course fees are payable for every year a student is registered on course.
• Expected completion time: one year.
• Standard fee liability: course fees are payable for every year a student is registered on course.
• Expected completion time: one year (three terms).
• Expected completion time: six terms.
• Maximum fee liability: six terms unless an examination is failed.

MSt, MSc (by coursework)

• Expected completion time: three terms.

MSc (by research)

• Expected completion time: two to three years.
• Standard fee liability: six terms, continuation charges may be payable beyond six terms.
• Expected completion time: 40 weeks.
• Maximum fee liability: six terms unless an exam is failed.
• Expected completion time: 32 weeks (excluding vacations).
• Expected completion time: two years (six terms) when studied full-time.
• Maximum fee liability: six terms when studied full-time unless an examination is failed.

BPhil, MPhil

• Expected completion time: three to four years (nine to 12 terms).
• Standard fee liability: nine terms (for exceptions see 'DPhil - Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training Centres' below). Continuation charges may be payable beyond nine terms, see 'What fees or charges are payable after I've reached the standard period of course fees liability?' above.

DPhil, Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) and Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP)

• Award: All these programmes lead to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil if completed at the University of Oxford; PhD if completed at another partner institution). For the Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures CDT programme, it is also possible to follow a programme leading to the award of a Doctor of Engineering (DEng).
• Expected completion time: Four years (12 terms) from admission to the programme.
• Standard fee liability: 12 terms (four years), however, please refer to the individual course listings below as this can vary between programmes. Continuation charges will be payable beyond the standard period of fee liability. For these programmes only, terms enrolled at another university as part of your doctoral training programme are counted towards the standard period of fee liability.  Continuation charges  may be payable beyond the standard period of fee liability.

Standard fee liability by programme of study:

• Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems , ESPRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Biomedical Imaging , EPSRC and MRC CDT: Students admitted by the University of Oxford are liable for 12 terms of course fees. Students admitted by the University of Nottingham are enrolled at the University of Oxford for three terms in the first academic year of their programme and are liable for three terms of course fees at the University of Oxford.
• Cyber Security , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Diamond Technology , EPSRC CDT: Students admitted by the University of Oxford are enrolled on the MSc in Diamond Science and Technology at the University of Warwick for one academic year and will be liable for fees at that university at their fee rates. Subject to meeting the progression criteria, students are then enrolled by the University of Oxford and are liable for a further nine terms of course fees at the University of Oxford.
• Environmental Research , NERC DTP: 12 terms.
• Future Propulsion and Power , EPSRC CDT: Students admitted by the University of Oxford are enrolled on the MRes in Gas Turbine Aerodynamics at the University of Cambridge for one academic year and are liable for fees at that University at their fee rates. Subject to meeting the progression criteria, students are then enrolled by the University of Oxford and are liable for a further nine terms of course fees at the University of Oxford.
• Healthcare Innovation , RCUK CDT: 12 terms.
• Health Data Science , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Industrially Focused Mathematical Modelling , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Inorganic Chemistry for Future Manufacturing , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Interdisciplinary Bioscience , BBSRC DTP: 12 terms.
• Life Sciences Interface , EPSRC DTC: 12 terms.
• Mathematics of Random Systems: Analysis, Models and Algorithms, EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Modern Statistics and Statistical Machine Learning , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Oil and Gas, EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Partial Differential Equations : Analysis and Applications, EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Renewable Energy Marine Structures , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology , EPSRC CDT: Students admitted to this CDT are enrolled on the MRes in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology at University College London for their first year and are liable during that period for fees at that University’s fee rates. Subject to meeting the progression criteria, those students who are then enrolled by the University of Oxford are liable for a further nine terms of fees at the University of Oxford.
• Science and Technology of Fusion Energy , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Statistical Sciences, EPSRC and MRC CDT : Students admitted by the University of Oxford are liable for 12 terms of course fees. Students admitted by the University of Warwick are enrolled at the University of Oxford for three terms in the first academic year of their programme and are liable for three terms of course fees at the University of Oxford.
• Sustainable Approaches to Biomedical Science , EPSRC and MRC DTC: 12 terms.
• Synthesis for Biology and Medicine , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Synthetic Biology , EPSRC and BBSRC CDT: 12 terms. Students admitted by the University of Oxford are liable for 12 terms of course fees. Students admitted by the University of Warwick or the University of Bristol are enrolled at the University of Oxford for three terms in the first academic year of their programme and are liable for three terms of course fees at the University of Oxford.
• Systems Approaches to Biomedical Science , EPSRC and MRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Systems Biology , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.
• Theory and Modelling in Chemical Sciences , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms. All students are enrolled on the MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry for three terms, and are liable for three terms of course fees. Following this, and subject to meeting the progression criteria, students remaining at Oxford are enrolled on the Theory and Modelling in Chemical Sciences programme and are liable for a further nine terms of course fees. Those enrolled at the University of Southampton or the University of Bristol for years two to four of their programme will be liable for fees at those universities at their fee rates, and on successful completion of their programme will be awarded a PhD by the university where they have been enrolled.
• Wind and Marine Energy Systems and Structures , EPSRC CDT: 12 terms.

