General information

Who may apply?

EF University Preparation Abroad programs are open to students age 16 and over at course start date.

How to enroll

Students send in their enrollment details to EF by phone, online on ef.com, by mail, at an EF office or in the EF planner, which can be accessed from price quotes sent by EF. The Organizer accepts theenrolment by sending the student a confirmation and initial invoice. A non-refundable Enrollment Fee of 395 € and cancellation Protection Fee of 195 € is due upon enrollment. The booking is final when EF has received the Enrolment Fee and the Program deposit.

What’s included in the Course Fee?

• Chosen Language course (total tuition time varies according to program type)

• Accommodation in homestay with a half board meal plan available from the Sunday immediately preceding the Monday start date until the Saturday after the course ends

• Online pre- and post-course for up to three (for general/summer courses) or six months (for intensive/exam courses) for all English language courses

• Weekly activities program

The Course Fee comprises two elements: The Tuition Fee (40%) for lessons and the Student Services Fee (60%) for other items including homestay accommodation.

The Course fee is based on a minimum program length of 20 weeks. The Course Fee for the first 12 weeks of any Academic Year Abroad is 20% higher than for the following weeks of the program.

What’s not included in the Course Fee?

• Enrollment fee of 395€

• EF Course Materials

• Travel Insurance

Organizer

All programs are organized and sold by EF Education First Ltd for non-EU destinations and by EF International Language Schools Ltd for destinations in the EU and the United Kingdom (jointly referred to as “EF”), both at Selnaustrasse 30, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland.

Promotion in France

EF Education First SARL promotes in France the travel and language Programs organized and sold by EF.

How to pay

EF accepts the following payments methods:

1. By credit card (for the initial payment).

2. By bank transfer:

Account Holder: EF Language Colleges Ltd

Account Holder Address: Haldenstrasse 4, 6006 Luzern

Switzerland Bank Name: Credit Suisse Bank Address: Schwanenplatz 8, 6004 Luzern Switzerland

IBAN: CH25 0483 5030 3195 2200 2

BIC/SWIFT: CRESCHZZ80A

Clearing Number: 4835

Payment Plan

Enrollment: Enrollment fee and Cancellation Protection, due on booking date Program Deposit: 2000 €, due 14 days after the booking date 2^nd Payment: 15% of the Course fee, due 45 days after the booking date 3^rd Payment: The remaining balance, due 60 days prior to the program start date For late payments EF reserves the right to charge a late payment fee of 250 €.

Any promotional offers or discounts confirmed at the time of booking are subject to payments being made on time, and not reducing the length of the booking.

Travel Insurance Coverage

All students must have travel insurance coverage.

EF has a tailor-made travel insurance group policy with the insurance provider Erika Insurance Ltd. (or with an alternative insurance company as defined in the applicable insurance policy), under which EF is the policyholder. This insurance is included in the booking and will be part of the total amount charged to the student. The insurance coverage includes illness/ accident, repatriation, interruption, theft, delay and liability. Full terms of the insurance can be found on www.erikainsurance.com.

A student refraining this coverage must fill out EF’s proof of insurance document and provide EF with a copy of the alternative insurance policy in English, no later than 15 days before the due date of the final invoice. In this case the value of the insurance will be deducted from the total amount charged.

Students enrolling at a school in Australia are required by the Australian government to obtain medical insurance with an Australian company. EF can offer students Allianz Private Insurance for purchase.

Health formalities

Legal guardians of students under the age of 18 (19 in Canada) will be required to sign a medical liability waiver.

The student may be under obligation to provide proof of vaccination. EF reserves the right to repatriate the student at its own expense if necessary for health reasons. The courses are suitable for students with reduced mobility as long as the students are autonomous.

Cancellation Protection

EF Cancellation Protection is available upon enrollment and charged as a one-time, non-refundable fee of 195 €. This covers cancellations before departure due to illness. A doctor’s documentation is needed within 10 days of the claim.

School Breaks and Public Holidays 

On local public holidays, EF Schools will be closed. and lessons on those dates will not be made up at a later date. Booked accommodation is available to students during school breaks and holidays. The number of school breaks at each EF International Language Campus may vary.

