Can I pay the course fees in three installments at universities in Ireland and the UK?

Three-installment fee plans exist at many UK and Irish universities, but there is no single national policy guaranteeing this option, so you need to check each shortlisted university individually rather than assuming it applies everywhere.

UK Universities Offering Three Installments

• University of Manchester: Allows self-financing international students to pay in 3 installments, with one-third due at registration.
• Birmingham City University: Offers a 3-installment plan for international students, splitting the remaining balance 20% plus 40% plus 40% after initial arrangements for September 2026.
• Liverpool John Moores University: Lets eligible international students pay their remaining tuition, after the deposit, in 3 equal installments.

Where It Is Different

Not every UK university offers 3 installments to new students. Royal Holloway, for example, allows new international students starting in September 2026 only 2 equal installments rather than 3.

Ireland's More Restrictive Picture

Trinity College Dublin has allowed 3 installments for 2026 to 27, structured as 50% upfront, then 25% and 25%. University College Cork, by contrast, requires new non-EU undergraduate students in 2026 to 27 to pay their full tuition in one installment before registration, and its separate eight-month payment plan is not available to international students at all.

This Information Is Also Available On

University of Manchester's tuition instalment payment page and Trinity College Dublin's official fees and payments page.

My Advice

Confirm the exact instalment split, not just the number of instalments, since 3 instalments can mean an even one-third split or a front-loaded 50-25-25 arrangement that needs more cash upfront than you might expect. Check this before you commit to an offer, particularly if your loan disbursal schedule does not line up neatly with a university's registration-day deposit requirement.