SECTION 1 – PREAMBLE
Cornzal Pty Ltd (Cornzal) enrols international students, including on student visas, on a fee-paying basis. Cornzal requires procedures to regulate the refund of fees paid, that may or may not include, tuition fee deposits.
SECTION 2 – PURPOSE
This document outlines the procedures which regulate the refund of fees to international students, including those on student visas. These procedures form part of Cornzal’s written agreement with international students on student visas in accordance with the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.
SECTION 3 – SCOPE
These procedures apply to all Cornzal staff, all Cornzal international students, including prospective international students who have applied to study with Cornzal, and all third parties involved in collecting fee payments on behalf of Cornzal.
SECTION 4 – PROCEDURE
Refunds
Depending on the circumstances, prospective and enrolled international students may be entitled to a full or partial refund of fees paid to Cornzal.
Failure by Cornzal to Provide the Course
If Cornzal cancels a course at any time after it commences and does not replace it with an equivalent course while there are students enrolled who, at the time of cancellation, have not completed the course within the course duration, then Cornzal will refund all tuition fees and the Student Services and Amenities Fee that have been paid in advance. Fees paid for the previous semesters in which the student failed to complete within the recommended course duration will not be refunded except in special circumstances.
Withdrawal of offer by Cornzal before Course Commencement
If Cornzal withdraws an offer before the agreed starting date for the course, Cornzal will refund any tuition fees that have been paid in advance and the Student Services and Amenities Fee. No administration fee will be charged.
If Cornzal withdraws an offer because that offer was made on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information supplied by the student, and not the result of any error or provision of misinformation by Cornzal or one of its education agents, then Cornzal will refund any tuition fees that have been paid in advance and the Student Services and Amenities Fee less:
- 20% of the tuition fee paid; and
- any payment made to an education agent who recruited the student.
Unsuccessful Visa Application
If a student’s application for a student visa is unsuccessful and evidence of the visa decision is provided to Cornzal, then Cornzal will refund any tuition fees that have been paid in advance and the Student Services and Amenities Fee, less a $500 administration fee.
Student Failure to Meet Academic Requirements
If a student fails to satisfy course progression requirements or fails to successfully complete a preliminary qualifying program in a particular semester and, for that reason, either:
- the student is precluded from enrolling or re-enrolling in the course for the following semester; or
- the student’s candidature is terminated during the following semester,
then Cornzal will refund all tuition fees that have been paid in advance for the following semester less the Student Services and Amenities Fee.
Fees paid for the previous semester in which course progression or preliminary qualification program requirements were not met will not be refunded.
Withdrawal Due to Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances
If a student has demonstrated and provided evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances that are beyond their control Cornzal will provide either a total or partial refund of tuition fees. Compassionate or compelling circumstances for this purpose may include but are not limited to:
- illness or disability; or
- death of the student or a close family member (parent, sibling, spouse, or child); or
- a political or civil event that prevents the student from accepting an offer of a place.
Withdrawal by the Student before Commencement
More Than Four Weeks’ Notice
If a commencing student provides written notice of withdrawal from a course no later than four weeks prior to course commencement, then Cornzal will refund fees, less:
- 20% of the tuition fee payment; and
- any payment made to an agent who recruited the student.
Withdrawal by the Student before Commencement
Less Than Four Weeks’ Notice
If a commencing student provides written notice of withdrawal from a course later than four weeks prior to, and before, course commencement, then Cornzal will refund fees, less:
- 30% of the tuition fee payment; and
- any payment made to an agent who recruited the student.
Withdrawal by the Student Within the First Four Weeks of Commencement
If a commencing student provides written notice of withdrawal from a place in a course within the first four weeks after course commencement, a refund of fees paid will be made, less:
- 50% of the tuition fee payment;
- any payment made to an agent who recruited the student; and the Student Services and Amenities Fee.
Students Subject to Disciplinary Action – Ongoing
If a student is suspended or otherwise precluded from taking further part in a course, either for a specific period or an indefinite period, as a result of disciplinary action taken under Cornzal’s governing documents, then fees paid by the student (including but not limited to tuition fees paid in advance at the time of the suspension) will not be refunded.
