Paying your tuition fees as an overseas student

Payment methods

If you are a new overseas student to the University then you will need to pay an application deposit of £4000.00 prior to you receiving a Confirmation of Acceptance of studies (CAS) letter from the University. This can be paid via a debit or credit card, or it can be paid via a bank transfer to the University through our approved partner Flywire. All payments made will be received securely and will feature on your student account ready for when you enrol.

Whether you are a new overseas student or a returning overseas, you will need to pay 50% of your Tuition fee to be able to enrol. This is before any scholarships or discounts have been applied to your fees. If you are a new overseas student, then your tuition fee and the amount you need to pay will be stated in the letter we send offering you a place at Birmingham City University.

Please do not make any payments to a 3rd party or any agents or individuals offering to act on your behalf. BCU students are currently being targeted by sophisticated fraudsters and any lost payments are the responsibility of the student.


The University can no longer accept cash payments paid over the counter at our bankers or bank transfers paid directly into our bank account. You are still able to pay for your Tuition Fees with a bank transfer, but it can only be sent to BCU via our Tuition fee payment partner Flywire.

The Tuition Fee Payment Policy 2024-25

If you are in any doubt about what you need to pay and what happens if you are unable to pay, please refer to our Tuition Fee Payment Policy. It sets out your options and responsibilities in respect of paying for your tuition fees. It also sets out the action and timing of any potential sanctions including withdrawal that the University may take if you do not pay for your tuition fees.

Read the policy

Students with international bank accounts and debit/credit cards

Birmingham City University has partnered with Flywire to accept payments from domestic and international students worldwide. As the Trusted Choice of millions of students and thousands of institutions worldwide, Flywire is the safest, most convenient way to make your education payment to Birmingham City University.

Why use Flywire?

  • It uses secure, flexible options to pay from 240 countries and territories, in 140+ currencies
  • Choose from convenient, local payment methods including bank transfers, credit cards, e-wallets and more
  • Take advantage of Flywire’s Best Price Guarantee for local bank transfers
  • Track payments every step of the way via email, mobile app, and text alerts
  • Access around-the-clock multilingual support from our Help Center via email, phone or live chat

s a self-funding student, you have a responsibility to ensure that you pay your tuition fees on time. Please remember the important tuition fee collection deadlines that are detailed below:

  • 50% payment is required before you can enrol.
  • A block is applied to your student account if no further payment is made after 8 weeks of your course start.
  • You will be removed from your course if no further payment is made after 9 weeks.

Payment timeline and deadlines

As a self-funding student, you have a responsibility to ensure that you pay your tuition fees on time. Please remember the important tuition fee collection deadlines that are detailed below.

Application deposit

(To obtain your CAS)

An application deposit of £4,000 (GBP) is required to receive a Certificate of Acceptance to Study (CAS).

Make a bank transfer or international card payment

Make a UK-issued card payment 

50% deposit

(To be able to enrol)

50% of your tuition fee must be paid before you can enrol.

Make a bank transfer or international card payment

Make a UK-issued card payment

Remainder of tuition fees

Once you have paid your 50% tuition fee deposit and you have enrolled, you will be able to pay the remaining balance of your tuition fees.

Our overseas students can pay the remaining balance either in full or spread the cost over 3 instalments, on preset dates.

A block will be applied to your student account if you do not make a payment towards the remaining tuition fees due after 8 weeks of your course starting.

You will be removed from your course if you have still not made a further payment after 9 weeks.

Make a bank transfer or international card payment

Set up an instalment plan

Paying your tuition fees after you enrol at BCU

Students walking to campus

Once you have paid your 50% tuition fee deposit and you have enrolled, you will be able to pay the remaining balance of your tuition fees. Our overseas students can pay the remaining balance either in full or spread the cost over 3 instalments, one in each study terms.

If you have been awarded a scholarship, then this will reduce the balance you need to pay. You will receive an invoice to confirm the total balance and the balance now due after your scholarship and any payments you have made.

Your invoice will be sent to you 2 weeks after you enrol, however, you can check the balance remaining by accessing our online payment portal on the links below the day after you have enrolled.

You have the option to pay a part of your fees, all your tuition fees or set up a payment plan that enables you to pay in 3 easy to set up instalments that will be spread across the academic year. You will be asked for your student ID and your date of birth.

To pay in three instalments:

If you opt for the 2024/25 instalment plan, instalments will be paid on the following dates:

  • 11 November 2024

  • 10 February 2025

  • 12 May 2025

Click here to set up your plan.

Pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice via bank transfer

  • Click here if you want to pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice with a transfer from a UK BANK ACCOUNT.
  • Click here if you want to pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice with a transfer from a NON-UK BANK ACCOUNT.

Pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice via credit/debit card

  • Click here if you want to pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice with a UK CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD
  • Click here if you want to pay all or part of your remaining tuition fee invoice with a NON-UK CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD

If an official sponsor, as defined by UKVI Appendix Finance FIN 9.1, is paying your tuition fees, you will need an original sponsor letter on headed paper confirming the amount they are paying.

All of the information you need to know about being a sponsored student will be contained within the frequently asked questions.

Please email your official sponsor letter to sponsor@bcu.ac.uk.

Paying for your accommodation fees at BCU

  • To pay your accommodation deposit with a card or bank transfer, click here.
  • To pay all or part of your remaining accommodation fee invoice with a bank transfer, click here.
  • To pay all or part of your remaining accommodation fee invoice with a credit or debit card, click here

If you have any questions about the fees or your payment options, then please contact Accommodation Finance on 0121 331 5189/0121 331 6785 or alternatively send them an email on accommodationfinance@bcu.ac.uk.

Paying for other products at the BCU online store

BCU also has an online store to buy merchandise or book conferences/events organised by the University. You can also use the store to purchase transcripts, replacement cards and much more. 

Birmingham City University online store

Frequently asked questions

Access BCU's frequently asked questions concerning finance.

Finance FAQs