Terms & Conditions

a. By making an application to book a place at The University of Birmingham’s ‘Birmingham International Summer School’ (“BISS”), the participant (“you/your”) acknowledge that your relationship with The University of Birmingham (“the University/we/us/our”) in connection with the BISS is governed by these terms and conditions.

b. No agreement will be or is effective in relation to your attendance at the BISS until after the University has provided written confirmation of your place on the BISS and after you have, in each case within any timescales set out in the University’s offer letter

(i) accepted the University’s offer of a place on the BISS;

(ii) fulfilled the conditions, if any, of that offer; and

(iii) paid the fees payable for the BISS in accordance with the instructions in that offer.

c. In order to apply for participation in the BISS, you must be aged 18 years or over at the start date of the BISS programme.

d. We are under no obligation to offer you a place on the BISS, and reserve the right to refuse to offer any person a place on the BISS for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, a person or any institution at which they are a student owing money to the University). Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, we intend to only accept a maximum number of applications from persons applying for a place on the BISS who study at the same institution. After that maximum number of applications have been accepted, we may at our discretion place potential applicants on a reserve list and notify them of any additional places which become available. No part of that process shall, for the avoidance of doubt, commit the University to accept an application from such a potential applicant, and the University will have no liability to any party (including any relevant institution) if it refuses to accept such an application.

a. The current fees payable for the BISS are found in BISS’ webpages or as specified in BISS literature (updated from time to time). Payment of the fees for the BISS must be made through the University’s Online Shop and is subject to the terms and conditions of the University’s Online Shop. The fees must be paid in full by 2 May 2022. 

b. Fees payable in connection with the BISS do not include the cost of provision of specialist materials or equipment necessary to participate in the BISS; those charges will be advised to you separately where applicable. All social programme activities stated as included in the BISS are included in your fees, and there is no separate fee for included social programme activities.  Should you be unable or unwilling to take part in any of the BISS social programme activities which are included in your fees, no refunds or reductions will be available.

c. You may cancel your place at the BISS, and we will provide a refund of the fees received from you for the BISS, if you notify us in writing:

i. by 2 May 2022 that you do not meet the English language requirement set out in the University's offer; or

ii. by 5 June 2022 that your visa application has been unsuccessful; or

iii. in the event that you are directly prevented from attending BISS as a result of changes to national policy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

a. Rooms will be available for check-in from, and must be vacated by, dates and times to be advised by us in writing.

b. The accommodation is for single occupancy. The accommodation is provided on a self-catering basis. There is a non-smoking policy in operation at the accommodation.

c. All accommodation should be left in a clean and tidy condition for the duration of BISS and on departure, with all rubbish removed. We reserve the right to carry out routine inspections of the accommodation during your stay, any accommodation found to be in an unacceptable condition, could result in charges being made.

d. The cost of repairing or replacing items damaged due to misuse or neglect by guests will be chargeable. Charges for damage are dependent on what has been damaged and you are required to pay for the items at the accommodation’s reception by cash or by card payment. Property damage will be chargeable to all guests in the relevant flat unless one person accepts full responsibility.

e. We reserve the right to charge you for any loss or damage to the accommodation. Any lost or replacement keys or a lock change will be charged as applicable.

f. If you require accommodation outside of the BISS programme dates, BISS is not obliged to arrange this on your behalf.

g. In addition to paragraphs a. to g. above, you must comply with any separate terms and conditions provided to you in connection with your accommodation during the BISS (whether that accommodation is provided by us or by a third party).

a. If you require a visa to participate in the BISS, it is your responsibility to obtain such visa to travel and to study in the UK for the BISS programme where you do not hold a UK/EU/EEA passport.  You agree to fully comply with visa conditions applicable to you whilst in the UK. Please refer to the visa information and guidance section on the BISS website for guidance. For more information please also refer to the Home Office website. It is your responsibility to determine how far in advance you need to apply for a visa, and to allow sufficient time to obtain a visa. The University is not responsible for any failure by you in obtaining a visa enabling your participation in the BISS, and expressly excludes liability for any loss or damage incurred by you in connection with any such failure.

b. We will not allow you to join the BISS programme if you do not have a visa that allows you to study, and you must present your passport and your visa to the University’s International Student Team during the ‘Rights to Study Checks’ session conducted by them on the official BISS induction day.

a. It is essential that you take out travel insurance before travelling to cover yourself for your return journey and the duration of your stay. Insurance should cover any expenses incurred as a result of lost or stolen property, late arrival, early or delayed departure, epidemic or pandemic, government restriction, health or safety concerns, or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

b. We are not responsible, and expressly exclude liability for, any loss or damage to your property. Therefore, you should insure their property against such risks as appropriate.

c. The University does not provide health, travel or medical insurance for any of the participants in the BISS. You are recommended to investigate insurance appropriate to you that covers your personal possessions, medical and repatriation expenses and cancellation to cover any fees and travel costs. Your home country may have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK so that medical care is free. If it does not, you must take out medical insurance to ensure you are covered during your stay, particularly if you have known medical needs that may require attention.

a. You have the right to cancel this contract with us without giving any reason within the cancellation period. The cancellation period will expire at the end of 14 days after the date the University accepts payment (“Cancellation Period”).  We will refund the paid fees within 14 days of the date on which you inform us that you wish to cancel. However, if you commence the BISS programme within the Cancellation Period then we will be entitled to charge you a reasonable sum for the BISS programme provided based on the proportion of the BISS Programme you have undertaken and the total fees.

b. Method of Cancellation: To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement by email to biss@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can write to us using the Model Cancellation Form below. To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired. We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used to make the payment to us, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise.