Class Schedules and Attendance

Classes are offered at all EF Schools in a block schedule of 5 days on Monday to Saturdays or Tuesday to Sundays from 8:00 to 20:00. EF lessons last at least 40 minutes and are often held in blocks of 2 x 40 minutes. To receive the course certificate and maintain visa status, EF students must have an attendance of at least 80%. For EF University Preparation Programs in the USA, a 90% attendance is required to receive a program certificate or diploma and maintain visa status.

Academic Criteria

To graduate from an EF University Preparation Program and qualify for our placement guarantee, students must achieve the grades required for their chosen subject and the minimum English requirements.

Course levels

When an EF School has a course level for five students or fewer, EF reserves the right to combine students of different levels in the same class.

EF Course Materials

EF Course Materials are needed to follow EF curriculum. EF Course Material prices are as follows:

All EF University Preparation Abroad students are required to purchase the needed program materials. This fee will be included in the student’s total charges. Prices may vary by destination and by the length of your program.

For specific SPIN lessons there may be additional course material cost.

EF Campus Credits

Unused EF Campus Credits exceeding 20 € can be refunded within 3 months after course end. An administrative fee of 20 € will be charged. Students booking a new course within 12 months can transfer the full value of unused credits.

Special Interest Lessons (SPIN lessons)

SPIN classes are taught in class or online and the selection varies between campuses.

EF’s Learning Guarantee

Cover of student’s costs under the Learning Guarantee only applies to the Tuition Fee.  

Internship or Volunteer Experience Program

The EF Internship or Volunteer Experience Program is available at an additional fee. Included in this fee is a preparation program and up to 100 hours of part-time unpaid work or volunteer experience. Internship and volunteer experience programs vary according to visa regulations and are therefore not guaranteed to all students.

Arrival Airport transfers

The transfer service is offered between 7:00 and 21:00 hours local time on Sundays. If students arrive at any other time, EF can arrange a special transfer at an additional fee.

If several students are picked up at the same time, there may be a waiting periods before the transfer.

Changes before and after course start date by the student Changes of the program 60 days or more before departure will result in a rebooking fee of 100 € and 250 € if less than 60 days before departure. In the event of a change of course start date, the cancellation conditions will be applied to the original course start date.

Students making changes to their course after the start date will be charged a change fee of 200 €. There is no refund for downgrades (e.g. change from Intensive course to General course or change to a less expensive destination).   

A student may transfer the travel contract to another person of the same age, gender and language level and special requirements until 30 days before departure. EF reserves the right to charge the student any additional costs arising from the transfer.

Changes made by EF before course start

EF retains the right to make changes to destination, course type, start date or type of accommodation up to 20 days before the course start date. If EF needs to make major changes to the program, EF will inform the student of the proposed changes and the impact on the price, if applicable.

Within 5 days of such notification date, the student may:

(i)   accept the proposed changes by notifying EF,

(ii)  accept a replacement program from EF of similar standard, if EF is able to offer one; or

(iii) cancel the program without having to pay any cancellation fees, in excess of enrollment fee, cancellation protection, visa - and courier fee.

If the student does not inform EF in due time of its decision to accept the changes, accept a replacement program or cancel the program, the student will be deemed to have accepted such changes.

Cancellation fees before program start

Cancellations must be made in writing, addressed to the organizer, and submitted to the EF office or local EF representative. In all cases, the Enrollment Fee, Cancellation Protection fee, Visa fee and Courier fee are non-refundable.  Cancellation conditions for flight tickets are listed in the section Flights below.

All destinations outside the USA

Cancellations prior to 60 days before program start, EF charges the Program Deposit.

Cancellations between 31 and 60 days before program start, EF charges 30% of the Course Fee and accommodation supplements.

Cancellations between 8 and 30 days before program start, EF charges 50% of the Course Fee and accommodation supplements.

Cancellations 7 days or less before program start, EF charges the full Course Fee and accommodation supplements.

Destinations in the USA

Cancellations prior to 60 days before program start, EF only charges the Program Deposit up to a maximum amount of 500 €.

