I’ll never forget being in the library when I received a notification about an overdue tuition payment.
It completely threw me off, my blood pressure spiked, and worried that everything I’d worked for was under threat. In that moment, I decided that no other student should have to face that problem.
That personal crisis became the catalyst for one of the most significant policy changes of my time as President of Activities at the University of Sunderland – the successful implementation of a student-friendly tuition fee payment plan that has transformed how 12,000 international students manage their finances.
As a graduate of this university myself, I knew the crushing pressure of tuition fee deadlines wasn’t unique to my experience. When I began my term as President of Activities, it quickly became clear this was one of the most pressing issues facing our student body.
The numbers tell the story – out of our 18,000 students on the main campus, 12,000 are international students, and virtually all of them were struggling with the rigid 50-50 payment structure – 50 per cent before arrival, 50 per cent after registration.
Many were juggling part-time jobs, family responsibilities, and the increasing cost of living whilst pursuing their education. But there’s also a dangerous misconception that every international student is wealthy and can easily access funds from their home country.
The reality is that economic policies, currency crises, and government decisions in their home countries often make transferring money incredibly difficult.
Students told me they had the money for tuition, but unexpected costs for transportation, accommodation, and maintenance kept arising, forcing them to dip into funds they’d earmarked for fees.
The rigid payment structure left little room for flexibility, causing anxiety and in some cases, risking students’ enrolment status entirely.
Building the case for change
The breakthrough moment came during one of our monthly catch-up meetings between the SU and the university’s senior leadership team. I posed a simple question: “Why do our students struggle to make their payments?” Nobody in the room could give me an answer.
That’s when I knew I needed to do the research and build an evidence-based case.
I launched a campaign in early 2024 petitioning the University for a flexible tuition fee payment plan. Through surveys, one-on-one forums, and case studies, I gathered over 1,125 signatures from students.
Students shared stories of financial strain, delayed payments, and fear of exclusion – all of which we documented and presented to the University’s Senior Leadership Team.
The university’s initial response was understandable but frustrating. They had existing credit control systems and financial recovery procedures that they felt were working. Change is never easy, and they were concerned about the risks of opening up payment plans – when would be the cutoff point? How could they manage the additional administrative burden?
My strategy involved careful power mapping to identify who had the real influence to turn the situation around. Whilst the Chief Financial Officer was initially distant from the proposal, I focused on getting the Vice Chancellor on board first. The key argument that won them over was demonstrating that structured payment plans actually represented less risk than the existing system.
Under the old 50-50 model, if a student dropped out, the university could lose 50 per cent of the fees. With instalment plans and early commitment from students, the risk was more distributed and manageable.
After months of meetings, consultations, and persistent advocacy, our campaign reached a significant milestone. In October 2024, the university officially implemented a structured tuition fee payment plan, allowing self-funding students to split their tuition payments over more manageable instalments.
The transformation
The impact has been profound and quantifiable. According to feedback from the University’s Chief Financial Officer, the debt rate has plummeted from 56 per cent to 25 per cent since implementation in August. Students now know they’re committed to a manageable monthly payment rather than facing the stress of finding £18,000 in one go during a cost-of-living crisis.
The benefits extend beyond the numbers. Fewer students have withdrawn from their studies due to financial stress, student tuition fee debt profiles have decreased significantly, and many students now report feeling more in control of their finances and more focused on their academic success. Perhaps most importantly, students no longer face the constant anxiety of aggressive payment demands.
When I attend graduation ceremonies now and see students who might have otherwise dropped out walking across that stage, the joy and happiness on their faces makes every challenging meeting worthwhile. During my time in 2022, dropout rates were devastatingly high, but now we’re seeing students flow through from enrolment to graduation.
One challenge we’re still addressing is communication with recruitment agents. Some agents were initially giving prospective students false information about payment plans before we’d officially implemented them, creating confusion and unrealistic expectations.
We’re now working directly with our regional markets and recruitment partners to ensure accurate information reaches prospective students from the outset.
A model for change
This success isn’t just a policy change – it’s a demonstration of what happens when students’ voices are not only heard but acted upon. The campaign has fostered stronger collaboration between the SU and the university, setting a precedent for future student-focused policies and earning recognition from the University’s Chief Financial Officer as a model of partnership.
As my two-term journey as a Sabbatical Officer comes to an end in two weeks’ time, I leave knowing that we’ve built strong foundations. From reshaping how students access education financially, to influencing transport and housing policy, our collective efforts have sparked meaningful progress.
To every student who shared a concern, signed a petition, attended a meeting, or simply raised their voice – you were part of this success.
As we continue working to improve student experience, let this achievement remind us that advocacy works, and together, we can build a university experience where no one is left behind because of financial hardship.
