The following conditions apply to enrolments for a language course at an ARC centre.

Please note there is no refund of fees for Language Assessment, Seminars or Job Finder services after payment has been made.

Fees and courses

1. "Course", as described below, means one single enrolment or period of tuition, even if different programmes are chosen during the course.
2. Fees should be paid in full before a course or an extension to a course begins. The ARC centre can only guarantee a place on a particular programme after fees have been paid in full.
3. The ARC centre is always pleased to discuss students' class or level with them, but the ARC centre makes the final decision as to which class or level is appropriate.

Cancellations and refunds (course/tuition)

1. If the ARC centre has to cancel a course: students will be offered an alternative course or a full refund of all fees paid.
2. If students cancel:
   (a) Before the start of the course: the ARC centre will refund all fees, except for the registration fee. If payment has not been received, the ARC centre will charge the registration fee.
   (b) After the start of the course:
   (i) students enrolled for 4 weeks or less: if students cancel before 5pm on the first Tuesday of the course, the ARC centre will refund fees paid for tuition and registration, less a 50% cancellation fee;
   (ii) students enrolled for 5 to 12 weeks: if students cancel before 5pm on the first Friday of the course, the ARC centre will refund fees paid for tuition and registration, less a 25% cancellation fee;
   (iii) students enrolled for 13 weeks or more: if students cancel before 5pm on the second Tuesday of the course, the ARC centre will refund fees paid for tuition and registration less a 10% cancellation fee or $500, whichever is the smaller amount.
   (c) After the days stated in (b) above: there is no refund of fees (except for homestay - see "Homestay" below).
3. There is no refund of fees paid for course extensions.
4. There is no refund of fees for late entry to, absence from or early departure from a course.
5. All fees are refunded if students living overseas cannot get a visa to travel to New Zealand. However, students already in New Zealand should check that they can get a new permit before enrolling; fees for course extensions may not be refunded if they cannot get a permit here or if there is a delay, and fees will only be moved to a later course if the ARC centre is advised of any problem no later than the Thursday before the course begins.
6. All refunds are made in NZ$. The ARC centre is not responsible for any changes in the value of currencies or for students' bank fees.

Fee protection

All fees received for tuition and homestay (except for registration and homestay placement fees) are placed in a trust account. The ARC centre can only use this money at times agreed with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. If the ARC centre could not provide tuition or homestay (which is very unlikely), students could recover all their remaining fees from the trust account or transfer them to another school.
N.B. The New Zealand government may insist on a different form of fee protection at any point.

Attendance

1. Students are expected to attend classes regularly. Students must telephone the ARC centre to explain any absences. A certificate from a registered doctor is required to explain absences of more than 2 days or any frequent absences.
2. Students with a student permit may be asked to leave the ARC centre, without a refund of fees (except for homestay), if they have been absent without a satisfactory explanation for more than 20% of lessons, and in this case they may also lose their student permit.
3. If students do not appear at all for one week during the course, do not contact us and cannot be reached through the contact details they have provided, we will assume that they have left the ARC centre, and we will advise the New Zealand Immigration Service of this.

Examination Programmes

1. The following programmes: IELTS/Pre-IELTS/TOEIC/TOEFL/FCE/CAE/CPE have fixed dates, and students must pay for and attend for the whole programme; they may not change to another programme after the programme has begun; they may not take a holiday during the programme or postpone part of the programme for any reason.
2. If students enrol for one of these programmes, but do not attend on the first day and do not explain their absence to the ARC centre at or before the start of that day, they may lose their place on that programme, and may be offered another programme instead.
3. Students who do not attend regularly may also lose their place on these programmes, and the ARC centre cannot then guarantee a place on other programmes.

Visas/permits

1. Students are responsible for making sure that they have a valid permit to study at the ARC centre.
2. Students must bring their passport to the ARC centre at the start of their course to show that they have a valid permit; the ARC centre will keep photocopies of the key pages. Students who do not show a correct permit within the first 7 days of the course will be asked to leave the ARC centre, and there will be no refund or postponement of course fees in this case.

Privacy

New Zealand privacy laws say that the ARC centre can only give information about students to other people if students agree. Sometimes the ARC centre does need to discuss students' attendance, work, progress and attitudes with other people. Students must agree that the ARC centre may decide, when it is necessary and appropriate, to discuss these matters with: school staff and counsellors; doctors or similar; government agencies; parents or other people paying for the course; agents; homestay families; other schools; universities etc.