Cancellations 60 days or less before program start, EF charges 500 € to cover the cost of housing administration and the Program Deposit up to a maximum amount of 500 €.

Destinations in the USA if the student is already in the USA with an EF sponsored F1 Visa

EF charges the tuition fees for six weeks and 500 € to cover the cost of housing administration. 

Withdrawals after program start

To withdraw from the EF program, students must inform the EF School Director and sign the course change notification form. The date of withdrawal is defined as the Saturday of the week of the last day of class attendance.

Charges other than Course Fee and accommodation supplement are non-refundable. 

For all destinations except in the USA

A withdrawal is effective upon an 8-weeks’ notice period. For the period afterwards, the Tuition Fee and 50% of the Student Services Fee will be refunded if the program is terminated before the Withdrawal Deadline. For later withdrawals no fees will be refunded.

Withdrawal Deadlines are listed under Program Dates in these conditions. For destinations in the USA:

For students who withdraw at any point in the first four weeks, EF may retain the Course Fee applicable to the first four weeks.

For students who withdraw after the first four weeks but before or at the mid-point of the program (50% of the total booked program duration, or after 60% of total duration for programs in San Francisco) EF will retain a prorated amount of the Course Fee.

For students who withdraw after the mid-point of the program (50% of the total booked program duration, or after 60% of total duration for programs in San Francisco) EF will retain all charges.

In San Francisco, students who terminate in the first week will receive a full refund of the Tuition Fees. Refunds for courses in the USA will be issued within 45 days (30 days in San Francisco) of the last day of attendance.

Student Conduct

All students will have to adhere to the school’s local code of conduct. Students engaging in illegal activity or behavior that deliberately disrupts the learning environment or damages property of EF, accommodation providers or fellow students will be expelled or suspended from the program. The Course Fee and other charges will not be refunded, unless otherwise prescribed by local accreditation rules.

Passport and visa

The student is responsible for any entry formalities for the destination country, such as passport and visa. Before departure, the student must consult the official website of the government of the destination. It is recommended to begin the visa process four months before the course start. If a student fails to meet the attendance requirements tied to their visa, EF may report the student to relevant authorities in the destination country.

Destination specific policies

Students booking courses in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and British Columbia (Canada) will receive specific local terms and conditions that complement this document.

Validity of Prices

The prices published are based upon currency exchange rates in effect at the time of writing: 2024-07-01. EF reserves the right to increase the price of the course upon written notification to the student up to 20 days before departure if the euro weakens against the currency of the destination country in the period between the time of writing (date above) until at the latest 20 days before departure. Any such currency surcharge or reduction can be applied to the following items: Course Fee, accommodation, transfers and optional activities undertaken at the destination. The following is an example of such a price adjustment:

EF also reserves the right to charge for increases in government taxes.

The student has the right to claim a price reduction if the opposite occurs under the same conditions.

Personal Data

EF is committed to protecting the privacy of our customers and a full description of EF’s processing activities and your rights can be found here www.ef.fr/legal/privacy-policy. Below is a summary:

The student’s personal data, such as personal data provided by them in the application form, will be processed by EF for the purposes of completing their booking, supplying their requested products and services (including travel insurance coverage), providing customer service, or offering elements that are otherwise necessary to perform the contract between the student and EF.

General information

EF may share the student’s personal data with their corporate affiliates, claims handlers, and other business partners both within and outside the EEA/Switzerland. EF has put appropriate safeguards in place for transfers of the student’s personal data outside the EEA/Switzerland, including the standard data protection clauses adopted by the European Commission. EF and its affiliates may also use the student’s personal data, combined with information about them obtained from third party sources, to market EF’s products and services, including special promotions based on the student’s interests.

The student has the right to, at any time, withdraw their consent or object to EF using their personal data for direct marketing purposes by contacting EF at the address set out below.

EF will only keep the student’s personal data for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which it has been collected or in accordance with time limits stipulated by law and good market practice, unless further retention is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation. EF will keep personal data for marketing purposes until the student withdraws its consent.