Students Subject to Disciplinary Action – Final
If a student is excluded from taking further part in a course, as a result of disciplinary action taken under Cornzal’s governing documents, then fees paid by the student (including but not limited to tuition fees paid in advance at the time of the exclusion) will not be refunded.
Withdrawal by the Student After the applicable Commencement Semester Census Date
If a commencing student withdraws from a course after the applicable Semester census date, fees paid by the student (including but not limited to tuition fees paid in advance) will not be refunded.
Students Who are Granted Advanced Standing
If a student, after paying fees for the semester, is granted Advanced Standing, fees paid by the student (including but not limited to tuition fees paid in advance at the time of the preclusion) will not be refunded but will be credited towards the student’s future fees.
Students Who are Approved to Change Course
If a student, after paying fees for a semester, is granted approval to change course, and if the tuition fee for the new course is lower than the tuition fee for the original course, the difference in fees will not be refunded but will be credited towards the student’s next semester’s fees.
Students Who have Overpaid the Required Fees
If a student has made payments more than the required fees (including but not limited to tuition fees paid) for their course, the remaining fees paid by the student will not be refunded. Instead, the amount will be credited towards the student’s next semester’s fees.
Students Who Transfer to Another Institution Within Australia
If a student transfers to another registered provider after commencement, then any refund due will be transferred to the new provider and will not be refunded directly to the student.
International Vocational Education and Training (VET) Students Who Obtain Permanent Residency in Australia
If the student enrolled is granted permanent residency, then Cornzal will refund tuition fees on a pro-rata basis from the date that permanent residency is recognised, less any payment made to an agent who recruited the student, if that payment relates to the semester in which permanent residency was recognised.
Application Process and Payment of Refunds
The student must submit an International Student Refund Form, with supporting documentation attached, by email to training@cornzal.rnmc.edu.au An application will not normally be accepted if it is lodged later than 12 months from the end of the relevant semester.
Refunds Due to Provider Default
Cornzal will pay the refund due within 14 days of the provider default (the date the course was due to begin, or the date the RTO ceases to provide the course).
Refunds Due to Student Visa Refusal
Refunds will be paid within 28 days of the date the student applies for the refund providing evidence of the visa refusal, or the date the student was due to begin the course, whichever is earlier.
Refunds Due Under all Other Circumstances
Refunds will be paid within 28 days of the date the student applies for the refunds.
Refunds will be paid via electronic funds transfer (EFT) and will be paid in Australian dollars only. If the receiving bank does not accept Australian dollars, the refund will be paid in US dollars.
Refunds will be paid to the same account from which the original payment was made, unless the student authorises a transfer to a third party, or unless the student is transferring to another registered provider in which case payment will be transferred directly to the provider. Payments made by credit card will only be transferred back to the original credit card account.
Where a third party such as a sponsoring body or scholarship agency has paid the student’s fees, any refund will be paid to the third party.
Any unused portion of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will be refunded if the student’s payment has not been sent to the insurer, otherwise the student will be responsible for applying directly to the insurer for the refund.
Appeals
If an international student is not satisfied with any decision made in the refund process by Cornzal and believes these procedures were not followed, then they may make a complaint or lodge an appeal within 20 days of notification of a decision, in accordance with the Complaints Policy – Students.
Availability of Cornzal’s complaints and appeal processes does not remove the right of an international student’s right to take action under Australia’s consumer protection laws, to lodge an appeal with a relevant external body or to take other legal action.
SECTION 5 – NON-COMPLIANCE
(Non-compliance with Governance Documents is considered a breach of the Code of Conduct – Students, and Code of Conduct – Staff, as applicable, and is treated seriously by Cornzal. Reports of concerns about non-compliance will be managed in accordance with the applicable disciplinary procedures.
All staff members have an individual responsibility to raise any suspicion, allegation or report of fraud or corruption in accordance with the Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Whistleblower Reporting (Improper Conduct) Procedures
|
Date |
Document Title |
Review Date |
|
14 November 2023 |
International Students – Refund of Fees Procedure |
07 November 2024 |
Approved by:
RNMC Group Principal Executive Officer
RNMC Group Corporate Director
