Refund Policy

Applies to all courses

Policy Statement
IBAT Dublin is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and consistent refund policy while safeguarding the integrity and operational sustainability of its programmes.

Acceptance of an offer and payment of fees constitutes agreement to this Refund Policy and all associated admissions terms.

For visa-required students, this policy is compliant with:
● Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012
● Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) requirements
● Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) regulations

1. Core Refund Rule (Applies to ALL Courses)
Refunds apply to tuition fees only.

The following costs are non-refundable once incurred or activated:

● Medical / health insurance
● Examination fees
● Registration fees
● PEL / learner protection charges
● Accommodation payments
● Bank charges or transfer fees
● Government levies
● Third-party costs incurred by the College
● Any non-tuition service costs

This rule applies to all programmes and all students.

2. General Processing Conditions
Refund requests will only be considered once IBAT has received:

● A completed Refund Request Form
● All required supporting documentation
● Verified bank details (matching the original source of payment)

IBAT reserves the right to verify and validate documentation prior to refund approval.

Approved refunds will normally be processed within 20 working days from the date complete documentation is received to enable the processing of the refund.

To assist students in estimating processing timelines, applicants may refer to an online working-day calculator.

The expected refund processing date will be confirmed in an official refund approval communication issued by IBAT.

In accordance with ILEP regulations, the maximum timeframe from receipt of a valid refund request to issuance of a refund will not exceed two months (withdrawal of a visa application).

Refund Payment Method

Refunds will only be issued to the original payer and returned via the original method of payment wherever possible.

IBAT reserves the right to refuse refund requests where the source of payment cannot be verified or where payment was made through an unverified third party.

3. Administration Fee
Where a tuition refund is approved, a non-refundable administration fee of €350 will be deducted.

This reflects administrative processing, academic review, reserved academic capacity, and operational costs incurred by the College.

4. Visa Refusal
Students refused a visa on their first application may be eligible for a tuition fee refund, less the €350 administration fee.

Required documents:
● Official Visa Refusal Letter
● Statement of Purpose submitted with the visa application
● Fully completed Refund Request Form

Students refused a visa on appeal may also be eligible for a tuition refund less the administration fee.

Required documents:
● Official Visa Appeal Refusal Letter
● Statement of Purpose submitted with the visa appeal
● Fully completed Refund Request Form

Failure to provide the required, or part thereof, documentation may result in delay or refusal of the refund request.

Payment of Refund
As per ILEP regulations – Section 4: Provider Track Record and Governance (Sub-section 12):
“In the case of a visa refusal or refusal of entry into Ireland, the fees, less any pre-indicated handling charge, must be returned to the student within 20 working days of the request being communicated to the provider.”

5. Visa Approval
Once a student visa has been granted, tuition fees are generally non-refundable, as visa approval confirms eligibility and study intent.

This applies where a student:
● Chooses not to travel
● Withdraws voluntarily from the programme
● Requests a deferral
● Arrives late and fails to register
● Experiences personal or financial changes (refer to Section 8 – Extenuating Circumstances)

However, IBAT may review refund requests in exceptional circumstances.

6. Visa Delays
IBAT is not responsible for visa processing timelines.

Where a student has not yet received a visa decision and wishes to apply for a refund, students must submit:
● Proof of visa application submission (receipt)
● Fully completed Refund Request Form outlining the circumstances

Students awaiting a visa decision may request a deferral to the next intake, subject to programme availability.

Visa delays alone do not automatically create refund eligibility.

Any refund will be less than the €350 administration fee.

7. Withdrawal of Visa Application
Students who withdraw their visa application may be eligible for a tuition refund, less the €350 administration fee, subject to submission of:
● Official Visa Withdrawal Confirmation
● Fully Completed Refund Request Form

In accordance with ILEP regulations, providers must clearly outline refund provisions for students who:
“withdraw from a programme prior to commencement of the programme, shortly post commencement, or during the programme. These provisions must specify the maximum time from receipt of a refund request to the issue of a refund (this must not exceed two months).”

8. Cancellation Before Programme Start
14 working days or more before programme start date

● Submit Fully Completed Refund Request Form
● Tuition refunded minus €350 administration fee

13 working days or fewer before programme start date

→ Tuition fees are normally non-refundable

Extenuating Circumstances

In exceptional circumstances, IBAT may review refund requests outside of the above deadlines.

Examples may include:
● Verified serious medical circumstances
● Verified financial hardship
● Verified significant personal emergencies

Cases are assessed individually by the College.

IBAT maintains a Financial Hardship Fund, referenced in the Quality Assurance Handbook, to support eligible students experiencing verified financial difficulty.

Requests should be submitted to: refunds@ibat.ie

9. Withdrawal After Programme Start
Once a student has commenced their programme, tuition refunds are normally not granted, including cases of:
● Voluntary withdrawal
● Non-attendance
● Late arrival
● Academic difficult
● Immigration complications
● Personal or financial changes
● Disciplinary dismissal

Exceptional cases may be considered under Section 8 – Extenuating Circumstances.

10. No-Show Students
Students who fail to arrive without an approved deferral will be classified as no-show students.

Tuition fees remain non-refundable.

11. Fraud or Misrepresentation
IBAT reserves the right to refuse or withhold refunds where:
● Fraudulent documentation is identified
● False or misleading information is provided
● Immigration conditions are breached
● Immigration authorities determine the applicant was not a genuine student

IBAT also reserves the right to delay or withhold refunds where an immigration investigation is ongoing.

Such cases may result in withdrawal of an offer of study or academic withdrawal from IBAT.

12. Deferrals
Deferrals are subject to approval and programme capacity.

A deferral does not create, extend, or reinstate refund entitlement.

Failure to enrol after a deferral may result in forfeiture of fees.

Students may also be liable for any fee increases applicable to the new intake.

13. Institutional Rights
IBAT reserves the right to amend programmes, policies, fees, schedules, and entry requirements where necessary to ensure academic quality and regulatory compliance.

14. Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) Notifications
In accordance with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) requirements, providers must notify the ILEP Unit of changes to student status.

IBAT will therefore notify Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice where a student:
● Withdraws
● Is academically withdraw