Support for Heads of Department and Departmental Managers Planning and Insight Fee Setting Support for Heads of Department and Departmental Managers

UG PGT PGR Overview of the University’s tuition fee framework Home Planning and Insight co-ordinate the annual fee-setting process, making recommendations for the University fee structure to the Strategic Advisory Group and liaise with departments about programme level fees. As part of the annual review of postgraduate fees, Planning and Insight provide data to each department about their PGT market share and how their fees compare to Russell Group competitors. Planning and Insight also advise departments about setting fees for new programmes. UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees The University’s tuition fee framework is overseen by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees. As well as making recommendations to UEB in relation to the University’s fee framework, the remit of the Group also includes University level oversight of: student number planning; scholarships; Confirmation, Adjustment and Clearing; marketing and student recruitment. UG Set by Government and expected to increase annually and to be linked to TEF outcomes. Currently no variation by subject. Four fee rates (Clinical, Science, Low Cost Science, Arts) are set annually by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees. PGT Baseline level fees for home and overseas and a spine with a number of points are set annually by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees. Departments then propose individual programme level fees. PGR Baseline fees are set based on the RCUK standard fee. Above the baseline is a spine consisting of a number of enhancement levels to cover additional, specific costs only. There are four baseline fee levels which are equivalent to the overseas UG fee bands. As for home PGR, these four baseline levels also have a spine above them to cover additional specific costs only. Home Overseas

Undergraduate tuition fees Home undergraduate fees are capped by the Government. The cap was raised from £9,000 to £9,250 in 2016, with the increased cap taking effect in 2017/18. The University of Sheffield decided to increase fees to £9,250 for new undergraduates starting in 2017, but to hold fees at £9,000 for existing students. Nearly all full-time UG programmes at Sheffield charge the standard rates for most years of study. Lower fees are charged for years abroad or in industry. For future years the cap is expected to increase annually in line with RPIX (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments). The Government has announced that increases in tuition fees will be dependant on the outcome of TEF (the Teaching Excellence Framework) from 2020/21. Home There are four standard overseas fee rates for undergraduate programmes – one each for each band. They are set annually by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees, following proposals from Planning and Insight. The undergraduate fees for each department are allocated to the appropriate band. There has recently been a review of the low cost science band, as a result of which some programmes will move to a different fee band for 2018/19. Overseas

PGT tuition fees Overseas Home Programme level fee setting For home postgraduate taught students, there is a standard (or baseline) fee, which is set annually by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group on Student Numbers and Fees, following proposals from Planning and Insight. The Group also approves a fee spine for home PGT fees, with a number of different enhancement levels, in addition to the standard fee. Home For overseas PGT students, there are four standard fees which are the same as the four overseas undergraduate standard fees (see above). There is also a fee spine with a number of different enhancement levels, which is set annually. Overseas There is an annual review of PGT fees at a programme level. Departments are sent details of the University fee scales and of their current programmes, usually in May each year, and are asked to propose fees for each programme for the year after next. (So in May 2018, departments will be asked to propose fees for 2019/20.) They can either propose points from the standard fee scales, or can propose a different (non-standard) fee if for some reason the standard scale is not appropriate. The proposals from each department are submitted to Planning and insight. They require the approval of the Faculty Director of Operations and of the Strategic Advisory Group. Confirmed fee lists are then usually circulated to departments during August Programme level fee setting

PGR tuition fees Home Overseas PGR fee enhancements The standard fee for home postgraduate research students is based on the standard fee set by RCUK. Home For overseas PGR students, there are four standard fees which are the same as the four overseas undergraduate standard fees. Overseas Above the baseline (for both home and overseas), there are a number of enhancement levels which can be charged in addition to each standard fee. These enhancement levels are also known as the Research Support Element, and are intended to cover any additional specific costs arising from the research area. There is a similar structure for each of the overseas PGR fee bands. PGR fees for each programme are reviewed annually alongside PGT fees, with departments making recommendation via Planning and Insight to the FDO and the Strategic Advisory Group. PGR fee enhancements

Fee approval process or Fee approval requirements All new UG, PGT and PGR programmes will need University approval for the fee. This includes programmes involving partner organisations. Fee approval should be obtained prior to any contract being signed. Annual fee setting process In early summer, departments are sent a list of uplifted fees for existing programmes for review. Departments are also asked to propose fees for new programmes currently in the programme approval process, or recently approved. Faculty support for the proposals is sought prior to the final approval process. Ad-hoc process Departments submit a fee proposal to Planning and Insight. A short descriptive case should also be submitted, for example where the proposed fee is: Not on the standard fee spine, or; Not in line with other relevant fees in the department. Formal approval All proposed fees require approval from the UEB Strategic Advisory Group for Student Numbers and Fees. Depending on the proposal, this approval may be via delegated authority,. If the proposed fee is not approved, the Planning Support Officer will be in touch to discuss the reasons and consider an alternative proposal. Fees Team informed If the proposed fee is approved, Planning and Insight will inform the Fees Team so that students can be charged the correct amount when they register. or

Approval via delegated authority Authority to approve tuition fees Planning and Insight All fee proposals, whether part of the annual fee setting cycle or ad-hoc throughout the year are submitted to Planning and Insight in the first instance (via PSO). Faculty support If the proposal is not received directly from a Faculty representative, Planning and Insight will liaise with the Faculty to ensure that the proposal has Faculty support. Approval via delegated authority The Head of Planning and Insight has delegated authority to approve fees under the following circumstances: Programmes with a standard fee which is in line with others in the department; Existing PGT programmes where a new proposed fee is standard and increases by 1 or 2 standard bands; PGR programmes with an enhancement up to and including £5,000 and where SPG is in agreement with the rationale for the enhancement provided by the department; Programmes where the fee is pro-rata to an existing approved programme; All fees approved via delegated approval are reported to the UEB Strategic Advisory Group for Student Numbers and Fees for information. Approval from UEB Strategic Advisory Group for Student Numbers and Fees All other programme fee proposals not eligible for approval via delegated authority will be submitted for approval by the UEB Strategic Advisory Group for Student Numbers and Fees. This will usually be through discussion at the meeting but may on occasion be via Chair’s action.

Contact details Faculty Planning & Insight Faculty contact Arts and Humanities Becky Carpenter r.carpenter@Sheffield.ac.uk Ext 21063 Engineering Richard Eastall r.eastall@Sheffield.ac.uk Ext 21008 Medicine, Dentistry and Health James Mumford j.mumford@Sheffield.ac.uk Ext 21056 Science Laura Filsak l.filsak@Sheffield.ac.uk Ext 21068 Social Sciences Becky Carpenter / AMRC