Student fee refund policy
Government Funded Courses
Domestic Fee for Service Courses
International Students
Refund of Fees
Government Funded Courses
When is a Refund Possible?
Full refunds of fees and charges are granted if:
- a government funded course or subject is cancelled by the Institute
- credit transfer from a government funded subject is received. (You must apply for Credit transfer within five weeks of the subject commencement date.)
- you have paid a re-evaluation fee for a government funded subject and the re-evaluation is successful,
A refund of fees and charges may be granted provided you withdraw prior to the class commencement date. If you withdraw after the commencement date of the class, a refund will not be approved unless:
- you accept a place offered through the Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre
- you suffer illness or injury preventing you from completing the subject (medical certificate must be provided)
- exceptional circumstances prevent you from completing the subjects.
There is a $10.00 administration charge per refund application ($35.00 for fee for service courses). Withdrawals and applications for refund must be on the approved form and all sections must be completed.
What if I Want to Change My Enrolment?
If you wish to cancel your enrolment from a subject and transfer fees to another subject you must do so no later than two weeks after the start date of the cancelled subject. A Change of Enrolment Advice Form must be completed.
Installment plans:
An Instalment Plan is a credit arrangement. If you leave the course, the balance of fees must be paid (unless one of the above conditions apply).
If you require further information please contact your Enrolment Centre for assistance or contact the Institute call centre on 131 248.
Domestic Fee for Service Courses
Domestic Fee for Service Courses (Corporate Training Programs)
Cancellations will be accepted up to ten (10) working days prior to the negotiated commencement date for training however a $250 or 10% (whichever is the greatest) of contract value administration fee will be charged.
After that time, cancellations will not be accepted, however new training dates may be negotiated if delivery is rescheduled for commencement within 1 month of the cancelled program. Rescheduled training dates may require a new quotation to be provided. An administration fee of $250 will apply to changes in training dates made less than ten (10) working days prior to the course commencing.
Any non-refundable costs incurred by BNIT as a result of rescheduling training dates will be charged to the client.
Domestic Fee for Service Courses (Single Subscriber)
Cancellations for domestic Fee for Service Courses (Single Subscriber) will be accepted up to seven (7) working days prior to the start date. Cancellations prior to course commencement will attract a cancellation fee of 10% of the program price.
Cancellations received after this time, or after course commencement will not be accepted and therefore no refunds will be given.
Substitute attendees may be nominated should the enrolled participant be unable to attend. Details of a substitute attendee must be received no later than three (3) working days prior to course commencement.
Traineeships (FFS Traineeships)
Cancellations of a Fee for Service Traineeship by the client will attract an Administration Fee of $500 as well as a prorated cost per competency commenced at the time of cancellation.
Example:
FFS Traineeship cancelled after commencement of 7 competencies:
- FFS Traineeship Price to Client = $2,300 for 15 competencies $2,300
- Less Administration Fee $ 500
- $1,800
- Price per competency ($1,800 divide 15 competencies = $120
- Less 7 competencies commenced $ 840
- Fees payable by client ($500 + $840) $1,340
As the probationary period for a FFS traineeship has no impact on BNIT payment arrangements, training may commence at any time and incur costs as detailed above.
If you require further information please contact your Enrolment Centre for assistance or contact the Institute call centre on 131 248.
International Students
If an applicant accepts a place offered by BNIT by virtue of paying fees or makes an agreement to pay the fees, it means that a binding contract is created between the applicant and BNIT. The laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Queensland govern this contract.
Notification of cancellation, withdrawal, leave of absence, or deferral from course(s) of study or program must be made in writing to BNIT.
VISA
Where an application for a visa is rejected, Brisbane North Institute of TAFE (BNIT) will refund tuition fees less an administration charge of $150 after receiving a copy of the letter from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) regarding visa rejection. The terms of this policy, with regard to withdrawal from study, also applies where:
- A student is granted Permanent Resident status during their ELICOS or formal program
- BNIT excludes a student from continuing their ELICOS or formal program
- An application for a visa extension is rejected or DIMA cancels the student's existing visa.
ELICOS Program
If a student withdraws from their ELICOS program for any reason, excluding visa rejection:
- More than 28 days before the Ppogram begins: BNIT will refund tuition fees less an administration charge of 20% of tuition fees paid for the ELICOS offer.
