Holmesglen International Student Prospectus 2014
Fee Payment and Refund Procedures
When the Institute accepts an international student’s application for enrolment, the policy and
procedures detailed here and in the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment will constitute a written
agreement between Holmesglen and the international student for the purposes of the ESOS Act and
the Revised National Code (2007).
1. Application Fee
1.1 On application for admission to a course, an application fee of $500 is payable and will be
credited against the student’s tuition fee.
1.2 This application fee of $500 is non-refundable in the case of a student withdrawing an
application after a Letter of Offer is issued.
1.3 If the student’s application for admission is rejected, then the $500 application fee will be
reimbursed in full.
1.4 Students applying through the accredited agents and IDP Education offices are exempt from
including the $500 application fee with their application.
2. Payment of Tuition Fees
2.1 A study period at Holmesglen consists of no more than 24 weeks within a semester or a
trimester. The ESOS Act now limits the collection of pre-paid tuition fees. Tuition fees for all
courses including ELICOS are payable per study period. Fees payable are documented in the
student’s written Letter of Offer and Fee Schedule. Holmesglen collects no more than 50% of
the total course cost prior to the student commencing the course except for courses that fall
within one study period of 24 weeks or less.
2.2 Tuition fees paid offshore are payable to Holmesglen Institute of TAFE by Electronic Funds
Transfer, MasterCard, Visa or international bank draft (in Australian dollars, drawn on an
Australian bank in Australia). Holmesglen’s bank account details are:
Account Name: Holmesglen Institute of TAFE
Bank Name: Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Ashburton Branch
Bank Address: 205 High Street, Ashburton, Victoria, Australia
SWIFT CODE: CTBAAU2S
Branch Number (BSB): 063103
Account Number: 00901243
Once payment has been lodged, students must immediately forward the remitter’s name
together with a copy of the remittance advice/TT transmission notice in order for us to track the
payment in our account.
2.3 Tuition fees paid onshore can be paid in cash, by bank cheque, MasterCard or Visa, through
Australia Post or over the internet.
2.4 After a student commences at Holmesglen, fees for subsequent study periods are due two
weeks prior to the commencement of the study period. Invoices to students will indicate a
due date that is compliant with current ESOS requirements. Unpaid fees will result in the
cancellation of a student’s enrolment at the end of any appeals process. International students
are required to demonstrate to the Australian Government sufficient funds to cover their studies
in Australia. As such, financial hardship is not considered grounds for appeal. A fee of $300 will
be levied on students who fail to make payment by the required date and where an enrolment
has to be reinstated after cancellation.
2.5 Additional fees are payable - for additional courses, graduation ceremonies, excursions, resitting
tests and examinations and textbooks.
2.6 When students have to repeat a subject or subjects in the same study period in which they have
paid a full fee, no additional fee is payable. However when they repeat a subject or subjects in a
study period in which they have not paid a full fee, a pro-rata tuition fee is payable.
2.7 Where a student has a package offer with a partner institution, Holmesglen reserves the right
to impose an upfront fee which will not be refundable.
2.8 Students who enrol in additional courses will be required to pay the full-time course fee
applicable to that course.
2.9 Holmesglen reviews its tuition fees and other charges annually. You will be required to pay the
current fee that applies from the beginning of the next study period. If you defer your course,
you will be required to pay the fees applicable to your new commencement date. If the student
changes course the new course tuition fee will apply. Students enrolled in programs with
Holmesglen’s partners will be required to pay the tuition and other fees set by the partner.
Holmesglen makes every attempt to provide an indication of the partner institution’s fees at the
time of production of this brochure. However, students should refer to the partner institutions’
websites for full information. Holmesglen takes no responsibility for fee increases at partner
institutions.
2.10 There is no reduction in fees for subject exemptions for Certificate and Diploma programs. For
degree programs, fees are charged per subject.
2.11 The Institute does not accept liability for any fees paid to an agent or third party in relation to an
application for enrolment.
2.12 Where the Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies to programs and services in this prospectus,
the tax is included in the advertised fee.
3. Refund Procedures
Claims for refunds must be made in writing using the prescribed form available from the
International Office or online at
Refunds that are
approved will be made within four weeks after receipt of a written claim. If after payment of fees
a student withdraws an application, the following will apply:
3.1 If notice of withdrawal is received by Holmesglen in writing more than four weeks prior to
commencement of an ELICOS course, a 75% refund of tuition fees paid for the study period will
be made to students. No refund of the ELICOS tuition fee will be made to students withdrawing
from the course less than four weeks prior to commencement or after the commencement of
the course.
3.2 If notice of withdrawal is received by Holmesglen in writing more than four weeks prior to
commencement of a course study period, a 50% refund will be made to students who have paid
tuition fees for a forthcoming study period.
3.3 If notice of withdrawal is received by Holmesglen in writing less than four weeks prior to
commencement or after commencement of the course study period, no refund of the tuition fee
will be made.
3.4 Where a student has been granted a deferral or suspension to their enrolment after the
commencement of a study period, a pro rata transfer of the remainder of the study period tuition
will be granted. The fee transferred will be held towards tuition for the study period the student is
returning to and the student will be required to pay any balance prior to resuming their studies.
If the student does not return to their studies see 3.5. No refund will be granted if the student
decides not to recommence studies except in compelling or compassionate circumstances.
3.5 Where a student has been granted a deferral in their course, tuition paid will be transferred
to the subsequent study period. Where the student does not take up his/her place in the
subsequent study period, a refund will only be payable if the student visa is not granted. Where
a student has been granted a release letter, claims for refunds will be processed according to
Refund Procedures 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.
