Refund Policy
EIT Refund Policy For International Students
Refunds of tuition fees will only be made in accordance with the following policy in the year 2010.
- By accepting a place in a programme of study at EIT, an international student enters into a contract with EIT for the period of the offer. This contract obliges the student to pre-pay (prior to enrolment) the full tuition fee for the year (or shorter period if the programme is less than one year).
- In normal circumstances, no refunds will be given after programme commencement.
- There is no automatic right to a refund of fees if a student changes his/her mind about studying at EIT.
- Any request for refund must be made on the Application for Refund form (obtainable from the International Centre). The request must include a detailed explanation of the reasons for withdrawal from the programme contracted and supporting documentation.
- If a refund is given, it will be paid in New Zealand dollars or converted into a nominated currency minus any bank fees and paid by cheque or bank draft to
The student’s registered home address in country of origin; or
To the agent who referred the student; or
Another institution - There will be no refunds for summer school.
Note: Refunds will not be given directly to a student or transferred to a student’s bank account in New Zealand.
Refunds
Applications for refunds will be considered under the following categories, and will require supporting documentation.
Full Refunds (minus Administration Fee)
- New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) has refused to grant a visa for study in New Zealand.
- New Zealand Immigration Service (NZIS) has refused to grant a visa extension to the student.
- EIT is unable to offer the programme contracted. If the programme contracted with EIT is cancelled for whatever reason, then the student shall be entitled to a total refund of fees but shall not be entitled to any other compensation, costs, or consequential damages of whatsoever nature.
Other Refunds (minus Administration Fee)
- An international student in a semesterised-based programme who gains Permanent Residency will not receive a refund of fees for the semester in which residency is granted. However they will be treated as a New Zealand Permanent Resident for the following semester and refunded any international fees paid beyond the semester in which residency was granted.
- International students in programmes designed with full year non-semester courses must pay the international fees for the full year, regardless of the date Permanent Residence has been granted during that year.
- If the student wants to withdraw their application after paying their fees, and written notice is received by the International Centre one week prior to programme commencement, a refund of 90% of tuition fees will be sent to their bank account (10% is retained for administrative purposes).
- This refund is paid to the student on return to his/her own country and on evidence that he/she has stopped studying in New Zealand. Students must provide documentation to show that they have cancelled their student permits and that they have returned home.
- If a student wants to transfer to another institution and notice is received by the International Centre one week prior to programme commencement at EIT, the student (or their agent) is required to state that in writing to the International Manager. In this case, 75% of the course fee will be refunded. An original Letter of Offer of Place from the other institution must be seen by the EIT International Centre for this refund to be arranged. The refund is paid directly to the institution where the student is transferring.
- Special circumstances of a compassionate nature, as approved by EIT, may necessitate withdrawal from a programme. Supporting information will be required either in English or in the original language and with a notarized translation into English attached.
 |
| Reason for wanting a refund | | Information student | | Timing | | Amount of Refund |
| NZIS refuse a visa | | Official letter from NZIS explaining the Visa refusal | | At any time | | Total tuition fee minus administration fee and bank charges |
| NZIS refuse a visa extension | | Official letter from NZIS explaining the Visa refusal | | At any time | | Total tuition fee minus administration fee and bank charges |
| Transferring to another institution | | Evidence of an unconditional Offer of Place from other institution | | One week before the programme starts
Thereafter | | 75% of tuition fees
No Refund |
| EIT is unable to offer the programme | | | | | | Total of fees is refunded |
| Permanent Residence is granted | | Passport and visa | | At any time | | See Note 1 under Other Refunds |
| No longer want to study at EIT or in NZ | | Certain conditions must be met (eg Student permit cancelled & student has returned home) | | One week before the programme starts
Thereafter | | 90% of tuition fees
No Refund |
| Compassionate Reasons (serious illness, etc.) | | Documentation proving situation | | At any time | | At the discretion of EIT |
| Summer School | | | | At any time | | No refund |
|
Holiday Policy for ESL Students
A student must be studying continuously for 3 months before they are eligible to take a voluntary holiday. If a student wants to take a holiday, she/he must inform the ESL Programme Co-ordinator and the International Centre at least 2 weeks in advance. Holidays may not be taken after the beginning of November as there will be no fee transfers from the end of the year to the next.
Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
EIT has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International students published by the Minister of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this institution or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at:
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international
Summary Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
Introduction
When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe, and properly cared for.
New Zealand educational providers have an important responsibility for international students’ welfare.
The following information provides an overview of the “Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students” (the Code), and provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand educational provider or agent of a provider.
What is the Code?
The Code is a document which provides a framework for service delivery by educational providers and their agents to international students. The Code sets out the minimum standards of advice and care that are expected of educational providers with respect to international students. The Code applies to pastoral care and provision of information only, and not to academic standards.
Who does the Code apply to?
The Code applies to all education providers in New Zealand with students enrolled on international study permits. The Code is mandatory to these providers and must be signed by them.
What is an “international student”?
An “international student” is a foreign student studying in New Zealand on a student permit from the New Zealand Immigration Service.
How can I get a copy of the Code?
You can request a copy of the Code from your New Zealand educational provider. The Code is also available online from www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international.
How do I know if an educational provider has signed the Code?
The New Zealand Ministry of Education will maintain a register of all signatories to the Code. This list will be available from www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international. If the educational provider that you are seeking to enrol with is not a signatory to the Code, you will not be granted a permit from the New Zealand Immigration Service and you will not be able to study at that institution.
What do I do if something goes wrong?
If you have concerns about your treatment by your educational provider or by an agent of the provider, the first thing you must do is contact the principal, the international student director, or another person who has been identified to you as someone that you can approach about complaints at your institution. The Code requires all institutions to have fair and equitable internal grievance procedures for students and you need to go through these internal processes before you can take the complaint any further.
If your concerns are not resolved by the internal grievance procedures, you can contact the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA).
A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
The Code sets standards for educational providers to ensure that:
• high professional standards are maintained
• the recruitment of international students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner
• information supplied to international students is comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date
• students are provided with information prior to entering into any commitments
• contractual dealings with international students are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner
• the particular needs of international students are recognised
• international students under the age of 18 are in safe accommodation
• all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures for the resolution of international student grievances
Full details of what is covered can be found in the Code itself.
The Code also establishes the IEAA and the Review Panel to receive and adjudicate on student complaints.
What will the IEAA do?
The purpose of the IEAA is to adjudicate on complaints from international students. The IEAA will investigate complaints and determine if there has been a breach of the Code. The IEAA has the power to impose sanctions on educational providers who have committed a breach of the Code that is not a serious breach. These sanctions include an order for restitution, publication of the breach, and / or requiring that remedial action be undertaken.
The IEAA will refer complaints that are not about pastoral care to another regulatory body if appropriate.
The educational provider will be given a reasonable time to remedy the breach. If the breach is not remedied within that time, the IEAA may refer the complaint to the Review Panel.
The IEAA can determine if it considers that a breach of the Code is a serious breach. If the breach is a serious breach, the IEAA will refer the complaint to the Review Panel.
What can the Review Panel do?
The Review Panel can remove or suspend an educational provider as a signatory to the Code, meaning that the provider would be prevented from taking any more international students. Only the IEAA can refer complaints to the Review Panel.
What is the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA)?
The IEAA is an independent body established to deal with complaints from international students about pastoral care aspects of advice and services received from their educational provider or the provider’s agents. The IEAA enforces the standards in the Code of Practice. ’
How can I contact the IEAA?
You can write to the IEAA at:
The International Education Appeal Authority,
PO Box 12083,
Wellington,
New Zealand.
Email: info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz