Ask which terms form part of your booking
A quotation explains what you are buying; it may not explain what happens if plans change. Before transferring money, request the applicable cancellation and refund terms in a format you can save. The document should identify the school, campus, programme and booking period. Ask for its version or issue date and whether any special offer has different conditions.
Keep this separate from the general question of whether a school is suitable. A good course can still have cancellation terms that do not fit an uncertain travel schedule. Do not pay first and rely on resolving that mismatch later.
Use four separate scenarios
- Before arrival: you cancel the entire booking.
- Postponement: you want new dates rather than a refund.
- A booking change: you keep studying but change room or course.
- Early departure: you leave after the programme has started.
Ask for a written answer to each scenario. Permission to postpone does not automatically mean permission to cancel for cash. A room amendment may follow different conditions from tuition. If accommodation or flights are booked separately, obtain those suppliers' rules too.
Seven questions worth sending together
- Which payment items are refundable, non-refundable or refundable only in part?
- How is the cancellation deadline measured: calendar or working days, which time zone, and from which event?
- What deductions apply to tuition, accommodation, registration, materials and transfer arrangements?
- Can payment move to new dates, and what fees, expiry dates or price differences apply?
- What happens if travel disruption, illness or an entry-document problem prevents arrival, and what evidence is required?
- For early departure, which date starts the calculation and are unused weeks treated as whole weeks?
- Who must receive the request, how is receipt acknowledged, and what are the refund timing, currency and transfer charges?
Do not import another school's rule
Philinter's official admissions FAQ tells applicants to check the refund policy before paying tuition. It does not give a complete cancellation schedule on that page. Ask for the policy that applies to your booking, including registration, tuition and accommodation. Do not infer a refundable amount from a general admissions checklist.
Likewise, ‘deposit’ describes how a payment is used, not necessarily whether it can be returned. Ask whether it is an advance payment, a reservation charge or a security deposit, and which written clause governs it. A verbal assurance is less useful than a calculation linked to your invoice.
Test the policy with a hypothetical change
Send one realistic example without treating it as a prediction: ‘If I cancel before arrival on this date, what amount would be returned from this invoice, and what would be withheld?’ Ask the school to separate the items and state the assumptions. Repeat for postponement if your dates are uncertain. Do not substitute an internet refund percentage for that answer.
Before payment, save the quotation, accepted terms, payment instructions and written answers together. Check that the payee matches the booking instructions. If a cancellation becomes necessary, use the specified channel promptly and retain proof of sending and acknowledgement. These checks help you understand the contract; they do not guarantee a refund or replace individual legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a non-refundable registration fee mean nothing can be refunded?
Not necessarily. Tuition, accommodation and other items may have separate conditions. Request an itemised explanation under your booking terms.
Is postponement the same as a refund?
No. A credit for new dates may have expiry dates, charges and availability limits. Ask whether cash repayment is an alternative.
Should I rely on a chat message?
Keep it, but ask the school to confirm that the answer applies to your booking and is reflected in the accepted terms or confirmation.
Sources and further reading
Philinter: admission procedure. Source checked: 2026-10-23.