A fair, transparent and professional admissions process

At Royal Holloway we’re committed to operating a fair, transparent and professional admissions process, with all applications considered on an equal basis by a trained admissions team. 

In support of fair admissions, Royal Holloway strives to:

• Ensure admissions decisions are based on achievements and potential
• Ensure fair admissions processes are centrally based to ensure equality of educational opportunity, regardless of the social background of applicants
• Promote admissions processes that enable the fair treatment of each individual applicant without direct or indirect discrimination
• Give full consideration to applications
• Guarantee that admissions decisions are consistent and that each stage of the admissions process is carried out with honesty and integrity by staff with relevant and up-to-date knowledge and expertise
• Create parity of esteem between GCE A-level and other pre-HE qualification routes and fully recognise a wide range of international, access-based, and vocationally related qualifications and other indicators of potential
• Ensure the effective operation of the admissions process
• Make clear the criteria by which admissions decisions are made
• Encourage and support applicants from diverse backgrounds by minimising procedural and financial obstacles to entry
• Clearly document admissions decisions.

When you accept an offer of a place to study at Royal Holloway, University of London a legal contract is formed between you and the university on the basis of the terms and conditions 2025 of the offer. This document summarises those terms and conditions. It contains important information and you need to read it carefully and ensure you understand its contents before accepting your offer.

We advise that you make yourself familiar with the Student Policies and Procedures when you accept your offer.

The majority of students at Royal Holloway are 18 or above, and the academic life and social environment of the university reflect this. However, we recognise that some individuals who have already met the entry requirements for study can start at a younger age.

The university strongly recommends that applicants who will be under 17 years of age on entry consider carefully whether they would be able to benefit fully from the educational and social opportunities on offer. The university does not accept an in loco parentis responsibility for children (i.e. those under 18 years of age at entry). The university does however recognise it has a duty of care and is committed to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm.

Applicants who will be under the age of 16 on entry are not permitted to enrol at the university. Any such applicants will, where appropriate, be offered a deferred entry place. If this is not possible the application will be rejected.

Applicants who will be under 18 years of age on the published start date of the programme, and their parents and guardians, must confirm to the university as a condition of registration:

If you are under 18 years of age, then you will need the consent of your parents or guardians in order to study here.

You can find our Under 18’s Parent or Guardian Information and Consent Form here.

A fully trained member of the Admissions team will assess your fee status questionnaire once received. The Admissions Office also follows guidelines suggested by the UK Council for International Student Advice (UKCISA).

The University seeks to make fair and accurate judgments at all times. Should we require further information, we will contact you in writing.

Please note:  We cannot discuss personal fee status liability over the telephone or via email before an official assessment is made by the University’s Admissions Office.

Please also note that if you do not submit the necessary documents, this will delay assessment and could delay your future enrolment.

You can view the outcome of your fee status assessment on the application portal. You will need to input your personal student reference number found at the top of your offer letter.

View the outcome on the application portal.

Should you wish to appeal the decision made, please contact us for further advice.

Please note, in some circumstances, a student is eligible to change their fee status after the first day of their first year of academic studies. To find out whether you are eligible, please contact us for further advice.

Alternatively, if you are an International Applicant, find out more at UKCISA

Some applicants will need to submit documentary evidence supporting their fee status questionnaire. Not all applicants will need to submit these documents.

Typically, we will require supporting documents from applicants who have not always lived in the UK, are not British citizens, or have been absent from the UK for a significant period of time.

The documents required for assessment may be one or more of the following:

a)    Clear whole photocopies of your passport or proof of citizenship

b)    Proof of Indefinite Leave to Remain / Right of Abode

c)     Proof of Exceptional Leave to Remain / Enter / Humanitarian Protection / Discretionary Leave or Proof of Refugee status

d)  If your main residence has been outside of the UK, then we would require proof that you have been regularly returning to the UK e.g. Flight itineraries.

In certain circumstances, we may also request a letter from your parents' employer, should your parents' work have taken you out of the UK on a temporary basis.

Where photocopies of documents have been provided, applicants will be expected to show the original documents at enrolment.

For international students, UKCISA publish comprehensive guidance notes on fee status.

What is the deadline for submitting a fee status questionnaire?

We recommend that if you disagree with our fee assessment you should send in a fee status questionnaire before 31 July 2025 for September entry.

1. Transfers between courses at Royal Holloway 

1.1. The arrangements for transfers between courses at Royal Holloway is detailed in the Process to Change Degree Programme for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students. 

1.2. Students who wish to change their degree programme must meet the standard entry requirements of the programme that they wish to transfer to and may also be asked to write a statement as to why they wish to change degree. The Department/School and Student Administration approve changes to degree programmes and making the request does not mean that it will be approved. Some students may not be able to change degree programme, for example, students with a Student Visa sponsored by the University may not be able to change programme due to visa restrictions. Continuing students can request to change degree programme after results have been published in the summer up to the end of the third week of teaching. After the third week of teaching, only a Change of Pathway request or a Change in Award or Progression request can be made.

