Student Info

Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions apply to all students at the School, and you should try to read and understand them. If you need help to understand them please ask a member of the School’s office staff.

General

Please note that tuition fees do not include fees for external examination, books, registration fees, accommodation, social activities or transport.

Opening hours

We are open for classes every week (with the exception of bank holidays and two weeks over Christmas when the school is closed). Students may start classes on any Monday, except for those weeks which begin on a bank holiday Monday and the last Monday of each term. When there is a bank holiday on Monday classes start the following day (Tuesday). The School may be open at weekends at meal times.

The School and its facilities are open to all students between 8.00am and 6.30pm (Monday to Friday) and weekends for School Residence members. Some arranged student activities will take place at the School, outside these times, such as parties and film evenings, and full details of these will be given to students.

Length of courses

There is a minimum enrolment period at the School of 1 week.

Class allocation

We do our best to ensure that students can study at their chosen time. Sometimes this may not be possible and your placement into a class may change in order to maintain the most effective learning environment for our students. The school cannot guarantee the time of a student’s course although every effort is made to comply with a student’s request. The school reserves the right to alter the timetable, cancel or combine classes when necessary, or make changes to course arrangements, without liability. No refunds can be given in such instances.

Tuition hours

The School's GE-15 session consists of one main session where the actual teaching time is 2 hours and 15 minutes. 
The School's GE-5 workshop session consists of 45 minutes' tuition. 
The GE-20 course includes a GE-15 and a GE-5 workshop session
The GE-25 course includes a GE-15 and two GE-5 workshop sessions.

The GE-30 course includes a GE-15 and three GE-5 workshop sessions.

The schools special or business tutorial workshop consists of one workshop.  

Students should note that on the first day of their course, each student is tested so that he/she is placed in a class suited to their level of ability. Because of this test and class placement process the School cannot guarantee that classes will take place on the first day of the course.

Mobile phones

Students should ensure that all mobile phones are switched off during classes and in the self-study area. Making or answering calls at such times is not permitted.

Payment

You must pay in full for tuition (and accommodation if required) before you can start a course at the School. You will not be able to start a class until complete payment has been made. Similarly, we must have total payment before we can allocate your accommodation. Full payment must normally be made at least two weeks before the student's first day in the accommodation.

For those students who require visas we strongly advise if you want to make sure you do not have any immigration problems upon arrival that you pay in full. Home Office letters can only be issued once complete payment has been received by the School.

Bank charges

As shown on the enrolment form, all students enrolling in the School from outside the UK are subject to payment of the School's bank transfer fee of £10.

Document charges

There is a standard charge of £50 for sending documents (Subject to the country) to the student or his/her representative's address by international courier if required, for example, by DHL or another courier company.

Transfer of payments

Please note that payments made by one student cannot be transferred to another student at the School, except at the discretion of the Principal.

Changes in course or accommodation arrangements

Course changes from one level to another are free of charge, but must be agreed by the Vice Principal, office manager or a member of the academic staff.

Please note changes are possible in the course arrangements and accommodation before arrival however will be subject to a £40 amendment charge once the booking has been confirmed.

Students will be placed in and moved between classes if necessary to ensure that they are receiving the most appropriate level of tuition for their ability. Such changes must be approved by the Vice Principal.

Accommodation changes are usually possible and every effort is made to ensure that students are happy with their accommodation. No charge is made for students wishing to change their accommodation. If students are dissatisfied with their accommodation or a conflict of interest arises the accommodation and welfare officer will ensure a change in accommodation is made as soon as possible. A surcharge may be added if frequent changes are made. If the type of accommodation is changed a charge of £40 is made. For example, if you want to change your homestay accommodation for another homestay then no charge will be made. However, if you want to change from a homestay to independent accommodation then a charge will be made.

Refunds

All refund applications must be made in writing.  In all cases the School reserves the right to deduct from any refund:

• the tuition and (if applicable) the accommodation registration fees
• any bank transfer fees
• if the course was paid for by credit card a 3 % deduction is made to cover costs charged to us by the card provider.

EU students

If you wish to cancel a course and apply for a refund you may do so on the following conditions:

• more than 15 working days’ (Monday–Friday) notice before the course begins – no penalty.
• 6 working days to 15 working days’ notice before the course begins - 50% penalty.
• less than 6 working days’ notice before the course begins - 100% penalty.

