Finance Information for International Fee Status and Financial Guarantee

Finance Information for International Fee Status and Financial Guarantee

General Information about financing your studies

When applying to university, you'll need to consider a range of costs, including tuition fees and living costs. Tuition fees for international students vary depending on the course you're studying. The finance information available to you will also be different depending on your tuition fee status. The finance information on this page is for offer holders with International fee status starting their course in October 2024. Please read all the information on this page.

  1. Before you begin studying as an undergraduate there are certain costs you need to consider, such as tuition fees, college fee and living expenses. Please have a look at International fees and costs for further detailed information, as well as all the information on this page.
  2. There is also a helpful section about tuition fee status and an overview of being classed as either Home or overseas for fee purposes. More information can also be found on the UKCISA website and in the main finance section.
  3. The annual tuition fee for your course has been provided in your offer letter. The University fee for international students vary depending on the course you're studying. The College fee covers the cost to your College of providing a range of educational, domestic and pastoral services and support. International students also have to pay College fees in addition to tuition fees. See international fees and costs for details. 
  4. Your living expenses may be higher than for a UK student (eg if you stay in Cambridge/the UK during vacations). In 2023-24, the minimum resources needed in Cambridge for the year (excluding tuition and College fees) are estimated to be approximately £14,600, depending on lifestyle (you should allow for increases in future years). Please note that all students should ordinarily be available to live and study in Cambridge for the full duration of their course (with the exception of the year abroad where part of the course).
  5. Part of your offer conditions is to provide a satisfactory financial guarantee. The information on this page will provide further guidance about this and what exactly is required from you. Have a look at the information under these headings on the page: Financial Guarantee Explained and Documents and Finance Evidence to send to the College for your Financial Guarantee.

 

Information on Tuition Fees, College Fees and Living Expenses

Financial Guarantee Explained

To meet the offer conditions of providing a satisfactory financial guarantee, the College will require the following documents and information from you: 

  1. A complete Financial Information Form and;
  2. Finance Evidence Document(s)

Important notes about the Financial Information Form and finance evidence document(s):

  • The finance evidence document(s) you provide must show that you will have sufficient funds for the full duration of your course. This must include tuition fees, college fee and living costs for each year. 
  • The money for your tuition fees, college fee and accommodation must be available for payment by 29 September 2024, then annually thereafter. 
  • If your original finance evidence document(s) are not in English, please send both the original and a certified translation into English.

 

Documents and Finance Evidence to send to the College for your Financial Guarantee (by 9am on 10th June 2024)

Step 1: Complete the College Financial Information Form

  • On the first page, international students normally add their name and subject and answer 'No' to Question1 only.
  • On the next page, international students and their parents/supporters must complete and sign the declaration in full. 

Prepare to complete College Financial Information Form, where you are asked to explain how you are going to pay for your tuition fees, college fee and your living costs for the duration of your course

  • Calculate the total cost of your tuition fees and college fee for the duration of your course:
  • If your course is 3/4 years, please provide information for the duration of 3 years
  • If your course is 5/6 years, please provide information for the duration of 5 years

Then calculate the total cost of your living costs (maintenance) for the duration of your course:

  • Please note that the term 'living costs' includes accommodation, food, study materials, personal expenses and transport; we ask that offer holders note the suggested total amount for living costs of £14,600 as set by the Univesity here.

Add together your total for for tuition fees/college fees and your total for your living costs, and enter this amount in to your declaration on the Financial Information Form. 

  • Signatures on the form must be real signatures.

Step 2: Provide the required financial evidence documentation, which is often expressed as 'proof of funds' plus a 'supporting letter', to cover the total you have calculated in Step 1. 

1. Personal Bank Statement (proof of funds)

  • The bank statement must be the most current monthly statement, and show all the following information:
  • Your name or the name of the account holder*, and the account number;
    (* If you are not the account holder: a letter signed and dated by the account holder must be provided
    stating that he/she is responsible for your educational expenses, and their relationship to you);
  • the sufficient funds for the full duration of your course;
  • The documents must be printed on the bank's official letterhead showing the financial institution’s name and logo.

Please do not only send in a Certificate of Deposit. This document is not sufficient finance evidence for a financial guarantee. All the document shows is the amount of money which has been deposited into an account, and is not proof of funds.

HELPFUL TIP:  What is a Bank Statement?

A bank statement is a printed document from the bank for the account where you are keeping your money. It shows all the money paid into and taken out of an account. Some Banks call this: ‘Historical Account Transaction Statement’ or ‘Statement of Personal Account' or 'An Account Statement'. It is sent by the bank to the account holder every month, summarising all the transactions of an account during the month. Bank statements contain bank account information, such as account number and a detailed list of deposits and withdrawals. 

2. Letter of Warranty (supporting letter)

This is a supporting letter from the bank where the account is held, and must show all of the following: 

  • your name or the name of the account holder, and the account number;
  • the current deposit balance of the account;
  • the letter must be printed on the bank's official letterhead showing the financial institution’s name and logo

 

Documents and Evidence required to send to the College if your funding is from a Governmental Organisation (by 9am on 10th June 2024)

Step 1: Complete the College Financial Information Form

  • Signatures on the form must be real signatures.
  • International students normally add their name and subject, then usually answer 'No' to Question 1, on the first page only. 
  • International students must read and the declaration on the next page carefully, and sign and complete the declaration in full. 
  • Once you have completed the form, please copy and scan the form. 

Step 2: Official Sponsorship Letter

If you are being given official financial sponsorship, you must provide a letter of confirmation from your official financial sponsor. This must be in the form of a letter typed on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation. The letter must be signed, dated and stamped, and show all of the following:

  • your name;
  • the name and contact details of your official financial sponsor;
  • the date of the letter;
  • the length of your sponsorship; and
  • the amount of money the sponsor is giving to you or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover all of your fees and living costs for the full duration of your course.

If the Sponsorship amount is not going to cover the cost for the full duration of your course, we will require additional finance evidence from you as outlined above.

How to send all your finance documents to the College (by 9am on 10th June 2024)

  1. Scan your completed College Financial Information Form, and original finance evidence document(s). 
  2. Save the pdf file onto your computer.
  3. Make sure that all the pages are there, are clear and the right way up
  4. Email the saved documents to apply@robinson.cam.ac.uk 

 

What happens next?


Once the College has received your finance documents by email, they will first be passed to the Finance Office for checking and you will be notified by email of one of the following outcomes as soon as possible:

  1. Your documents have been checked and verified and meet the conditions of providing a satisfactory financial guarantee; OR
  2. Your documents have been checked and further evidence is required from you which will be explained and outlined in the email.

 

What happens at the Start of the Year (Registration Day)

  1. Fees are payable in a single annual lump sum on registration day (by credit/debit card or cheque). Please do not bring cash.
  2. A piece of photographic ID is required for identification purposes. Please ensure to bring your passport (with your visa stamped inside). If you have already collected your BRP, this must also be brought along on the day. 
  3. Accommodation fees for the whole year are also payable in a single lump sum on registration day, and students are automatically invoiced for the full year. Payment is by credit/debit card or cheque. Please do not bring cash.
  4. For details of other small grants and awards offered by the College, please see the Bursaries and Scholarships section of our website. 


Updated January 2024