1.3. This guidance does not apply to students who have not yet started their first year of study on a Royal Holloway programme.

2. Transfers to Royal Holloway from another Higher Education provider

For undergraduate study 

2.1. Our approach is detailed in the Admissions Policy under Accreditation of Prior Learning paragraph 8.36.

2.2. 'The College will consider undergraduate applicants for second year entry on an individual basis. Vacancies for second year entry are extremely limited and may not be available in all departments. Applicants wishing to apply for second year entry should demonstrate a strong academic performance in their current course and will normally be required to meet the first year entry requirements for the course they are applying for. In addition, applicants need to meet the required progression requirements. Any applicants wishing to apply for second year entry must do so via UCAS.'

For postgraduate taught study

2.3. Our approach is detailed in the Postgraduate Academic Regulation in Section 2: Recognition of Prior Learning. The most relevant paragraph is copied below:

2.4. 'Applicants with accredited prior learning deemed acceptable to the College may be admitted with advanced standing to postgraduate study only in up to two thirds of the programme. The College will consider the recognition of accredited prior learning and the recording of such learning as exemption from part of the programme subject to the following conditions: (a) credit will be recognised only for learning which has been verified through reliable and valid assessment, unless otherwise specified as part of an institutional agreement; (b) the College will only consider for the purposes of recognition of prior learning and exemption information on courses and examination results provided and certified by the appropriate officer at the institution responsible for the delivery of those courses.'

2.5. Postgraduate taught courses at Royal Holloway are one year in duration, so requests for transfer are very rare. In order to transfer onto a postgraduate taught course, students are required to meet our minimum entry requirements for postgraduate study (as detailed on our website), and the modules they have already studied at another institution must be deemed to be of similar academic context to the modules they will have missed at Royal Holloway. Due to the structure of modules, students can only transfer to start in January.

For postgraduate research study

2.6. Our approach is detailed in our Research Degree Regulations under Arrangements for admissions, registration and enrolment paragraph 4.1. The most relevant paragraph is copied below:

2.7. An applicant who has followed a programme of postgraduate research of at least twelve months of full-time study, or 24 months of part-time study at another institution may be considered for exemption from part of a an MPhil or PhD programme at the College. A student who started a Masters by Research with the College and wishes to transfer to an MPhil or PhD programme may be considered for exemption from part of an MPhil or PhD programme at the University.

2.8. To transfer onto a postgraduate research study, students are are required to meet our minimum entry requirements for postgraduate study (as detailed on our website), and the department will need to confirm the availability of a relevant supervisor. Once these requirements are confirmed, an application to study can be made via our website. The department will advise regarding when enrolment can take place.

3. Transfers from Royal Holloway to another Higher Education provider

3.1.Students who wish to transfer from Royal Holloway to another Higher Education provider are considered in the same way as students who withdraw.

3.2. Students who wish to withdraw are required to submit one of the following forms:

• Withdrawal of study for Undergraduate Students
• Withdrawal of study for Postgraduate Taught Students
• Withdrawal of study for Postgraduate Research Students

3.3. Students who wish to withdraw must arrange an appointment with their Personal Advisor, Academic Co-ordinator or Head of Department to discuss the details of their withdrawal request before the form is completed and signed by the student and the academic department.

Cancelling acceptance prior to enrolment

Applicants have the right to withdraw their application at any time before enrolment when there is no fee liability. Any deposit will be refunded if the withdrawal request is made within 14 days of payment or within 14 days of the original acceptance of the offer if teaching of the course has not commenced. An admin fee may be charged in some circumstances. This will be done in accordance with the table below:

*Please note, the following are NOT considered an appropriate recognised funding body:

1. A private short-term loan from a bank or financial institution.
2.  An unlicensed money lender.

• The University closes entirely or modifies the material of the course to which the applicant has applied to e.g., degree award or significant module changes.
• Sympathetic consideration will be given in cases of exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or a death in the immediate family. Please note that documentary evidence of such circumstances will need to be provided. Decisions on refunding the deposit in such cases will be made solely at an Admissions Senior Managers' discretion.
• If the applicant meets any of the above criteria, they need to send an email to the Admissions Office which includes all of the following details:- 
  o    Full name
  o    Date of birth
  o    Student reference number
  o    Course applied to
  o    A scanned copy of all documentary evidence.

All requests for deposit refunds need to be submitted no later than 30 days after the official start date of the course.

