Refunds

Refund process

These are the steps you need to take to request a refund from Umeå University

1. Email tuitionfees@umu.se stating your request for a refund.
2. You will receive the request form.
3. Fill out and submit the form to tuitionfees@umu.se together with all the required documentation.
4. A refund officer will review your request, and make a decision based upon the documentation you have provided.
5. (If granted) International Office will send information regarding the refund to the University's Finance Office, which will request that the University's bank, Danske Bank, refunds the money to the account that the payment was made from.

*Please note that the date that the refund officer begins a case is dependent on when the student has sent in a complete request.

Timeline

Due to the heavy workload at the start of each semester, we do not start the processing of refund requests until about a month into the semester. After this, our aim is for you to have received a decision on your request for a refund by 15 November for the autumn semester and 15 April for the spring semester.

Refund requests submitted after 15 April for the autumn semester, and 15 November for the spring semester will be subject to an administrative fee. The administrative fee is SEK 2,500 per 7.5 credits. The deadline is based upon the date the student sent in a complete request. This rule applies to tuition fees paid for autumn 2025 and for following semesters and applies to both new and current students.

All documentation and emails sent to tuitionfees@umu.se will be taken into consideration before a decision on the request for a refund is made. If further information is required, the tuition fees team will contact you. If you have contacted them once, please do not contact them again. Your case will be dealt with in due time.

Deadline to request a refund

There is no official deadline to request a refund, however there are some important dates to bear in mind.

Pay attention to the last day where you must be present at Umeå University in order to register for your courses. This deadline can be found on your Notification of Selection Results (Admissions Letter). If you have any questions regarding the last day you must be present, please contact your programme coordinator. You can contact them by finding the programme page and scrolling to the bottom of the page to the "Contact us" form.

Another date is the deadline to unregister/withdraw from courses through Ladok (if you have registered for courses). It is very important that you cancel that registration within three weeks of the course starting. Any withdrawals made after this three-week deadline will make you ineligible for a refund.

Refund requests submitted for studies after 15 April for the autumn semester, and 15 November for the spring semester will be subject to an administrative fee. The administrative fee is SEK 2,500 per 7.5 credits. The deadline is based upon the date the student sent in a complete request. This rule applies to studies beginning in autumn 2025 and for following semesters.

If you will not be attending Umeå University, we recommend that you contact your programme coordinator to let them know. You should also contact the Accommodation Service if you have already secured housing through them

Contact the Accommodation Service at housing@umu.se

Waiting for a decision from Umeå University

If you have already contacted the tuition fees team about a refund, you will be sent the refund request form and further instructions. There is no need to contact them again unless you are asked to provide additional information.

How Umeå University makes a decision

Umeå University’s decision is based on the documentation you provide. Refund cases are only processed from the date you sent in a complete request. If further information is required, Umeå University will contact you. If no further information is provided despite reminders from the University, a decision is made based on the available documentation. It is your responsibility as a student to provide the requested documentation, and to make sure all information is correct.

Once you have received a decision

Once you have received a decision from Umeå University, if the request is granted, Umeå University's Finance Office will request that the University's bank, Danske Bank, refunds your payment to the bank account that the payment was made from.

Please note that we cannot estimate the time that it will take to receive your refund. The processing can, in some cases, take several months. Umeå University takes responsibility for sending the money from our account to your account, we are not responsible for actions taken by intermediary banks (such as administrative fees or the time taken for the payment to reach your account).

You may request that Umeå University asks the bank to provide a tracker ID, in order to track your payment. You will need to contact us to request this. Please note that it can take up to two months to receive a tracker ID.

Refund eligibility

A student may request a refund, but refunds are only granted in specific circumstances. Examples of such circumstances where a refund could be granted are listed in the section "Grounds to request a refund". Please note that we do not guarantee a refund, as each case is assessed individually. You will also need to unregister yourself from courses within three weeks of the course start date in order to be eligible for a refund. See he section "Unregister from courses" for more information.

Refunds are not possible for amounts under SEK 1,000.

Grounds to request a refund

The following are valid grounds to request a refund of paid tuition fees:

• if your programme or course has been cancelled by the University;
• if you are not granted a residence permit by the Swedish Migration Agency, or do not receive a permit in time to start your studies at Umeå University;
• if you have made an incorrect payment (e.g. a double payment);
• if your fee status changes before the start of the semester (e.g. you are granted EU citizenship/a residence permit for reasons other than studies). Please note! If your fee status changes during an ongoing semester and you have registered for courses, a refund cannot be given for the registered courses. This also applies to semesters that have passed. The reimbursement is not retroactive, you can only request a refund on the grounds that your fee status has changed before you registered for a course. Umeå University bases its decision on the period of the residence permit;
• if you receive a scholarship after having paid your tuition fees. A refund cannot be given for any registered courses (See section "Unregister from courses"); or
• if you have other special circumstances that hinder your studies.

Unregister from courses

Please note that to be eligible for a refund, you will need to be unregistered from any courses for which you are requesting a refund within three weeks of the course start date (if you have already registered). A discontinuation after three weeks will not be grounds for a refund. To make an early discontinuation, you should contact the study administrator at your department.

Circumstances making you ineligible for a refund

If you have been suspended from studies due to non-payment of tuition or based on a decision from the Disciplinary Board, Administrative Court, The Higher Education Appeals Board, or Higher Education Expulsions Board, you will not receive a refund.

Students who have not unregistered themselves from courses through Ladok within three weeks of the course start date are ineligible for a refund.

If you have received a new residence permit status after you registered for a course or completed a course, you are ineligible for a refund. Receiving a refund due to a change in residence status is only possible if you contact the University regarding your fee status before registering on the course.