Holidays

1. The ARC centre is closed on New Zealand public holidays or holidays in place of these days. There is no refund of fees or crediting of fees for public holidays.
2. If students wish to take a holiday during the course, the ARC centre may move the fees paid to later dates. Students should read the information on holidays displayed at the ARC centre for full details.

Accommodation (including homestay and homestay cancellations/refunds)

1. Once paid, the accommodation arrangement fee is not refunded.
2. If students cancel homestay before moving in, all fees are refunded except for the arrangement fee.
3. If students leave homestay before the end of the period paid for, the remaining homestay fees are refunded, less a 15% cancellation fee.
4. Students must pay the homestay fee if they leave homestay for less than one week during the course. If they plan to go away for a week or more, they pay a homestay retainer of $50 per week, and the ARC centre moves the standard homestay fees paid to a later date.
5. The homestay fee must be paid for the days when the ARC centre is closed at Christmas/New Year and for all other public holidays.
6. One week's notice must be given if students wish to change or leave homestay, and this week must be paid for.
7. If the ARC centre arranges for students to rent a flat, the ARC centre is responsible only for introducing the students to the landlord; all matters relating to the tenancy and to payment of rent are entirely between students and landlords.

Insurance

1. All students must have insurance while they are staying in New Zealand. The New Zealand government says that the insurance policy must cover the costs of all medical treatment in New Zealand. The policy should apply from the date students leave their own country until the date they return. We recommend that it should also cover against loss of property.
2. We suggest that students take out one of the policies available from the ARC centre.
3. If students have their own insurance, they must give the ARC centre a copy of their policy before they start the course.
4. If students arrive at the ARC centre and do not have an insurance policy, they will only be able to start the course if they immediately take out one of the ARC centre's chosen policies.

Rules

1. Students must accept and follow the ARC centre's rules; a copy is displayed at the ARC centre, or the ARC centre will send a copy if required.
2. All students must make sure that the ARC centre has their current contact details at all times.
3. Students who do not follow the ARC centre's rules may be asked to leave the ARC centre without a refund of fees (except for homestay).
4. Students must obey the laws of New Zealand.

Responsibility

1. The ARC centre is not responsible if any services cannot be provided for reasons outside the ARC centre's control.
2. The ARC centre is not responsible for any loss, damage, injury or sickness relating to property or people within the ARC centre's activities. Students should have insurance to cover against accidents, illness, theft, loss or damage.

The New Zealand government requires that we include the following information.

Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

ARC New Zealand centres have 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

IMMIGRATION: Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at http://www.moh.govt.nz.
ACCIDENT INSURANCE: The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz

The education 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 education 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.

A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
The Code sets standards for education 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 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.

If you have any problems at the ARC centre...

If you are not happy about something at the ARC centre, you can talk to your mentor or:

1. If it is about class, see your teacher. If he/she cannot help you, please speak to the Principal, or the Directors. If they cannot help you, contact:

   New Zealand Qualifications Authority,
   PO Box 160, Wellington, 6015
   Tel: 04 802 3000,
   Fax: 04 802 3112,
   Email: helpdesk@nzqa.govt.nz

2. If it is about accommodation see the Accommodation Co-ordinator. If she cannot help you, please speak to the Principal or the Directors. If they cannot help you, contact:

   The International Education Appeal Authority
   c/o Ministry of Education
   Private Bag 47-911, Ponsonby, Auckland
   Tel: 09 374 5481
   Fax: 09 374 5403
   Email: info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz

3. If it is about anything else see the Pastoral Care Advisor. If she cannot help you, please speak to the Principal or the Directors. If they cannot help you, contact:
   
   The International Education Appeal Authority
   c/o Ministry of Education
   Private Bag 47-911, Ponsonby, Auckland
   Tel: 09 374 5481
   Fax: 09 374 5403
   Email: info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz

Orientation Programme

On your first day at your ARC New Zealand centre you will attend our Orientation programme. Points covered include the following: who is who at the ARC New Zealand centre; counsellors; student numbers; student ID cards; what to do if you have a problem; attendance and behaviour; extending course periods; taking holidays; homestay; school activities; computer room; health and safety; insurance; immigration and visas; driving in New Zealand; going to see a doctor; getting an IRD number; getting a bank account.