3.6 Where a student has been accepted into a course subject to attaining a required level of English
language proficiency and the student does not attain that level of proficiency, the student will be
requested to continue with English language training for a prescribed further period. Where the
student does not wish to take up this option, they will be entitled to a 75% refund of the tuition
fees paid towards a subsequent study period.
3.7 Where a student has been granted a deferral in their course due to a delay in their visa grant,
tuition paid will be transferred to the subsequent study period. Where the student does not take
up his/her place in the subsequent study period, a refund will only be payable if the student visa
is not granted.
3.8 Where a student has had to withdraw because of visa refusal offshore or onshore (prior to
commencement of a study period), a full refund of all tuition fees will be paid - less a $250
administrative fee. Where a student’s visa is refused in Australia for a course they are currently
enrolled in, a refund will be granted on a pro rata basis.
3.9 Where a student does not lodge the visa application after receiving eCoEs, refunds will be
processed as per procedures outlined in items 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.
3.10 Where a student’s enrolment is cancelled because of misbehaviour or breaching of visa
conditions a pro rata refund of tuition fees will be made from the date of enrolment cancellation.
3.11 Tuition fees will not be transferred to other educational institutions except in exceptional
circumstances and at the discretion of the Director, International Centre.
3.12 No refund or transfer will be made to third parties.
3.13 International students who attain permanent residency status will be refunded as per
procedures outlined in Items 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3
3.14 Students who are enrolled in the Charles Sturt University degrees at Holmesglen will be subject
to the Charles Sturt University Refund Procedures. These are available on the Charles Sturt
University website at
copy of these will also be made available to students
at the time of their enrolment in the degree part of the course at Holmesglen. The Charles Sturt
University Refund Procedures do not apply to the diploma component of the program.
3.15 Students who hold a packaged offer with University of Canberra will be subject to the
University of Canberra Refund Procedures for the University of Canberra component of their
program. These are available on the University of Canberra website at
A
copy of these will be made available to students at the time of their application for a packaged
offer. The University of Canberra Refund Procedures do not apply to the diploma component of
the program.
3.16 Students who are enrolled at Headmasters Advanced Academy will be subject to the
Headmasters Advanced Academy Refund Procedures and Terms and Conditions. These are
available on the Headmasters Advanced Academy website at
copy
of these will also be made available to students at the time of their enrolment at Headmasters
Advanced Academy. The Headmasters Advanced Academy Refund Procedures do not apply to
any preparatory program undertaken at Holmesglen, e.g. an ELICOS program.
3.17 These regulations may be waived by the Board of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE in exceptional
circumstances at its absolute discretion and the decision of the Board is final.
3.18 These procedures do not remove the right of an international student to take further action
under Australia’s consumer protection laws.
4. Refunds – Accommodation
4.1 The Accommodation Placement Fee is non-refundable in any circumstances other than when a
student has had his/her visa refused.
4.2 Where a student has made a payment towards Institute Accommodation, a full refund will be
granted if a student has their visa refused.
4.3 In circumstances other than where a student has had their visa refused:
• a 90% refund will be made to students withdrawing up to four weeks before the
commencement of the course, and
• a 75% refund will be made to students withdrawing less than four weeks before the
commencement of the course, and
• no refund will be made once a student arrives in Australia. Upon arrival in Australia, failure to
take up your confirmed place in Institute Accommodation on the confirmed arrival date would
result in you forfeiting your place in Institute Accommodation.
4.4 Students who are already in Australia and book into Institute Accommodation, there will be no
refund of payment towards Institute Accommodation once a place is confirmed.
5. Refunds – Welfare Arrangements for Students
Under the Age of 18
5.1 A period of thirteen weeks is defined as a welfare term. Once a welfare term has commenced,
no refund is payable in any circumstances for that term. The balance of welfare fees paid in
advance may be refunded.
5.2 In instances where a student defers their commencement of studies, excess welfare fees will
be transferred towards tuition for their subsequent courses.
6. Educational Package
6.1 Holmesglen: When applicants are required to complete a prerequisite course at Holmesglen
as a condition of entry into a higher level, principal course at Holmesglen they will be offered
an education package comprising the prerequisite course and the principal course. An example
is a student required to satisfactorily complete an English Language Program and attain a
stated level of proficiency in English, as a condition of entry into a principal course. In these
circumstances the refund procedures described under item 3.6 (Refund Procedures) will apply.
6.2 Other Institutions: When applicants are required to complete a prerequisite course at another
institute as a condition of entry into a higher level, principal course at Holmesglen they will be
offered an educational package comprising the prerequisite course and the principal course. An
example is a student required to complete a diploma course at another institute as a condition
of entry into a degree course at Holmesglen. In these circumstances a deposit fee of $1,500 is
payable for acceptance into the principal course at Holmesglen. This fee will be credited towards
the applicant’s tuition fee on commencement of the degree course at Holmesglen. The $1,500
deposit fee is non-refundable in any circumstances. Where subsequent Letters of Offer and
eCoE’s are required to be issued post arrival in Australia, Holmesglen will levy a fee of $500.
This fee is also non-refundable.
7. Additional Subjects
7.1 Students who have paid a full fee in the current study period may take additional or repeat
subjects in the same course at no additional cost except for Bachelor degree studies where
fees are charged per subject.
7.2 For students who have not paid a full fee in the current study period a pro-rata fee will be
charged for additional subjects.
7.3 Students will only be allowed to enrol in off-campus subjects they have failed in a previous study
period and provided that they are enrolled in a full-time course.
Fees and Refunds
