Important
Please ensure you read these Terms and Conditions carefully and understand them before signing your final acceptance of a place at the Lancaster University International Study Centre (hereafter referred to as LUISC). These Terms and Conditions referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties and shall supersede any and all promises, representations, warranties or other statements whether written or oral made by or on behalf of one party to the other of any nature whatsoever or contained in any leaflet, brochure or other document given by one party to the other concerning such subject matter.
The LUISC is administered and taught by a Study Group company, Bellerbys Educational Services Limited from Brighton.
Application and confirmation payment
If the application is accepted, a written Offer of a Place will be made. To accept this Offer a confirmation payment is required consisting of £500 fees in advance and a security/disbursements deposit of £500. This deposit is primarily held against any damages and other incidental expenses, and if at the end of a course there are any monies left these can be offset against disbursements, otherwise an invoice will be issued for any damages/disbursements in excess of the deposit. Any monies left will be refunded within 28 days of completion of the final term less any deductions made for any amount outstanding at that time. No other refunds will be made. All payments are refundable in the event that a student is unable to meet visa entry requirements, subject to a visa rejection letter.
Cancellation
The following charges apply for courses cancelled before arrival in the UK where visa entry requirements have been met:
CANCELLATION FEE
8 weeks or more before commencement: £500
Less than 8 weeks before commencement: £1,000
Cancellations must be made in writing and the period of cancellation applies only from the date upon which LUISC receives the written notice of cancellation. If cancelling the course, students must also confirm if they are cancelling StudyCare insurance.
LUISC tuition fees
Fees are payable termly, one month before term starts. Termly payment will be subject to any increase in tuition or accommodation fees which may be announced during the course.
Reasonable efforts are always made to keep fees to the minimum that is consistent with the provision of a modern and efficient teaching programme. However, fee increases may become necessary from time to time in order to maintain standards and will become effective immediately they are notified. The course fees, which are payable termly, include a charge of £1,000 in respect of the cost of admission to and registration at LUISC.
If payments become overdue, the LUISC reserves the right to suspend or cancel tuition and to charge interest on the balance at the rate of 2% above the base rate of Barclays bank per month or part thereof. Fees remain payable if Notice of Withdrawal has not been given in accordance with these conditions.
Provision of tuition
The LUISC may give one term’s written notice to either change or end a course without refund in the event of any circumstance arising or occurring which the LUISC at its reasonable discretion deems to necessitate such action.
Academic criteria
Students who do not yet meet university criteria for English Language will be expected to take an appropriate English Language course at the LUISC.
Students are accepted into the LUISC on the strict understanding that progression through the course is conditional upon satisfactory attendance and successful attainment of prescribed performance targets. Students are formally assessed at least twice a year. The assessment will take into consideration:
- Course work
- Internal examination results
- Attendance
- Effort in class and in homework
Students who do not meet the attainment criteria will not be allowed to proceed with their original course but will be offered an alternative course or invited to withdraw from the LUISC without refund.
Personal insurance
Accident & Medical insurance
It is necessary that all students have appropriate accident and medical insurance. Students must either take out StudyCare insurance policy or provide proof of adequate cover at enrolment. Cover under the StudyCare insurance policy does not commence until the insurance fees have been paid in full.
Personal belongings and contents insurance
As part of your rent, the University will insure the student’s personal possessions up to the value of £3500, with certain exclusions. Full information is given in a leaflet which is sent out with accommodation offers. For addition cover, including health and medical, all students are strongly advised to take out the additional StudyCare insurance.
Breakages
Students are responsible for payment for any damage caused by them to LUISC/University property, including including fixtures and fittings in University-managed accommodation. Occupants of shared accommodation are jointly and severally liable for the proper care of rooms, fixtures and fittings and the University reserves the right to recover costs for damage or exceptional cleaning.
Campus services not provided by the University
Some facilities, services or equipment are provided on campus by third parties and not by the University (e.g. the Health Centre, or the Students’ Union). Whilst the University will endeavour to ensure that those facilities and services are delivered to a reasonable standard, it can accept no responsibility for the nature of, and reserves the right to withdraw or change, such facilities, services and equipment.
Withdrawal from LUISC
Once a student has arrived in the UK, a minimum of one term’s notice (in writing) is required, or payment in lieu, whether or not the student continues to attend lessons.
Students following the English Language Preparation courses are automatically enrolled to progress on to the academic programme. The student must therefore give the standard term’s notice if they do not wish to progress further at the LUISC.
If withdrawal is due to refusal of a visa extension then less notice may be accepted (at the LUISC's discretion) as long as full written details are provided before a course recommences.
Where withdrawal is due to illness, if the student has taken out the comprehensive StudyCare insurance scheme (details of which are available on request), subject to the terms of the scheme the student may be able to claim a refund.
Notice of withdrawal must be given in writing and is effective from the date it is received by the LUISC. Enrolment is for the LUISC only and is non-tranferable.
Withdrawal/variation of degree programmes
If, after a LUISC applicant has indicated an intention to progress onto a particular degree programme, but prior to the student completing the LUISC foundation programme, the University discontinues the nominated degree programme, the student may either: (1) withdraw without liability for fees other than the fee liability for the LUISC programme, or (2) transfer to such other programme (if any) as may be offered by the University for which the student is qualified. If in these circumstances the student wishes to withdraw from the University and to enrol in a course at a different University, the University shall use its reasonable endeavours to assist the student.
