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Paying the deposit for your Student visa CAS

International applicants who require a Student visa to study at Birkbeck are required to pay a non-refundable £5,000 deposit. We will require this payment before your application is assessed for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

The CAS issuing process will normally start four months before the course start date for applicants who paid their deposit, accepted their offer and met all academic and non-academic conditions.

For more information please read our deposit terms and conditions.

How can I pay?

  • These are the different ways to 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're 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 pay
    • 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
    • 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 (China, Korea, India, Nigeria) or follow the handy step-by-step instructions. 
  • 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 

When do I have to pay?

  • You are encouraged to make the £5,000 deposit as early as possible, once you have met all the academic conditions of your offer, to ensure there are no delays in your application. Your application will not be eligible for the CAS issuing process until your deposit payment has been received and cleared into Birkbeck's account. Additionally, you must have met all academic and non-academic conditions of your offer.

Can I pay the deposit in instalments?

  • No. The deposit must be paid in full in one transaction.

Can I pay more than the deposit for the CAS?

  • Yes you can pay as much as you wish. The amount you pay will be deducted from the amount you need to pay at enrolment and in your Student visa application. 

Do I still have to show financial evidence for my Student visa application?

I am a US or Canadian national who holds a federal/provincial loan. Do I need to submit a deposit?

  • Yes. Unless you have a government loan which covers your entire tuition fee, you will be required to pay a deposit.

Do I still need to enrol?

  • Yes. Once you have submitted a deposit and have been issued with a CAS, you must still follow the process for enrolment. The £5,000 deposit will be deducted from your account after enrolment.

Do I have to pay if I am in receipt of financial sponsorship?

  • Students who hold any of the following are not required to submit a deposit:
    • Birkbeck scholarship/studentship
    • Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
    • Chevening Scholarship
    • national government scholarship.
  • In order to be excluded from the deposit requirement, the scholarship must cover the full cost of tuition and you must .
  • Students who are awarded less than the full cost of tuition must make a deposit payment.

Policy on refunds

  • Can I get a refund if I do not come to study at Birkbeck? By submitting a deposit you are agreeing to the deposit terms and conditions, confirming that you intend to study at Birkbeck. Normally this means that no refunds will be granted other than in exceptional circumstances.
  • What happens if I do not obtain the required grades? If you fail to meet your offer conditions for the course, no refund will be issued.
  • What happens if I want to defer my studies after paying a deposit? Your deposit will stay on your account and be rolled over to the following academic year. Please note that you can only defer once. Failure to attend the next academic year will make you ineligible for a refund.
  • What happens if I withdraw during my studies? The deposit payment is added to your total cost of tuition, therefore if you withdraw at any point after paying the deposit, you will not be eligible for a refund.