ADMINISTRATIVE FEES & REFUNDS
ADMINISTRATIVE FEES: THESE ARE FEES FOR SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO STUDENTS IN ADDITION TO TUITION FEES (GST IS ADDED)
| Application Fee (Non-refundable) |
Nil |
RPL fee per unit |
$150 |
| Course Deposit (Non-refundable) |
$1000 |
Credit transfer fee per unit |
$50 |
| Overdue tuition fee – 7 days |
$210 |
Assessment re-sit |
$180 |
| Overdue tuition fee – 14 days |
$200 |
Interim academic transcript |
$20 |
| Re-enrolment fee |
$500 |
Interim attendance letter |
$20 |
| Change of COE details |
$100 |
Re-issue of final documents |
$100 |
| Cancellation and course variation fee |
$250 |
Replacement qualification testamur |
$100 |
| Transfers processing fee |
$250 |
Student Card – Replacement |
$20 |
| Refund processing fee |
$250 |
Locker Allocation – Key Deposit (refundable upon key return at graduation) |
$20 |
TUITION FEE REFUND POLICY
The following is the summary extracted from the School’s tuition fee refund policies. The refund policy applies to both commencing and re-enrolling students. It is set out in the Student Handbook and below. All requests for a refund must be submitted on the appropriate refund application form and must be accompanied by official documentary evidence of the grounds for the request.
Your course deposit is not refundable.
Refunds apply only to tuition fees and will be paid to the applicant in Australian Dollars via a Bank draft.
The School’s policy on refunding fees has been determined in accordance with the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act 2000) and the Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001 (ESOS Regulations 2001). This policy applies to all students irrespective of who pays the fees.
The student must submit the Refund Application before the case is processed. All refunds are subject to a $250 administration fee, unless otherwise specified. All bank transfer fees will be deducted from the refund amount.
The following conditions apply to both the Sydney Actors School and Student defaults. The amount of refund is determined as follows:
TOTAL REFUND OF TUITION FEE
| In the unlikely event that the School is unable to provide the course for which an offer has been made. An alternative offer of a place will be made available at no additional cost to the students, along with the option to refund. |
A total refund will be granted under these circumstances |
| The School withdraws an offer of a place. (The exception is when the offer was made based on intentionally incorrect information) |
The applicant is unable to obtain a visa from the Australian government
Diplomatic Office |
Applications for a total refund on the above grounds must be lodged at least 2 weeks before the commencement of the semester for which the offer is made. The student must provide a certified copy of the official letter from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) rejecting their visa application, along with their application, for the refund application to be approved.
PARTIAL REFUND OF TUITION FEE
The amount of the partial refund is determined as follows. Administrative fees and applicable deductions are applied:
| Withdrawal from a course due to illness and compassionate grounds |
Refund will be decided on a case-by-case basis |
| If a student holds a valid student visa at the time of enrolment with the School, but after commencing their course, their current visa expires, and a subsequent visa application is applied for and rejected |
Refund for any tuition fees paid will be calculated on a pro-rata basis
(calculated on a weekly basis as per the semester calendar) minus any
applicable deductions |
If the School has paid an amount to a representative in relation to recruitment, the refund will be further reduced by that amount.
NO REFUND
| If a student withdraws from the course on or after the course commencement date |
The student will not be eligible for a refund for the fees for that semester. |
| False or misleading information in application forms or during study |
Automatically disqualifies you from any refunds |
| The student is terminated due to a serious breach of school rules or a violation of visa conditions, including non-attendance or unsatisfactory academic progress. |
No refund |
| Student defers enrolment and commencement date before the census date |
The School will hold tuition fees until the course commencement date |
| Student defers enrolment and commencement date after the census date |
No refund |
The student is advised of this procedure, which is followed by student services:
HOW TO CLAIM A REFUND
- To claim any refund, the student must complete a STUDENT REFUND REQUEST FORM, plus the REFUND REQUEST – BANK DETAILS FORM.
- Evidence to support the request must be submitted, including your receipt for course fees paid to date and certified copies of any supporting documents (such as a visa rejection letter).
- The student must be up to date with course fees at the time of the request.
- The request will be assessed based on the information provided and the progress through the course.
