Clinton Institute

Fees and Refunds Policy

  1. Protection of fees paid in advance
    • • Clinton Institute protects the fees that are paid in advance by international students.

    • • Student fee protection is ensured as follows:
      1. o All course fees will be held in a separate bank account that can only be drawn down when the student commences. The course fees are held separately from the day-to-day operating expense accounts, so that if a refund is payable before the student commences, the refund can be made in full and in a timely way without impact on the financial operations of the business or recourse to the tuition protection system.

      2. o Clinton Institute does not require international students to pay more than 50% of course fees prior to course commencement. However, Clinton Institute provides students with the opportunity to pay more than 50% of their tuition fees prior to course commencement if they wish. Where a students chooses not to pay more than 50% upfront, the remaining amount will be collected according to an agreed payment schedule. Note, however, that where a course is less than 25 weeks, Clinton Institute will require students to pay the full cost of the course prior to course commencement.
      3. o Clinton Institute pays into the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) provided by the Australian Government. In the event that Clinton Institute is unable to deliver a course a student has paid for and does not meet the obligation to either offer a student an alternative course or pay a student a refund of the unspent prepaid tuition fees, the TPS will assist students in finding an alternative course or to get a refund if a suitable alternative is not found.

  2. Fees and refund information
    • • Fee information relevant to a course is outlined in detail on the Student Agreement and summarised on the Course Outline as well as Clinton Institute’s website. In compliance with Clause 5.3 of the Standards, detailed fee information is provided prior to enrolment or commencement of training/teaching, whichever is first.

    • • For international students, fee information is always provided prior to enrolment or receipt of payment as per the requirements of the National Code 2018 Standard 2 and 3.

    • • Fee information provided to international students includes:
      1. All course fees, including both tuition fees and non-tuition fees and the period to which these fees apply

      2. Any additional charges that may apply and the circumstances in which they apply

      3. The potential for changes to fees over the duration of the course

      4. Payment options (including that international students may choose to pay more than 50% tuition fees before their course commences)

    • • The Student Agreement and the Student Handbook which are provided prior to enrolment, includes this Fees and Refunds Policy and informs the student of their consumer rights. Students are required to sign the Student Agreement in acknowledgement of the terms and conditions of the enrolment and this policy.

    • • Where an employer is paying for a student’s course, an Employer Agreement will be provided at the time of enrolment outlining the total fees, payment terms and schedule of payments applicable.
    • • Students have the right to a ‘cooling off period’ only if they signed up to a course as a result of ‘direct approach’ sales or marketing strategies, such as tele-marketing or door-to-door sales. As Clinton Institute does not use ‘direct approach’ sales or marketing, this is not applicable.

  3. Inclusions in course fees
    • • The Student Agreement will clearly itemise all course fees, including both tuition and non-tuition fees.

    • • Tuition fees include:
      1. All of the training/teaching and assessment required for students to achieve the qualification or course in which they are enrolling within the attempts allowed.

      2. Issuance of one set of certification documents including the testamur (certificate) and record of results or transcript for ELICOS students and/or for VET students only.a Statement of Attainment (in the case of withdrawal or partial completion).

    • • Non-tuition fees include:
      1. Additional fees that apply for re-assessment, where a student fails to achieve a satisfactory outcome after three attempts at an assessment tasks – VET students only.

      2. Re-issuance or additional copies of certification documents will attract a fee of A cost of $60 per document applies as well as $25 where international shipping is required.

      3. Fees for deferral of study, late payment of tuition fees or other circumstances in which additional fees may apply.

    • • Course fees (tuition or non-tuition) do not include:
      1. Textbooks

      2. Replacement textbooks if original copies are lost or misplaced.

      3. Any optional textbooks and materials that may be recommended but not required to complete a course.

      4. Stationery such as paper and pens.

      5. Overseas Student Health Cover

      6. Airport pick ups

      7. Excursions

      8. Re-assessment if required, as outlined above

      9. Credit card payment surcharges

  4. Payments
    • • Payments can be accepted by electronic transfer, credit card or cheque.

    • • Credit card payments incur a surcharge of 1.6% per transaction.

    • • Students who are experiencing difficulty in paying their fees are invited to call our office to make alternative arrangements for payment during their period of difficulty.

    • • Debts will be referred to a debt collection agency where fees are more than 40 days past due.

    • • Clinton Institute reserves the right to suspend the provision of training/teaching and/or other services until fees are brought up to date. Students with long term outstanding accounts may be withdrawn from their course if payments have not been received and no alternative arrangements for payment have been made.

    • • International students who do not pay their fees will receive two warnings regarding non-payment of fees and thereafter will be reported to DET via PRISMS under student default.

