Refunds Policy

Refunds Policy

1: General

• 1.1 The University accepts no obligation to refund any fee, or part thereof.
• 1.2 Refunds may be issued in the following circumstances only:
• when an amount in excess of the total fee due has been paid, e.g. a deposit plus full fee - or -
• when a student officially withdraws (see (1.3) below) from the University and this results in a credit balance.
• 1.3 Students remain liable for fees for the period of registration up to the date they officially withdraw from the University.

To officially withdraw, please see Withdrawing from a Programme.
Please note that the date of withdrawal is important for fees purposes and may impact on the fees.

• 1.4 No refund is made to a student while a balance of fees remains due.
• 1.5 Booking fees and deposits (with the exception of point (1.6) below) are non-refundable.
• 1.6 Refunds to grant holders or sponsored students who have paid fees and/or a deposit pending approval of a grant, are issued only when the University has received the fee payment from the grant authority or sponsor. These refunds are issued automatically and do not need to be claimed from the University.
• 1.7 No refunds are permitted in respect of programmes of short duration e.g. completed in one trimester or less.
• 1.8 Refunds are issued directly to students who transfer to another third level institution as a result of a higher CAO offer.
• 1.9 Electronic refunds are made to the bank account specified by the student in their SISWeb account.
• 1.10 Payments made by credit/debit card are rebated directly to the cardholder's account. Refunds made 180 days or more will be refunded by electronic transfer.

Note:

• i: Please note that it may take up to 15 working days, following application and approval, to issue a refund.
• ii: Payments made by credit/debit card will be rebated directly to the cardholder's account. Rebates may take 7 - 10 working days to appear on bank statement.
• iii: Online payments more than 180 days old can only be refunded by electronic transfer.
  

2: Refunds to Undergraduate Students 2024-25

A. EU Students eligible for "Free" Fees

• 2.1 Students who withdraw on or before 01 November 2024 will receive a full refund of any payments made in respect of the Student Contribution Charge or Student Centre Levy, subject to point (1.4) above.
• 2.2 Students who officially withdraw (see point (1.3) above) on or after 02 November 2024 to 31 January 2024 inclusive are liable for payment for the portion of the Student Contribution matching the number of modules taken. For most students this will be 50% of the SCC representing 30 credits i.e. half of €2,000. Where students have taken more, or less, credits in the first trimester, they will be liable for a proportionate amount. In addition students will also be liable for half the Student levy i.e. half of €254. Free tuition fees will be claimed from the HEA on the same basis. A student will be liable to pay tuition fees for the equivalent period of attendance if s/he registers in any Irish third level institution within the next 5 years.
• 2.3 Students who officially withdraw (see point (1.3) above) on or after the 1 February 2025 are liable for payment of the full Student Contribution Charge (€2,000) and the Student Centre Levy (€254) i.e. a total of €2,254. Where students have taken more, or less, credits than the standard (e.g. 60 credits in Arts) in the academic year, they will be liable for a proportionate amount. Free tuition fees will be claimed from the HEA on the same basis. A student will be liable to pay tuition fees for the equivalent period of attendance if s/he registers in any Irish third level institution within the next 5 years.

B. EU - Fee-paying Undergraduate students

• 2.4 Students who withdraw on or before 01 November 2024 will receive a full refund of any payments made in respect of the Student Centre Levy or Student Contribution Charge, subject to points (1.3), (1.4) and (1.5) above.
• 2.5 Students who officially withdraw (see point (1.3) above) on or after 02 November 2024 to 31 January 2025 inclusive are liable for payment of tuition fees matching the number of modules taken. For most students this will be 50% representing 30 credits. Where students have taken more, or less, credits in the first trimester, they will be liable for a proportionate amount.
• 2.6 Students who officially withdraw (see point (1.3) above) on or after the 01 February 2025 are liable for payment of the full tuition fee. Where students have taken more, or less, credits than the standard (e.g. 60 credits in Arts) in the academic year, they will be liable for a proportionate amount.

C. Non-EU Undergraduate students

• 2.7 In general points 2.4 and 2.5 apply

However students who are required to apply for a visa in order to travel to Ireland to study must note the following:-

• 2.8 Non-EU students who are refused a visa must provide a copy of the refusal letter from the Department of Justice as part of their application for a refund of tuition fees. An administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee applies. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 2.9 Refunds to Non-EU undergraduate applicants who do not qualify for entry because they do not meet the entry requirements are subject to an administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee. This may not apply where a student cancels a place and it can still be offered to another student. This is at the discretion of the School to which the student has applied. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 2.10 Non-EU students who decide not to take up their place are subject to an administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee. This may not apply where a student cancels a place and it can still be offered to another student. This is at the discretion of the School to which the student has applied. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases
  
  • Non-EU Medicine Students who receive a confirmed offer will be charged 100% of Year 1 Fees as a non-refundable deposit. A student who decides not to take up such place will forfeit this deposit.
  • Non-EU Medicine Students who receive a conditional offer will be charged 50% of Year 1 Fees as a non-refundable deposit. A student who decides not to take up such place will forfeit this deposit. In the case where a student fails to make the conditions of offer or is ineligible to get a visa to study in Ireland, 5% of deposit will be forfeited.
• 2.11 Non-EU students who travel to Ireland must attach to their refund application, a copy of a used air ticket in their own name with boarding card as proof of return to their home country. An administrative charge of 10% of the full published programme fee will be deducted and is not refundable. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 2.12 Refunds will be made by International Bank Transfer to the student’s bank account in their home country.
• 2.13 Refunds for students who have been refused a visa will be processed within 4 weeks of all pertinent paperwork substantiating claim being received by the Fee Payments Team.

3: Non-EU - Study abroad students 2024-2025 (Academic Year Starting September 2024)

• 3.1 Study Abroad students from UCD partner institutions who accept a place and then do not take it up are eligible for a refund of tuition fees paid. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.

4: EU - Graduate students 2024-25 (Academic Year Starting September 2024)

• 4.1 Students who withdraw on or before 01 November 2024 will receive a full refund of payments made in respect of tuition fees subject to point (1.3) and point (1.5) above.
• 4.2 Students who subsequently withdraw (see point (1.4) above) from a graduate programme are liable for payment as follows: 

For 2 - trimester programmes less than 90 credits:

For 3 - trimester programmes less than 90 credits: 

Non-EU - Graduate Students 2024-25

• 4.3 In general points 4.1 and 4.2 above apply.
  However students who are required to apply for a visa in order to travel to Ireland to study must note the following:-
• 4.4 Non-EU students who are refused a visa must provide a copy of the refusal letter from the Department of Justice as part of their application for a refund of tuition fees. An administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee applies. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 4.5 No refunds are made to applicants who have accepted a place but who fail to obtain the minimum entry requirements. This may not apply where a student cancels a place and it can still be offered to another student. Refunds are at the discretion of the School to which the student has applied and are subject to an administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 4.6Non-EU students who decide not to take up their place are subject to an administrative charge of 10% of the published programme fee. This may not apply where a student cancels a place and it can still be offered to another student. This is at the discretion of the School to which the student has applied. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases
• 4.7 Non-EU students who travel to Ireland must attach to their refund application a return air ticket with boarding card as proof of return to their home country. An administrative charge of 10% of the full published programme fee will be deducted and is not refundable. Deposits are non-refundable in all cases.
• 4.8 Refunds will be made by International Bank Transfer to the student’s bank account in their home country.
• 4.9 Refunds for students who have been refused a visa will be processed within 4 weeks of all pertinent paperwork substantiating claim being received by the Fee Payments Team.