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Terms & Conditions
Englischsprachige Original-AGB (Stand 2025)
Opening Dates and Holidays
• The school is open all year, with the exception of Christmas and New Year when it
closes, usually for 2 weeks.
• Classes take place from Monday to Friday and run as usual on all other public
holidays including Easter.
• The school is not open on Saturdays or Sundays.
• If you wish to take a holiday, you must inform us at least 28 days in advance. Please
note that we do not give refunds for holiday periods, but you may be able to extend
your course. Extensions for holidays can only be made on certain courses and if you
are studying for 12 weeks of more. The maximum holiday extension is 2 weeks for
every 12 weeks of study. No extensions will be given to students who take holidays
during courses with set dates or examination courses. We advise you not to take
holidays during examination courses.
• Students on long-term courses are requested to give their holiday dates at the time of
booking.
• If you are a non-EU student, please ask for a School Holiday Visa Letter before going
on holiday. It is important that you do this in case the immigration officials require
proof of your status upon your return to the UK. This letter will contain the dates we
have permitted your travel. It may also be beneficial to carry proof of availability of
fund as they may be required by the immigration officer. Please note: IH Torquay is
not liable if you are delayed at the border or if you are not allowed back in the UK for
any reason.
Age
• The minimum age on our General English courses is 16.
• The minimum age on our Max 4 courses is 30.
• The minimum age on our Discover Devon course is 50.
• The minimum age on our Family courses is 6 (the maximum age for children on this
course is 15).
• The minimum age on our Young Learner Academy courses is 14 for individuals or 12
if they are part of a group (maximum age on this course is 17). Any group must have
at least one group leader for every 15 students.
• Please note: students under 18 years old are not supervised except in lessons and on
breaks and class excursions.
• Under 18s: please read our Young Learner Handbook or Adult and Young People
handbook (if on an adult course) – you can find these on our website at the following
link - Handbooks. Parents or guardians of under 18s MUST send us a completed
‘Parental Consent form U18’ before the start of the course. Students aged under 18
must follow all the rules in the U18 form and in our Handbook. This includes the rule
about being back at homestays at the correct time (curfew times). The safety and
welfare of under-18’s is of paramount importance. We reserve the right, ultimately, to
make arrangements for students who continually disregard the rules to return home
before the end of their course.
• All group leaders with any under 18s in their group must give us a ‘certificate of good
conduct’ or ‘certificate of criminal record’ from their country of residence.
English Levels
• All of our courses have a minimum level specified.
• We accept students at Beginner (A1) level on our General English courses starting on
the first Monday of every month. If you are uncertain of your English level, you can
complete our simple online test at https://ihtorquay.uk/online-english-tests/general-
english-test/.
• If you need any advice on your choice of course please contact us
Your details
• It is essential that you give us all the information requested. Please tell us if you have
medical conditions, allergies or dietary requirements, particularly if you have any
serious issues with hearing, sight or mobility.
• We keep your information in electronic and paper format.
• At IH Torquay, we understand our responsibilities with regard to the types of personal
information we collect and use throughout our business in order to deliver our English
Language Learning services. Please read our Privacy Policy which details the personal
data we require from you, how we use and store it and who we share it with.
• You must keep us informed if any of the information you have provided changes.
Booking and payment
Your place is guaranteed only after we have received full payment. All fees should be paid in
pounds sterling. We will confirm a booking after we have received full payment.
• For couples, friends booking together or families there will be only one Registration
Fee and Accommodation Fee applied. Returning students will not be charged the
Registration Fee.
• Unless otherwise agreed, full payment should be made 28 days before course
commencement. A flexible payment plan can be set up and students can pay their full
fees in instalments, providing the full balance is settled 28 days before course
commencement.
• Payment can be made by bank transfer or debit / credit card using our Flywire
payment page: https://payment.flywire.com/pay/payment.
• Alternatively, you can pay by bank transfer (this will incur higher transfer fees which
must be covered by you, otherwise the charges will be payable on arrival) - details on
the invoice
• Your student number (which you will find on your invoice) must be quoted with all
payments.
• If required, we will send letters by special delivery service (DHL) at an extra cost.
• The cost of course materials is covered in our tuition fees. However, if you wish to
purchase any course books or exam practice books, we will be pleased to assist you.
Visa Nationals
• It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct visa type and appropriate
‘leave to remain’ (immigration status) in the UK. In the event that we find that you do
not have appropriate leave to remain, we will terminate your course immediately. In
this case, tuition and registration fees are non-refundable.
• Please note that for students applying for a visa, we send original letters of acceptance
and other details including accommodation by e-mail.
• We are unable to send any acceptance letters until full fees have been paid. In case of
visa refusal, we will refund all fees apart from registration fees and any courier fees.
