Terms and Dates

(a)  Special Winter Term 2009:  Following the introduction of PBS, the British High Commission overseas have been flooded with applications for a student visa. It has caused significant delays for our students who were planning to join in the Sep/Oct term. To ensure that those students are not disadvantaged, the College has introduced this term to begin on the last week of October and end on the last week of January. Course length and number of tuition hours will not be affected due to this change.  We now urge you to seize this opportunity and apply for your student visa the soonest.

(b)   Sometimes your personal circumstances or other reasons beyond your control may prevent you arriving at the College before the start of the term.  The College may then issue a 'Late Arrival' letter, stating that it will accept you and provide you with additional care if you arrive no later than a stated time (generally 2 weeks) after the start of a term.

(c)  Only in exceptional circumstances will we issue a 'Late Arrival' letter covering up to four weeks after the start of a term.  The validity of your 'exceptional circumstances' will be decided by the College's Administration, based on the evidence you provide.  You do not have an automatic right to receive such a letter.

(d)   For applicants who cannot possibly arrive at the College within two weeks of the course start, the College, for an additional fee of GBP 100 normally deducted from the minimum payment made earlier, may issue a 'Term Deferral' letter moving the process to the following term.  This is a cheaper alternative to withdrawing and reapplying.  The GBP 100 is in addition to the minimum administrative cost of GBP 200 you will have to pay if you finally terminate or withdraw from the application process.

(e)   Both letters are issued only on an applicant's request, NOT automatically.  For a 'Term Deferral' letter, you must email or post to the College your statement that you are happy to pay the additional GBP 100 and have it deducted from your minimum payment made earlier, before we can send you the said deferral letter.  Read our policies carefully before making applications; ignorance is no excuses!  If in doubt, please always ask in advance.