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Student Terms and Conditions

On this page you will find:

Student contract and learning agreement
HE Home Student Terms and Conditions 2023-24
HE Home Student Terms and Conditions 2024-25

 

The B&FC Terms and Conditions for higher education should be read carefully prior to accepting an offer of a place.

Blackpool and The Fylde College Terms and Conditions for higher education (home) students for 2024-25 year of entry onwards applies to:

  • Applicants and students whose initial year of entry is 2024-25 and beyond.

Blackpool and The Fylde College Terms and Conditions for higher education (home) students for 2023-24 year of entry onwards applies to:

  • Students who first applied as a student in academic year 2023-24. You will be subject to these Terms and Conditions for the full duration of your programme.

 

Student contract and learning agreement

When you sign up for a course at Blackpool and The Fylde College you will be asked to sign a statement of consent to confirm that you understand and agree to the following terms and conditions:

  • To abide by B&FC regulations, policies and procedures. Details of college policies can be found on the B&FC website 
  • To abide by the regulations of our awarding bodies which are displayed in exam rooms. Links to specific awarding body regulations can also be found on our achievements web page .
  • To take any assessments or examinations we require you to take to achieve your course(s).  Please note; we reserve the right to charge you for examinations or assessments you fail to attend.
  • That, if you fail to attend classes, you may be withdrawn from your course. Tier 4 international student attendance is monitored, non-attendance is reported to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
  • That B&FC reserves the right to cancel courses which fail to meet minimum class sizes.  Students will be notified as early as possible where this is the case 
  • That B&FC may withdraw you from examinations if you withdraw from your programme of study or any part of it
  • That you will tell us if any of your personal, employment or contact details change. 
  • That, if you loan equipment or resources from B&FC, you are required to abide by B&FC’s policies and keep them no longer than the agreed loan period and return all equipment and resources in the condition in which they were loaned to you
  • That you should raise complaints with your B&FC contact/tutor in the first instance. Complaints which are not resolved in this way should be escalated through B&FC’s  Complaints & Compliments Procedure. In the unlikely event that this does not achieve a satisfactory outcome, complaints in relation to individuals studying funded courses may then be raised with the relevant funding body (complaints.esfa@education.gov.uk for FE students; 08000 150400 or nationalhelpdesk@apprenticeships.gov.uk for Apprentices; 0118 9599813 or for HE students)

 

Important Information about Your Fees

  • You (or your employer/sponsor) are responsible for any course fees incurred
  • If your course has annual fees, you must pay fees for each year of the programme. International (non-EU) students and those studying non-funded courses must pay fees in full before they start each academic year.
  • You are financially liable for any loaned equipment or resources that you fail to return or return in damaged condition
  • Where fees are reduced or waived on the basis of a declaration you sign which is found to be false, you (or your sponsor) are liable for all associated fees
  • If we provide support (including equipment) or funding (including bursaries) based on a declaration you sign which is found to be false, we may withdraw that support and you are liable for costs incurred
  • B&FC operates a chargeable printing service on College premises.
  • B&FC may charge to you any cost arising from your failure to tell us about changes to your employment, benefits or contact details. (e.g., costs for changes to certificates or transcripts)
  • B&FC is obliged to notify benefits agencies if your status changes. This may affect your benefits and your fees
  • B&FC reserves the right to charge 2% for payments made by International Credit Card and will charge £25 for each failed direct debit payment
  • B&FC reserves the right to charge you for examinations or assessments that you fail to attend or any additional administration costs incurred by you as a result (e.g. access arrangements, invigilation costs, resource costs, late fees, and copy certificates)
  • B&FC reserves the right to apply sanctions including withholding payments, services or certificates (where appropriate) until all outstanding course fees have been paid in full.
  • That, any non-payment of fees or debts owed to B&FC will result in B&FC operating Debt Management procedures.  This may include contact by telephone, email or letter and legal action may be taken in pursuit of payments.  Failure to comply or respond will usually result in referral to an external legal specialist prior to referral to County Court
  • B&FC’s Refund Policy is available on our website () and from Reception desks. No refunds are available for commercial (i.e. unfunded) courses, for Maritime or Offshore courses or to international students unless B&FC cancels the course. If B&FC cancels the course, you are eligible for a refund or the option of transferring your booking to a later date. No compensation will be paid for any additional costs incurred. Where a refund is not available, you may be able to transfer your payment to another course (within 2 years of your original booking).
  • Refunds and fee liability, where a student or employer/sponsor has prepaid fees (note: approved refunds will only be paid back to the originating person and account):

