Terms of Business – Calamus Extension College Ltd. 

 

Refund Policy   In compliance with the EU Distance Selling Directive and Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

 

This law and the rights detailed below apply to all transactions within the UK for customers in the UK and the EU, where the customer does not meet the seller in person. Sales from one business to another are not controlled by these regulations. If you are a self-employed professional, and you have enrolled on one of our courses for professional development purposes, we interpret that to be a business-to-business transaction.

 

The law allows you a 7-day “cooling off” period. During that time you have the right to cancel your contract and to obtain a full refund.  The 7 days will begin from the time you receive our confirmation of your enrolment. During that time you may cancel without a reason. Let us know by the quickest means: email, fax, telephone (we will return the call if you reach our voicemail and leave your number – but landlines only please, no mobiles.)  Please also confirm your request by letter sent by regular mail to our postal address in London. If you claim a refund within the 7-day “cooling off” period we will let you have that refund within 30 days.

 

Any refunds of moneys paid by credit/debit card will be refunded to the same card.

 

However, the regulations allow that if the order is for specially personalized goods, the right to cancel a purchase does not apply. If, for example, we have arranged an honorary award comprising a personalized certificate, or you are ordering a personalized product available to alumni, the “cooling off” period will not apply.

 

If you are outside the UK or EU there is no legal obligation for us to make any refund. Please ensure you are committed to the course before you enroll.

 

CANCELLATIONS OR INTERRUPTIONS AFTER THE COOLING OFF PERIOD

 

After the “cooling off” period, there is no obligation for us to make any refund.  Our services (provision of course materials and tutorial support) will be available for you during your registration period and for any longer period that we have agreed. If you do not exercise your right to use those services, then that does not entitle you to a refund. If you need to suspend your studies for any reason, it is your responsibility to let us know as soon as possible, and we will give you any appropriate advice.   At our discretion, we can decide to lengthen the registration period for a specified time without further charge.

 

MODULAR PAYMENTS

 

Subject to acceptance, we can approve a modular payment plan which means that your total period of study is divided into several smaller periods, and each period is charged for separately. If you are on a modular payment plan, each period has a separate invoice and 7-day cooling-off period.  If you decide to withdraw from the course, we will not invoice you for any further study periods after you tell us you wish to withdraw. However, study periods already invoiced must be paid for.  The College reserves the right to refuse to continue a modular payment plan at any time.

 

WHAT WE PROVIDE: (Occasional Students have different terms which are detailed in a separate publication)

The tuition fee includes: 

• Accepting your application on behalf of the awarding body.
• Issuing a letter confirming enrolment and details of your study plan.
• Issuing a VAT invoice.
• Putting you in touch with an Academic Adviser who can help you with your studies.
• Providing study instructions (for taught courses).
• Assessing all student assignments and providing grades and comments.
• Providing general help and advice, normally by email.
• Supplying a letter of completion.
• Advice on further study with Calamus Extension College Ltd. or a linked or affiliated college.

The tuition fee does not include: 

• The cost of textbooks (unless mentioned specifically in the enrolment letter). Students normally have to purchase their own textbooks.
• The cost of the certificate and transcript.  A graduation  fee is charged separately.
• Supplying multiple transcripts, copy certificates or letters to authorities, etc.
• Supplying duplicate certificates or transcripts or replacing lost certificates or transcripts.

The words “tuition fee” are used in a general sense meaning fees paid to the college for a course of study or award. Another term for such fees is “tuition”, especially in the USA. The terms “tuition” or “tuition fee” do not in themselves imply that taught courses or academic guidance will be given, since the terms are also used for the fees for honorary awards arranged by Calamus Extension College Ltd.  However all earned (i.e. non-honorary) awards include instruction and/or academic work.

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

All distance learning courses are assessed by continuous assessment. When sufficient credits are achieved and any other specific academic requirements are met and all fees due have been paid, the College will approve the award.

TIMESCALES (for Students) 

Students are expected to complete their diploma or degree course within the set period of registration for the programme of study. The set period will be advised in advance and confirmed in the enrolment letter. Students should discuss any problems with course progress or completion (for personal or academic reasons) with their Academic Advisor as soon as possible.  In special circumstances students will be allowed reasonable extra time.  

The average time for completion of most course units, by distance learning, is one month per 3-credit unit.  This is based upon 7 to 15 hours of study per week:  different students will study at different paces, and as with any education, some subjects and topics will be easier than others.

TIMESCALES (for Academic Advisors)

We will make every effort to mark assignments within 30 days but at very busy times of year or holiday periods, it might not be possible to adhere to this goal in every case.  We guarantee that, if significant delays occur that in our opinion prevent a student from completing during the period of registration, we will extend that period of registration for at least 6 months without further charge. 

FAILING A COURSE 

A student who fails a course unit may re-take it up to two further times. However, as mentioned above, if the period of registration has run out, additional fees could be required. Failure is not a reason for extending the period of registration without further fees.  

AWARDS GRANTED BY EXTERNAL BODIES 

Calamus Extension College Limited does not award its own degrees as it does not have the power to do so. Degree courses taught by Calamus Extension College Limited comprise tuition towards the awards of Calamus International University which is registered outside the UK and is not a UK university. Degrees are not UK degrees. All degree awards are subject to ratification by the University. By enrolling on a degree course, the student is confirming that he or she accepts that the status of the University, as published in the literature issued by Calamus and on the Calamus website, is satisfactory for the student’s needs.

SUSPENSION OF REGISTRATION

Calamus Extension College Ltd reserves the right to suspend or cancel a student’s registration at any time without notice, or withhold recommendation for an award, without refund if the student is found to do any of the following acts aimed at the College or any of its adjunct faculty or linked organizations: misrepresentation of previous qualifications or biographical details, spamming or any form of attack on our computer systems or websites, publishing slanderous or libelous statements concerning Calamus, copying any copyright material (including parts of the website and any logos) without written permission, gross plagiarism (copying someone else’s work and claiming it is your own), abusive behaviour, issuing a bouncing cheque and not paying the fees and costs due, expressing racism or incitement to violence, or any alleged criminal act. In all these matters the decision of the College will be final.

APPLICABLE LAW AND RIGHTS

The law applicable to any transaction with Calamus Extension College Ltd. shall be the law of England and Wales.  Nothing in this statement is meant to interfere with the student’s consumer rights.

COMPLAINTS

If you have a complaint concerning an academic matter, please contact your academic advisor in the first instance for advice. If the matter is not resolved, or if you have a complaint about any other matter, you may communicate with us at our contact address by email, fax, telephone or letter. If you telephone us we will return the call if you reach our voicemail and leave your number – but landlines only please, no mobiles.)  Please also confirm your request by letter sent by regular mail to our London postal address. We will do our best to resolve any matters raised.

This page was last revised on:  8 May 2007 and is subject to change at any time without notice. Please see website or prospectus for any changes.