Visa students

If you wish to cancel your booking and apply for a refund you may only do so if or because of a visa refusal.  We will grant a refund if you send us:

• a copy of the visa refusal letter issued by the British Embassy/Consulate

AND

• Your visa was not refused because of :
  • the making of a false or dishonest statement or
  • use of false documents,
  • the withholding of relevant information used in the Enrolment and Accommodation Application Form and  or Application For Confirmation Of Acceptance Of Studies (CAS).

Please note that the School reserves the right to seek independent confirmation of visa refusals from the British authorities. You must inform us of your visa refusal at least 15 working days’ before your course is due to start. If you inform us after 15 days then we reserve the right to impose the usual cancellation charges as set out in paragraph 1 above.

General Notes

There is no entitlement to a refund after your course start date although exceptional circumstances will be considered at the discretion of the Principal. Please note that refunds may take between 30 to 60 days to process. Refunds will only be made to the person or organization that paid in the first instance.

Please note that refunds do not apply to group bookings unless expressly authorized by the Principal.

Accommodation

If you want to leave your homestay you must tell the school Accommodation Officer and you must give one week's notice. If you cancel your homestay, you can use your extra accommodation money to pay for new accommodation but you cannot have a cash refund.

Deferring your course

If you are not entitled to a refund, you may wish to return to the school at a future date to continue studying in the future. This is possible upon the provision of at least one week’s notice, although a second registration fee and bank transfer fee will be deducted from the remaining fees. All students should expect that the Home Office will be immediately notified of any course deferrals. For Tier 4 students deferrals are not allowed and by law we must inform the appropriate authorities. We do not advise course referrals.

Students' holidays

Courses of between 5 and 12 weeks: 2 weeks 
Courses between 13 and 23 weeks: 4 weeks 
Courses between 24 and 47 weeks: 6 weeks 
Courses of 48 and over weeks: 9 weeks

There is no holiday entitlement for courses of less than 5 weeks. All students are granted two weeks' holiday at Christmas during the time that the School is closed. Please see our website at www.burlingtonschool.co.uk for specific dates.

All students must notify the School Office in advance before they take a personal holiday. Student can request a holiday form from the school office or reception. Holiday must be booked at the latest on the Wednesday before the Monday that the holiday should start. No holidays should be taken without first informing the School Office. If you do not notify the School Office you will be marked absent and the School may notify the Home Office or immigration authorities, which may make it difficult for you to retain or extend your visa. This also applies if you take time off outside your holiday allowance when unauthorised leave form must be completed. No refunds will be given in these cases.

Attendance

You are expected to attend classes every day that the School is open. The School must keep records of the attendance of students. No refunds or credits are given in respect of missed classes. The School is under the obligation to report Tier 4 General Students who miss 10 consecutive days on their course of study without reasonably granted permission within 10 working days of the 10^th day of absence. See immigration rules.

Accommodation

Where possible we try to arrange accommodation as close to the school as possible, often within walking distance. The sooner full payment is made, then the better the chance of living close to the School. Students agree that they will leave the accommodation introduced to them by the School immediately if and when they no longer are students of the School, and that they will not attempt to make their own separate arrangements with the School's landlords or landladies.

Students unhappy with the accommodation arranged can inform the accommodations desk where alternative arrangements can be made. Students not wishing to take up the accommodation organised must give the school at least one week's notice, otherwise a fee equal to one week’s rent will be charged.

All students should behave well as guests of the family or landlady/landlord and should comply with the “Rules of the House” for the home. Students are responsible for any damage or expenses that may be caused by you at the accommodation.

Registration fees

Registration fees are as follows: £40 for accommodation finding fee and £45 for Registration fee for EU, SVV & ESVV students and £65 for GSV (Tier4) students. The £45 tuition registration fee may be reduced for some local bookings.

Books

Students must have class books which can be purchased from the schools office or reception. Photocopies of books are not allowed and students will not be permitted into class without original copies. The cost for this is detailed on the price-list.

Please also refer to our attendance, abusive behaviour and expulsion polices for more details concerning these issues.