Online and distance learning fees

This is the quickest, most efficient way to pay. If you have not previously used the SOAS Online Store you will need to create an account. After you have created an account you will be able to select the relevant Centre for your programme. Each programme page contains the programmes that the module fee covers.

You will not be able to select your provisionally enrolled module in the SOAS Online Store but as long as you select the right Centre then you will pay the correct module fee. We will match up your payment with your enrolment, process your enrolment and send you confirmation. If you pay the incorrect amount, your enrolment will be delayed, and you will only be able to pay the difference via Bank Transfer so please make sure you pay the correct amount to avoid delays to your enrolment.

You have not made a successful transfer unless you have received an email confirming your payment. This is your receipt for your payment.

Please use your SOAS email address as your registered email address in the SOAS Online Store as this helps us identify your payment quicker. Your SOAS email address will be your 6 digit student number with the following domain @soas.ac.uk e.g 123456@soas.ac.uk

Please note that students studying Climate Change & Development or Sustainable Development programmes will need to pay for a core/elective module and a Dissertation Stage at the same time to avoid delays to your enrolment.

To pay by Bank/Telegraphic Transfer; please ensure you transfer sufficient funds to cover bank charges/changes in currency, and make your transfer to:

School of Oriental and African Studies
National Westminster Bank, Moorgate Branch,
London EC2M 6XT. UK

Sort code: 56-00- 23
Account no: 25142356
Iban code: GB49NWBK56002325142356
SWIFT Ref: NWBKGB2L

You must make sure to use your SOAS Student Number as your payment reference. If the student number is not in the payment narrative your enrolment will be delayed. If a 3rd party is responsible for paying your fees via Bank Transfer it is crucial that your SOAS Student Number is included in the payment narrative. You must also make sure that SOAS receives the correct fee amount as there could be currency/exchange charges and bank charges that we are unable to advise on.

Sponsored students

If you require an official SOAS invoice for your module fees, you will need to supply a letter from your sponsor confirming that they will be sponsoring all, or part, of your programme fees.

Sponsored students are not required to pay by the same deadline as independently funded students. However, we must receive this letter before your study can commence.

Letter from sponsor

The letter must be on company letterhead with the company logo featured. It must contain the following information:

1. Name of student being sponsored and their 6-digit VLE number
2. Amount that the student is being sponsored for (we will only create an invoice for the amount the sponsor has agreed to pay)
3. Title of module(s) and session(s) of study
4. Name, contact telephone number and email address of budget-holder/person responsible for processing payment
5. Address of company
6. Purchase order number (can be supplied separately but must be sent at the same time as sponsorship letter)

When we have received the letter we will process the enrolment(s) and send confirmation to the student. The invoice will be created by our Finance Department and sent by email to the Sponsor for payment.

Part-sponsored students

You will be liable for the balance of the fees due and in order to complete enrolment you must pay the balance due. Please see payment page for how to pay your fees.

Non-payment by sponsor

Sponsors must pay the invoice immediately upon receipt. In the event of non-payment by a sponsor by the due date of the invoice, the student will become personally liable for the payment of fees in full and the balance will be due immediately. In the event that the student does not pay SOAS will terminate their studies and refer the debt to a Debt Collection Agency. 

SOAS reserves the right to refuse to process future enrolments by the student or sponsor if there is a history of non-payment of invoices.

Gaining support from your employer

Support from your employer can come in several forms. It could be financial; it could be allowing study time or an offer to read through your work for your course. Whatever the level of support from your employer, it will help you succeed in your studies. The page below is aimed at giving you a methodology for seeking that extra support from your organisation.

If your employer would like more information on our postgraduate programmes they can visit the Employers page of this website.

Before you start

Know yourself:

• Why do you want to study this degree?
• What do you hope to achieve and what are your goals?
• Why have you chosen this specific degree?
• How will you manage your study time and combine this with your work commitments?
• What support are you seeking from your organisation?

You will need to ensure that you fully understand the programme you have chosen, what it entails (eg. number of study hours per week, number of assignments/examinations). You should also be very clear about what you want to achieve as this will form the basis of your request for support from your employer.

Know your organisation:

• What support is already available from your employer?
• Who holds training budgets and makes the decision?
• Have other employees studied on this programme or something similar and what were their experiences? It is useful to talk to other employees who have followed a similar course of study to ascertain how they managed their study time and their experiences.
• Why will this programme benefit your organisation and its aims?

Understanding the above points will ensure you approach the right people in your organisation and have all the relevant information that they will need to make their decision.

Prepare your case:

• How important is sponsorship for you to be able to join and complete the programme?
• Are you willing to negotiate terms with your employer?
• How much does your line manager/HR department etc. know about the programme?
• Do you have experience in writing reports or presenting an argument/business case?

Considering all these elements means that you will have all the information you need and how you should request support from your organisation.

Putting together the business case

You may need to present to your organisation or submit a written report or request. Either way, following a simple structure will mean you convey all the information you need without losing your audience. A standard structure would be:

1. Title

2. Executive summary

   Summarise your case and the final recommendations.

3. Introduction

4. Analysis

   This should review your current work situation, why you want to follow this course of study, what the alternatives are, and how this will benefit your organisation.

5. Alternatives

   Highlight other programmes that cover a similar subject and what made this programme stand out for you, identify specifics about the individual courses that have direct relevance to you and your teamís objectives (you should avoid just listing the whole programmes). Aim to be clear about the benefits to you, your team and the organisation by following this course of study.

6. Implementation proposal

   Review how you will combine your studies with your working day and when your organisation can expect to see benefits. How will you take what you learn from your programme of study and apply this to your work. Make sure you remember to include the number of study days and exam periods when you will be out of the office and how you plan to ensure that your work and your team are not affected by your studies.

7. Any other supporting evidence

   Do not forget to include the cost of your programme and potential length of time to completion.

We are happy to help with any further information you may need to build a proposal or to make direct contact with the relevant people.