Students who leave Further Education courses after the first 2 weeks are liable for fees for every month attended including the full calendar month within which the student withdraws.  Refunds will only be issued for any prepaid fees for any full remaining calendar months of the course.

Students who leave Higher Education courses (after the first 2 weeks) are liable for a proportion of the fees depending on course length:
         -   for courses of 1 academic year, students are liable for 25% if they leave within liability period 1, 50% If they leave within liability period 2, 100% if they leave after liability period 2
         -   for courses of up to 25 weeks, students are liable for 50% if they leave within the first half of their course and 100% if they leave in the second half of their course

If an employer contributes to the cost of an apprenticeship and their employee leaves after the first 2 weeks, the employer will be eligible for a refund of a portion of prepaid fees based on the student’s withdrawal date.

  • Refunds and fee liability, where a student or employer has paid fees:

Students who leave Further Education courses after the first 2 weeks are liable for fees up to the end of the calendar month in which they leave, refunds will only be issued for any full remaining calendar months of the course

Students who leave Higher Education courses (after the first 2 weeks) are liable for a proportion of the fees depending on course length:
         -   for courses of 1 academic year, students are liable for 25% if they leave within liability period 1, 50% If they leave within liability period 2, 100% if they leave after liability period 2
         -   for courses of up to 25 weeks, students are liable for 50% if they leave within the first half of their course and 100% if they leave in the second half of their course
         -   If an employer contributes to the cost of an apprenticeship and their employee leaves after the first 2 weeks, the employer will be eligible for a refund based on the student’s withdrawal date

 

Off-Premises and Distance Contract

  • The student contract with B&FC is formed on the date of your booking.  You have a statutory right to cancel or withdraw your booking.  Under Regulation 30 of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 this statutory termination right ends 14 days after the day on which the contract is entered into. 
  • If you wish to cancel the contract, you must notify us in writing by emailing one of the addresses below. You must make a clear statement setting out your      intention to cancel: For Fleetwood; Maritime or Offshore courses: offshore@blackpool.ac.uk   For ALL other courses: studentadminbispham@blackpool.ac.uk
  • If you book within 14 days of the course start date, you forego the right to a cancellation period. If the course/service is provided within the statutory cancellation period and you notify B&FC of your decision to cancel the contract in accordance with Regulation 32, you are liable to pay B&FC fees in accordance with Regulation 36(4).  
  • Under Regulation 36(4), you must pay for supply of the service for the period for which it is supplied ending with the time when you inform us of your decision to terminate the contract. The amount you pay will be proportion to what has been supplied in comparison to the full coverage of the contract. 
  • All intellectual property shall remain the property of the party that created it and neither party (student nor B&FC) will make any unauthorised use of the other party’s intellectual property. Where B&FC is the commissioner and funder of any intellectual property it shall maintain creative control.

Warranty and Limitation of Liability: Where B&FC supplies you with materials, products or services, B&FC does not guarantee the suitability or the fitness for purpose of those materials, products or services. B&FC shall have no liability to you for any loss or damage incurred by the student in using any materials, products or services supplied by B&FC.

Waivers: B&FC does not waive any of its rights under this agreement whether or not they are exercised or acted upon.
Governing Law:  Both B&FC and you (the student) agree that this contract is governed by English law and that any dispute will be heard in the Courts of England.  Nothing in this agreement will limit either party’s liability for fraud.

All students agree to observe the terms and conditions, rules and regulations of Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC).

 

Your Personal Data and Your Rights

B&FC takes its data protection responsibilities very seriously and complies with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) requirements under GDPR.

Read our full statement here
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