Placement tuition fees

Throughout your placement year, you can still use BU facilities and support services. There is a reduced tuition fee for the placement year, which makes sure that you continue to be registered as a BU student. Find out below how much the year will cost and everything you'll get in return.

Not all of our programmes have a compulsory placement year. Learn more about money matters if you are taking an optional placement year.

If you have any questions about fees or finance, contact AskBU.

Why do I need to pay fees?

You are still a registered BU student while on placement, which gives you continued access to:

Your student loan and financial support (including maintenance grant) from SFE
Final year academic planning including dissertation and option choices
Support before and during your placement
Library facilities including all online databases and resources and reciprocal arrangements with other HEIs where they apply
Online careers resources through MyCareerHub
IT support through the online helpdesk
Personal support through AskBU, Student Wellbeing and Faith & Reflection (by phone as well as in person)
Careers and employability advice and guidance
Financial advice and support from the student financial support team
Immigration and visa support (if applicable)
Disability support (if applicable)
University sports and music facilities, including on-going membership of any clubs and societies
Access to all SUBU facilities including their clubs and societies and support from SUBU Advice
Eligibility for a TOTUM card (formerly NUS Extra) offering student discounts (on payment of the appropriate fee to NUS).

Your placement fees contribute to providing these services for you to make sure that you have the support you need to get the best experience from your placement. No additional money is gained by the university through this fee structure.

How much is the placement fee?

The fee for all Home/CI/IOM and overseas students is determined by the year that you are on your placement. For more information visit our understanding your fee status page.

Placement year	Undergraduate fee	Postgraduate fee
2022/23	£850	£850
2023/24	£850	£1,850
2024/25	£1,850	£1,850
2025/26	£1,850	£1,850
2026/27	£1,850	£1,850

Most home fee status undergraduate students are also entitled to apply for a tuition fee loan for their placement year. Channel Island and Isle of Man students should contact their island education authority.

If you are an applicant considering studying at BU, you will find placement fees alongside information about your course.

For more information please visit the All you need to know about placements page.

How and when can I pay?

You will be invited by letter to re-register and pay your placement fee from the middle of August. If you are a home student you may pay online (by Debit or Credit Card), by cash or cheque or by selecting ‘Tuition Fee Loan’ payment option, but if selecting this option you must re-apply for a tuition fee loan via the Student Loans Company or online via Student Finance England. We suggest that you apply as early as possible for the tuition fee loan. You can choose to pay this in instalments or in full.

If you’ve told us you’d like to take an optional 30 week placement, please read and download the 4K Placements Policy and Procedure in the placements section on our Important information webpage for more information about timescales and deadlines.

Settling in to your placement

Getting the most from your placement.

Placement contacts

The people who will support and guide you throughout your placement journey.