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How and when to pay

Paying your fees

You will be asked how you plan to pay for your tuition fees when you enrol. Your options are to:

  • agree to apply for a student loan (eg the undergraduate loan or the postgraduate loan): we will enrol you (granting you access to Birkbeck services including the library and computer access) on the basis that you promise to subsequently complete your application for a government loan.
  • pay in full (by credit or debit card)
  • set up a direct debit mandate to pay in instalments.

If you need to contact us, please or call +44 (0) 203 907 0700 option 4.

 

Payment by direct debit

  • If you are not getting a government loan or being sponsored by your employer, you will need to pay by direct debit. Many students choose to pay using our interest-free monthly instalment plan.
  • You can enter the details of your UK bank account safely and securely on your My Birkbeck student profile (you will need your ITS username and password to login to the system).
  • You can pay using any of the following:
    • Visa
    • MasterCard
    • Visa debit
    • Switch/UK Maestro
    • Solo
    • Note: We are not able to accept payment by American Express or Euro Maestro.

Online security

  • We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which is an industry standard for internet payments to ensure the security of your card details. This means all of your personal and card details are protected using 128-bit encryption when your details are transmitted over the Internet. (A closed padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser window will assure you of this.

Payment arrangements for international students

  • If you open a UK bank account, which allows for direct debit payments, you will be able to pay your tuition fees in monthly instalments. There are no additional credit charges or administrative fees if you pay this way.
  • If you do not have a UK bank account, you can pay:
  • Paying via Convera: this fast and reliable service allows you to pay in your local currency via bank transfer or via a wide range of local online payment options, including Alipay, UnionPay, ICICI and more, without incurring any transaction charges. Other benefits include:  
    • pay fees in your local currency
    • avoid fees and international foreign exchange charges from your bank 
    • easy to use on smartphones and other mobile devices
    • pay online or by bank transfer
    • track your payment status by text and email 
    • get price and payment options upfront with a price comparison tool.
    • Pay now via Convera
  • Paying via TransferMate: TransferMate allows you to make international payments to us for free, without paying international banking charges while receiving competitive foreign exchange rates. It allows you to pay in your local currency with a wide variety of payment options including bank transfer, credit card, UnionPay and Alipay. If you are an international student paying fees to Birkbeck, University of London you can use this secure and fast method to make your fee payments to us. Other benefits include:
    • pay in your local currency to a local bank account
    • no international banking charges from your bank
    • 24-hour online payment tracking, SMS alert and email notifications
    • 24-hour customer service support with our multi-lingual support team
    • great exchange rates.
  • How to apply
    • Register on the secure TransferMate domain and enter your payment details.
    • You'll receive the exchange rate for that day, choose wire (bank) transfer or credit card as your payment method. 
    • Once funds are received by TransferMate, these funds are immediately transferred to Birkbeck, University of London from our local bank account in the UK.
  • Paying via Flywire: Make your payments safely and securely through Flywire's online payment portal in your home currency and local payment methods. Flywire features real-time tracking and around-the-clock multilingual support. Other benefits include:
    • secure, flexible options to pay from 240 countries and territories, in 140+ currencies
    • convenient, local payment methods including bank transfers, credit cards, eWallets and more
    • Flywire’s Best Price Guarantee for local bank transfers
    • payment tracking every step of the way via email, mobile app and text alerts
    • secure and streamlined refunding process with automatic tracking notifications
    • around-the-clock multilingual support from our Help Center via email, phone or live chat.
  • For extra support on sending funds internationally, please refer to the ‘How to Pay From…’ guides (ChinaKoreaIndiaNigeria) or follow the handy step-by-step instructions
  • Pay now via Flywire.
  • Please be aware that payments originating from the following countries or areas cannot be made through our dedicated Convera payment page, Transfermate or Flywire:
    • Afghanistan
    • Belarus
    • Cuba
    • Crimea region (Luhansk and Donesk territories)
    • Iran
    • North Korea
    • Russia
    • Syria
    • Venezuela

Payment arrangements for employer-sponsored students

  • Birkbeck's unique model of study is valued by employers, many of whom encourage their employees to study here by sponsoring them.
  • If your employee (or another organisation) has agreed to pay all or part of your fees for you, you need to follow these steps before you will be able to enrol on your course:
    • You need to get your sponsor to complete the sponsor form.
    • If they are only paying part of your fees, please ensure this is clearly specified on the sponsor form. You will need to pay the balance of the fees due or otherwise arrange payment of fees in order to complete enrolment.
    • You then need to email the completed form to the . If you or your sponsor have any queries relating to the payment of fees, please feel free to reach out at this email address.
  • Once we have received your completed form, we will then invoice your sponsor directly, and you will be able to enrol on your course.
  • Please note that payment terms for sponsors are strictly 28 days from date of invoice. If your sponsor does not pay your fees, you will be personally liable to pay the fees in full.