Membership subscriptions and refunds

The College is committed to providing clear and transparent information about membership subscriptions, cancellations, category changes and refunds.

Membership fees cover the full membership year, which runs from 1 October to 30 September. Members can choose to pay their annual subscription in full or, where available, spread the cost by Direct Debit instalments.

Refund policy

1. Cancelling your membership

The following cancellation terms apply:

  • Existing members - cancellation by 31 October: If you are an existing member and wish to cancel your membership for the current membership year, you must notify the College in writing by 31 October. If your cancellation is received by this deadline, your membership will be cancelled, and you will be eligible for a full refund of your membership subscription
  • Existing members - requests after 31 October: Membership for the current membership year cannot normally be cancelled after 31 October, and the full annual membership subscription remains payable. However, you can submit your resignation in writing, which will be processed for the end of the current membership year. Your membership will remain active until 30 September and will not renew for the following membership year
  • New members joining after 1 October: If you join the College after 1 October, you have 14 days from your joining date to cancel your membership. If you cancel within this period, your membership will be cancelled and any membership subscription paid will be refunded. After the 14-day cancellation period, your membership fee for the remainder of the membership year will remain payable and will not normally be refunded

If you pay by Direct Debit
Paying by Direct Debit allows you to spread the cost of your annual membership subscription. It does not make your membership a monthly subscription.

If your membership remains payable, cancelling your Direct Debit with your bank does not cancel your College membership or remove your responsibility to pay the outstanding subscription.

If your Direct Debit is cancelled and a balance remains outstanding, the College will contact you to arrange payment.

2. Joining part-way through the membership year

New members who join after the start of the membership year will be charged a pro-rata membership fee for the period from their joining date to 30 September.

New members joining after 1 October have 14 days from their joining date to cancel. After this period, the pro-rata membership fee is non-refundable unless exceptional circumstances apply.

3. Changing your membership category

If your circumstances change, you may request to change your membership category once during each membership year, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the new category

  • If your new category has a lower membership fee, any refund or adjustment due will be calculated on a pro-rata basis from the effective date of the change
  • If your new category has a higher membership fee, you will be required to pay the pro-rata difference for the remainder of the membership year
  • Once a category change has been processed, a further change will not normally be permitted during the same membership year

Reduced membership rates are available on request and are subject to meeting the relevant eligibility criteria.

4. Exceptional circumstances

We recognise that exceptional circumstances can arise. Requests for cancellation, category changes or refunds outside the standard policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact the Membership Services team. You may also be eligible for support through the College's Benevolent Fund.

5. Deceased members

In the event of a member's death, the College will provide a full refund of the membership subscription.

Once we have received the required confirmation and documentation, any refund due will be returned to the original paying bank account.

Frequently asked questions

If you are an existing member and notify us that you wish to cancel by 31 October, you are eligible for a full refund of your membership subscription for that membership year.

If you cancel after 31 October, the full annual membership subscription remains payable and a refund will not normally be provided. You may still submit your resignation; however, your membership will remain active until the end of the current membership year and will be cancelled on 30 September. Your resignation will therefore take effect from the start of the following membership year.

If you are a new member who joined after 31 October, you have 14 days from the date you joined to cancel your membership and request a refund. After this 14-day cancellation period has passed, your membership subscription will remain payable for the remainder of the current membership year, ending 30 September.

Yes. If your circumstances change and you are eligible for another membership category, you can request a change of membership category.

Members may request one membership category change during each membership year.

Where the new category has a lower membership fee, any refund or adjustment will be calculated on a pro-rata basis from the effective date of the change.

Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements for the reduced membership category and have not already changed your membership category during the current membership year.

Any refund due will be based on the difference between the membership fees and calculated on a pro-rata basis from the effective date of the category change.

If your circumstances mean you are eligible for a reduced membership category, please contact the Membership Services team to request a category change.

If approved, your membership fee will be adjusted and any refund due will be calculated on a pro-rata basis from the effective date of the change.

Please note that members can normally request one category change per membership year.

If you are an existing member and request to cancel your membership by 31 October, you are eligible for a full refund.

After 31 October, the annual membership subscription remains payable and no refund will normally be provided.

If you have become eligible for a different membership category, please contact the Membership Services team to discuss whether a category change is appropriate.

Paying by Direct Debit allows you to spread the cost of your annual membership subscription. It does not make your membership a monthly subscription.

If you cancel your membership after 31 October, the remaining balance of your annual membership subscription will still be payable.

If your Direct Debit has been cancelled, we will contact you regarding payment of the outstanding balance.

Cancelling your Direct Debit with your bank does not automatically cancel your College membership.

Yes. If you are a new member joining after 31 October, you have 14 days from the date you join to notify us that you wish to cancel.

If you cancel within this period, your membership will be cancelled and any membership subscription paid will be refunded.

After the 14-day period, your membership fee will remain payable.

We recognise that exceptional circumstances can arise. Requests outside the standard cancellation and refund policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact the Membership Services team with details of your circumstances.

We understand that financial circumstances can change unexpectedly.

Although the annual membership subscription remains payable after 31 October, members experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to contact us to discuss their circumstances and explore the support that may be available through the College's Benevolent Fund.

The Benevolent Fund is designed to support members experiencing financial hardship and may be able to assist with membership costs or provide other forms of support.

Important notes

  • Membership year: 1 October to 30 September
  • Annual subscriptions are due on 1 October
  • Cancellation deadline for a full refund: 31 October
  • After 31 October, the full annual subscription remains payable
  • New members joining after 1 October have a 14-day cancellation period
  • One membership category change is permitted per membership year, subject to eligibility
  • Category changes are calculated on a pro-rata basis
  • Exceptional circumstances are considered case by case

Contact us

For further information, to cancel your membership, request a membership category change or discuss a refund, please contact our Membership Services team:

You can also contact the Membership team using our online contact form.