Acceptance deposits
Learn why we ask for a deposit before you start your programme, and how it helps secure your place.
As part of accepting your study offer, we may ask you to pay an acceptance deposit. We’ll let you know in your offer letter if this applies to your course and any deposit you pay will be deducted from your tuition fees.
An acceptance deposit is a pre-payment which helps to secure your place and is deducted from your total tuition fee.
To provide the best possible experience for all our students, we need to limit the number of places available on each programme.
Our programmes are competitive and each year we receive more applications than there are places.
The acceptance deposit confirms your commitment to attending your chosen programme and helps us plan the resources required to support our students effectively.
We’ll confirm in your offer letter whether you need to pay an acceptance deposit. You can also download a full list of our programmes requiring an acceptance deposit (PDF, 358KB).
If you're an international student and need a Student Visa to study a full time, taught master’s course at Manchester, please read our guidance on tuition fee deposits.
If you’re required to pay an acceptance deposit, any requirement for a CAS deposit will be waived, unless your programme’s required CAS deposit is higher than the acceptance deposit. In that case, you’ll need to pay the difference before your CAS can be issued. If this applies to you, you’ll be notified separately from your official offer letter and full details will be provided.
Your offer letter will include a link to the My Manchester Pre-Payment page and the payment deadline (typically four to six weeks from the date of your offer). Payments should only be paid via My Manchester to ensure that they are credited to your application, and your offer is accepted without delay. If you have not done so already, you’ll need to activate your IT Account to access My Manchester, which can be done via IT Account Manager.
You have a legal right to cancel your place by notifying us within 14 days of The University of Manchester’s acceptance of your application. You must notify us in writing with a clear statement communicating your decision – you may send an email with the subject line ‘Cancellation’ and provide your University student number and your full name to the named contact for your programme.
If we receive your cancellation request within these 14 days, any acceptance deposit that has been paid will be refunded. Outside these 14 days, please refer to 'Will my acceptance deposit be refunded if I cannot come to The University of Manchester' information on this page for further guidance.
If you would like to request a refund, please email the Admissions Team in your School or Department by 31 July 2026.
We understand things can change and that you may be unable to join us as planned. We are able to refund an acceptance deposit under certain circumstances, such as:
- you're holding a conditional offer and don’t meet the academic entry requirements needed for your programme. (You'll need to provide the official transcript/document showing that you haven't met the conditions of your offer as evidence for a refund to be approved).
- you're holding a conditional offer and don’t meet the English Language requirements for your programme. (You will need to provide the official certificate of an English Language test taken after the date of our offer for a refund to be approved. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any English Language certificate below our minimum requirement in your initial application, as this certificate will predate the offer).
- you're unable to travel to Manchester to begin your studies due to government restrictions on travel.
- you're unable to take your place due to yours or a dependent’s ill health, or a family bereavement.
- The University is unable to admit you due to the programme or specific mode of attendance previously agreed ceasing to be available.
- Exceptional circumstances.*
*We're currently updating the definition for exceptional circumstances and will add it to this webpage in due course. In the meantime, contact the Admissions Team in your School or Department if you have any questions.
In your email, please attach appropriate evidence, for example, an official transcript, medical note or a letter from your school or university.
If you’re unable to provide evidence that you’ve not met the conditions of your offer by your Department’s deadline, we’ll not be able to refund your deposit.
If you don’t pay your acceptance deposit by the deadline included in your offer letter, your offer of a place will be withdrawn. If you’re having difficulty paying by the deadline, please contact the Admissions Team in your School or Department for advice..
If your Admissions Team agrees to you deferring entry to the following academic year, any payment you’ve made will be held on account and form part of your tuition fees, once registered. If we cannot defer your place and you choose to withdraw, there is no automatic right to a refund.
If you have any questions about the acceptance deposit or making a payment, contact the Admissions Team in your School or Department.