Accepting your offer and paying safely

When you have chosen your offer, you accept it with the university. Many universities then ask for a deposit before they send your confirmation letter. This guide shows how to do both safely.

Before you accept

• Wait until you have the offers you are hoping for, if you can. Your counsellor will help you compare them.
• Compare the year-one cost, the conditions, the deadlines and the refund rules.
• Check the deadline to accept. If you miss it, the offer may be withdrawn.

How to accept

• Direct applications (most master's courses): you accept in the university's applicant portal, or by email, as the offer says.
• UCAS applications (UK undergraduate): you reply in your UCAS account. You choose a firm choice (your first choice) and you can choose an insurance choice (a back-up, usually with lower conditions). You go to your insurance choice only if you miss the conditions of your firm choice and meet those of your insurance choice.

UCAS reply dates for 2027 entry

If your last decision arrives by	Your reply date is
31 March 2027	5 May 2027
12 May 2027	2 June 2027
14 July 2027	21 July 2027

Paying a deposit safely

A deposit is part of your first year's tuition fee, paid early. It is taken off what you owe later. Follow these rules every time:

1. Pay the university only. Use the payment method shown on the university's own website or in its official portal. Some universities use a payment company. That is fine if the university's own website sends you to it.
2. Never pay into a personal bank account, or to an agent, a friend, or "a staff member". Universities do not ask for this.
3. Check the bank details yourself. If you get new bank details by email, check them with the university first, using contact details from its website, not from the email.
4. Be careful of pressure. Scammers say "pay today or lose your place", or offer a discount for a quick payment.
5. Pay from your own or your sponsor's account, so the money can be refunded to the same place.
6. Keep the receipt and upload it in your student portal. Your counsellor checks that the university has received it.

MIE Connect is free for students. We never ask you to pay a deposit or tuition fee to us. If anyone asks you to pay money to MIE Connect, do not pay, and tell us.

Refunds: read the rules before you pay

Each university has its own deposit refund policy. They are not all the same. Before you pay, find the answers to these questions:

• Do I get my deposit back if my visa is refused? What proof do I need, for example the refusal letter?
• Can I get it back if I change my mind? Is there a time limit?
• Can I get it back if I do not meet my offer conditions?
• Is any part kept as a fee?
• How long does a refund take, and where is the money sent?

Two real examples

These show how different the rules can be. Always read the policy of your own university.

• Aberystwyth University (policy checked on 24 October 2026): you can cancel within 14 days of paying, for any reason. If your visa is refused, you can ask for a refund with the official refusal notice, but not if the refusal was because of false information, wrong or inconsistent documents, or missing evidence. A £200 fee applies to some refunds.
• University of Hull (policy dated May 2026): you can ask for a refund at any time and for any reason, but your offer is then withdrawn. Hull refunds the deposit if you do not meet your offer conditions, and may keep it if there is evidence of fraud.

If you think you have been scammed

1. Stop paying. Do not send more money.
2. Contact your bank straight away.
3. Tell the university, using contact details from its own website.
4. Tell your counsellor.
5. In the UK, report it to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk. In another country, report it to your local police.

Where this information comes from

We checked these pages on 24 October 2026:

• UCAS: Replying to your offers
• GOV.UK: Fraud, tricks and scams
• IRCC: International student fraud ("Always pay tuition fees directly to the school")
• UKCISA: Frauds and scams
• Aberystwyth University: International deposit refund policy (example)
• University of Hull: International tuition fee deposit policy (example)

Each university sets its own payment and refund rules. Your counsellor will check your own case.