Terms & Conditions

Class Schedules

Group classes run 5 days a week from Monday to Friday, every week of the year
New classes start every Monday
Students cannot join a group class after Tuesday (private lessons may be an option)
Class times will be confirmed on the Friday before the class commences
Payment for the following weeks class must be received by Friday 2pm

Intensive Group Classes: This is the most popular option. Intensive Group Classes run from 9am to 1pm with 5 minutes break every 55 minutes of lesson. In classes may also run from 2pm to 6pm with 5 minutes break every 55 minutes of lesson. One class per week may be external to the school in order to promote Spanish immersion, cultural experiences and practice in various environments. This activity is considered part of the week's class content.

"Private" Group Classes: As above this option is a half way between group classes and private classes. The difference is that in a "private" group class you create the group, whether its your friends, partner or another person at your own level. Classes can be run for a period of 2, 3 or 4 hours a day. As it's a private group there is greater flexibility to he content you wish to cover.

Private Classes: are scheduled on demand and where resources permit. To enable best use of the teachers time, students booking more hours are given priority over students booking less. Likewise students who paid in advance will be given priority, over those making last minute request. In general:

The minimum number of classes is 10 hours per week. If a student wishes to take less hours or only for a few days during the week, the classes would be subject to availability.
If a student is taking private classes in conjunction with group lessons, the minimum number of classes is 5 hours per week. If you want to take less hours or only for a few days during the week the classes would be subject to availability.

Skype Lessons: must be booked with a minimum quantity of 10 hours and subsequent extensions of 10 hours. The schedule will be advised on a weekly basis. Class changes must be advised with a minimum of 24 hours notice, otherwise the class will be forfeit. Normal cancellation procedures apply.

All class times are subject to change.

Public Holidays

In Colombia there are about 17 days of public holidays every year, most of which fall on a Monday. The school is closed on public holidays and the hours distributed over the remaining 4 days. You can consult the list of COLOMBIAN PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

Class Size

The minimum group class size is three students and the maximum is seven students. Levels with more than seven students will be broken into two groups. Class sizes change from week to week, one week you may have 6 students in your class, the next you might only have 1. The average is usually 3 or 4 students.

If students feel they have too many students in their class they should consider taking private classes. Alternatively the student could discuss the situation with their classmates and recruit one of them to transfer to a 2 person Private Group class.

We reserves the right to cancel group classes in which there are fewer than three students registered at the same level. Where there is only one student the group class will be converted to a private class with half the number of hours (no extra charge). Likewise a group class of two students will be converted to a Private Group class of 3 hours (no extra charge). Where the student does not want to convert they have the option to a) defer classes or b) request a full refund for classes on that particular week. Where a student decides to request a refund for all classes booked, the current week will be refunded without charge and all future weeks will be subject to the normal cancelation procedure.

Teachers and Class Groups

Teachers are not assigned to their classes until the Friday prior to the beginning of each week. We cannot guarantee that students and their former classmates will be placed into the same course. The school reserves the right to reassign professors after a course has started. Students may not request a particular professor for the class they are registering for. Once classes begin there is no transferring between classes, unless supported by the head teacher.

Professors are not involved in scheduling classes. If you wish to book, change or extend classes you should consult with the reception staff.

Pricing, Payments, Discounts & Fees

We encourage students to register early and pay in advance to guarantee their classes and avoid prices rises. Whilst we do our best to ensure all students are scheduled into classes, unless payment is made in advance, no classes will be guaranteed, even if confirmed previously by email or verbally.

Pricing is subject to change. You may secure the current price and avoid future price increases by paying the full course amount in advance. Once classes are paid the price of those classes will be guaranteed for a period of one year from the date of booking. If a student books classes and the price subsequently rises, additional classes will be charged at the new rate. If classes are not taken within 12 months of payment they will be forfeited.

Classes can be paid for online, in cash (Colombian Pesos) or by credit card at the school (5% credit card fee applies). Remember to advise your bank that you are travelling to Colombia to avoid transactions being declined.

The only discounts given are those mentioned on the Pricing & Schedules page. There is no discount on private classes, closed group classes or additional services such as school organised activities. Students changing from group classes to private classes will forfeit any discount previously applied.

Attendance, Rescheduling, Refunds & Cancellations

Group Courses are sold on a weekly basis and attendance for the full week is the student’s responsibility. Once classes have commenced missed days cannot be refunded, rescheduled, transferred to another period of time or to another person. In the case of absence please contact your teacher for homework.

In the case of emergencies (and supported by formal written documentation such as a doctors certificate or police report), at the discretion of the school director, a student may transfer the remaining days of the current week to another period of time, transfer the credit to take classes by Skype or request a full refund, minus associated cancellation fees.

Private Classes may be rescheduled where notice is given with at least 24 hours notice. Where a student fails to provide 24 hours notice the class (or classes) will be forfeit, with no reschedule or refund.

Refunds

For all class types students may cancel classes and request a refund prior to the start date by giving 30 days or more notice in writing. Any request for a full refund by any other method or after the refund deadline will not be granted. In this situation a cancellation fee applies.

Students who wish to cancel classes with less than 30 days notice may do so by giving notice in writing and will be refunded minus a 50% penalty, plus a cancellation fee.

Cancellation Fee - 200,000 COP
All cancellations are subject to a cancellation fee. Students are strongly advised to obtain travel insurance to cover accidents, sickness and ill health.

Refunds are only paid in cash. Unfortunately due to Colombian banking limitations sometimes it's technically not possible to make partial refunds via online platforms. Where cash is not an option the refund will be given in the form of Credit for future classes or classes by Skype.

Feedback

All complaints, suggestions & recommendations should be directed to the school in writing.

These Terms & Conditions are subject to change. The latest version can always be found on www.studyspanishcolombia.com