If the student would like a copy of the information EF holds about them, or a copy of the standard data protection clauses, or would like to rectify or erase personal data, or restrict the processing of personal data, or otherwise object to EF’s processing, or use their right to data portability, please contact the Organizer (data controller) at the address Selnaustrasse 30, CH-8001 Zurich, or via the form available at www.ef.fr/legal/ contact-us/. If the student would like to lodge a complaint, they may contact the supervisory authority in their home country.

Photography and film material

The student or its parent / guardian accepts that EF can freely and for the purpose of promoting EF’s products and services use photography, film and sound material that has been created during the course that contains an image of the student, that the student creates as part of the course and uploads to EF’s website(s) or apps, and/or that the student uploads to social networks, such as Instagram and Twitter, under the hashtag #EFMoment, #EF4ever or other hashtag invented or promoted by EF. The student will be asked for consent prior to each collection of such material.

Liability and force majeure

EF will not be liable or responsible for any loss, damage, inconvenience, delay in performance, or failure to perform in connection with the provision of any goods or services due to causes beyond EF’s reasonable control, including but not limited to: fire; natural disaster; acts of government; labor disputes or civil unrest; criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind; pandemics or public health emergencies; any negligent or willful act or failure to act by any third party; or any other cause beyond the direct control of EF. These conditions do not affect your rights as defined by the consumer protection laws in your home country.

EF is required to apply all health and/or pandemic measures taken by the authorities, in particular medical repatriation, quarantine, management of infected students and those in close contact with infected students. EF may therefore adapt the conditions of the stay and immediately take precautionary measures.

Misspellings and typos

EF reserves the right to correct typographical errors and is not bound by obvious inaccuracies

Disputes and Governing Law

Any complaints should first be addressed to staff at the destination so the issue can be solved. Students who perceive that the course or other services purchased from EF are still not being performed according to the agreement after a reasonable period of time to remedy the issue should inform EF without delay, in writing. If the student is not satisfied with the response, the student may turn to La Médiation Tourisme et Voyage BP 80303 75823 Paris Cedex 17 www.mtv. trave

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of France, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this agreement must be resolved by a court located in France Insolvency protection EF has insolvency protection under APST IM075 10007 with the legal number : 11754262575.

Flights

EF offers free flight tickets for selected courses.

f a student cancels more than 60 days before the start of the program, the flight ticket is refundable for a cancellation fee depending on the airline policy. For cancellations 60 days or less prior to departure, the full cost of the student’s flight ticket will be charged to the student. This includes flight tickets that have been discounted or provided as part of the free flight offer.

For Flights booked by EF on a student’s request (including discounted and free flights), the student agrees to be bound by the airline’s policies and terms and conditions. EF is not responsible for airline schedule changes, cancellations or delays. Any airline fees for rebooking, rerouting or cancellation are the responsibility of the student. EF reserves the right to charge for increases in airline charges and taxes.

For free flight offer EF contributes a maximum of 1000€ to the cost of the student’s flight to and from their course destination for Intensive and Exam. The flight booking must be made through EF. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other EF offer. The student will be charged the full cost of EF’s flight contribution if they change their course to a General or Basic course, or if the course is terminated and is therefore less than 12 weeks long. The offer is subject to cancellation without further notice.

For other transportation providers booked by EF on a student’s request, the student agrees to be bound by the relevant transportation provider’s policies and terms and conditions as presented to the student while booking.

Sanctioned individuals or territories

The Student is obliged to submit their official registered domiciled address when booking the course. The Student represents and warrants that neither the Student nor any of the immediate family members of the Student is a designated, blocked, or otherwise identified under any sanctions laws or is engaging in transactions that are prohibited by sanctions laws. If performance under these Terms and Conditions (in whole or part) would, in EF’s sole discretion, constitute a breach of a sanctions law applicable to EF, EF shall have the right (i) not to fulfill its obligations under the Agreement and shall not be liable to pay any claim hereunder to the extent that such payment would expose EF to any sanction, prohibition, penalty or restriction under any applicable sanctions law, and (ii) to terminate this agreement with immediate effect without liability for any direct or indirect damages to Student.