1 Payment of Fees
Full fees must be paid before visa documents are issued and no later than 14 days before arrival. Transfers, accommodation or tuition will not be provided unless full payment has been received.
2 Services
The company reserves the right to change details of its services, including courses, facilities and course dates, where circumstances beyond the company's control necessitate such changes or where the number of enrolments is not enough to operate a course viably.
3 Course Entry Levels
Most courses require minimum levels of English for entry - see each course page for details. If after the placement test, a student is found to be below the minimum level required to start the course, the school reserves the right to place the student in a class with fewer lessons and a different curriculum. In the UK, students may be transferred to the nearest centre running a lower level course.
What is my level of English?
4 Changes to Enrolments
The company reserves the right to charge an Administration Fee (GBP 50; USD 80; AUD200; NZD 240) each time course or accommodation details are changed after a place has been confirmed. This fee will not apply to upgraded or extended courses. Notification of change to airport transfers must be sent to our Admissions Centre at least two full working days prior to the designated arrival time. If notice is not received, an additional fee will apply.
5 Accident & Medical Insurance
Every student must have appropriate insurance. The company recommends that all students take our own StudyCare insurance which is tailored to the needs of international students. Cover under the StudyCare insurance policy does not commence until the insurance fees have been paid in full.
In the USA, NZ and the UK, students not wishing to take StudyCare must present an equivalent insurance certificate on arrival. Students without insurance must take StudyCare.
In the USA, StudyCare is mandatory for students taking the Internship and English Plus programmes.
In Australia, it is compulsory for those on Student Visas to take Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of the full program/s. This ensures you have adequate health care arrangements whilst you are studying in Australia. If you choose for Embassy CES to arrange OSHC for the first course/year only of your program, you agree and warrant to Embassy CES that you will either extend or take out OSHC for the balance of your full program/s.Students are advised to take StudyCare as additional cover.
In New Zealand, travel and medical insurance is compulsory for all students. This is a requirement of the New Zealand Ministry of Education under the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
a) Students without adequate insurance or insufficient evidence of insurance will have StudyCare Insurance added to their programme invoice.
b) Students may purchase international insurance from their home country as long as it covers the minimum prescribed insurance requirements as detailed in the Code of Practice. Students must submit a translated copy for verification to the school before arrival.
Copies of the Code can be found on the Ministry of Education website.
c) Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If a student receives medical treatment during a visit, they will be liable for the full costs of that treatment. See the New Zealand Ministry of Health website.
The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but a student may still be liable for all other medical and related costs.
6 Giving Notice of Cancellation or Termination
Notice of cancellation or termination must be made prior to arrival, in writing, to our Admissions Centre or, if after arrival, to the local Centre Director.
Residential accommodation booked through Embassy CES may be subject to special cancellation charges. Information will be provided by the Admission Centre or school.
7 General Refund Policy
Embassy CES defines a full course of study as the initial enrolment period. If a student cancels his/her course or withdraws from the course after the start date, any Enrolment Fee, Accommodation Placement Fee, Airport Transfer Fee, StudyCare fee or Health Care premiums will not be refunded.
If a student's visa application is rejected after payment has been received then their full tuition and accommodation fees will be refunded within 28 days, provided a visa refusal letter is received by our Admissions Centre at least 2 days before the course is due to start. In the UK and USA refunds will be sent to the account of the original payer.
Students in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco must sign a California State Enrolment & Refund Agreement form. Refunds will be processed according to these terms and conditions.
In Australia, this agreement, and the availability of complaints and appeals processes, does not remove the right of the student to take action under Australia’s consumer protection laws. Refunds will be provided to students within 4 weeks if the student defaults and within 2 weeks if the Provider defaults.
8 Tuition Refunds before Arrival
a) In the UK, USA and Canada students cancelling 14 days or less prior to arrival will be charged GBP 190 (UK) or USD 350 (USA/Canada)
b) In Australia, students will be charged the Enrolment Fee plus 30% of tuition fees if cancelling prior to the start of their course.
c) In Perth only, students will be charged 10% of the semester fees or AUD 1000 whichever is the lesser for cancellations made more than 10 weeks before the start date, and 30% if less than 10 weeks and 60% if less than 4 weeks. If the enrolment is for 10 weeks or less and is cancelled within 4 weeks before the start date no refund will be given. (For this purpose, a semester is a maximum of 20 weeks.)
d) In New Zealand, students will be refunded tuition fees in full less the Enrolment Fee.