• When applying as a short-term student, you must intend to leave the UK within 30
days of the end of your study (if it is before the date your immigration permission
ends). If you do not leave the UK within this time, it could affect any future
immigration applications to the UK (such applications could be refused and a time-bar
applied if UKVI believes you exercised deception about your intention in your short-
term student immigration application). You cannot extend your course beyond the
dates you originally booked by more than 30 days, even if your visa was granted for a
longer period.
Self-Catering Accommodation (Partner Hotel and Apartments)
• Our Partner Hotel may be booked from Sunday to Saturday. If you wish to
arrive/depart on a different day please check with the school as availability may be
limited and you will be charged for the extra night/s (calculated pro rata).
• Our self-catering apartments may only be booked Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to
Sunday. If you wish to arrive or depart on a different day you must book hotel
accommodation for the extra nights.
• All accommodation payments must be made through the school.
• We can arrange accommodation only for students studying at least 15 hours per week.
• If you leave school early for any reason, you will be asked to leave your
accommodation.
• If you decide to leave your accommodation early, you must write to us at least 28 days
before. If we do not receive notification at least 28 days before we will be unable to
offer a refund.
• Under special circumstances we may need to move you to alternative accommodation
at short notice and the school reserves the right to do this. Although we will do our
best to find you alternative accommodation in the same category as your original
accommodation, we cannot guarantee this.
• If you book accommodation for part of your stay (for example if you book 4 weeks of
accommodation but have enrolled on a 24 weeks’ course) and you decide to extend
your stay in school accommodation we cannot guarantee continuity periods. You
should always book accommodation for the full length of your study period unless you
have already booked private accommodation.
• Any student who behaves in an unacceptable manner will be asked to leave their
accommodation. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to find alternative
accommodation.
• If you book your own private accommodation you must send us your accommodation
address and contact telephone number. If you are in private accommodation and would
like to move to IH Torquay's accommodation, we would require 2 weeks’ notice to
find you suitable accommodation.
Homestay Accommodation
• Homestay accommodation may be booked from Sunday to Saturday. If you wish to
arrive/depart on a different day please check with the school as availability may be
limited and you will be charged for the extra night/s (calculated pro rata).
• All homestay accommodation fees must be paid to the school.
• Our homestays will welcome you at your arrival in Torquay from 0700 until 2300. For
arrivals outside these times please consult the school before booking your travel – you
may be subject to a taxi charge from your arrival point to the homestay.
• If you take holiday during your stay and you are away from your homestay you will
still be charged for your accommodation.
• Please inform us if there are any issues with your homestay accommodation and we
will attend to them immediately.
• Please note: in special/unforeseen circumstances it may be necessary to change your
accommodation at very short notice before you arrive or once you are here and the
school reserves the right to do this. We guarantee to provide accommodation for the
period you have booked but not necessarily with the same homestay or in the same
category for the whole period.
• There will be a weekly special diet supplement applied to special diets such as coeliac
or gluten intolerant. The weekly diet supplement is clearly stated in our Dates and
Fees.
Insurance
• We strongly recommend that you travel with adequate insurance.
• A good student insurance policy will cover expenses incurred if a student has to go
home early, flight cancellations or medical expenses.
• Our recommended insurers are Guardme (www.guardme.co.uk/). Guardme provides
travel insurance specifically designed for students travelling outside their country of
residence to undertake a course of study anywhere in the world.
You are entitled to a ‘cooling off’ period of 14 days with the right to free cancellation.
We will refund in full all fees paid for any course cancelled within 14 days of booking.
After this period the following rules will apply:
Pre-Arrival Cancellation
• All cancellations must be made in writing.
• Registration and Accommodation Fees are non-refundable in all circumstances.
• If you cancel more than 28 days before the course starts, we will refund all payments
minus the registration fee, accommodation fee and one week of tuition +
accommodation.
• If you cancel 28 days or fewer before the start of the course, no refund will be given.
If possible, we will give you a credit note for future use.
• If you cancel your course because your Visa application has been refused you will
need to provide documentary evidence from the relevant embassy before any refund
can be considered. Once we receive a copy of all pages of the Visa Refusal letter
including the last page with the signature of the ECO and date of refusal, plus our
original letter of enrolment, we will refund all payments received minus the enrolment
fee, accommodation fee and bank charges.
• Any refunds due will be made to the person or organisation that made the payment. If
you paid by credit card or bank transfer then the fees will be refunded to the same
account. Please note that any associated bank charges incurred during the transaction
must be covered by the recipient.
Postponement of your course or accommodation
• In case of postponements, a discretionary credit note may be issued. The credit note
will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
• If fees have increased during this time, the difference will become payable. Credited
fees cannot be transferred to another person.
