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Terms and Conditions of admission

Please review these Terms and Conditions carefully before signing and submitting the application.

By signing the application, these Terms and Conditions represent contractual obligations with Study Group Canada Limited ("Study Group Canada") or Study Group USA Higher Education LLC ("Study Group USA").

Participant responsibility

The price for the Study Group USA or Study Group Canada program does not encompass additional ancillary expenses, including but not limited to:

  1. Personal spending money
  2. Insurance for pre-existing medical conditions, i.e., ailments which exist prior to arrival in North America
  3. Meal and housing costs during the few times the university is officially closed - usually limited to the Thanksgiving holiday in late November, the Christmas holiday (which normally lasts about four weeks) and Spring vacation (approximately 10 days)
  4. University textbooks and other necessary school supplies
  5. Air fare to and from US or Canadian domestic airport closest to the university campus in North America (a round trip ticket is required)
  6. Extra costs for ESL which may be required by a student whose English language proficiency is inadequate
  7. Graduate student housing, which varies per university. Please refer to the partner-specific Study Group website for further details.

Rules

All participants in the Study Group USA or Study Group Canada program are subject to the rules of the university in which they are enrolled. Students must assume full responsibility for compliance. Students must adhere to all housing regulations of the university, to include payment, withdrawal, and cancellation. Rules governing tobacco, alcohol, controlled drugs and other serious offenses will be strictly enforced. Applicants are reminded that international students in North America must comply with both the letter and the spirit of the law in order to retain valid student visas. Violations of such laws will render the participant liable for immediate dismissal from the program and repatriation to the home country, if not legal prosecution for violation of the laws of the state or federal jurisdictions involved. No refund of fees will be made in the event of dismissal or withdrawal.

Students seeking transfer between the date of initial arrival in North America and the first day of classes may have their I-20 cancelled by the institution to which they were accepted, and no refunds will be granted.

Admission is subject to availability. Early application and payment is advised.

Payment policy

Students are required to pay a deposit directly to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada before they receive an I-20 form from the partner institution. Deposit amounts vary.

Payment is due as follows:

  • July 1st for the Fall semester
  • November 1st for the Spring semester
  • April 1st for the Summer semester.

All students are required to pay the entire invoiced amount in full and in advance of the semester start date. Students may pay by semester or for the full year.

Students accepted by an institution after the billing due date are required to pay their deposit immediately upon receipt of an acceptance letter, and are required to pay their bill in full prior to their departure for North America, or within thirty days of deposit, whichever comes first.

Students will not receive their pre-arrival information until full payment is received. Students with outstanding balances will be immediately placed on hold by the host institution, and may be barred from attending classes until payment is made in full.

Payments by credit card after the due date will be subject to a fee of 2% of the total invoiced amount. Students with balances due after 30 days are subject to a $500 late payment fee.

Wire payments are recommended. Please refer to the following Bank Details in order to make a wire transfer.

Bank details

IMPORTANT: When wiring monies, include the student name on the account. If no student name is linked to the wire, delays with processing the payment will likely occur.

Study Group USA bank details

Bank name: Bank of America
Account name: Study Group
Account number: 9417-201482
ABA Routing number: 0260-0959-3
Swift code: BOFAUS3N
Bank address: 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10036, USA

Study Group Canada bank details

Bank name: TD Canada Trust
Account name: Study Group Canada Limited
Account number: 7889-5233274
ABA Routing number: 0260-0959-3
Swift code: TDOMCATTTOR
Transit number: 02760
Bank address: 301 Victoria St, Unit 102, Kamloops, British Columbia, V2C 2A3, Canada

Cancellation policy

Cancellation policy varies and is subject to the partner institution's policy.

A semester's notice will be required to terminate any program of study, or fees in lieu of notice will be charged.

Length of enrollment

  • First year undergraduate and EAP students must enroll for an entire academic year (2 semesters) and may be required to live on the university campus or in university-approved housing.
  • Returning undergraduate students will be re-enrolled for an entire academic year and may live off campus if university policy permits.
  • Graduate students must enroll in their complete academic program.

Study plan changes

Upon arrival, students will be given a placement examination to assess their English language level. Many institutions also require an assessment in Mathematics. As a result, the length of study may be longer than originally anticipated, incurring extra costs for which the student will be responsible.

