From tuition fees to school trips, accommodation rent to lunch account top-ups, education providers face constant challenges in managing payments. Chasing arrears, handling sensitive card details, and reconciling thousands of transactions all take time away from delivering a better student experience.

SOTpay and SOTpay Connect give schools, academies, colleges and universities a secure, PCI DSS compliant way to collect payments across multiple channels. Whether it’s a parent paying for a school trip via WhatsApp, or a student setting up recurring rent for accommodation, SOTpay keeps payments secure, compliant, and efficient.

Why Education Providers Choose SOTpay

·         Tuition Fee Payments
 Collect large one-off or staged instalments securely, shifting fraud liability to the bank with 3-D Secure authentication.

·         Trips, Clubs & Activities
 Parents can pay quickly by secure link — SMS, email or WhatsApp — reducing cash handling and admin.

·         Lunch & Tuck Accounts
 Enable parents to top up biometric student accounts securely from any device, without sending cash into school.

·         Accommodation & Rent
 For universities and boarding schools, recurring payments ensure rent is collected reliably, with less chasing of arrears.

·         Reduced PCI Scope
 Sensitive card data never touches school systems, cutting compliance costs and protecting student and parent trust.

·         Lower Transaction Costs
 With Open Banking support, institutions reduce card processing fees and receive funds faster.

The Added Value of SOTpay Connect

·         Direct Debit & Recurring Schedules
 Automate monthly tuition fees or termly accommodation rent, reducing arrears and saving admin time.

·         Open Banking Transfers
 Give parents and students the option to pay directly from their bank account with lower fees and faster settlement.

·         Integration with MIS & Finance Tools
 Plugins for systems like Xero, QuickBooks and Sage streamline reconciliation, so finance teams spend less time matching payments.

·         Multi-Channel Flexibility
 Payment links can be shared via SMS, WhatsApp, email, or web — perfect for parents who aren’t on campus.

Real-World Applications

·         Schools: Collect trip payments or uniform fees securely via links instead of relying on cheques or envelopes of cash.

·         Colleges: Allow staged payments for course fees or material costs.

·         Universities: Automate accommodation rent, tuition instalments and society membership fees through Direct Debit.

·         Training Providers: Secure payments for short courses or online learning with instant, PCI-compliant links.

How It Works

1.      The institution issues a secure payment request — for fees, trips, or rent.

2.      Parent or student receives a branded payment link via SMS, email, or WhatsApp.

3.      Payment is completed securely, without card data entering the school’s systems.

4.      With SOTpay Connect, transactions reconcile automatically with MIS or finance software.

FAQs

Can parents pay instalments for tuition or trips?
 Yes. SOTpay Connect supports recurring and staged payments for flexibility.

Do we need to handle card details in school?
 No. Parents and students enter their own details in a secure hosted environment.

Can it reduce cash handling in schools?
 Yes. Payments can be made online or via secure links, eliminating the need for cash or cheques.

Does it integrate with our finance systems?
 Yes. Plugins for Xero, QuickBooks, Sage and more simplify reconciliation.

Is it suitable for student accommodation?
 Absolutely. Recurring payments are ideal for termly or monthly rent collection.

Smarter Payments for Education

From schools and colleges to universities and training providers, SOTpay and SOTpay Connect make payments simple, secure and compliant. Reduce arrears, cut costs, and give parents and students flexible ways to pay.