Procedure and Guidance for Refunding Student Fees Paid

DCU is committed to providing clear and accurate information to all students regarding their fee liability.  DCU will collect student fees in accordance with the approved fee schedule and protocol at www.dcu.ie/fees.  DCU students are required to pay any fees due by the relevant published dates.

This procedure provides information about the circumstances in which certain categories of fees paid by a student may potentially be eligible for a refund. Please note that that any amounts refundable for the circumstances set out below will be liable to any other fee amounts already owed to the University.  

The categories of fees covered by this procedure are as follows:

Application Fees Paid

Deposits Paid

Tuition Fees Paid (including Deposit) 

1. Application Fees

Application fees paid are usually non-refundable. Circumstances when an application fee may be refunded are:

1.  DCU cancels a programme offering and the applicant does not wish to be considered for another programme.

2. Applicant has a waiver code but does not use it and pays the fee themselves.

2. Deposit

Deposits paid are non-refundable, except in the following limited circumstances:

1. DCU cancels a programme of study and the applicant does not wish to be considered for another programme. The full deposit is refunded.

2. Where an applicant has a conditional offer, but does not meet the conditions of the offer, an administration charge will be levied. The deposit paid less an administration charge of €150 is refunded.

3. Where an applicant is unable to secure a visa, an administration charge will be levied. The deposit paid less an administration charge of €150 is refunded.

4. Unforeseen or exceptional circumstances, e.g. Illness (supporting documentation required in all instances).

In all other circumstances where an applicant has accepted an offer and paid a deposit, they are not eligible for a refund, even where they do not ultimately register for the programme.

3. Tuition Fees

Tuition fees paid by an applicant/student may be eligible for a refund in the following circumstances:

1. DCU cancels a programme of study and the applicant does not wish to be considered for another programme. Any amounts paid less any charges, assuming the amount paid is higher, is refundable.

2. A registered postgraduate student who has paid full fees but withdraws prior to 31^st October will have tuition fees credited. Any amount paid will be refunded less the acceptance deposit.[1]

3. A registered postgraduate student who has paid full fees but withdraws prior to 31^st January will have 40% of tuition fees credited and a refund will apply.

4. A registered undergraduate student who has paid full fees but withdraws prior to 31^st October (full tuition fee credited and, where applicable, no tuition fee will be claimed from HEA). A refund will apply to the amount paid.

5. A registered undergraduate student who has paid full fees but withdraws before 31^st January (50% credited. Where applicable, 50% will be claimed from HEA). A refund will apply to the excess amount paid.

6. A registered student on a single semester module/micro credential who has paid full fees but withdraws by the relevant semester withdrawal date (31^st October or 31^st January). A credit will apply to the fee paid less the acceptance deposit and a refund of this amount will be made.

7. A registered student, having made a personal payment receives funding from another source, e.g. SUSI, or scholarship, may be refunded up to the level of the funding. The student will receive a refund of any net credit on the student account arising from the processing of that 3^rd party payment.

8. Student has overpaid tuition fees and is therefore entitled to a refund.

All Students who withdraw after 31^st January are not entitled to a credit of Tuition Fees. Where applicable, 100% HEA contribution to funding will be claimed from this date. Information regarding withdrawal procedures is available at https://www.dcu.ie/fees/student-fee-protocol

Appeal of Decision regarding a Refund

Refunds for fees paid as per the above list will be made in line with the above circumstances only.  Should an applicant/registered student wish to appeal a decision regarding a refund, further information is available regarding the appeals procedure at  www.dcu.ie/fees/refunds/appeal 

Procedure for Requesting a Refund

Requests for refund except in the circumstances of visa refusal, should be sent to the Student Fees Team (fees@dcu.ie) from either the student, or a member of DCU staff.  The request for refund should clearly indicate what is to be refunded and the circumstances pertaining to the refund request.

If the request for refund pertains to visa refusal, the request should be sent to dcuglobalrecruitment@dcu.ie and a copy of the refusal letter from the Department of Justice must be attached.  In these instances, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Department of Justice of a relevant change in their personal circumstances. 

Processing of Refund Requests

The request is processed by the Fees Team based on the credit on the student account.  The amount will be refunded to the card used to make the original payment or to the nominated bank account on the system for the applicant/student.  The request for payment is authorised by the Fees Manager or nominee.  Refunds not issued in Euro are subject to the prevailing exchange rate at the time of processing.