Progression

Progression at the end of any given semester is dependent on successfully passing all courses in that semester and necessary progression requirements. Partner institutions may have additional requirements for progression. These additional requirements will be reviewed during orientation.

Undergraduate students are conditionally accepted to a university, not necessarily into a particular program of study. Institutions reserve the right to impose additional academic requirements post arrival (such as minimum grade point average) before a student is formally admitted into a particular program of study.

Insurance

All students are required to be properly insured. StudyCare insurance will be automatically added to your booking, unless proof of an equivalent insurance policy is provided upon application. Please note that StudyCare includes services beyond typical health insurance policies in the United States and Canada, e.g. cancellation, emergency repatriation, personal liability etc.

Canadian/US-based health insurance is mandatory for all students. Insurance policies based in countries outside of the United States or Canada will not be accepted as reasonable substitutes.

While Study Group provides StudyCare Insurance, some institutions will require students to have a student health insurance policy directly from the institution instead.

Insurance coverage begins upon arrival and insurance cards are issued post arrival on campus.

Damage and liability

Any reference in these terms to liability of students shall also infer liability on the parent or financial sponsor, and such liability is joint and several.

Students are responsible for payment for any damage caused by them to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada or institution property, including fixtures and fittings in university-approved accommodation. Occupants of shared accommodation are jointly and severally liable for the proper care of rooms, fixtures and fittings and the university reserves the right to recover costs for damage or exceptional cleaning.

Withdrawal/variation of degree programs

If, after a Study Group USA or Study Group Canada applicant has indicated an intention to progress onto a particular degree program, but prior to the student completing the Study Group USA or Study Group Canada program, the university discontinues the nominated degree program, the student may either:

  1. Withdraw without liability for fees other than the fee liability for the Study Group USA or Study Group Canada program, or
  2. Transfer to such other program (if any) as may be offered by the university for which the student is qualified. If in these circumstances the student wishes to withdraw from the university and to enroll in a course at a different institution, the university shall use its reasonable endeavors to assist the student.

Once the student has commenced the first semester of their university program, if:

  • a) the university's ability to deliver programs or other services in accordance with the descriptions provided is compromised by circumstances beyond the control of the university (e.g. third party industrial action), the university will use all reasonable endeavors to minimize disruption as far as it is practical to do so;
  • c) the program is cancelled or substantially varied from that described in the prospectus for reasons other than circumstances beyond the institution's reasonable control, the university will use reasonable endeavors to provide a suitable replacement program, but cannot guarantee to do so. If the student does not wish to accept the replacement program, the student shall be entitled to withdraw from the program. In the event of such withdrawal the university shall make an appropriate refund of tuition fees. Depending on the point at which the withdrawal takes place, the university reserves the right to retain fees or charges to cover the tuition or services which the student has actually received.

Publicity

Students (and their parents or guardians, where applicable) agree that their images and sound, details and achievements may be used in any media for promotional purposes without written consent or notification. This includes permission to pass them on to third parties (recruitment partners, publications, etc) at our discretion as long as the images are used to publicize Study Group programs.

Data protection

Any information provided to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada may be held on computer and shall be used by Study Group USA or Study Group Canada in accordance with privacy legislation law, including FERPA, HIPAA, and ADA. Study Group USA is an Equal Opportunities provider. Information provided to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada is held and processed for the purpose of administering your application, and may be carried forward to your official student record, which holds data in electronic and paper form on your personal details, academic and administrative history and on relevant financial transactions. After you leave, the parts of your student record which the university needs to retain will be archived. Some information will also be processed for the purpose of managing our relationship with you as an alumnus. Other information will be destroyed.

Throughout, your personal data will be held in accordance with current US data protection law.

Variation

No variation to these conditions is valid unless agreed in writing by the Center Director and approved by the Managing Director, North America provided always that Study Group USA or Study Group Canada reserves the right to make any addition, amendment or alteration to these conditions upon giving one semester's written notice of such change to all affected students.

Communication

Please supply Study Group USA or Study Group Canada with personal e-mail addresses and mobile/cell numbers prior to arrival, in order that communication, to include transmission of student reports, may be maintained at all times. Please also advise of any changes as they occur.

