International fee refund policy

Refund your degree or diploma

Read this policy if you’re enrolled in any of the following:

• Diploma
• Degree (such as bachelors or masters)
• Higher Degree Research program
• Tertiary Preparation Program (Health Sciences)
• Foundation Studies program
• Study Abroad programs.

Full refunds

You can receive a full refund in the following circumstances:

• Your offer of a place was withdrawn.
• ACU was unable to provide, or ceased to provide, the course you applied to or were enrolled in.
• You paid your fees in advance but did not meet the degree or diploma progression rules and thus were not permitted to enrol.

If your offer of a place was withdrawn, but the offer was made on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information you supplied, ACU reserves the right to retain 10% of one full semester of fees.

If ACU was unable to provide the program you received an offer for, your refund will be made within two weeks of the cancellation of the program. Alternatively, you may accept an offer of a place in a substitute program.

Partial refunds

If you accept an offer of placement, but later inform ACU of an intention to withdraw or transfer to a lower-level course, ACU will provide a partial refund but will retain a percentage of the semester fee.

This cancellation fee is determined by the amount of notice given:

• Four weeks or more: If you cancel your enrolment four weeks or more before the course start date, you will be receive a partial refund, minus a cancellation fee of 10% of one full semester or term fees.
• Less than four weeks: If you cancel your enrolment less than four weeks before the course start date, you will receive a partial refund, minus a cancellation fee of 25% of one full semester or term fees.
• After starting your studies: If you cancel your enrolment after your course starts, but within the first four weeks, you will receive a partial refund, minus a cancellation fee of 50% of one full semester or term of fees.

No refunds

You are not entitled to a refund of any tuition fees:

• You withdraw from your course, for whatever reason, after the fourth teaching week of the course.
• The deposit fee payment was identified as non-refundable. If you defer your offer of study to a subsequent intake or course after you have enrolled and commenced your studies, the non-refundable payment may be deferred, but will remain non-refundable.
• If you were granted permanent resident status after the census date, you are still required to pay international students fees for the remainder of the semester youare enrolled in.

Refund your English language program

This policy applies to you if you’re enrolled in an ACU English language course (ELICOS) such as:

• General English
• IELTS Test Preparation
• English for the Workplace
• English for Academic Purposes.

Full refunds

You can receive a full refund if ACU was unable to provide the program you received an offer for.

Refunds will be made within two weeks of the cancellation of the program. Alternatively, you may accept an offer of a place in a substitute program.

Partial refunds

Your tuition fee will be partially refunded, minus a cancellation fee, if you withdraw from your English language program before the starting date.

This cancellation fee is determined by the amount of notice given:

• Four weeks or more: If you cancel your enrolment four weeks or more before the course start date, 10% of one ELICOS term’s fees will be retained by the University.

• Less than four weeks: If you cancel your enrolment less than four weeks before the course start date, 25% of one ELICOS term’s fees will be retained by the University.

No refunds

You are not eligible for refund after the commencement of the program. 

Exceptional circumstances

You may be given a total or partial refund for any course type if you experienced exceptional circumstances that prevented you from taking your place after accepting an offer.

These circumstances could include:

• inability to obtain a student visa
• illness or disability
• death of the student or a close family member
• political, civil and natural events, which prevent full payment of fees.

You must provide documented evidence of these circumstances.

Refund processes

Refund timeframe

If you are eligible for a refund and you withdrew from your program, your refund will be processed within four weeks of ACU receiving your written refund request

Receiving your refund

Refunds will be made in Australian dollars to the person or entity from whom the original payment was received. The University reserves the right to make refunds payable in the country of origin.

Agency fees, if applicable, will not be refunded.

Appeals and disputes

If you are not satisfied with the decision relating to your refund, you can appeal in writing to the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global and Education Pathways.

This agreement, and the availability of complaints and appeals processes, does not remove your right to take action under Australia’s consumer protection laws.

ACU’s dispute resolution processes do not circumscribe the student’s right to pursue other legal remedies.

Apply for a refund

If you are eligible for a refund, you can start your written refund request by downloading and completing an application for refund (commencing international students) form.

Use this form if you are one of the following:

• have accepted an offer but not yet enrolled
• are enrolled in the first semester of your ACU program
• are enrolled and are seeking a refund for a future ACU program.

Download the application for refund (commencing international students) form (PDF, 125KB)

If none of the above apply to you but you would still like to apply for a refund, please visit our online refund application form. You will need your student ID details, access to your ACU student email address, and a record of how your fees were paid.