9 Tuition Refunds After Arrival:
USA
Written notification of withdrawal must be provided as a condition for making refunds. Refunds are calculated from the last date of attendance.
a) For courses of four weeks or less, Embassy CES will retain all tuition charges.
b) For courses longer than four weeks, students who withdraw in the first four weeks will be refunded all tuition except four weeks at the non-discounted (Certificate of English) rate.
c) For courses longer than four weeks, students who withdraw after the first four weeks but before the midpoint of their course, Embassy CES will retain a pro-rated amount of tuition at the non-discounted (Certificate of English) rate.
d) For students who withdraw after the midpoint, Embassy CES will retain all tuition charges.
UK and Australia (except Perth)
No tuition fees will be refunded to students terminating tuition after the course starts. When a student has enrolled in multiple locations/courses, the course start date for the purpose of this clause is deemed to be the initial Embassy CES course.
Perth
In Perth only, if a student cancels a course of 10 weeks or more duration within the first 4 weeks a cancellation fee of 70% of semester fees will be charged. If a student breaches their visa conditions no refund of the semester will be refunded. All other cancellations will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
New Zealand
a) For courses of one to 34 days duration, if you withdraw within the first two days of the course, you will receive 50% of the total fees you have paid. If you withdraw after the first two days, no refund is made.
b) For courses of 35 days to 3 months duration, if you withdraw within the first five days of the course, you will receive 75% of the total fees you have paid. If you withdraw after the first five days, no refund is made.
c) For courses greater than 3 months, if written notice of termination is received by the end of the eighth day of the course, a termination fee of the lesser of NZD 500 or 10% of tuition will apply. Students terminating after this period will not receive a refund.
10 Accommodation Refunds before Arrival
a) Students cancelling their accommodation less than 7 days before arrival will be charged one week's accommodation.
b) For cancellations less than 48 hours before arrival, 4 weeks accommodation will be charged, or the full accommodation fee if the booking is less than 4 weeks in duration.
c) In Australia, the Accommodation Placement Fee will also be charged.
11 Accommodation Refunds after Arrival
a) Students leaving their accommodation must give at least 4 weeks' notice in writing. In the USA, students on a Diploma course must give 8 weeks' notice in writing. After deducting the price of accommodation used, including the required notice period, charged at the standard accommodation rate, accommodation fees in excess of the accommodation period will then be refunded. For Diploma courses, accommodation fees are calculated as total course fees minus tuition.
b) In Australia and NZ, a 10% cancellation fee will be deducted from the balance. In the USA, an administration charge of USD 80 will be charged.
12 Visas
Students should contact their local Embassy, Consulate or High Commission to ensure they are allowed to enter and study in their chosen country. See the links on our Visas page.
For students wishing to study in the USA, Embassy CES is authorised under Federal Law to enrol non-immigrant students. By law, to issue the I-20 form, with the Enrolment Form we must receive:
- the student's home address
- proof of sufficient funds to meet tuition and living expenses
- a current bank statement or a letter from your bank
- a letter guaranteeing support from your parent or employer or sponsor
- a notarised affidavit of support
No visa support documentation will be provided until all fees have been received.
13 Holidays (Public and Diploma)
Schools will be closed on public holidays. There may be an additional charge for those who remain in their accommodation during extended holidays including during Thanksgiving (USA), Christmas and New Year. Students wishing to take personal holidays and keep their Homestay room, pay a retention charge which varies by school. Rates are available on request. Students wishing to retain their residential accommodation will be charged standard room rates.
Dates for Diploma Courses include the following vacation periods between terms:
2008: Mar 15th-30th, Jun 14th-29th, Sept 13th-28th,
Dec 13th-Jan 4th 2009
2009: Mar 21st-Apr 5th, Jun 20th-Jul 5th,
Sept 19th-27th
Courses including discounted Diploma accommodation packages include accommodation during these periods.
All students (excluding those on Diploma package courses) in Homestay accommodation over the Christmas and New Year two week period will be charged a seasonal supplement of GBP 50/ USD 100 /AUD 115 per week.