Agreement and release

I apply to enroll the person named as a student of Study Group USA or Study Group Canada. I agree to pay all fees incurred by the student as they become due, and either give the required notice of cancellation or to pay the required fees in lieu of notice. I agree to abide by the terms and conditions of Study Group USA or Study Group Canada. I give permission for the administration of first aid and appropriate non-prescription medication to my child, and give permission to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada and designated representatives to seek medical, dental or optical treatment when required. I am the parent or legal guardian named.

We do hereby authorize Study Group USA or Study Group Canada and its assigned agents, and any designated program representative, as agents of the undersigned parents, to consent to any x-ray examinations, anesthetic, medical or surgical diagnosis or treatment, or hospital care which is deemed advisable by, and is rendered under, the general supervision of any licensed physician or surgeon, whether such treatment or diagnosis is rendered at the office of said physician or surgeon or at a hospital. It is understood that this authorization is not given in advance of any specific diagnosis, treatment or hospital care being required, but is given to provide authority and power on the part of aforesaid agents to give specific consent to any and all such diagnoses, treatments, or hospital care which the aforementioned physician or surgeon, in the exercise of her/his best judgement, may deem advisable.

We waive and release all claims against Study Group USA or Study Group Canada and its agents for any injury, loss, damage, accident, delay or expense resulting from the applicant's participation in the program. We also release Study Group USA or Study Group Canada and its agents and agree to indemnify them with regard to any financial obligations or liabilities that the applicant may personally incur or any damage or injury to the person or property of others that the applicant may cause while participating in this program. We understand that the program begins with the outbound flight to North America and terminates when the return flights lands. We realize that any airline's liability for loss or damage to baggage or property, or for death or injury, is limited by the terms outlined by the airlines. We also understand that it is our responsibility to obtain a passport and any required visa. We understand that Study Group USA or Study Group Canada is not responsible for any loss or injury suffered by the applicant at any time while participating in the program, including but not limited to losses or injury suffered during periods of independent travel or absence from the program. If the applicant becomes ill or incapacitated, Study Group USA or Study Group Canada or its agents may take such action as it considers necessary, including securing medical treatment and transporting the applicant home at his/her own expense. We release Study Group USA or Study Group Canada from all liability related to such actions. We understand that the applicant's participation in the program may be terminated at the discretion of Study Group USA or Study Group Canada without any refund of fees and that the applicant may be sent home at his/her expense if he/she does not adhere to the national, state, and local laws and university rules. We agree to accept full responsibility for personal expenses, books, any required additional language training and round trip air fare. In the event that Study Group USA or Study Group Canada or its agents advances or loans any funds to the applicant or incurs special expenses on his/her behalf, we agree to make immediate repayment to Study Group USA or Study Group Canada. We understand that this Agreement cannot be modified except in a writing signed by Study Group USA or Study Group Canada.

Applying for a visa

US visa information

Once a student has been accepted, s/he will be provided with an I-20 from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), issued by the participating college or university.

This form will be sent upon receipt of deposit. An I-20 is required to start the process of obtaining a student visa to enter the United States. You will also be required to present financial documentation to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) consular office in your country. We advise you to have a letter from your parents/guardian, financial sponsor or other source of support stating their responsibility for your expenses throughout. A bank statement or letter verifying their financial ability to cover your expenses should also be provided. The bank statement cannot be a copy; it must be original (per immigration law). The bank statement must be notarized and no older than six months. Also, in addition to the bank statement, we require an affidavit of support, which is an original letter from the student's sponsor (such as parent or guardian), claiming financial responsibility for the student. This affidavit must also be notarized. If the student is self-sponsored, no affidavit is required.

In the case of SACM (Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission) students, the Financial Guarantee serves as both the bank statement and the affidavit.

We recommend that all students apply for their visa as soon as possible, and notify Study Group USA directly once your visa status is known. Please notify your academic enrollment advisor when you have made an appointment, and notify your counselor with the outcome of that appointment.

Canadian visa/study permit information

The Student must contact the nearest applicable Canadian Embassy or Consulate for a visa application. Documentation and/or requirements may vary from country to country. To apply for a study permit, students will need to supply Canadian Immigration with 'Proof of Student Status'. This letter will be sent upon acceptance to the Programs.

It is recommended that all Students apply for their study permit as soon as possible, and notify Study Group directly as soon as the visa status has been confirmed.

These Terms and Conditions were last updated May 11, 2012