Term & Conditions
Definitions and interpretations in these conditions: ‘Company’ shall mean Study Connections Limited trading as Wiseward. ‘Client’ shall mean the person in whose name the booking is made and shall include the person or persons on whose behalf the same is made. ‘Force Majeure’ shall mean any event outside the Company’s control which prevents the prompt performance of its obligations, including war and civil strife, etc.
Accommodation
Where accommodation is shown for one week, this means 6 nights from Sunday to Saturday, unless otherwise indicated. However, if you spend less than 6 nights in your accommodation in any particular week, you will not receive any discount. For arrival or departure dates (not on Saturdays or Sundays), a supplement may be payable. Note it is not possible to book accommodation unless you book a language course with us.
Courses
Where the number of course lessons is shown, this corresponds to the particular school's practice and one lesson may last from 40-60 minutes - the number of minutes per lesson is usually shown on the website. The exact number of hours shown in the website may be somewhat reduced due to the initial level test which usually takes place on the first Monday of the course (sometimes no classes are missed, often the first 2 lessons are missed, and occasionally the whole of the first Monday is missed). There may also be some missed hours due to evaluation testing during the course (often on Fridays every 2 or 4 weeks). The company does not accept any liability for lessons missed due to these reasons and no refunds will be given where lessons are missed due to testing. In the rare event that you are the only student of your level, and you are enrolled on a group course, the school may offer you individual tuition up to the value you have paid for group classes, rather than put you in a class at the wrong level. Please note that the class times listed on our website may be subject to change if group classes are changed to individual lessons at reduced hours, or if a lot of people are enrolled at the school and another class must open. Group classes may also take place in the afternoon.
Materials and transfers
Course materials, examination fees, airport transfers, and the cost of activities and excursions are not included except where specifically stated. The company will not refund any monies to a client who applies for a course requiring a specific level and is then found to be unable to join the course after the initial level test. In this case, the client will be offered a suitable alternative by the school and any difference in price (if the alternative course is less expensive) will be refunded by the company. In cases where there are insufficient numbers to run a group class, a reduced number of individual classes may be offered or the course may be offered at another school of similar standard. Please note that this does NOT apply to foreign language courses in the UK: if there are insufficient numbers to ensure that one of our evening language courses in the UK is able to run, the company will issue a full refund to you.
Activities and excursions
Descriptions of activities and excursions which accompany the language courses are for guidance only, unless specifically noted in the confirmation invoice. Some activities may not run at all or may be substituted by other activities. In low season, there may be no activities organised at all. All activities and excursions on offer through us are operated and run by third party providers and are not owned or operated by Study Connections Ltd.
Public holidays
Language courses not in the UK: Where a course takes place during a public holiday, no lessons will take place on that day and no reduction in price will be given except where specifically stated. Individual classes are usually rescheduled (but not always) but group classes are usually forfeited. Please consult the accompanying list of public holidays (although it is the client's responsibility to check these since they are often subject to change).
Public language courses in the UK: Evening classes do not take place on Bank Holidays. If you miss a class due to a Bank Holiday, this class will be added to the end of your course to ensure you receive the correct number of lessons. If, for example, three bank holidays fall during your 10-week term, your course will be spread over 13 week
Booking and payment
No contract is made between the company and the client and no booking is valid until the company has issued a confirmation invoice by post, fax or e-mail. (An e-mail acknowledging receipt of an order does not constitute a confirmation invoice.) The company will issue this confirmation invoice after it has received a completed booking form, a £200 course deposit (£300 for teacher training courses) and correct travel costs and insurance premium if required. If the full balance of the holiday price is not paid by the due date shown on the initial confirmation/invoice (8 weeks prior to departure), the company reserves the right to cancel the client's booking and to impose the cancellation charges, stated below.
Prices and surcharges
The charges which make up the total holiday / course price plus any applicable supplements and surcharges will be as stated on our website (prices in any printed brochure supplements, advertisements or other materials are for indication only). The prices are valid for holidays / courses until further notice but are subject to change at any time (prices for an online order may also be subject to change if they are not accompanied by full payment or a deposit - once a deposit or full payment is made, the prices will not change, even if they are changed on the website). If your company requires a VAT invoice, this should be indicated at the time of booking.