- Less than 28 days before the program begins: BNIT will refund tuition fees less an amount equivalent to 12 weeks of ELICOS tuition.
- After the program begins: BNIT will not refund tuition fees.
Formal program
If a student withdraws from their formal program for any reason, excluding visa rejection:
- More than 28 days before the program begins: BNIT will refund the first semester of their tuition fees, less an administration charge of 10% of this instalment.
- Less than 28 days before the program begins: BNIT will refund the first semester of their tuition fees, less an administration charge of 20% of this instalment.
- After the program begins: BNIT will not refund tuition fees.
Conditions of refund
- If a student 'fast tracks' and completes their program in a shorter time than what is specified in the offer of place, they are not entitled to any refund of tuition fees.
- Tuition fees may be reduced or a refund issued if the student is granted sufficient transfer credits or exemptions such that the program is completed in a shorter than normal time.
- Approved refunds will be processed within 4 weeks of the Manager - International Business's decision on this matter.
- If a student completes their program in a period less than that stated on the offer of place the instalment amounts will alter. If a period greater than that stated on the offer of place is required to complete the program the student will be subject to additional fees.
- Students may, under exceptional circumstances, defer their studies providing notification is received within 2 weeks of the commencement of the semester. An administration charge of $150 applies, and fees may be held for up to one year only. If a student withdraws from their program, tuition fees will not be refunded.
Payment of refund
- All requests for refunds or transfer credits are subject to the approval of the Manager - International Business, BNIT.
- All requests for refund of any monies must be made in writing to the Manager - International Business, BNIT.
- Approved refunds may be transferred to another institution or sent to the student's home country as requested.
- Students may appeal refund decisions by writing to the Director, BNIT within 14 days of receiving notification.
- If BNIT defaults, as the registered provider, refunds cannot be covered by a written agreement between the provider and the student. Such situations are covered by the provisions of the ESOS Act 2000 and the ESOS Regulations 2001.
Fees will not be refunded for any reason other than the above.
To apply for a refund,
- put your request for a refund in writing, stating the reasons for your request (together with any documentation such as a letter from DIAC to support your refund application);
- fill out the Application for refund [
255KB] form and - send your written request along with the completed Application for refund form to:
International Relations Office
Locked Bag 3 Eagle Farm BC Qld 4009
Australia
email: international.bnit@deta.qld.gov.au
If the student successfully meets the English language entry requirements and all other conditions for entry to a BNIT formal course during their ELICOS course, the student may apply to credit the balance of paid ELICOS tuition fees to their formal TAFE course.
If the student defers their ELICOS course, BNIT will hold the tuition fees until the student resumes their course. The student cannot resume their course until a new Offer of Place has been issued.This agreement does not remove the right to take further action under Australia's consumer protection laws.
Refund if BNIT Defaults (sections 27 - 31 ESOS Act 2000)
BNIT will pay a full refund to the student within 2 weeks should:
- the course being offered not commence on the agreed starting day
- the course stops being provided after it starts and before it is completed, or
- the course is not provided fully to the student because of a sanction imposed on BNIT.
The student will be provided with a statement explaining how the refund amount has been calculated.
In the event that a course stops being provided after it starts and before it is completed, BNIT will endeavour to arrange for another course, or part of a course, to be provided to the student as an alternative.
Should the alternative course of study/program be acceptable to the student, no refund of fees for the original enrolment will be made by BNIT, nor will any additional fees be charged to the student for the alternative program.
Cancellation of Enrolment
BNIT has the right to cancel the enrolment of any student, if the student has:
- gained admission to the Institute by misrepresentation, falsification of documents, or other fraudulent means
- failed to fulfill the requirements for admission or enrolment
- failed to fulfill the ongoing requirements of an international student, such as minimum attendance requirements
- engaged in any act of serious misconduct associated with the academic program of the Institute
- failed to satisfy the minimum academic performance level required
- failed to pay any outstanding fees, or
- been involved in unacceptable conduct as determined by the Institute Director.
Refund of Fees
Students requesting a refund of fees and/or charges must submit a Request for Refund form to the BNIT office. Before applying for a refund of tuition fees and/or charges, all students must read BNIT's Refund and Penalty Policy.
Applications for a refund of fees will take at least five (5) working days for BNIT to process.
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