Model Cancellation Form:

To The University of Birmingham, Birmingham International Summer School Office, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT UK

I give notice that I cancel my contract to attend the Birmingham International Summer School

Name of Applicant:

Address of Applicant:

Signature of Applicant (only if this form is notified on paper):

Date:

a. We may cancel the BISS, or any BISS programme, and any accommodation bookings if we fail to recruit the anticipated minimum level of students to that course/programme or if circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control prevent us from delivering it (including but not limited to circumstances of war, acts of God, riot, strike, insurrection, epidemic or pandemic, power outage, adverse weather conditions, third party occupation of the University’s premises, breakdown of equipment, unavailability of key staff for programme, government restriction, unscheduled or unexpected works, necessary and unavoidable repairs or health or safety concerns).

b. Information set out on the University’s website in connection with each BISS programme is accurate at the date of publication. However, changes to programmes, courses and modules may be necessary, for example, to meet the requirements of an accrediting body or to keep courses contemporary by updating practices or areas of study. Changes to programmes, courses and modules may also be needed because of circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control including those set out at paragraph a. above., a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach (where the course or module is reliant on that person’s expertise), or where the minimum or maximum number of students needed to ensure a good educational or student experience has not been met or has been exceeded. If changes to your BISS programme are made after this contract has come into existence, the University will try to give you early notification of those changes and minimise their impact by offering suitable alternative arrangements, helping you find an alternative course where available.

c. You will be solely responsible for determining whether the BISS programme is sufficient and suitable for your needs. The University does not provide any guarantee in respect of the standard of your abilities on completion of the BISS programme. You will provide us with all information reasonably requested by the University in connection with the relevant the BISS programme. 

d. If the BISS provides any academic credit(s) or certification you will be advised of the assessment methodology that will be applicable and with which you need to comply to achieve credit(s) or certification.

e. The BISS is taught in the English language. You should therefore be proficient in English and at least to the minimum standard we set from time to time (which will normally be by reference to the International English Language Testing System).  We have no responsibility to you if you are not sufficiently proficient and fail to participate fully in the BISS programme as a result.

f. If, in the University’s reasonable opinion, the presence of any participant is an impediment to the provision of any service of the BISS or any BISS programme or brings the BISS and/or the University into disrepute, we may exclude such a person from all or part of the BISS. In these circumstances, we will return any fee paid by or for the participant (other than any part of such fee in relation to which the University has made, or incurred liability to make, payment to a third party or has otherwise committed itself to payment in discharge of its own obligations in connection with the BISS), but there will be no further liability of the University.

The University will collect information about you from your application, when you register and during your participation in the BISS. This will be used to create and maintain your student record, for your studies and student life, your health and safety and for the manegement of University business. To find out how we will use any personal date you share with us, please read our privacy statements.

You agree to comply with the University’s legislation set out in its charter, statutes, ordinances, regulations, policies and codes of practice (including but not limited to policies on Equality, Health and Safety, Data Protection and Computer Use) from time to time during participation with BISS. In connection with this agreement, both you and we agree to keep to, and to each other keeping to, the Bribery Act 2010, the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the Equality Act 2010, the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Speech on Campus (as amended from time to time) and all related laws, regulations and codes.

The University reserves the right without prior notice at any time to alter or amend the whole or any of these conditions. Each of the provisions of these conditions is severable from the others and any provision which is illegal invalid or unenforceable shall be severed from the others without affecting or impairing the remainder of these conditions.

No third party shall enjoy the benefit of any rights or protections granted under these Terms and Conditions.

a. Subject to paragraph c. below, the liability of the University to you with respect to the provision of the BISS or any BISS programme, the cancellation, postponement, or amendment of the course or BISS programme, any negligence, any breach of these terms and conditions, or arising in any other way out of the subject-matter of these terms and conditions, will not extend to (i) any indirect losses or damages, or to any loss of profits, loss of contracts or opportunity, whether direct or indirect, even if the University had been advised of the possibility of those losses or if they were within the University’s contemplation; or (ii) any costs or expenses incurred by any person or organisation in connection with travel, accommodation, reservations or other arrangements.

b. In any event, but subject to paragraph c. below, the liability of the University to the participant with respect to the provision of the BISS or any BISS programme, the cancellation, postponement, or amendment of the course or BISS programme, any negligence, any breach of these terms and conditions, or arising in any other way out of the subject-matter of these terms and conditions is limited to the amount of fees received from or on behalf of the participant in respect of the BISS programme.

c. Nothing in these terms and conditions will operate to limit or exclude the liability of the University for death or personal injury arising from the University’s negligence, fraud or any other liability that, by law, cannot be limited or excluded. The warranties given by the University in these terms and conditions are, to the extent permitted by law, given in lieu of all implied conditions, warranties, representations or other terms, including any relating to satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular or any purpose, or the ability to achieve any particular result.

Any disputes or concerns shall be addressed in accordance with the normal complaints procedure of the University. Where the University’s complaints procedure is exhausted, you and the University will attempt to settle the dispute by mediation in accordance with the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Model Mediation Procedure. The mediation will take place in Birmingham.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and to be construed in accordance with English Law. Any disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.