International Sponsored Students

You are a sponsored student if your tuition fees will be fully paid by an external organisation. This may be an employer, government body or embassy (not a family member).

You need to inform the University as soon as possible once your sponsorship is confirmed by sending us an approved official Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL). Depending on the conditions of your sponsorship, you may still be required to pay the tuition fee deposit or the tuition fees. The University will send a tuition fee invoice as instructed in the Financial Guarantee Letter.

This page should explain how the process works and answer any questions you have.

How it Works Step by Step

1. Applicant submits a program application to Aston University
2. Applicant receives and accepts the program offer from Aston University
3. Applicant/Sponsor shares the Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL) with Aston University (Admissions team and sponsor team)
4. The deposit payment requirement will be waived, if the sponsor is paying the tuition fees to the University. In all other cases, the student is still responsible for the deposit payment.
5. Applicant follows the normal CAS and VISA application process, and enrols
6. *Applicant needs to make sure the sponsor settles the tuition fee payment*

Your Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL)

Please include the following information in your Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL):

• Student name, Aston ID
• University and program name
• Date of the letter, the period or dates the sponsorship covers
• Full details of where the invoice should be addressed including an email address
• Contact details of the sponsor
• Bank details of the sponsor
• The amount of money the sponsor is contributing for tuition fees and living costs OR a statement that the official sponsor will cover all of your fees and maintenance

Sharing of personal information between the University and your sponsor

You will sign a consent form regarding the sharing of your information with your sponsor during your study at the university. This can include information related to your offer, academic results, engagement etc.

The Sponsored Student's Responsibilities

• Submit your FGL to sponsors@aston.ac.uk and admissions team.
• Ensure the fees are settled by your sponsor or yourself. You are liable for any outstanding payments during your study, any related debts could affect your progression and graduation at the university.
• Fulfil any requirements from your sponsors, such as obtaining and providing related documents, maintaining the required attendance rate, academic results etc.
• Update the university if there are any changes to your sponsorship status or any other details.
• Submit an updated FGL if the period of study is extended, this could be due to repeating years, leave of absence etc.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I only secure my sponsorship at a later stage of the admissions process?

Please submit the Financial Guarantee Letter (FGL) to the University as soon as possible once you have confirmed the sponsorship to sponsors@aston.ac.uk. The team will then update the relevant records.

What happens if I have paid the deposit myself already?

You can submit a refund request in the My Aston Portal (MAP) system for the deposit payment you have made. Your sponsor would receive an invoice with the full tuition fee.

Am I eligible for any university scholarships?

No, sponsored students are not eligible for any university scholarships. Scholarships are for fully self-funded students only.

What happens if my sponsor does not pay the fee accordingly?

You will be liable for all the outstanding payments personally. Unable to clear the outstanding payment could affect your access to resources, progression and graduation at the university etc. This would also affect your credit score.