    • • Receipts of payments made by international students will be kepts for at least 2 years after the person ceases to be an accepted student.

  5. Refunds for international students
    • • All course fees for international students include non-refundable enrolment fee and non-refundable application fee which are detailed on the Course Outline and Student Agreement. The deposit is non-refundable, except in the circumstances detailed below.
      1. A full refund of any fees paid (including the deposit) will apply if Clinton Institute is required to cancel a course before it commences due to insufficient numbers or for other unforeseen circumstances.

    • • Circumstances in which a refund will be paid – FULL REFUNDS APPLY
      A full refund of any course fees paid will be provided to students in any of the following circumstances:
      1. Defaults by Clinton Institute, where a course does not start on the starting date outlined in the Letter of Offer

      2. If a student cannot commence the course because of illness, disability or where there is death of a close family member of the student (parent, sibling, spouse or child).

      3. At the discretion of Clinton Institute’s CEO or approved representative, when other special or extenuating circumstances have prevented the student from commencing their studies including political, civil or natural events.

      4. If an offer of a place is withdrawn by Clinton Institute and this is not due to incorrect or incomplete information being provided by the student.

      5. $260 administration fee is applied for the refund application.
    • • Refund process for full refunds
      1. In any of the above situations, Clinton Institute will automatically conduct a refund assessment of all affected students and issue the refunds due accordingly. In these cases there is no need for a student to make an individual application for a refund. Refunds will be issued within 28 business days.

    • • Circumstances in which a partial refund will be paid – PARTIAL REFUND
      1. Partial refunds will be paid in the event of provider default. The refund will be calculated from the day of the default as per section 7 of the Education Services for Overseas Students (Calculation of Refund) Specification 2014.

      2. Partial refunds will also be provided in the same manner as for provider default (as above) where Clinton Institute fails to enter into a written agreement with a student or the Student Agreement is not compliant with the requirements of the ESOS Act or the National Code.

      3. If an international student is refused a visa (student default) before commencing their course, fees received in respect to tuition will be refunded less a $260 administration fee.

      4. If an international student is refused a visa (student default) but has already commenced their course, non-tuition fees as shown in your offer letter will not be refunded. However, tuition fees will be refunded from the day of the student default (as per Section 7 of the Education Services for Overseas Students (Calculation of Refund) Specification 2014) less a $260 administration fee.

      5. Withdraws from course of study, the student must provide notification of withdrawal in wiring and signed by the student. Refunds for any withdrawal will be calculated based on the date the notice of withdrawal form and completed refund form and with all relevant documentation received by Clinton Institute and will be as indicated in the following:

        • o Where a student withdraws from a course more than 4 weeks before course commencement, 70% of the paid tuition fee will be refunded less a $260 administration fee.

        • o Where a student withdraws from a course less than or equal to 4 weeks before course commencement, 50% of the paid tuition fee will be refunded less a $260 administration fee.

        • o Where a student withdraws from a course after the commencement of their course, no refund is payable.

      6. When default by Clinton Institute, if a students withdraws or defers their course after the course has started and they paid for units/ clusters/ modules that have not been commenced, a refund will be calculated on a per unit or cluster cost calculation as the course fee, less a $260 administration fees.


    • • Refund process for partial refunds
      1. Students who withdraw from a course may seek a refund or a reduction in fees owing by making an application for a refund in writing using the Application for Refund Form. The application must include the details and reason for the request. Students who have not completed a Withdrawal Form are not eligible for consideration of a refund or reduction in fees.

      2. The refund assessment will be based on reviewing the services provided to the student and the costs incurred by Clinton Institute to provide those services.

      3. The outcome of the refund assessment will be provided in writing to the student’s registered address within 28 business days, outlining the decision and reasons for the decision along with any applicable refund or adjustment note. Refund decisions can be appealed following our Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedure.

      4. A student not achieving the qualification or unit/s in which they enrolled due to exhausting their attempts at assessment, does not entitle the student to a refund.

    • • Circumstances in which a refund will not be paid – NO REFUND
      1. A student is not entitled to a refund in the following circumstances:

        • o Where a student is refused a visa and the reason for the refusal was because the student did not start the course at the location on the agreed starting day or the student withdrew from the course at that location or the student did not pay the fees due.

        • o Where Clinton Institute terminates the student’s enrolment because of a failure to comply with Clinton Institute policies, misbehaviour or unsatisfactory course progress.

  6. Outcomes of refund decisions
    • Clinton Institute will provide the outcome of the refund assessment in writing to the student’s registered address, outlining the decision and reasons for the decision along with any applicable refund or adjustment notice.
      Students will be advised that they may appeal the refund assessment following Clinton Institute's Complaints and Appeals Policy and Procedure.