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5.3 Charges and Fines

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5.3.1 Late Payment Charges

The prompt payment of bills helps to ensure that student charges can be kept down. Late payment charges are levied on any bill not settled by three weeks after the start of Full Term, increasing substantially if not paid by four weeks after the start of Full Term. The College also reserves the right to send out of residence any student who fails to pay their account, and will not allow any student who has not paid the previous term’s account to return into residence without special permission. Finally, the College will not present for a degree, nor grant any reference or testimonial, to any student who is in debt to the College.

Any students who find difficulty in paying their bills on time as a result of genuine financial difficulties should immediately contact their Tutor in the first instance and, if possible, the Bursary (studentbilling@sel.cam.ac.uk). It may be possible to waive late payment charges in bona fide cases.

5.3.2 Leaving Cambridge early: your fees

If, without giving notice in writing to the Bursar before the division of the previous term, a student for any reason goes out of residence during the course of a term, the College shall be entitled to keep or claim any fees and charges paid, or payable by, or on behalf of, that student, in respect of that term.

Where an undergraduate or affiliated student would ordinarily have come back into residence at the beginning of a term and for any reason he or she fails to do so, the student shall be liable to pay the College all the College fees and charges ordinarily payable for that term and such University fees as the College shall be liable to pay on their behalf.

No fees and charges shall be payable if:

  • the College has sent the student down;
  • the student is prevented from returning by illness;
  • the student gave the Bursar notice of his/her intention in writing not to return by the division of the preceding term.

If a student goes down for bona fide medical reasons during the course of the term, application is made to the University for the return of fees. If the University agrees, the College will also return the College Fee (where paid). If the student goes down before the division of the term, the College will return half of the room rent and the Facilities Charge. If the student goes down after the division of term, the College will retain the room rent and the Facilities Charge for that term.

5.3.3 Fines

When behaviour falls below an acceptable standard, the Dean is empowered by the College Council to impose fines of up to £150 in addition to recovering the costs of any damage done or cleaning needed. Minor misdemeanours usually result in a fine of £10-£25, community service and/or suspension of certain privileges, such as access to the College bar. However, aggravated offences will be dealt with more severely and in no circumstances will a plea that drunkenness reduced an individual’s judgement be entertained as a mitigating factor.
The rules and disciplinary section sets out in more detail the College’s policy.

5.3.4 Exeats and room clearance charges

The operation of around 500 rooms in College requires considerable organisational planning. Late changes in going-down and coming-up dates can cause substantial inconvenience to fellow students and the Housekeeping staff, and increase costs. As a result, charges are imposed for failing to follow the clearly set-out procedures for occupying and vacating rooms.

If unpacked possessions are left in the room the student may be called back to pack them up and remove them, or alternatively a charge imposed, depending on the state of the room, unless a formal arrangement has been made to keep belongings in a room over a vacation (see Summary of Fees & Charges), when the storage rate of £10.00 per night will be payable.