At SETU we adhere to the highest standards of transparency and fairness in our refund policies to ensure that international learners are fully informed about their financial commitments. Further details about Student Deregistration/Withdrawal and Deferral are available in the University's process document.
A full refund will apply where:
- The student has been refused a visa (students who are refused a visa must provide a copy of the visa refusal letter as part of their application for a refund).
- Where the student appeals the visa decision, and the appeal fails (students who are refused a visa must provide a copy of the visa refusal letter as part of their application for a refund).
- Where an offer of a place is withdrawn or SETU is unable to provide the programme.
- Where a student has paid their tuition fees in advance and fails to meet SETU’s English language requirements.
- Where a student has paid their tuition fees in advance and fails to meet SETU’s Academic requirements.
- When an amount more than the total fee due has been paid.
- Where a student accepted their offer but did not travel to Ireland, provides evidence of mitigating circumstances, such as certified unexpected illness of the applicant, death of the student or a close family member (parent, sibling, spouse, or child; this would not normally include a grandparent) or such other matters which may to a significant extent have adversely affected the applicant’s ability to travel to Ireland and undertake studies.
- SETU shall have discretion to deduct an administration fee from tuition fees to cover marketing, recruitment, and administrative costs.
A partial refund will apply where:
- An offer was made based on incomplete or incorrect information supplied. SETU may reserve the right to retain up to 50% of the tuition fees as well as any cost incurred in recruiting the student.
- A student fails to meet programme entry / progression rules and is not permitted to pursue the programme. They should be eligible for a refund of fees if paid in advance. SETU has a discretion to deduct 10% to 20% of tuition fees to cover marketing, recruitment, and administration costs.
- A notice of withdrawal due to exceptional circumstances may be accepted as grounds for either a full or partial refund of fees subject to acceptable documentary evidence. Exceptional circumstances may include:
- Inability of the applicant to obtain a study visa.
- Refusal of entry by Irish Immigration Authorities at the point of entry into Ireland despite the student having a valid study visa.
- Recent certified illness or disability.
- Death of the student or a close family member (parent, sibling, spouse, or child; this would not normally include a grandparent).
- Collapse of promised financial support or sponsorship of the student notified before the commencement of the course.
A refund will not be granted where:
- A student whose visa is withdrawn after the granting of a visa unless there are extenuating circumstances.
- An offer of a place was made based on documents which subsequently proved to be fraudulent or misleading – SETU may reserve the right to retain the full fee.
- A student has an outstanding balance.
- A student whose entitlement to attend a programme is terminated due to academic misconduct or antisocial behavior within the HEI.
- A student unable to continue or complete his/her studies because of having been in breach of government regulations governing his/her student status in Ireland.
- A student, who is unable to continue or complete his/her studies because of having been convicted of a criminal offence in the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland.
However, students who are required to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland to study must note the following:
- For any refund to be processed any student who has travelled to Ireland must provide evidence of return to their home country (flight ticket in the name of the student) and cancellation of study visa at local Immigration Office.
Timelines for Refunds for Fulltime Students:
- Students who officially withdraw from their course between weeks 1-6 of semester 1 will receive a full refund on any payments made.
- Students who officially withdraw from their course between weeks 7-12 of semester 1 are liable for payment of tuition fees matching the number of modules taken. For most students this will be 50% representing 30 credits. In the case of postgraduate students, this will represent 33% representing 30 credits.
- Students who officially withdraw after week 4 of their second semester are liable for payment of the full tuition fee.
Timelines for Refunds for Study Abroad (One Semester) Students
- Study Abroad Students who officially withdraw from their course between weeks 1-3 will receive a full refund on any payments made.
- Study Abroad Students who officially withdraw from their course between weeks 4-6 will receive a 75% refund on any payments made.
- Study Abroad Students who officially withdraw from their course after week 6 are liable for the full payment of tuition fees.
Appeals
An appeal can be lodged by the applicant against the decision in respect of full or partial refund on the following grounds:
- The policy of SETU was not correctly applied; or
- The decisions to make a full or partial refund came to an incorrect determination, based on the published policies of SETU and the information submitted to the applicant / student.
Terms and Conditions
- Refunds will be reimbursed in Euro or in the same currency as the fee were originally paid and via the same payment method as the original payment was made. In the case of bank transfer, refunds must be issued to a bank account in the country of origin of the original payment. For example, in the case of payments made through TransferMate, refunds will be processed through TransferMate.
- Where the applicant is requesting a refund based on a visa issue, failure to meet entry requirements, illness or bereavement, a refund will only be processed once all original documents and supporting evidence has been provided to SETU.
- In all cases a SETU refund form should be completed and submitted with documentary evidence as in 2 above.
- Where a student officially withdraws from their course, a completed withdrawal form should be submitted to the relevant office.
- Where a student wishes to defer their place on a programme, the tuition fees are carried over to the following academic year (subject to the timelines outlined above). A refund will not be granted to the student.
- For Study Abroad students who have registered for the full academic year, the timelines for refunds for fulltime students shall apply to them.
- All refund payments are processed in SETU’s finance department. Once all documentation is received, the refund payment process may take up to 6-8 weeks to complete.