Principles and practices underlying this policy
- The College strives to assist its students to carefully choose and enrol in the course that is right for them. It is the student’s responsibility to choose their course carefully on the basis of information and/or advice provided by the College through various mediums – website, brochures, email, phone or in person.
- The College is a not-for-profit organisation committed to creating and providing affordable and inclusive learning opportunities. To be sustainable we require a minimum number of students in our face to face small group training courses. When a student elects to withdraw from a scheduled course it can lead to inconvenience or costs to fellow students, teachers and the College.
- The College is committed to the provision of quality training and to upholding the rights of our students with respect to consumer protection. On the rare occasions that a fee-paying student seeks a full or partial refund or credit of their enrolment fees the College will assist as per this policy.
- Different criteria apply for refunds (full or partial) or credit notes for fee-paying courses requested before or after course commencement.
- Students should note that changes to work commitments or personal circumstances outside of the following conditions will not be considered as grounds for a refund, transfer or credit.
- Requests for credit notes to be applied to an enrolment for a later course may be made by phone, email, in person or via the website.
- All requests for refunds must be made on the Request for Refund form available via the Contact Us page.
- If approved, refunds will be paid within 10 working days of the date the Request for Refund form is received.
- In the event that the College cancels a course prior to commencement students will be offered a transfer to an alternative course or a credit note for a future enrolment, or a refund will be issued with no administration fee.
- All refunds will be paid to the person or organisation that originally paid the fees.
Transfers, credit notes and refunds requested before commencement
More than 5 days prior to course commencement
Transfers: Subject to advance notice (> 5 days prior to commencement of the course) students may elect to transfer their enrolment to an alternative course. Payment already received will be credited to that alternative enrolment. If the alternative course fee is higher the student must pay the difference prior to commencement. If the alternative course is cheaper the College will refund the difference. This can be done by contacting customer service on 1300 845 888 or via the website. No admin fee applies.
Credit note for future enrolment: Subject to advance notice (> 5 days prior to commencement of the Course) students may elect to request a credit note that may be applied to a future enrolment.
A numbered credit note will be raised and sent to the student and a note made to their electronic student record. When the student enrols in the future course the credit balance will be applied to the course fees. If the alternative course fee is higher the student must pay the difference prior to commencement. If the alternative course fee is lower the remaining balance will remain on their student record. This can be done by contacting customer service on 1300 845 888 or via the website. No admin fee applies.
A credit note is valid for 3 months only. Credit notes cannot be cashed out for a refund at expiry. credit notes are not transferable. No admin fee applies.
Refunds: Subject to advance notice (> 5 days prior to Course Commencement) Students may seek a Refund by completing and submitting a Request for Refund form available via the Contact Us page. The College will refund the course fees paid less an administration fee of $33 (incl GST) within 10 working days.
Less than 5 days prior to course commencement
Where a student elects to withdraw from a course with less than 5 days’ notice the College will give consideration (depending on the circumstances) to holding your course fees in credit or transfer to an alternative course.
A credit note is valid for 3 months and is for the purposes of enrolling in a future course at MCC and is subject to the terms and conditions set by the College. Credit notes cannot be cashed out for a refund at expiry. Credit notes are not transferable.
Other than in cases of extreme hardship no refunds are available less than 5 days prior to course commencement.
Refunds requested AFTER commencement
The College does not generally issue refunds to students who have commenced their course. Exceptions to this may include overpayments, disruption to course delivery, substantive quality issues, and exceptional hardship.
Overpayments: If a student has overpaid the fee payable due to error or a change to the Course length after commencement the College will refund the amount overpaid within 10 working days, and with no administration fee applied.
Disruption to course delivery: In the unlikely event that the College is unable to deliver your course in full:
- You have the right to choose whether you would prefer a refund of relevant tuition fees, accept a place in another course or a credit note.
- Transfer: You may be offered enrolment in a suitable alternative course or provided a credit note for the purposes of enrolling in a future course at the College. A credit is valid for 3 months only. Credit notes cannot be cashed out for a refund at expiry.
- Refund: The refund amount will be for the undelivered part of your course. The refund will be paid to you within 10 working days of the date on which the course ceased being provided.
Substantive quality issues
The College policy is that we will provide a quality learning experience and that all assessment, if applicable, will be in line with national standards. If a Student believes that the course has not been a quality learning experience then redress and/or refund may be sought.
Circumstances may include if the course delivered does not match what was promised in the course description, the quality of teaching, venue or equipment is not up to a reasonable standard and (in VET accredited courses) a complaint regarding unfair assessment and/or unfair treatment is substantiated.
Students seeking a refund on the basis of a substantive quality issue should refer to our Complaints Policy and complete a Complaints Form in the first instance prior to lodging a Request for Refund.
The Complaint matter will be reviewed by a staff member who may seek further information including the opinion of the tutor, an independent subject expert, and a survey of opinions of other class members. Depending on the resolution of the complaint, if the complaint is substantiated the College may issue a full refund, a part refund or an offer of credit to the same course in a future term or a reassessment of the student.
Refunds requested for hardship
In the event that a student does not commence a course due to sickness or personal crises or commences a course and due to sickness or personal crises cannot continue, that student may be given due consideration for a partial refund once they have outlined their reasons in writing on the Request for Refund form. Any such refund is at the discretion of the College and may carry an administration fee of $33 incl GST. Substantiating evidence may be required. If a refund is approved, the refund will be paid within 10 working days of the date the Request for Refund form is received.
Request for pro-rata fees adjustment
In the event that a Student seeking to enrol in a course as a fee paying student recognises that they cannot attend all sessions of a course due to specific personal circumstances that Student may be given due consideration for a pro-rata fee to be applied.
The request must be made prior to enrolment. An admin fee of $33 incl GST will apply.
Pro-rata fees may also apply if a student wishes to enrol in a course that has already commenced.
Any fee reduction or decision to allow late entry to a course will be applied at the discretion of the College within guidelines that consider the duration, location and nature of the course, financial impact on course viability, and the frequency with which the Student enrols.
The student should contact customer service in the first instance by phone, email, in-person or via the website. The pro-rata fee request will be reviewed by a staff member who may seek further information.
Your rights
This refund policy does not remove the right from a student to take further action under Australia’s consumer protection laws.
Should a student not be satisfied with the decision of the College, the matter may be referred to the NSW Department of Fair Trading.
In the case of an accredited/VET course the student may lodge a complaint to the Australian Skills Quality Authority and/or Training Services NSW. Further information on these escalated complaints procedures can be found on their websites.
Refunds requested for withdrawals from NSW Government subsidised courses
In the event that a student eligible for subsidised enrolment in a NSW Government subsidised course does not commence or withdraws from the NSW Government subsidised course, the applicable refund policy will be line with the fees and administration policy of the NSW Government contract. View separate policy on Fees, Withdrawals, Transfers and Refunds for NSW Government Subsidised Courses.
Refunds in the event of overpaid course fees for enrolment in a NSW Government subsidised courses will be in line with the fees and administration policy of the NSW Government contract.