Undergraduate / Postgraduate Programmes

From acceptance of offer to post-registration
Application Date: January 2005 (approved by University Executive on 15 th June 2004)

Rationale for Policy

1. To introduce an updated system of financial penalties for students withdrawing from taught programmes of study. Policies applyfor the following two categories of student:
1. Candidates issued an offer of a place on a programme of study at DCU having applied directly to DCU
2. Candidates issued an offer of place on an undergraduate programme of study having applied through the Central Applications Office(CAO) - Undergraduate Applicants and Postgraduate Application Centre (PAC) - Postgraduate Applicants

1. To introduce measures to ensure that financial payments have been received from students seeking to hold or defer a place on a programme of study to a subsequent academic year.
2. To introduce additional measures within 1 and 2 above for Non-EU candidates
1. to preserve the integrity of our admissions processes,
2. to ensure that while the university follows its duty of care and trust, it must equally ensure
1. that both the university and its students are compliant with legislation and state policy.
2. its admissions procedures are not open to potential abuse by candidates who wish to remain in the country illegally.

Undergraduate/Postgraduate Programmes

WITHDRAWALS: 'FREE TUITION' COURSES:

Students retiring from the University must notify the Registration Office in writing on form R-27. For fee purposes, the date of receipt of the written notification will be taken as the date of retirement. Registered CAO students transferring to another college must also formally withdraw from DCU. Withdrawal forms are available from the Registry Office or may be downloaded from: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/application_forms.shtml

Free fee implications for Full time undergraduate Programmes only :

1. Students retiring in order to pursue a different course:
   The Department of Education has advised that DCU should charge a minimum half fee to the HEA on behalf of any first year student covered under the 'Free Fees Scheme', who accepts a place and then retires following the first day of term, prior to 31st January 2013. In this event, the student will become liable for fees for a half year if attending the same year level of a third level course within the next five years.
2. Students retiring after 31st January 2013:
   Full fees will be claimed from the HEA on behalf of any student who notifies the University of his/her retirement from a course, after 31st January 2013. In this event, the student will become liable for full fees if attending the same year level of a third level course within the next five years.
3. Students retiring on medical or other grounds:
   Students retiring in exceptional circumstances, such as certified serious illness, may apply to the Fees Office for permission to re-attend as 'free' fee students.

WITHDRAWALS: 'FEE PAYING TUITION' COURSES:

Candidates issued an offer of place on a programme of study having applied either through CAO/PAC or as a direct applicant and who now wish to withdraw from DCU The following criteria apply:

• In circumstances where a candidate withdraws on the basis of having received an offer, through the CAO, of a higher preference choice at another higher education institution within the CAO system, a full refund of any fees paid will be issued to the other University on presentation of an offer letter from that institution and also an official withdrawal from DCU on form R-27.
• In circumstances where a candidate withdraws before registration, other than on the basis outlined above having accepted an offer of a place and made payment in accordance with the instructions issued by the University, there is a non-refundable deposit of €500.00 which the candidate makes when accepting an offer of a place on a programme as a direct applicant or through PAC.
• Students are not entitled to any refund once formally registered
• A student status will not be changed once a student is registered, this status will remain with the student for the duration of his/her studies at DCU.
• Candidates who receive conditional offers and who subsequently do not satisfy the conditions of the offer will receive a full refund less an administration charge of €150.
• Candidates designated as Non-European Union for admission purposes, who can prove they were unable to obtain a study visa in time for commencement of programme will receive a full refund less an administration charge of €150 providing they can produce documentary evidence of their visa refusal.
• Candidates designated as Non-European Union for admission purposes, who have obtained a study visa but have not yet registered and now no longer wish to take up that place, will be liable to a non-refundable deposit of €500.00 and must also produce documentary evidence of the following:
• Presentation of one-way Flight Tickets confirming evidence of departure from Ireland
• a cancelled study visa which will be provided to the candidate by the Visa Office on presentation of a letter from DCU stating that the student has withdrawn.

In such circumstances, the Finance Office will organise that the refund will be made by transferring the money to an account in the candidate's home country or by the issue of a cheque to the student but sent to the Student's home country address, on receiving confirmation of the withdrawal from the Registry. This will be done only if a student has not yet registered on a programme of study.

Candidates seeking to defer commencement of a programme of study at DCU

• A candidate may only request a deferral of commencement of studies on ONE occasion from the year they are due to commence their studies to the subsequent academic year.
• A candidate will not be allowed to defer a place for the purposes of changing their fee status from Non-EU to EU.

Before a request for deferral is considered the candidate must produce evidence of having paid the following

Candidate	Amount
Candidates designated as European Union for admission purposes, based on the University's policy and criteria for the determination of fees	First Instalment
Candidates designated as Non-European Union for admission purposes, based on the University's policy and criteria for the determination of fees	Full Fee

Candidates who are granted a deferral will not receive any refund. The amount paid is retained by the University and applied against the fee set in the subsequent year in which study commences. There is also a deferral administration cost of €325.

Candidates designated as Non-European Union for admission purposes, based on the University's policy and criteria for the determination of fees, will be subject to the additional procedures outlined below.

Further considerations for candidates designated as Non-European Union for admission purposes based on the University's policy and criteria for the determination of fees

All candidates must produce the following evidence to accompany their application for deferral:

• a cancelled study visa provided to them by the Visa Office
• confirmation from the Department of Justice that study visa will be granted for the subsequent academic year