• Section 1 - Purpose
• Scope
• References
• Section 2 - Glossary
• Section 3 - Policy
• Section 4 - Procedure
• Responsibilities
• Course withdrawal
• Refund applications
• Refund schedule for commencing students
• Refund schedule for continuing students
• Refunds in exceptional circumstances
• Review of decisions
• Payment of refunds
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This procedure supports the Admissions Policy and Enrolment Policy by stating:

1. the conditions under which an international applicant for admission to a course at Charles Sturt University (the University) who does not take up their course may receive a full refund of tuition fees, or a partial refund, or no refund;
2. the conditions under which an international student enrolled in a course at the University who withdraws from the course may receive a full refund of tuition fees paid in advance, or a partial refund, or no refund;
3. the processes for applications for tuition fee refunds; and
4. the avenue for review of a decision to refund, partially refund or not refund students’ tuition fees.

(2) The procedure is intended to ensure that the University complies with the sections related to international student tuition fees and refunds within the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and its associated regulations, the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) and the National Code.

(3) The University will determine refunds of tuition fees for international students in accordance with this procedure and the student’s written agreement with the University. This procedure should be read alongside the written agreement, the Admissions Policy and the Enrolment policy.

Scope

(4) The scope of this procedure is limited to applications for a refund of tuition fees for international students who were studying in Australia on a student visa at the time that the tuition fees were charged.

(5) The refund of tuition fees section of the Enrolment Policy states the conditions under which the University will refund tuition fees for overseas and domestic students.

References

(6) Where a rule, policy, procedure, guidelines or supporting document is named in this procedure, it is listed in the associated information tab, with a hyperlink to the text that is meant.

Section 2 - Glossary

(7) For the purposes of this procedure, the following terms have the definitions stated:

1. Census date – the deadline by which all students must finalise their subject enrolments for each session, after which they are financially and academically liable for each subject that remains on their enrolment.
2. Commencing student - a student who has accepted a place in a course, or who is in their first session of study in a course at this University.
3. Confirmation of enrolment (COE) – an official document issued to international students to confirm they have accepted a place and are eligible to enrol in a course at this University. The COE provides information about student enrolment status, course details, tuition fees, registered course duration, and enrolment start and end dates. International students must submit a current COE when applying for or renewing their student visa to study within Australia. 
4. Continuing student – a student continuing their enrolment beyond the first session of study in their course.
5. Domestic course – a course delivered by an Australian education provider, including courses provided by this University and by partner institutions located within Australia.
6. Domestic student – a student who at the time of the relevant study is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or holds an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.
7. Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS) – establishes legislative requirements and standards for the quality assurance of education and training institutions offering courses to international students who are in Australia on a student visa.
8. International student– for the purposes of the Enrolment Policy and this International Student Fee Refund Procedure, ‘international student’ refers to non-domestic students who are studying within Australia on a temporary student visa.
9. In writing – means a legible hard copy letter or document written in English and signed by the relevant student, or an email sent by a student from their personal email account as nominated on their student record.
10. Letter of offer (Offer Letter) – the written agreement outlining a student’s enrolment contract with the University.
11. Letter of release – a letter issued by the University to an international student studying on an Australian student visa, giving them permission to transfer their enrolment to another institution.
12. National code – the ESOS National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students.
13. Non-tuition fees - any fees required for items not directly related to tuition fees. Examples include: Overseas Student Health Cover, Student Services and Amenities Fees, Accommodation Fees, and other fees and charges related to additional administrative costs incurred by the University, such as late payment and late enrolment fees.
14. Overseas student – for the purposes of the Enrolment Policy and this International Student Fee Refund Procedure, ‘overseas student’ refers to students who are not categorised under 'international student’ or ‘domestic student’ as defined in this glossary. ‘Overseas students’ include: any student enrolled in a non-domestic course (including Australian domestic students studying overseas in a course delivered by an offshore partner institution); non-domestic students studying on campus within Australia while on any temporary visa other than the student visa; and non-domestic students who are studying in a domestic course that is delivered entirely online, where they do not need a student visa for their enrolment.
15. Session – any session, term or other teaching period in which subjects are delivered.
16. Tuition fees - fees charged for each unit of study (subject) that a student is enrolled in.
17. Written agreement – this is the University’s letter of offer to the student, containing the enrolment contact between the student and the University, which is agreed to by the student when they accept their offer.

Section 3 - Policy

(8) This procedure supports the Admission Policy and Enrolment Policy but is designed so that it can be read independently and provides a full statement of the University’s rules regarding refunds of tuition fees for international students.

(9) The Enrolment Policy states the requirements and processes for all enrolment matters related to international students aside from tuition fee refunds.