14 Resolution of Disputes
In the event of a dispute between an individual student and the school, procedures are in place to facilitate the resolution of the dispute. Any complaint should first be made to the student's Embassy CES Centre Director. Each complaint will be fully investigated provided that it is received within one month of the course ending and all fees have been paid. If the matter is not resolved, the student should complain in writing to the local Embassy CES Head Office (see our address here). In Australia, if the student remains dissatisfied with the outcome, they may seek independent external mediation through the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia (IAMA).
For Perth enrolments only, the Western Australian Department of Education Services also provides, free of charge, the services of an independent conciliator to assist in dispute resolution.
15 Liability
Embassy CES and its staff and representatives will not be liable for loss, damage or injury to persons or property howsoever caused, except where liability is expressly imposed by law. Embassy CES will not be liable in the event that any service contracted to be supplied by Embassy CES becomes impossible to supply for any reason or any cause outside the control of Embassy CES.
16 Valid Prices
Prices on this website are valid for students starting before 31 December 2008. Thereafter, Embassy CES reserves the right to change them without notice.
17 Expulsion
Embassy CES reserves the right to expel any student whose conduct is unsatisfactory at the discretion of the Centre Director, whose decision is final. No fees will be refunded in such cases and any unpaid fees become payable immediately. Students and their parents or guardian agree to pay the tuition fees and other charges applicable for the course on the due dates. It is understood and agreed that failure to do this may result in suspension from the program and cancellation of the enrolment.
18 Promotional Activity
Students and their parents or guardians agree that the student's photo, quotes and details of achievements may be used for promotional purposes without written consent or notification.
19 Data Protection
Any information provided to Embassy CES may be held on computer and shall be used in accordance with its data protection registration and national data protection laws.
20 Further Information: Australia
National Code: The Australian Government wants overseas students in Australia to have a safe, enjoyable and rewarding place to study. Australia's laws promote quality education and consumer protection for overseas students. These laws are knows as the ESOS Framework and they include the Education Services for Overseas (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code. If you have any concerns about any of these matters after you arrive at Embassy CES, please contact your Centre Director.
Each student is obliged to notify the registered provider of a change of address while enrolled in the course. All courses offering fewer than 24 lessons (20 hours) per week are open to non student visa holders only.
Provider Name: Study Group Australia Pty Ltd
CRICOS Provider Codes:
01682E (NSW) - Sydney
01755D (QLD) - Brisbane, Gold Coast
01963G (WA) - Perth
Provider Name: Taylors Institute of Advanced Studies
CRICOS Provider Codes
01160J (VIC) - Melbourne
Information provided may be made available to Commonwealth and State agencies and the Fund Manager of the ESOS Assurance Fund, pursuant to obligations under the ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code.
Any school-aged dependants accompanying overseas students to Australia will be required to pay full fees if they are enrolled in either a government or non-government school.
Average living expenses:
Sydney and Melbourne: AUSD 15,000.00 per year
New Zealand: NZD 10,000.00 - NZD 12,000.00 per year
Gold Coast, Brisbane and Perth: AUD 12,000.00 per year
See our FAQs for further details.
Students studying in Queensland who are concerned about the conduct of a provider may contact officers of the Queensland Department of Education; the Chief Executive of that Department has power under the Education (Overseas Students) Act to suspend or cancel the registration of a provider or a course within that state. On acceptance of enrolment by the Embassy CES, the Application for Admissions form will become the Contract of Enrolment.
21 Further Information: New Zealand
Protection of Student Fees: Fees paid by students will be fully protected by a Bank Guarantee and cash held by an independent Trustee. In the unlikely event of the school closing prior to the conclusion of courses, school fees will be refunded on a pro-rata basis by the trustee.
If students experience difficulty with procedures in New Zealand they may contact the Qualifications Authority at PO Box 160, Wellington. Telephone +64 4 802 3000.
Code of Practice: Embassy CES has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website.
Immigration: Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service.
The Code of Practice also establishes that IEAA and the Review Panel receive and adjudicate on student complaints. Their email address is: info.ieaa[@]minedu.govt.nz (remove the brackets from the @ sign).
22 The Embassy i-Study pre-arrival package
The pre-course component is delivered by Rosetta Stone, the postcourse component is delivered by MacMillan and separate Terms & Conditions apply to these products. Subscriptions are not refundable once the subscription period booked has commenced.