1. Protection of fees paid in advance
   BCC Institute protects the fees that are paid in advance by both domestic and international students.
   For domestic students, fee protection is ensured through:
• BCC Institute does not require a student to pay more than $1500 in advance for services not yet provided, either prior to course commencement or at any stage during their course.
• A Fee Payment Schedule is offered to all students enrolling at BCC Institute enabling the student to pay fees in monthly instalments.

For international students, further fee protection is provided by:

• BCC Institute does not require international students to pay more than 50% of course fees prior to course commencement. Note however, that where a course is less than 25 weeks BCC Institute will require students to pay the full cost of the course prior to course commencement.
• BCC Institute pays into the Tuition Protection Scheme (TPS) provided by the Australian government. In the unlikely event that BCC Institute does not meet its obligations to either offer you an alternative course that you accept or pay you a refund of your unspent Tuition Fees, the Australian government’s Tuition Protection Service will contact you and assist you in finding an alternative course or to get a refund if a suitable alternative is not found.

2. Fees and refund information
   Prospective and current students are advised of the fees associated with a course on the relevant Course Outline and on the Written Agreement. In compliance with Clause 5.3 of the Standards, this is provided prior to enrolment or commencement of training, whichever is first.
   For international students, fee information is always provided prior to enrolment as per the requirements of the National Code 2018
   Standard 3. Fee information provided to domestic and international students includes:
• All relevant fee information, including fees that must be paid and payment terms
• Details of the potential for fees to change during the student’s course as relevant
• Deposits and refund information and conditions relating to these
• The learners’ rights as a consumer including any cooling off period.

Refund information is outlined in the Written Agreement and in the Student Handbook.
Fees will only be collected once a signed copy of the signed Written Agreement is received by BCC Institute.

3. Inclusions in course fees
   Unless otherwise specified, course fees include all the training and assessment required for students to achieve the qualification or course in which they are enrolling. Course fees will itemise tuition, as well as non-tuition fees.
• Any optional textbooks and materials that may be recommended but not required for a course are not included in course fees and will be an additional cost should the student wish to purchase such materials. If textbooks are lost and need to be replaced, the student will be required to pay the cost of the replacement materials – the cost is outlined on the Written Agreement where applicable.
• Course fees include the issuance of a testamur and Record of Results and/or Statement of Attainment. For additional copies or reissuing of any of these documents an additional fee is applicable. This fee is currently $30 per request, if less than 12 months of course completion. A $75 fee applies for reissued Statements of Attainment & Certificates where the course was completed more than 12 months ago. Additionally, an hourly rate of $60 will be charged to access long term archives.
• Course fees do not include Overseas Student Heath Cover (OSHC) insurance or optional extras such as airport pick up and accommodation. These fees are at an additional cost.

4. Fees & Charges

5. Late payments
   Students who may experience difficulty in paying their fees are invited to contact the CEO to make alternative arrangements for payment during their period of difficulty.
   Late payment fees of $100 will apply where a student is more than 7 days past the payment due date and where no alternative payment arrangements have been made. Debts will be referred to a debt collection agency where fees are more than 40 days past due. Any costs associated with debt recovery will be borne by the student. BCC Institute reserves the right to suspend the provision of training and/or other services 14 days after the fees were due until fees are brought up to date. Students with long term outstanding accounts may be withdrawn from their course if payments have not been received and no alternative arrangements for payment have been made.
   
   International students who do not pay their fees will be reported to DESE via PRISMS under student default.

6. Refunds
   The Enrolment Application Fee of $400 paid at the time of application to BCC Institute is NONREFUNDABLE except in cases of student visa refusal.
   
   All course fees outlined on the Course Outline include a deposit. The deposit is non-refundable except in the unlikely situation where BCC Institute is required to cancel a course due to insufficient numbers, student visa refusal or for other unforseen circumstances.
   
   Students who withdraw from a course and wish to seek a refund or have the amount they owe on their fees reduced, must apply to BCC Institute using the Withdrawal Form and Refund Request Form outlining the details and reason for their request. Students who have not completed a Withdrawal Form are ineligible for consideration.
   
   When the refund is approved, BCC Institute will issue the refund and a statement detailing how the refund was calculated, within 28 days of receipt of an accurate and fully completed Refund Request Form. Where information provided is inaccurate or the bank account cannot receive Australian Dollars, this may delay processing the refund.
   
   The specific amount of any refund will be determined in Australian Dollars (AUD). Any exchange rate variations that have occurred between payment by the student and payment of the refund by BCC Institute, are to be borne by the student applicant. BCC Institute takes no responsibility for exchange rate variations between the time the student pays the fees and the time the refund is paid by BCC Institute to the student applicant.
   
