Refunds and Compensation Policy

A student who has formally accepted an offer from the School remotely (away from the School’s premises) has 14 days to cancel the contract from the date of formal acceptance. Cancellation can be done by completing the Contract Cancellation and Permanent Withdrawal Form available on the Student Portal or School website, sending a letter to the School's official address, or emailing admissions@lsi-ac.uk. This right to cancel applies even if the student has enrolled and started the programme. Refund provisions outlined below will apply.

If a Home student cancels their contract within the 14-day period, the School will refund all payments received for the cancelled contract using the original payment method, including any payments made to the Student Loan Company (SLC).

A. If the School issues an offer to an international student requiring a visa and provides a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies), the deposit will only be refunded if the visa application is denied for reasons beyond the student's control. The student must provide a copy of the refusal notice, and the School may consult immigration advisers to assess the situation. No refund will be given if the student:

• Chooses not to apply for a visa
• Withdraws the visa application before a decision is made
• Is granted a visa
• Applies for a visa against the School's advice
• Is denied a visa due to a significant oversight, error, or defect in their application, such as deception or submitting incomplete or false documentation, as outlined in the refusal letter.

B. If an international student fails to enrol in their programme at the School after being able to do so, the deposit will not be refunded. The School reserves the right to take further action regarding payments. A £250 administration fee will be deducted from any refunds issued.

The School may, at its discretion, waive these refund rules for international students who fail to meet conditions or obtain a visa due to severe and unforeseen circumstances. Affected students should contact the School with evidence of their circumstances. Decisions regarding full or partial refunds will be at the School's discretion. 

Any withdrawal, intermission, or exclusion after 14 days will result in the following fee charges:

• Postgraduate Programmes:

  • From 14 days to the end of Semester 1: 33% of fees
  • From the start of Semester 2 to the end of Semester 2: 66% of fees
  • From the start of Semester 3 to the end of Semester 3: 100% of fees

• Undergraduate Programmes:

  • From 14 days to the end of Semester 1: 50% of fees
  • From the start of Semester 2 to the end of Semester 2: 100% of fees

In all cases, the terms of the contract will apply. International students must pay either their deposit or the relevant fee listed above, whichever is higher, unless the 'Refund of Deposit for International Students if Contract Cancelled within 14 Days' rules apply.

The School prioritises students' education and success. It will provide full support to help students complete their programme of study. As detailed in the Student Protection Plan and the Programme Closure, Suspension, and Change Policy, if a decision is made to close a programme and cease admissions, the School will strive to teach current students through to the end of their programme.

If the School is unable to complete the programme for students, it will assist them in transferring to a suitable programme at another UK higher education institution. Enrolled students are expected to take reasonable steps to address their situation, following the advice provided by the School.

If transferring to alternative studies elsewhere is not feasible or acceptable, or if the alternative incurs additional costs (such as extra tuition fees, maintenance, accommodation, or travel expenses), affected students may claim a refund and/or compensation.

If the School fails to meet its contractual obligations in the following areas, it may provide refunds and/or compensation:

• Material breach of contract, such as failing to ensure the continuity of study.
• Failure to deliver key elements of the programme specification as described at the time of admission.
• Failure to meet specific commitments made to the student regarding programme delivery.
• Extended disruption without adequate corrective measures, affecting the student's ability to achieve the programme's learning outcomes.

Liability sections in the relevant School contracts will apply.

Students must first follow the School's Student Complaints Procedure before making a claim for a refund or compensation under this Policy. If a complaint is upheld, the School will attempt to resolve it through corrective actions, goodwill gestures, or alternative learning methods. Refunds and financial compensation are considered only as a last resort.

Upon receiving a student claim, the Executive Committee will meet to decide on the remedy by assessing:

• The applicable law
• School accountability
• Student accountability
• Impact on the student

The final decision will be made based on these assessments, ensuring a reasonable, proportionate, and transparent process.

