Birmingham International Summer School terms and conditions

a. By submitting an application to book a place at the University of Birmingham’s Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”), you acknowledge and agree that your participation and relationship with the University in connection with BISS are 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 any conditions attached to that offer; and
(iii) paid the applicable BISS fees in accordance with the instructions set out in the offer.

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

d. The University is under no obligation to offer you a place on the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) and reserves the right to refuse any application at its sole discretion, for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, where an applicant or their home institution owes 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 Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) are listed on the BISS website. Payment must be made in full through the University’s Online Shop, in accordance with its terms and conditions, by 2 June 2025.

b. Fees payable for the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) do not include the cost of any specialist materials or equipment required to participate in the programme; such charges will be notified to you separately where applicable. All social programme activities stated as included in the BISS are covered by your fees, and no additional charges apply. If you choose not to participate in any included social programme activities, no refunds or fee reductions will be available.

c.You may cancel your place at the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”), and the University will provide a refund of any fees received, if you notify us in writing:

(i) by 2 June 2025, that you do not meet the English language requirement specified in the University’s offer (proof required); or

(ii) by 21 July 2025, that your visa application has been unsuccessful (proof required); or

(iii) that you are exercising your right to cancel within 14 days from payment.

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

b. The accommodation is for single occupancy and is provided on a self-catering basis. A non-smoking policy applies throughout the accommodation.

c. All accommodation must be kept clean and tidy throughout the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) and upon departure, with all rubbish removed. We reserve the right to carry out routine inspections during your stay, and any accommodation found to be in an unacceptable condition may result in additional charges.

d. The cost of repairing or replacing any items damaged through misuse or neglect by guests will be chargeable. Charges will vary depending on the nature of the damage, and payment must be made at the accommodation reception by cash or card. Where damage occurs within a shared flat, all occupants will be held jointly liable unless one individual accepts full responsibility.

e. We reserve the right to charge you for any loss of or damage to the accommodation. Charges will also apply for lost keys, replacement keys, or lock changes, as applicable.

f. If you require accommodation outside the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) programme dates, BISS is under no obligation to arrange this on your behalf.

g. In addition to paragraphs (a) to (g), you must comply with any separate terms and conditions issued in connection with your accommodation during the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”), whether such accommodation is provided by us or a third party.

a. If you require a visa to participate in the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”), it is your sole responsibility to obtain the appropriate visa to travel to and study in the UK, where you do not hold a UK, EU, or EEA passport. You must fully comply with all visa conditions applicable to you while in the UK. Guidance is available in the visa information and guidance section on the BISS website and on the Home Office website. It is your responsibility to determine the correct timeframe for your visa application and allow sufficient processing time. The University accepts no responsibility for, and expressly excludes liability in respect of, any failure to obtain a visa or any resulting loss or damage.

b. You will not be permitted to join the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) if you do not hold a valid visa that permits study in the UK. You must present your passport and visa to the University’s International Student Team during the “Right to Study” checks conducted on the official BISS induction day.

a. You must obtain suitable travel insurance before travelling to the UK to cover the journey and the full duration of your stay. Your insurance should include cover for expenses arising from lost or stolen property, late arrival, early or delayed departure, epidemics or pandemics, government restrictions, health or safety concerns, and cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances.

b. We are not responsible for, and expressly exclude liability in respect of, any loss of or damage to your property. You are therefore advised to insure your property against such risks as appropriate.

c. The University does not provide health, travel, or medical insurance for participants in the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”). You are strongly advised to obtain suitable insurance that covers your personal belongings, medical and repatriation expenses and cancellation to cover any fees and travel costs. Your home country may have a reciprocal healthcare arrangement with the UK that allows you to access certain medical services free of charge; if it does not, you must take out medical insurance to ensure you are covered for the duration of your stay, particularly if you have any known medical conditions that may require attention.

a. You have the right to cancel this contract with the University within the cancellation period without giving any reason. The cancellation period ends 14 days after the date on which the University accepts your payment (“Cancellation Period”). If you cancel within the Cancellation Period, the University will refund the fees paid within 14 days of the date on which you inform the University of your decision to cancel. However, if you start the Birmingham International Summer School (“BISS”) during the Cancellation Period, the University will be entitled to charge you a reasonable amount for the portion of the BISS you have already attended, calculated in proportion to the total programme fees.

b. Method of Cancellation: To exercise your right to cancel, you must inform the University of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement sent by email to biss@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Alternatively, you may write to us using the Model Cancellation Form set out 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. The University will make any reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the original transaction, 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, 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 BISS programme.

d. BISS programmes do not provide University of Birmingham academic credit. All participants will receive a certificate of completion and a complete transcript upon request. Students who wish to gain external credit should consult with their own institution to determine if they will accept credits.

e. The BISS is taught in the medium of English. You should therefore be proficient in English and meet 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 management of University business. To find out how we will use any personal date you share with us, please read our privacy statements: Your privacy.

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 instead 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, UK.

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.