Pension schemes
Our pension schemes are a valuable part of your pay and reward package and help you plan for the future you want. You contribute to one of NTU’s pension schemes, and so does NTU.
- NTU offers two occupational pension schemes – the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) if you are in an academic role and the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) if you are in a professional services or research role.
- We also offer an alternative pension scheme called the Retirement Savings Plan, which offers flexible contribution rates and other benefits. You can even contribute 0% and NTU will contribute 8% into your plan.
- If you were a contributing member of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) immediately before joining you may be able to remain in it. USS will also be available to all academic colleagues and colleagues on comparable grades (Grade H or above) from 1 August 2025.
- You save tax on the amount you contribute each month.
- You can choose to pay more contributions to boost your pension, if you wish.
- Pension schemes offer extra benefits which provide financial protection for your family, should something happen to you
When you join NTU, you are automatically enrolled into an occupational pension scheme.
Most colleagues are automatically enrolled into the relevant contractual pension scheme (either LGPS or TPS). You can still join or re-join if you have previously opted out.
Academic colleagues in a teaching role are enrolled into the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS).
Professional services, research, and support staff are enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
If for any reason your occupational pension scheme is not right for you, you can opt out.
More information about the LGPS, TPS, and USS including how to opt out is on MyHub.
If you have previously opted out and would like to join or re-join a pension scheme, please contact payroll@ntu.ac.uk .
The Retirement Savings Plan
The Retirement Savings Plan (RSP) offers colleagues an alternative way to save for their retirement.
- There are other valuable benefits for members of the Plan, such as Income Protection and Life Assurance (Death in service). For more information on the life assurance and income protection with the RSP click here.
- The Plan offers colleagues flexibility and choice of how much they contribute to the Plan. NTU will also pay contributions to your Plan depending on how much you contribute, up to a maximum of 14% from August 2025.
- You can even contribute 0% and NTU will contribute 8% into your plan.
- You can choose how to invest your pension fund if you wish to.
- There are a number of options at retirement, as well as benefits for dependants and beneficiaries.
- The pension fund is ‘portable’ so you can take it with you if you leave NTU.
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS)
If you are contributing to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) immediately before joining NTU, you may be able to remain in it. The USS is a hybrid scheme combining elements of Defined Contributions and Defined Benefit. You contribute 6.1% and the University contributes 14.5%.
From 1 August 2025, USS will also be available to all academic colleagues and colleagues on comparable grades (Grade H and above).
Please note: Colleagues can only be a member of one workplace pension scheme — if you wish to join the USS you'll need to opt out of your current pension scheme, e.g. the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) or the Retirement Savings Plan (RSP).
If you have previously been a member of USS at NTU please contact MyBenefits@ntu.ac.uk.