DPhil, Medical Sciences Doctoral Training Centre programmes

• Expected completion time: four years (12 terms) from admission to the programme.
• Standard fee liability: 12 terms (four years), however, please refer to the individual course listings below as this can vary between programmes.  Continuation charges  may be payable beyond the standard period of fee liability.
• DPhil in  Cardiovascular Science : 12 terms
• DPhil in Cardiovascular Medicinal Chemistry: 12 terms
• DPhil in  Chromosome and Developmental Biology : 12 terms
• DPhil in  Genomic Medicine and Statistics : 12 terms
• DPhil in  Membrane Transport in Health and Disease (OXION) : 12 terms
• DPhil in  Infection, Immunology and Translational Medicine : 12 terms
• DPhil in Cellular Structural Biology : 12 terms
• DPhil in  Biomedical & Clinical Sciences : Nine terms
• DPhil in  Cancer Science : Nine terms
• DPhil in  Inflammatory and Musculoskeletal Disease : Nine terms

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Doctoral Training Partnership

• Standard fee liability: DPhil programmes within the AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership are subject to the standard period of DPhil fee liability (see DPhil Fee Liability, above).

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Doctoral Training Centre Programmes

• Standard fee liability: The standard period of fee liability for programmes studied within the ESRC Doctoral Training Centre is the same as the standard fee liability for the particular award being studied for. For example, DPhil programmes within this Doctoral Training Centre are subject to the standard period of DPhil fee liability (see DPhil Fee Liability, above).
• Expected completion time: four years (12 terms).
• Standard fee liability: 12 terms, continuation charges may be payable beyond 12 terms (see 'What fees or charges are payable after I've reached the standard period of college fees liability?' above).

Only a few departments have introduced such a deposit and the courses for which a deposit is charged are listed below. Please select the course you are interested in for details of the deposit that is charged.

Course Mode of study Expected length Artificial Intelligence for Business PGDip Part time 1 year Executive MBA EMBA Part time 24 or 26 months Financial Economics MSc Full time 9 months Financial Strategy PGDip Part time 1 year Global Business PGDip Part time 1 year Global Healthcare Leadership MSc Part time 2 years International Human Rights Law MSc Part time 22 months Law and Finance MSc Full time 10 months Major Programme Management MSc Part time 2 years Master of Business Administration MBA Full time 1 year Mathematical and Computational Finance MSc Full time 10 months Organisational Leadership PGDip Part time 1 year Public Policy MPP Full time 1 year Public Policy Research MSc Full time 1 year Strategy and Innovation PGDip Part time 1 year

Certain undergraduate courses in the Department for Continuing Education also charge a deposit, details of which are given on the department’s website .

The deposit usually represents between 5% and 15% of the total course fees.

If your course requires the payment of a deposit, your offer letter will include the amount of the deposit required and the deadline by which the department must receive payment, as well as instructions on how to pay the deposit. 

The deposit payment is non-refundable. However, the University will refund the deposit in the following circumstances:

• If you withdraw your acceptance of your offer within 14 days of accepting the offer of a place
• If you fail to meet one or more of your academic conditions, subject to the provision of evidence of relevant examination results
• If you fail to attain the required English language scores, subject to the provision of evidence that you have attempted and failed the English language test
• If your visa application is refused, subject to the provision of evidence that you have applied for and been refused a visa
• If you are unable to take up your place because of unforeseen and unforeseeable personal circumstances (such as serious ill-health, bereavement, etc), subject to the provision of appropriate evidence, eg a doctor’s note.

Please note that if you have applied and have been granted a deferral of entry , your deposit payment will not be refunded.

If you have any queries relating to the deposit charged by the course you are interested in, please contact your department. You will find contact details on the relevant course pages.

You are required to pay your fees for the year no later than Week 1 in the term in which you commence study or seven days after the actual start date of your course if this is later. You should visit your college's website to check payment arrangements.

Frequently asked questions

Who do i pay fees to.