Cancellations/changes for course or accommodation after arrival
• All changes must be made in writing or by email to study@ihtorquay.uk
• You are able to upgrade if possible, but we do not give a refund if you cancel, curtail
your stay or change to a cheaper course after arrival.
• We are unable to offer credit notes to students who leave early.
• If you cancel your homestay, we will refund all accommodation fees except the next
two full weeks.
• If you cancel our Hotel or Apartments without 28 days’ notice then we would only
refund if we are able to re-let the accommodation during the time of your booking.
• Periods of absence due to accident or sickness are non-refundable – we recommend
booking a student insurance as this will be covered under their policy.
Attendance
• IH Torquay takes attendance at the school very seriously and expects students to
attend every lesson, to be on time and do all their homework.
• The school keeps a record of each student’s attendance at every lesson and calculates
total attendance each week.
• If a student is sick, they must inform the school
• If you miss a lesson, for any reason, we cannot give a refund or allow you to take the
lesson at another time.
• If a student’s attendance is poor the school will try to help the student improve. If this
does not lead to improvement it may result in the student being asked to leave the
school.
• If a student is asked to leave the school for poor attendance or conduct, their fees will
not be refunded.
• To receive a course certificate a student must attend at least 80% of their lessons.
Bank account
• If you are enrolled in school for 6 months or more, the school can help arrange for you
to open a bank account.
Photographs and filming
• Classes cannot be filmed or recorded in any way, including audio only, without the
permission (in writing) of either the Director/Owner, School Director or Academic
Manager.
• IH Torquay may use film or still photographs for promotional purposes.
• You (or your parent if you are under 18) will be asked to give consent for images or
videos to be taken and/or used.
Conduct
• For your own benefit and the benefit of your fellow students, you are expected to
speak in English at all times and behave respectfully to other students, staff and
accommodation providers. In a multi-national environment it is vital to respect
cultural, racial and religious differences.
• IH Torquay reserves its right to refuse admission to any student or to dismiss any
student from school or accommodation without any refund in the event of misconduct.
• IH Torquay expects students to behave responsibly online and to follow the school’s
guidelines on internet use, including not downloading or sharing any illegal or
inappropriate material.
• IH Torquay expects all students to uphold the core British values of democracy,
individual liberty, tolerance and the rule of law.
• Students will have to pay for any damage they cause to the school premises or their
accommodation.
Complaints
• If you have a problem whilst you are in the school, please let us know immediately so
we can help you.
• The complaints procedure is detailed in your Student Handbook
• The complaint can only be accepted if it is made while the student is attending our
school – we do not accept complaints received after the student has returned to their
home country.
• The complaint is only valid if all invoices relating to the student making the complaint
have been settled in full.
• If a student is still unhappy with the way the school has dealt with the complaint it
should be put in writing in English and sent by the student or their family (not by an
agent) to complaints@englishuk.com.
Liability
• IH Torquay does not accept any liability in the case of illness, accident, loss or
damage to personal items or property occurring on the school premises or where
accommodation/transport has been booked through the school – except where such
liability is imposed under UK law
• IH Torquay does not accept any liability for losses or additional expenses due to
cancellation or delays to your travel service – we strongly recommend that you travel
with adequate insurance.
Force Majeure
• IH Torquay is not liable for failure to perform its obligations if such failure is as a
result of Acts of God (including fire, flood, earthquake, storm, hurricane, infectious
diseases or pandemics or other natural disasters that are beyond the reasonable control
of the parties), war, invasion, act of foreign enemies, hostilities (regardless of whether
war is declared), civil war, rebellion, revolution, insurrection, military or usurped
power or confiscation, terrorist activities, nationalisation, government sanction,
blockage, embargo, labour dispute, strike, lockout or interruption or failure of
electricity, internet or telephone service. Refunds will not be made in such
circumstances.
• In the event of an outbreak of an infectious disease, all students and or
parents/guardians are required to comply with rules regarding quarantine as set by
government agencies or by the school.
• If the school asserts Force Majeure as an excuse for failure to perform its obligations,
then the school must prove that it took reasonable steps to minimise delay or damages
caused by unforeseeable events, that the school substantially fulfilled all non-excused
obligations, and that the other party (student, agent etc.) was, where possible, notified
of the likelihood or actual occurrence of the event.
Other
• The school reserves the right to cancel or alter a course. If we do so, we will offer an
alternative course or a refund of all fees. If the student decides not to take the
alternative course offered, IH Torquay will not be liable for any losses incurred by the
student for cancelled travel arrangements.
• The school reserves the right to alter dates, fees and any particulars in the brochures
without prior notice.
• The Director of the school reserves the right at their discretion to refuse an enrolment
for any student at any stage of the application process. The School shall be under no
obligation whatsoever to give reasons for the decision of the Director. If an enrolment
is refused, all payments received will be refunded.
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