Deposit refund requests for applicants who planned to enrol in 2024 have now closed. The International Deposit Refund Request Form will open again in due course, please check back on this webpage for more details.

The Queen’s University Belfast policy on deposit refunds is that deposits are non-refundable except under the circumstances outlined below in points 1-5:

1. Cooling-off Period

If an applicant wishes to cancel his/her contract, there will be a 14-day cooling off period from the date payment was made, as per Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013.

2. Programme Cancellation

If the University is unable to provide the academic programme originally applied for, offered and accepted, and the applicant does not wish to take up a place on any alternative offered.

3. Failure to Meet Academic and/or English Language Conditions of the Offer

If an applicant fails to meet the academic and English-language conditions associated with their offer, as outlined in the offer letter, and does not wish to defer entry. (For further information on deferrals, please contact intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk). Failure to arrange to take an appropriate English Language test prior to the start of your programme will not be considered grounds for a mandatory course deposit refund.

For further information on deferrals, please contact intl.admissions@qub.ac.uk

4. Visa Refusal (if applicable)

If an applicant is unable to take up his/her place of study due to a Student Visa refusal, providing that the reason for refusal was not due to the submission of fraudulent documents or an error on behalf of the applicant. In this case, a scanned copy of the Entry Clearance Officer’s refusal letter will be required. You must also give your consent for the University to verify the decision with UKVI. No refund will be given if permission is not granted or if the visa refusal is not confirmed as valid by the UKVI.

5. Extenuating Circumstances

In the following cases, if an applicant is impacted through no fault of their own:

• • National emergencies in the UK (such as pandemics, security crises or similar) which make enrolment impossible or highly unadvisable as defined by the UK Government and/or Public Health Northern Ireland, or similar statutory bodies.
  • International emergencies (defined by your own Government, the World Health Organisation or the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office or similar) which may prevent you from travelling in time for the last date of arrival for your course.

A deposit will be non-refundable under the following circumstances:

A. Failure to Register or Withdrawal Immediately after Enrolment

If an applicant fails to register on their programme or is withdrawn from the programme, the full deposit paid will not be refunded. 

In the instance of international students, the UK Border Agency will be informed that the student is not enrolled on the expected programme. This policy will only be varied if the applicant produces evidence of genuine grounds for deferral which may include the late issue of the visa. Please note that if an applicant has arrived in the UK after the latest start date detailed in the CAS, the full deposit paid will not be refunded.

B. Fraudulent Documentation

If an applicant is found to have provided fraudulent or incorrect documentation in any part of their University Admission application, the full deposit paid will not be refunded. In such circumstances any offer from the University will be withdrawn. 

The University reserves the right to change its refund policy for international deposits at any time and to apply discretion to any decision made. The University may exercise discretion to authorize a refund in exceptional circumstances and may request documentary evidence.