Terms and conditions
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
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These General Terms and Conditions apply to the services offered by France Langue schools (French courses, accommodation, cultural activities, etc.) and purchased by the Student either directly from the School or from an intermediary (particularly an agent).
By signing the School enrolment form, the Student unreservedly accepts these General Terms and Conditions as well as the Internal Regulations to which they refer.
1 – PURPOSE
These General Terms and Conditions set out the obligations imposed on each party as well as the terms and conditions according to which France Langue shall provide the Student with the services purchased.
The General Terms and Conditions are supplemented, as required owing to the specific nature of the service purchased by the client, by Special Terms and Conditions, which are inseverable from these General Terms and Conditions. In the event of a contradiction between the two documents, the Special Terms and Conditions will prevail.
2 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION
Students must be at least 17 years of age in order to benefit from the services offered by the School.
Minor and foreign students must meet specific terms and conditions of admission (see below).
3 – FINANCIAL TERMS
In order to benefit from the services offered by the School, the following fees must be paid in euros:
3.1 Enrolment fee. This fixed, non-refundable fee covers the administrative costs relating to the Student’s course of study at the School. It applies to all courses followed at the School for a period of one year (as from enrolment).
3.2 Tuition fees. Tuition fees vary depending on the duration (a week, a term or a year), frequency (intensive or extensive) and type of course chosen (one-to-one, group, au pair, exam preparation, combined, etc.).
3.3 Cancellation fees. Enrolled Students who cancel their course will be liable for a cancellation fee (see below).
3.4. Other fees. Students will be charged the bank and interbank charges borne by the School, particularly if a course is cancelled (see clause 7).
4 – ENROLMENT FORMALITIES
4.1 Formalities to be completed by all Students
Students may enrol in three ways:
- On our website;
- By e-mail or post; or
- Directly at the School (Admissions Office).
Students must pay all sums owed to the School on the first day of their course at the latest. They must provide the Admissions Office with a recent passport photo, a form of official identification and, where applicable, a student visa enabling them to obtain a residence permit for the duration of their studies.
4.2 Specific formalities to be completed by minor Students
Students under the age of 18 during the course must provide the School Admissions Office with a parental consent letter and a copy of their parents’ certificate of insurance (see clause 8).
4.3 Specific formalities to be completed by foreign Students
Foreign Students from outside the European Economic Area must meet specific terms and conditions of admission if they intend to stay in France for more than three months.
4.3.1 Pre-enrolment certificate
Students who wish to study at a France Langue school must include a pre-enrolment certificate (attestation de préinscription) with their visa application. Students will only be provided with this document if 50% of their tuition fees have been paid. This advance payment, which must be paid by bank transfer, is specifically for the named Student. It may not be transferred to another student, particularly if the first student’s visa is refused.
Pre-enrolment certificates are issued to named Students and may not be transferred to other Students (particularly if a student’s visa is refused).
4.3.2 Definitive enrolment
Students will be definitively enrolled on presentation of a visa issued by the consulate in their country of origin (covering the entire study period) and on payment of the balance of their tuition fees.
5 – PAYMENT
Tuition and related fees may be paid:
- by bank card (Visa, MasterCard or Eurocard);
- by bank cheque (or euro-cheque) that can be endorsed in France;
- by bank transfer to the School’s account (in which case the Student’s name must be stipulated on the transfer); or
- in cash (euros only).
Enrolments on a suitable course held at the time schedule proposed by the School will only become definitive upon payment of the enrolment fee and an advance of 50% of the tuition fees.
6 – DEFERMENT
Except in specific circumstances, Students who fail to attend a course on which they have enrolled may not defer.
The School does not offer French courses (or any other service) on public holidays, as defined in Article L. 3133-11 of the French Employment Code (Code du Travail). Students are not entitled to defer owing to these statutory holiday periods.
7 – CANCELLATION
7.1 Cancellation by the Student
Cancellation and refund requests must be sent to the School in writing (by letter, fax or email). Cancellations and refunds are subject to certain criteria, as set out below.
The term ‘start date’ below means the date of the first lesson attended by the Student upon his/her arrival at the School. It applies regardless of the length of time for which the Student attends the School (particularly if he/she has enrolled for several weeks or terms).
7.1.1 Cancellation before the course start date
7.1.1.1. Students who purchase a language course (excluding packages)
The School will refund the full amount paid by the Student, minus a fixed amount to cover the various costs borne by the School as a result of the cancellation.
Students who ask the School to issue a pre-enrolment certificate and who cancel their enrolment due to a visa refusal will be required to pay a fixed fee of EUR 150.
Students who cancel their enrolment for any other reason will be required to pay a fixed fee of EUR 80.
7.1.1.2. Students who purchase a package from the School
Packages include a language course, cultural activities and/or accommodation.
- If the cancellation request reaches the School more than 30 days before the scheduled start date (before the Sunday for Students who have booked accommodation), the School will retain a fixed fee of EUR 150 to cover the various costs borne by it as a result of the cancellation.
- If the cancellation request reaches the School 8-29 days before the scheduled start date (before the Sunday for Students who have booked accommodation), the School will retain a fixed fee of EUR 300 to cover the various costs borne by it as a result of the cancellation.
- If the cancellation request reaches the School less than 8 days before the scheduled start date (before the Sunday for Students who have booked accommodation), the School will retain a fixed fee of EUR 450 to cover the various costs borne by it as a result of the cancellation.
Regardless of the date of cancellation, the cancellation fee retained by the School may not exceed 50% of the total price of the service.
7.1.2 Cancellation after the course start date
Refund requests will not be accepted after the scheduled start date other than in the event of serious illness or death of the Student.
In the event of serious illness, the Student must provide the School with a medical certificate as proof of his/her inability to attend lessons due to health reasons.
7.2 Cancellation by the School
In all cases, the School shall endeavour to reschedule any service that is cancelled.
- If a service is deferred, the School shall suggest alternative dates to the Student.
If the Student accepts these dates, the full price originally paid for the deferred service will be allocated to the new service and will constitute full payment of the new service.
If the Student rejects the proposed dates, he/she will be refunded the sums originally paid to the School.
- If a service is cancelled outright by the School (particularly owing to an insufficient number of enrolments), Students will receive a full refund.
In all cases, the School will not pay any damages for whatever reason owing to the cancellation or deferment of a service.
8 – INSURANCE
The School will not be liable for the loss or theft of, or damage to, a Student’s personal belongings on the School’s premises.
Students must take out insurance to cover sickness, accidents and their civil liability as well as cancellation insurance (such as student travel insurance).
Minor Students must produce a copy of their certificate of insurance at the time of their enrolment.
9 – EXCLUSION
Should a Student breach the School’s Internal Regulations, the School’s management reserves the right to stop teaching the Student at fault without notice.
10 – ACCOMMODATION
The terms and conditions of accommodation services will be provided upon request and are available on the France Langue website.
More information about the accommodation.
11 – DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
The Paris Commercial Court will have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute that arises with respect to the interpretation or performance of these General Terms and Conditions which the parties are unable to settle amicably.
Any dispute that arises out of or in connection with this contract will be governed by French law and will be referred exclusively to the courts of Paris.
March 2012