Section 4 - Procedure

Responsibilities

(10) The Division of Student Administration (DSA) is responsible for monitoring international student enrolments in accordance with ESOS requirements, including conducting a preliminary assessment of international student refund applications before referring them to the Division of Finance for processing.

(11) Where an international student claims exceptional circumstances as a factor in their refund request, DSA will refer the application to the Executive Director, Division of Student Administration or delegate for assessment before it can be processed by the Division of Finance.

(12) The Division of Finance processes all international student refund applications once they have been approved and referred to them by DSA. 

Course withdrawal

(13) International students are strongly encouraged to discuss any decision to withdraw from their course with the University before doing so, as this will result in the cancellation of their confirmation of enrolment (COE) which may lead to the cancellation of their student visa.

(14) Students seeking to transfer courses within this University are advised to submit their application for admission to study in their new course before submitting any request for course withdrawal. See the Admissions Policy and procedure for information about applying for a new course or transfer.

(15) Students seeking to transfer their enrolment to another provider must follow the process outlined in the International On-Shore Students - Provider Transfer Policy.

(16) In order to withdraw from their course, international students must submit a request in writing to the Division of Student Administration, after which the University will cancel their confirmation of enrolment and report this change in current enrolment status to the government. Students must directly contact the Department of Home Affairs to discuss the impact this will have on their student visa.

Refund applications

(17) Depending on the timing of a student’s request to withdraw from their course and/or subjects, international students may be eligible for a full or partial refund of the tuition fees they have paid to the University.

(18) Students seeking a refund must follow the instructions outlined on the relevant refund application form and attach the required supporting documentation before submitting their request.

(19) Applications for a refund of tuition fees will only be considered if they are submitted within 12 months from the end date of the session for which the tuition fees were charged.

(20) Applications for a refund are based on the tuition fees that have been paid for each subject, and students must identify each subject they are requesting a refund for on their application form.

Refund schedule for commencing students

(21) The following table states the University’s refund rules for commencing students (in their first session of study).

(22) Throughout the table, the date of the student’s withdrawal is the date on which the University receives the student’s request to withdraw from their course or subject.

Refund schedule for continuing students

(23) The following table states the University’s refund rules for continuing students.

(24) Throughout the table, the date of the student’s withdrawal is the date on which the University receives the student’s request to withdraw from their course or subject.

Refunds in exceptional circumstances

(25) A student may apply for a refund of tuition fees beyond the limits stated in the refund tables above where they have been prevented from continuing or successfully completing their studies in particular subject due to:

1. exceptional circumstances outside their control, which
2. did not make their full impact on the student until after the census date for the relevant session.

(26) A student must apply in writing and clearly identify each subject they are requesting a refund for due to exceptional circumstances, and they must attach supporting independent (third party) evidence of these circumstances.

(27) Applications for a refund of tuition fees due to exceptional circumstances must be submitted within 12 months from the end-date of the session for which the tuition fees were charged.

(28) The Executive Director, Division of Student Administration or delegate will assess international student applications for a refund of tuition fees due to exceptional circumstances and will notify the student of the decision outcome within 10 working days of receiving the completed application with supporting evidence.

Review of decisions

(29) Where a student is dissatisfied with a decision under the provisions of the Enrolment Policy and this refund procedure, they may request that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) or delegate review the decision. The student should submit their request in writing to dvcstudents@csu.edu.au, state the reasons they believe the refund decision is incorrect or unfair and attach supporting evidence.

(30) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students) or delegate will conduct an internal review of the refund decision and provide a response to the student within 10 working days of receiving the completed request in writing.

(31) If the student believes the decision-making process was not conducted in accordance with the Enrolment Policy and this refund procedure, they can submit a formal complaint to:

1. ombudsman@csu.edu.au; or
2. University Ombudsman, Charles Sturt University, Boorooma Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.

(32) If a student’s complaint remains unresolved and they have exhausted all avenues within the University, they may lodge an external complaint to:

1. the NSW Ombudsman;
2. the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT); or
3. take action under Australian consumer protection.

Payment of refunds

(33) The University will normally pay tuition fee refunds within four weeks of:

1. receiving the refund request from the student, if no exceptional circumstances are claimed; or
2. an approved refund decision, if the student is claiming exceptional circumstances that need to be assessed before their refund payment can be processed.

(34) Tuition fee refunds will be paid, in the Australian dollar amount of the fees, to the credit card or bank account of the student or to a nominated third party bank account authorised by the student. 

(35) The University will not compensate the payer of the fees for any exchange rate changes or funds transfer costs.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(36)  Nil.