Important notes:

1. Applicants will not qualify for a deposit refund if:
   • their offer from the College is withdrawn due to fraudulent documentation or false information in the application at any point in the application stage.
   • fraudulent documentation is provided to the University at any stage pre and post-application to circumvent fee liability.
   • their Student Visa application is refused due to fraudulent documentation or information submission. A successful Administrative Review (AR) overturning this outcome will need to be provided to RHUL to support a refund being considered. 
   • their study plans have changed, for example, they have decided to study elsewhere or are no longer planning to study abroad, except when the University has been informed of this decision and no tuition or CAS Admin fee liability has been incurred.
   • They have used their CAS to obtain entry to the UK and have failed to leave the UK prior to the refund request.
2. If an applicant has paid more towards their tuition fee than the required deposit, any money paid over and above the deposit will be refundable in all circumstances. i.e. only the required deposit amount would be retained if the applicant does not meet the requirements for a deposit refund.
3. A deposit paid to the College will be counted as a payment towards course tuition fee.
4. Any deposit refund agreed by the University will only be made to the person who made the original payment and only to the originating account.
5. Using altered or fraudulent documents to support any attempt to gain a refund will forfeit your right to a refund 
6. If a student defers their offer to the following intake:
   
   • within 14 days of offer acceptance or deposit payment, they are automatically entitled to a refund following the standard refund policy guidance stated above.
   • after 14 days of offer acceptance or deposit payment, they are only entitled to a refund in exceptional circumstances laid out in the section Cancelling acceptance after 14 days
   • after 30 days of the start date of the academic programme, the deposit is no longer refundable.
7. If an application has been deferred to the following intake after an unsuccessful refund application for a previous programme, the University reserves the right to deny or limit the subsequent refund request according to the original intake fee/deposit liability.
8. Once an applicant becomes a student via the enrolment process, they become liable to the University under Student Fees Regulations.

Find out how to make an application complaint

In the first instance, please contact Admissions below informally at;

Admissions Office

Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham
Surrey
TW20 0EX

Telephone: +44 (0)1784 414944

Email: applicants@rhul.ac.uk

Fax: +44 (0)1784 473662

If you have applied via an agent supported by our strategic partner, Study Group, please send your complaint to RHapplicants@studygroup.com.

See our guidance for parents and supporters.

Student Protection Plan

• What is the Student Protection Plan?

The plan tells you, as a student or applicant, what actions will be taken if a course, the campus or the whole institution closes. The plan outlines our assessment of the risk of these things happening and the measures we have in place to protect you as our students in the event one of these risks actually takes place and impacts on the continuation of your studies. Royal Holloway has a clear commitment to preserving the continuation of study for all students. Any issues that arise relating to this are brought to the attention of the Executive Board. If this plan needs to be triggered, then this document explains how we will support you to continue or complete your studies or compensate you if this was not possible. This Student Protection Plan is reviewed annually by the Executive Board, Council (the Universities governing body), and the Students Union.

• Who is covered by the plan?

All current students and applicants who have firmly accepted the offer of a place at Royal Holloway are covered by the plan.

• What are the risks to the continuation of my studies?

The key risks to the University’s ability to deliver courses are as follows:

1. Permanent closure of the whole University
2. Temporary shutdown of the whole, or part of campus
3. Permanent closure of a campus location
4. Course closure and/or changes to material components of courses of study
5. Closure of collaborative partners
6. University of London closure
7. Loss of UKVI Sponsor Licence
8. Industrial action

• What would happen if one or more of the risks actually happened that meant my course was closed?

The University would trigger the Student Protection Plan and in the first instance would strive to support you to complete your studies (this is often referred to as ‘teaching out’). If we were unable to continue your studies then we would assist you to transfer to a related alternative course within the university, or if appropriate, to another institution. In the unlikely event that you had to transfer to an alternative provider then consideration would be given to ensure the alternative course was ‘comparable’, in terms of graduate prospects and student satisfaction levels.

If we were unable to support you to continue your studies then the university will consider reimbursing and compensating you in line with Student Fee Regulations.

• What reassurance can the University give to me in terms of its ability to deliver my course?

The Student Protection Plan is intended to offer you reassurance that we have appropriate measures in place to offer you protection. We work hard to ensure the measures in place greatly reduce the need for the plan to be triggered. For example we have robust financial sustainability, we take CMA guidance very seriously, we ensure we provide good quality degrees and we have good governance systems. Our business continuity plans ensure that we can continue to deliver courses and assessment during any temporary campus closure, while ensuring that academic standards are met. Academic and Student Support services all have the ability to continue to provide delivery of services online to support your needs.  Through the plan, Royal Holloway offers a clear commitment to preserving the continuation of study for all current and potential students. We worked with the Student Union to develop this plan and we will continue to collaborate with students each time this plan is updated. The Student Protection Plan is a requirement for registration with the Office for Students who are the regulators of Higher Education.

The Student Protection Plan can be read in full here.

You can read our Access and Participation plan (2020/21- 2024/25) document and summary. 

Our 2019/20 APP monitoring – provider impact report can be found here.

Information on our fee limits can be found below:

2021-22 fee information summary

2022-23 fee information summary

2023-24 fee information summary

2024-25 fee information summary