Is this normal - exam fees?

supersaver2

Hi All,

Just had a phone call from my sister who was a bit upset. She is doing a distance learning degree and they have an exam every month. She has just been told she has failed her latest exam and that she must resist it next month after her December exam and that she has to pay £250.00 exam fees. She has never failed an exam during her degree which she has been doing for nearly 2 years and having to pay this large amount of money upfront is news to her?

Is this normal for a distance learning degree? Seems fairly expensive to me, especially for a student. She is working, but on min wage and the course is paid for by a student loan. She isn't sure where she can get £250.00 in December, i can always lend it to her I suppose.

Is this normal practice to charge so much?

Many thanks.

NotSureWhatDayItIs

Yes it is normal not only for a distance learning degree but normal ones too.

Exam fees aren't cheap.

bewildered123

Resit fees are fairly normal but that seems very high to resit just one exam (way above anything charged by the universities I've worked for). It might be worth asking whether it's possible to pay in instalments?

supersaver2

bewildered123 wrote: »

Resit fees are fairly normal but that seems very high to resit just one exam (way above anything charged by the universities I've worked for). It might be worth asking whether it's possible to pay in instalments?

I've spoken to my sister today and she said it has to be paid up front! Does seem a lot to find up front for a student, but I've told her I'll lend it her and she can pay me back in instalments (and not to fail anymore exams!)