Once the student has commenced the first term of degree-level study, if:
(a) the University’s ability to deliver programmes or other services in accordance with the descriptions provided is compromised by circumstances beyond the control of the University (e.g. third party industrial action), the University will use all reasonable endeavours to minimise disruption as far as it is practical to do so;
(b) the programme is cancelled or substantially varied from that described in the prospectus for reasons other than circumstances beyond the University's reasonable control, the University will use reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable replacement programme, but cannot guarantee to do so. If the student does not wish to accept the replacement programme, the student shall be entitled to withdraw from the programme. In the event of such withdrawal the University shall make an appropriate refund of tuition fees. Depending on the point at which the withdrawal takes place, the University reserves the right to retain fees or charges to cover the tuition or services which the student has actually received.
Enrolment conditions for progress to degree programme
Students are required as a condition of enrolment to pay all fees due to the University, according to fee status and published fee rates, and to abide by the provisions of the Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations (current versions can be viewed here). The provision of a facility or service may attract an additional charge (i.e. separate from tuition fees). The University will make this clear in advance. If a student contracts voluntarily to receive an extra facility or service from the University, but subsequently fails to pay all or part of the agreed charge, the University maintains the right to withdraw the service and to recoup the outstanding charge.
Accounts procedures
Payments
Payment can be made to the LUISC by cheque, Sterling bank draft, telegraphic transfer or credit card. Please ensure that the student's name and customer reference are always included on the transfer document, indicating that the transfer is in respect of school fees.
Bank charges and commission for both the sending and receiving banks should be paid by the sender of funds or they will be applied to the student's account. Payment by credit card is subject to a surcharge of 2.5%.
Accounts communications will be sent both to the person responsible for paying the fees and to the student unless written instructions are received to the contrary.
Sundry charges
Any incidental costs incurred on behalf of the student will be charged to their account, for example taxi charges, fax costs, field trips, text books and vacation accommodation.
Refunds
Refunds will only be made to the person responsible for the fees unless written authorisation is provided to the contrary from that person. Refunds will be made within 28 days of the end of the relevant term. Refunds are made after calculating any damages or disbursements due, or any other incidental fees or charges.
Accommodation
Provision of Accommodation
The University guarantees university-managed accommodation to applicants who firmly accept an offer of a place on the International Foundation Year and who send in a completed Housing Application Form by the relevant date, as set out below:
(a) For students starting in September, by the 1st August
(b) For students starting in January, by the 1st December.
Length of Tenancy
Students taking up accommodation with the University will be required to sign a tenancy agreement for a period which may include the Christmas and Easter vacations, if these fall between the start and end dates of their course. Students starting their course in January in certain types of housing may be asked to move to alternative university accommodation for July and August (this will be made clear at the point that you sign a tenancy agreement).
Students under 18 years
The University will provide additional information to the parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age advising them of the steps the University takes with regards to students under 18 years of age. The parents or guardians of a young person under the age of 18 will be required to sign and return this document to confirm receipt of the information.
Rent
Rents vary according to the type of accommodation offered. Rent is due in advance and students can choose to pay in the following ways:
(a) the full amount in advance;
(b) in three equal instalments.
Room swaps and terminating a tenancy
Although we do our best to allocate students to their preferred choice of accommodation, it is not possible to meet everyone’s needs. The University’s stock of accommodation is varied and some areas are much more popular than others. If a student is unhappy with his or her room allocation, there is normally an opportunity to swap later on. An administration fee will be charged for any room changes. If a student decides to move out of University accommodation for any reason, he or she will be asked to pay a termination fee and will be liable for rent until another acceptable student is found to take the room. Vacation accommodation is available on request to the Accommodation Department. The appropriate fee will be added to the student’s account.
Behaviour in University residences
All residents are expected to behave in accordance with commonly accepted rules of good behaviour and to abide by the clauses in the tenancy agreement. All students will also be required to abide by and submit to the procedures of the University’s disciplinary rules and regulations as amended from time to time. A copy of the current disciplinary rules and regulations is available on request from the University or can be viewed online: University rules and Terms & Conditions of residence.
Residents may be subject to disciplinary action and/or legal possession proceedings if they breach the terms of their tenancy agreement.
Car parking
Parking on campus is restricted. Charges apply to all students (and staff) who are allowed to park on campus. Students living on campus are not allowed to park on campus unless they have a need based on a disability or a family living with them on campus.
Publicity
Students and their parents or guardians agree that the students’ photo, details and achievements may be used for promotional purposes without written consent or notification.
Data protection
Any information provided to LUISC may be held on computer and shall be used by the LUISC in accordance with its Data Protection registration and the UK Data Protection law. Information provided to LUISC is held and processed for the purpose of administering your application, and may be carried forward to your official student record, which holds data in electronic and paper form on your personal details, academic and administrative history and on relevant financial transactions. Once you progress to a degree programme, the University is required to provide information to UK agencies including the Higher Education Statistics Agency. After you leave, the parts of your student record which the University needs to retain will be archived. Some information will also be processed for the purpose of managing our relationship with you as an alumnus. Other information will be destroyed. Throughout, your personal data will be held in accordance with current UK data protection law.
Liability
Any reference in these terms to liability of students shall also infer liability on the parents or guardian of the student, and such liability is joint and several.
Variation
No variation to these conditions is valid unless agreed in writing by the Course Director provided always that the LUISC reserves the right to make any addition, amendment or alteration to these conditions upon giving one term’s written notice of such change to all affected parents guardians and students.
UK government bodies
LUISC is obliged to report, on request, visa status, attendance records and UK contact details to relevant UK government bodies.
These Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings now made for courses commencing from June 2007.