   Due to the limitations of the banking system, refunds may not be able to be made in the same currency which the payment was first made by the student. Where a student’s nominated bank account cannot accept Australian Dollars (AUD), students will be asked to choose from a list of alternative currencies that they would like the refund to be paid in.
   
   These currencies are limited to:

1. Refund prior to course commencement
   Domestic Students
   • All course fees will be refunded where BCC Institute cancels the course prior to commencement.
   • If a student gives written notice of cancellation using the Withdrawal Form and Refund Request Form 14 days or more before course commencement, the student will be refunded the course fees less the Enrolment Application Fee. No refund will be given if BCC Institute is notified less than 14 days before course commencement.
   • BCC Institute may consider written requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances, as indicated in Section 6 of the Standards, and may increase the refund amount.
   • Any refund will be paid within 28 days of receipt of an accurate and fully completed application form.

   International Students

   • All course fees will be refunded where BCC Institute cancels the course prior to commencement.
   • In cases of student visa refusal where a student cannot start a course on the start date or must withdraw from the course on or before the start date, a student will be refunded the course fees less 5% of the course fees, up to a maximum of $500.
   • If a student gives written notice of cancellation using the Withdrawal Form and Refund Request Form 14 days or more before course commencement, the student will be refunded the course fees less the Enrolment Application Fee. No refund will be given if BCC Institute is notified less than 14 days before course commencement.
   • BCCI may consider written requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances, as indicated in Section 6 of the Standards, and may increase the refund amount.
   • Any refund will be paid within 28 days of receipt of an accurate and fully completed application form.
   
   
2. Refund after course commencement
   Domestic Students
   • No refund of fees is applicable where the student withdraws after commencement.
   • BCC Institute may consider written requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances, as indicated in Section 6 of the Standards, and may increase the refund amount.
   • Any refund will be paid within 28 days of receipt of an accurate and fully completed application form.

   International Students

   • A partial refund will be paid in the event of BCC Institute default. The refund will be calculated from the day of the default as per Section 7 of the ESOS Act (Calculation of Refund) Specification 2014. The student will be refunded the weekly tuition fees multiplied by the number of weeks the provider is in default within 14 days.
   • If a student is refused a visa but has already commenced their course, non-tuition fees will not be refunded. However, tuition fees will be refunded from the day of the student default as per Section 7 of the ESOS Act (Calculation of Refund) Specification 2014. The student will be refunded the weekly tuition fees multiplied by the number of weeks the student is in default within 28 days.
   • BCC Institute may consider written requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances, as indicated in Section 6 of the Standards, and may increase the refund amount.

   NB. Refunds in the case of provider default and student visa application refusal are regulated by law. For more information please refer to the Education Services for Overseas Students (Calculation of Refund) Specification 2014.

3. Other circumstances where no refund will be provided, except in cases of student visa refusal
   Domestic Students
   • If the enrolment is terminated because of a failure to comply with BCC Institute’s policies
   • If a student has supplied incorrect, false or misleading information.

   International Students

   • Did not start the course at the location on the agreed starting day
   • Withdraws from the course at that location
   • Did not pay the course fees due
   • BCC Institute terminates a student’s enrolment because of a failure to comply with BCC Institute’s policies, unsatisfactory academic progress or attendance
   • If a student is in breach of their student visa conditions
   • If a student has supplied incorrect, false or misleading information.
   
   
4. Exceptional circumstances
   BCC Institute may consider written requests for refunds due to exceptional circumstances.
   Acceptance of money appropriately refunded within the amounts detailed in part 5A, 5B and 5C does not preclude an application for exceptional circumstances and students must first apply for refunds of amounts as detailed previously unless a refund of 0% is applicable.
   
   Applications for refunds beyond the levels detailed in part 5A, 5B and 5C will be deemed to be denied if the student does not appeal within 30 days.
   
   Applications for refunds beyond levels detailed in part 5A, 5B and 5C must provide details and appropriate verifiable evidence of the circumstances which support the reasons for withdrawal namely:
   • Are beyond the student’s control; and
   • Do not make their full impact on the student until on or after the course commencement; and
   • Make it impracticable for the student to complete the requirements for the course during the period during which the student undertook or was to undertake the course.
   
   
5. Outcomes of refund decisions
   BCC Institute will provide the outcome of the refund assessment in writing to the student’s registered address, outlining the decision and reasons for the decision along with any applicable refund or adjustment notice.
   
   Students will be advised that they may appeal the refund assessment following BCC Institute Complaints Policy and Procedure and Appeals Policy and Procedure.
   
   
6. Withdrawal Fee
   Once you start a course, you may withdraw at any time, however if you withdraw from a course after the start of the term, you must pay the withdrawal fee of $300. Please note that payment of the withdrawal fee does not guarantee that you will be granted a Letter of Release (if required).