- If the request is successful, a refund administration fee is charged and deducted from the refund.
- A refund calculation letter is provided, which explains the decision. It will be posted to your address in your home country within 14 days from the receipt of the STUDENT REFUND REQUEST FORM.
- The refund will be paid in Australian dollars.
- Statements of Attainment will be issued for units completed and paid to date.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR COURSE REFUNDS
The school reserves the discretion to approve refunds if the customer would be unreasonably disadvantaged without a refund. For example, a customer may experience a serious misadventure, serious illness, or hospitalisation (with a minimum of two weeks’ prior notice), supported by a medical certificate, or exceptional circumstances that have been discussed and agreed upon between the customer and the Executive Chairman.
The following circumstances would not be accepted for a refund:
- Change in work hours
- Job change or retrenchment
- Moving interstate
- Technology barriers, which mean you are having difficulty completing the course
- Language or writing barriers that were not declared during the application process mean you are having difficulty completing the course.
- Insufficient access to workplace documents, which means you are having difficulty completing the course
Where a customer has commenced a course believing they can meet the requirements and then finds they are unable to complete it, a partial refund for the component of the course not completed may be given. An interview will assess the circumstances. The refund will be dependent on the length of time the individual has been attending and the competencies achieved. Where more than 50% of the course is completed, there will be no refund.
The final decision is at the discretion of the Executive Chairman.
PROVIDER DEFAULT – if the School cannot offer or continue a course due to changed circumstances
Where the School is in a ‘default’ situation, such as cancellation of the course, we will offer a refund. We will discuss this with the customer and come to an arrangement.
A refund letter, including calculations that show the administration charges and fees to be refunded, is sent to the customer.
The payment is processed within a maximum of four weeks (20 working days) from the date on the refund calculation letter.
Where the service or course, if offered through a third party, cannot be delivered as agreed upon, the School will offer an alternative arrangement for students to complete the course or provide a refund if such a replacement service is not suitable for the student. This decision will be discussed on a case-by-case basis and recorded in writing between the parties.
COMPLAINTS REGARDING FEES AND REFUNDS
Students are entitled to access the complaints process if they are dissatisfied with the School’s decisions regarding fees, refunds, or other matters. This information is available on the website.
Students are advised that the agreement and the availability of the complaints process do not waive the customer’s right to take action under consumer protection law.
STATEMENT CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS
The written agreement includes the statement that “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”.
APPEAL AND REFUND PAYMENT
In both situations, the student will have 10 working days to appeal if they are not satisfied with the School’s decision. The payment will be processed within 10 working days from the end of the appeal period. The refund will be paid in Australian dollars to the person or bank account nominated in the Refund Application Form, regardless of who initially paid the tuition fee. For overseas refund payment, an international money transfer fee will be deducted from the refund amount. This will vary between banks, but is approximately $25.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND CONTACT DETAILS
During your period of enrolment, you are required to keep your contact details up to date. All students are required to provide the School with an email address, and we will communicate with you using that address. Please notify us of any changes to your address details as soon as you update your accommodation arrangements. Failing to inform the School of your correct address is a breach of your visa conditions.
FULL TIME STUDY HOURS
The courses are designed around a full-time study load of 28 hours of structured training per week. Depending on the course, hours may vary, such as 5 hours per week of self-directed learning. You must maintain consistent attendance, which is monitored.
COURSE PROGRESS
You must pass 100% of your units and attend a minimum of 80% of class time. Failing to progress means breaching your student visa conditions.
WORKING HOURS
Full-time students may seek paid work to a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight (2 weeks) during semester time. You are allowed unlimited work during term breaks or holidays. Working over 40 hours per fortnight during the semester is a serious breach of your student visa conditions. Please refer to https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/stud/more/work-conditions-for-student-visa-holders for more information.
INFORMATION SHARING
Information collected about you on this form and during your enrolment can be provided, in certain circumstances, to the Australian Governments (both Federal and State levels) and designated authorities and, if relevant, the Tuition Protection Scheme. In other instances, information collected during your enrolment can be disclosed without your consent where authorised or required by law; this may include circumstances of any suspected breach by the student of a student visa condition.