In deciding on a remedy for each claim, the Executive Committee will assess the School’s accountability by considering:

• Whether the School failed to meet its contractual obligations. 
• Whether the School failed to meet specific commitments made regarding the programme’s delivery.
• Whether the School did not deliver material elements agreed upon at the time of the offer.
• Whether the School adhered to its procedures for programme delivery, including quality assurance and communication with students.
• Whether prolonged disruption, without adequate corrective measures, compromised the School's ability to provide a fair opportunity for students to achieve the programme’s learning outcomes.
• Whether the School clearly and consistently communicated with the student about disruptions beyond their control, including any changes and their potential impacts.

In deciding on a remedy for each claim, the Executive Committee will assess the student’s accountability by considering:

• Whether the student has taken reasonable steps to minimise their losses.
• What actions the student has taken (or not taken) to reduce financial loss or mitigate the impact of programme closure or disruptions.
• Whether the student has unreasonably refused a suitable or reasonable alternative that was available.
• Whether the student has unreasonably rejected a reasonable offer of financial compensation.
• Whether any delays in resolving the matter were partly due to the student’s actions.
• Whether the student’s own actions have contributed to their current situation.

In evaluating each claim, the Executive Committee will consider the following aspects of impact on the student:

Direct Expenses

• Has the student experienced a demonstrable loss?
• What direct financial losses has the student incurred as a result?
• What additional costs did the student face due to their enrolment in the original programme?
• What expenses would have been avoided if the student had not enrolled?

Indirect Expenses

• What fees or charges for materials or equipment became redundant?
• What unforeseen commuting or travel expenses arose due to changes in course location or timing?
• What penalties or lost deposits did the student incur from changes in living or study arrangements?
• What non-refundable payments did the student make to external entities, such as accommodation or transportation?
• Were any childcare arrangements made in anticipation of the course schedule that became redundant?

Academic Outcomes

• How has the student’s overall academic experience been affected by these changes?
• What specific learning outcomes did the student fail to achieve?
• Has the student encountered challenges in maintaining continuity of study?
• Has the student experienced academic delays or extensions due to these disruptions?

Lost Opportunities and Income

• Did the student miss out on scholarships, grants, or funding opportunities because of the incident?
• Did the student have to forgo internships, placements, or practical experiences?
• Were there disruptions to the student’s work-study or part-time job commitments?
• Did the situation hinder the student’s ability to accept job offers or other opportunities?

Mitigations

• To what extent did the School’s actions, such as assisting with transfers, result in financial implications for the student?
• What value did the student gain from the programme that could offset the costs?
• What benefits and opportunities did the School or its partners provide that could offset the costs?

Each case will be assessed individually by the School, considering the specific circumstances of the affected student. The assessment will include:

• Individual accountability and actions.
• Actual impact experienced by the student.

The School will not use a standard formula for refunds or compensation, as the impact of failing to preserve continuity of study varies by student. The Executive Committee will ensure consistency by adhering to the decision-making principles outlined in this Policy, while also considering relevant laws, regulatory advice, and sector best practices.

If a student claim is upheld under this Policy, the School will provide a written response within 15 working days. The response will include a proposed remedy, which may involve one or more of the following:

• No Action Required: If no damage was suffered or existing arrangements have resolved the issue.
• Repetition of Services: The student may receive the School’s services again to an acceptable standard.
• Refund: Tuition fees will be refunded for services not delivered by the School.
• Compensation: Compensation will be offered for evidenced financial losses (e.g., travel costs, additional tuition fees, or lost time) resulting directly from the School's failure to meet its obligations.

Compensation plans will follow sector best practices and the guidelines of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). The proposed remedy will serve as full and final settlement for all claims related to the same issue.

The President must authorise all payments under this policy. Payments will be made to from agreed bank account(s) based on the President’s delegated authority to the Executive Committee. Relevant bodies, including the Student Loans Company (SLC), will be notified of any commitments.

Approved refunds will be issued using the same method and to the same account as the original payment. If fees were paid by another organisation, such as a sponsor or student loan provider, the refund will be directed to that organisation in accordance with relevant external regulations.

Compensation will be paid directly to the student via BACS or another suitable payment method.

All refunds and compensation payments will be processed within 14 days of School approval.