For guidance, the final price may increase because of surcharges on the following items: governmental action and adverse currency fluctuations. Even in this case the company will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the study price (excluding insurance premiums and amendment charges). The company will absorb any charges arising after receipt of the final balance. Should there be a favourable currency fluctuation, the company reserves the right to leave prices unaltered.
There are standard booking fees on credit card and non-UK debit card payments. These are fees that we are charged by our bank to process a payment with these cards, and we therefore need to pass these fees on to our clients. The reason why we have to charge more for USD and Euro payments is that the bank charges us a much higher amount to take payment with these cards. We do not add these fees to further our profits in any way. Booking fees are as follows:
- GBP Credit Card: 2.75%
- USD Debit/Credit Card: 2.75%
- EUR Debit/Credit Card: 2.75%
Alterations by the company
The company will do its utmost to provide the arrangements that have been confirmed, but it must reserve the right to modify or cancel any booking, accommodation or itinerary if unforeseen circumstances arise. If the company cancel or significantly alter an essential element of the client's booking for reasons of force majeure, on or before the date when the payment of the balance becomes due, the company shall inform the client as soon as possible and shall offer them the choice of an alternative of at least comparable standard if available. If the company is unable to offer an alternative of similar price, the company will offer the nearest available alternative and will refund the difference paid by the client. If force majeure occurs while the holiday is in progress, the company will try to make reasonable alternative arrangements.
Liability of the company
The company accepts responsibility for ensuring that all parts of your booking with us are supplied as described and that all services shall reach reasonable standard. However the company shall not be liable for the failure or improper performance of these services where such failure or improper performance is attributable to a) the fault of the client, b) the unforeseeable or unavoidable actions of an unconnected third party, c) unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the company's suppliers control, including force majeure.
Alterations by the client
If the client wishes to change their booking in any way after the confirmation invoice has been issued, they must inform the company immediately, in writing, and the company reserves the right to charge £50 per person per change to cover the additional administration involved, plus any additional charges imposed by schools, or other suppliers (details available on request).
Cancellation by the client and visa problems
If the client wishes to cancel their booking this must be done in writing by the person who signed the booking form or who made the online order. The date of cancellation will be taken as the date that the company receives the letter.
The cancellation charges are:
- 43 days or more before departure = deposit only + any non-flexible travel products
- between 28-42 days before departure = 40% + any non-flexible travel products
- between 8-27 days before departure = 60% + any non-flexible travel products
- between 1-7 days before departure = 100% + any non-flexible travel products
After a course has started there is no refund for any course, accommodation or other item booked.
Where a client has made a reasonable attempt to obtain a visa for the destination country within a reasonable timescale but is unable to obtain the visa, all money will be returned minus the £200 deposit on receipt of written confirmation from the relevant consulate detailing the visa rejection (only original documents will be accepted), In cases where an original invitation letter has been sent out by post, this will need to be returned too.
However for cancellations and visa rejections within 14 days of the date of departure, the company reserves the right to levy an additional charge equal to the price of a week's tuition and accommodation at the chosen school and location.
No refunds will be given for flights or other travel products. Notification of visa rejection must be made to the company in writing (or e-mail) at least 2 weeks before the start date of the course or accommodation booking.
In the case of cancellation or visa problems, the client will also be subject to the following charges, depending on the method used to provide the refund: £25 for a bank transfer, £7.50 for an international cheque, £1 for a UK cheque or a refund to a UK debit card, or 2.5% of the total to a credit card.
It is the client's responsibility to claim any insurance monies due as the company cannot claim on behalf of the client, which is why insurance should always be taken out at the time of booking.
Descriptions
The company honestly believes that all statements made in its brochure or website are factual and correct. Every reasonable effort has been made to describe the schools and environs and to provide the amenities described. The company cannot therefore be held responsible for any changes that become known after the brochure was produced (up-to-date information can be found on the website), nor can the company accept liabilities for happenings outside its reasonable control. The company undertakes to advise the client of any material changes known to it prior to the client's departure.
Special requirements
Any special requests must be advised to the company in writing.
Insurance
The company reserves the right to refuse to accept bookings from clients who are not adequately insured. The standard travel insurance organised by the company is strongly recommended. Clients not taking this insurance must provide evidence, in English, of adequate alternative insurance at the time of booking.
General information
General information is included in this website for help and guidance to the client. Please read it carefully. The contract incorporating these conditions shall be governed by English law and any matters arising out of it shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.