9. Refunds

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9.1 Course not commenced

Students commencing a new course who withdraw from that course before the commencement date of the teaching period:

9.1.1 English Language Courses:

• More than 28 days before the teaching period commences, will receive a full refund of all tuition fees paid for that course.
• 28 days or less before the teaching period commences, 20% of the total unused tuition fees paid for that course will be retained.
• If students have accepted a package program of English language course(s) and non English language courses, 10% of the non English course tuition fee deposit paid is retained.

9.1.2 All other students:

All fees refunded, except 10% of the first teaching period’s published tuition fee for that year.

9.2 Course not commenced (exceptional circumstances)

9.2.1 Exceptional circumstances may be accepted as grounds for a full or partial refund of fees for students who are unable to commence or cancel their course, subject to the provision of acceptable documentary evidence in support of the refund application. Exceptional circumstances may include: illness or disability, death of the student or a close family member (parent, sibling, spouse or child), or political, civil or natural event which prevents full payment of fees.

9.2.2 Students who are unable to obtain a visa for studying in Australia, or are unable to meet all of the conditions stated in the letter of offer, will receive a full refund of tuition fees on supply of appropriate documentation (eg. letter of visa rejection from Australian Diplomatic Mission).

9.3 Cancel Course / Leave of Absence after commencement (including continuing students)

Students who cancel their course, or successfully apply for Leave of Absence on or after commencement in the following teaching periods:

9.3.1 English Language Courses

• After commencement of the teaching period, will not receive a refund of tuition fees for that teaching period. Will receive the balance of any unused tuition fees, less 20% paid for other teaching periods in that course.
• If students have accepted a package program of English language course(s) and non English language courses, 10% of the non English course tuition fee deposit paid is retained.

9.3.2 Teaching periods of 6 weeks duration or less (except English language courses)

• Within first 2 weeks of teaching period commencement date, will be charged 50% of the tuition fee invoiced for that teaching period. Any remaining fees will be refunded.
• After first 2 weeks of the teaching period commencement date, will not receive a refund of fees for that teaching period.

9.3.3 Teaching periods of 12 weeks duration or more (except English language courses)

• Within first 4 weeks of teaching period commencement date, will be charged 50% of the tuition fee invoiced for that teaching period. Any remaining fees will be refunded. Continuing research higher degree students* will receive a full refund of fees.
• After first 4 weeks of the teaching period, will not receive a refund of fees for that teaching period.

* students undertaking a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), Professional Doctorate or Research Master degree.

9.4 Cancel Unit(s) after Commencement (excluding English language courses)

Students who withdraw from a unit on or after commencement in one of the following teaching periods:

9.4.1 Teaching periods of 6 weeks duration or less

• Within first 2 weeks of teaching period commencement date, will receive a full tuition fee refund for that unit.
• After 2 weeks of the teaching period commencement date, will not receive a tuition fee refund for that unit.

9.4.2 Teaching period of 12 weeks duration or more

• Within first 4 weeks of teaching period commencement date, will receive a full refund of tuition fees for that unit.
• After 4 weeks of the teaching period, will not receive a tuition fee refund for that unit.

9.4.3 Unit withdrawal leading to no unit enrolment

• If withdrawal from unit(s) results in no unit enrolment in a course, clause 9.3 applies.

9.5 Offer Withdrawn by QUT

9.5.1 If an offer of a place is withdrawn by QUT on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information being supplied by the applicant/student, QUT reserves the right to retain 10% of the first teaching period’s published tuition fee for that year.

9.6 Academic Exclusion

9.6.1 Students who are not eligible to continue their course of study due to academic exclusion at the end of a teaching period, will be eligible for a full refund of any tuition fees paid for any future teaching periods, subject to any outstanding debts being paid.

9.7 Australian Permanent Residency

9.7.1 If Australian Permanent Resident status is obtained before the start of teaching in the offered course, the offer of a place as an international student will be withdrawn. Students will be considered for admission as a domestic (local) student in either a Commonwealth Supported Place, or full-fee paying domestic place in the same course, subject to course quotas, meeting all admission requirements for an Australian applicant, and the requirements stated in clause 9.7.3.

9.7.2 If Australian Permanent Resident status is obtained after enrolment and prior to the Census date for the teaching period in which enrolled, students will be considered for a Commonwealth Supported Place (subject to availability) or full fee paying domestic place in the same course subject to course quotas and the requirements stated in clause 9.7.3.

9.7.3 Students must provide original/certified documentary evidence of their Australian Permanent Resident status (visa date stamp in passport) and pay fees up front by the census date for the teaching period. Any remaining fees held in their QUT account can be refunded, upon application. Students who are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place must also complete a Request for Commonwealth Assistance form by the census date of their first teaching period.

9.7.4 If students fail to successfully complete all necessary requirements detailed in clause 9.7.3 by the Census date of the relevant teaching period, they will remain an international student liable for international student tuition fees, until the next teaching period.

9.8 Provider default

9.8.1 Refunds in the circumstance where QUT defaults on providing the course are covered by the provisions of the ESOS Act 2000 and the ESOS Regulations 2001.