Course fees are payable to your college (check payment arrangements as these can differ from college to college) except for a small number of courses delivered by Saïd Business School and the Department for Continuing Education which collect fees direct. Fees for courses with a modular structure are usually paid direct to the department. If you are a Home undergraduate and you have taken out a UK government tuition fee loan, this will be paid direct to the University. Your college may ask for evidence of the loan.

When do I have to pay my fees?

Course fees for the full academic year are payable no later than Week 1 in the term in which study commences. We recommend you contact your college to check payment arrangements.

How should I pay my fees?

As course fees are collected by colleges, you should visit your college's website for more information about acceptable methods of payment.

Can I pay in instalments?

Course fees are payable annually in advance.  In exceptional circumstances your college may allow you to pay by instalments. You should contact your college as soon as possible before the start of the academic year if you would like to investigate this.

What if I withdraw from my course, am I eligible for a refund?

If you withdraw from your course, you will generally be eligible for a refund of course fees for each complete term not started. If you withdraw during a term, you may be liable for fees for that term depending on the date of your withdrawal. If you withdraw before Monday of Week 4 of any term then you will not usually be liable for fees for that term. If you withdraw after Monday of Week 4 of any term, you will be liable for fees for that term. Different policies apply to certain courses delivered by Saïd Business School and the Department for Continuing Education and for courses with a modular structure. If you are thinking about withdrawing, you should talk to your college or your department to discuss your options.

What if I suspend from my course, am I eligible for a refund?

The same rules apply for suspension as for withdrawal. If you are considering suspending your studies you should talk to your college or your department to discuss your options.

I'm a research student and I'm planning on submitting my thesis early, do I have to keep paying course fees?

If you are a research student and are planning to submit your thesis before you reach your maximum fee liability, you only need to pay fees up to and including the term in which you submit your thesis. For example, if you submit your DPhil thesis in the 8th term since starting, you will pay 8 terms of fees but not fees for the 9th term. If your thesis is referred back to you then you may be liable for a re-submission charge. Please refer to the  Other charges page  for more information.

Yes, course fees are payable whether you are in Oxford or are conducting research elsewhere. Research programmes have a standard period of fee liability, more information on this is available in the fee liability section of this page.

I think I've been charged the wrong fee, what should I do?

You should contact your college in the first instance. The college will contact the relevant University departments and your fee will be investigated. If you are not satisfied with the result of the investigation, you may petition the Fees Panel. For more information on how to petition the Fees Panel, please email the Student Fees Team . Requests for refunds will not normally be considered more than one year after the fee has been paid.

What happens if I don't pay my fees?

If you don't pay your course fees, at the University’s discretion you will be suspended from your course and from access to all University facilities. You will not be allowed to sit any examinations or submit any coursework. If you are having difficulty paying your fees, we recommend you talk to your college at the earliest opportunity.

Where can I get more information?

The rules regarding payment of fees and refunds are in the  Examination Regulations, Regulations on Financial Matters, Section 1, Subsection 3 . You can also discuss payments and refunds with your college.

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• Postgraduate study

Find out how much your research degree will cost and our approach to the tuition fee-paying period.

View tuition fees alphabetically by department:

Tuition fees for postgraduate research degrees by department

Tuition fees for the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Dental Science are available once you have applied and subject to you having met the admission and eligibility criteria.

In common with other UK universities, the University of Sheffield charges different tuition fees depending on whether students are classed as Home or Overseas for fee purposes.

How we assess your fee status

The tuition fee-paying period

The tuition fee-paying period is the period during which full annual tuition fees are payable. This varies between 3 and 4 years for full-time PhDs (6-8 years for part-time PhDs), depending on the source of funding and scope of the research project. 3.5 years is the recommended tuition fee-paying period for most full-time PhDs.

If you're still working on your project between the end of the tuition fee-paying period and the overall time limit (4 years for full-time PhDs, 8 years for part-time PhDs), restrictions may apply .

PhD projects should be designed from the start to ensure that they can be completed within the tuition fee-paying period, as this is the period during which most students also receive a stipend from their funder to support their living costs. You'll discuss and agree the appropriate tuition-fee paying period for your project with your supervisor during the admissions process. Precise details of both the tuition fee-paying period and the overall time limit for the degree will be included in the offer letter.

You can find more information about fee types and tuition fee-paying periods on our Research, Partnerships and Innovation webpages:

Periods of registration

I simply would not have been able to undertake this PhD without the university's funding and I am very grateful to be able to remain in the UK to continue my studies Krissy Moore, Department of Archaeology Doctoral Academy Award recipient

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