POLICY: Student Protection Policies - Summary of Key School Terms and Conditions: Degree Programmes POLICY URL: https://lsi-ac.uk/policy/3b484eb1-bf93-408c-8bd1-2f26606f3f32 POLICY STATEMENT: The School is committed to ensuring clarity and accessibility in its contractual agreements by providing a summary of key terms and conditions for degree programmes. This summary highlights critical provisions, including offer acceptance, termination, data protection, and liability. While it aids general understanding, applicants must read the full contract available on the School’s website to comprehend their legal obligations. POLICY PRINCIPLES: ------------------ - Clarity : Providing students with understandable summaries of key terms; - Accessibility : Ensuring information is easily accessible to all members of the School community; - Transparency : Making key terms and conditions apparent, avoiding ambiguity; - Conciseness : Delivering information succinctly to facilitate comprehension; - Fairness : Maintaining fair terms that respect the interests of both the students and the School; - Consistency : Upholding consistent terminology across all Degree Programmes; - Responsibility : Clarifying mutual responsibilities under key terms; - Integrity : Presenting terms with honesty and ethical consideration; - Relevance : Ensuring terms remain relevant to the changing educational landscape; - Understanding : Aiding students to fully understand the implications of their academic agreement; - Engagement : Encouraging student engagement with, and reflection on, key terms; - Support : Offering support for any queries regarding key terms and conditions. REGULATORY CONTEXT: ------------------ This Policy has been developed in line with the applicable laws, regulations, regulatory advice, and sector best practices, including the following: R1. UK Government: Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA) - A UK legislation that reformed the higher education and research sector, particularly by establishing the Office for Students and UK Research and Innovation. R2. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA): Higher education: consumer law advice for providers - Advice to help higher education providers understand their responsibilities under consumer protection law, especially regarding undergraduate students. R3. Quality Assurance Agency (QAA): Advice - Admissions, Recruitment and Widening Access - R4. UK Government: Consumer Rights Act 2015 - A UK law that consolidates consumer rights, covering contracts for goods, services, digital content, and providing remedies for faulty goods and services. R5. UK Government : Equality Act 2010 - Equalities law to prohibit harassment and victimisation, and eliminate discrimination, including in the area of further and higher education, particularly with regards to specified personal characteristics. R6. Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC): Code of Practice for Higher Education - Guidance for higher education providers on their obligations under equality law. R7. Office for Students (OfS): Regulatory framework for higher education in England - This framework outlines OfS' primary aim to ensure positive outcomes for students, including access, success, and progress in higher education. It covers quality academic experience, progress into employment, and value for money. SECTION 1: Contract ------------------ 1.1. Introduction (by Students): This summary is for informational purposes only and does not carry legal weight. The terms within the full contract are legally binding. Therefore, you should thoroughly review the complete contract, including its terms and conditions, as well as the School's regulations and policies available on the School's website, before formally accepting an offer to study. These documents constitute the legally binding agreement between you and the School. SECTION 2: What are the School’s details? ------------------ 2.1. Text (by Students): The School is a company limited by guarantee. Its company number is 11942630. The registered address of the School is 6 Sutton Park Road, Sutton, England, SM1 2GD. The School’s phone number is +44 (0)203 507 0033 and email address is admissions@lsi-ac.uk The School is regulated by the Office of Students (OfS). The OfS’ details, including its contact details, can be found at https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/ SECTION 3: I’ve been offered a place at the School. When does this offer become binding and give rise to legal obligations? ------------------ 3.1. Text (by Students): Your offer letter will set out what you must do before you can accept the offer, the acceptance deadline for doing so, and the process by which you can formally accept the offer. Once you formally accept the offer, it will give rise to a contract and you will be legally bound by it, subject to any cancellation rights set out in the terms and conditions. This will include an obligation to pay fees and register. SECTION 4: Is there a “cooling-off” period in case I change my mind? ------------------ 4.1. Text (by Students): Yes. If you have formally accepted an offer from us away from our premises, then you have 14-days in which cancel the contract from the moment of formal acceptance. This can be done via a model cancellation form that can be completed on our website, or you must make a clear statement to cancel the agreement via a letter to our official address above, or by email to admissions@lsi-ac.uk All refunds are subject to our Refunds and Compensation Policy. SECTION 5: Can the School terminate my contract? ------------------ 5.1. Text (by Students): The School can terminate the contract if there is a material breach, such as If you supply false, incomplete, or misleading information in your application, or fail to complete registration. The School will apply the appropriate regulations and policies and the procedures contained within them. SECTION 6: How will the School protect my Personal Data? ------------------ 6.1. Text (by Students): The School will ensure the protection of your personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). Our Data Protection Policy and Student Privacy Notice outline how we will process your personal data and under what conditions it may be shared. SECTION 7: What do the School’s terms and conditions say on School’s liability? ------------------ 7.1. Text (by Students): The School will be liable to you for any direct and foreseeable loss or damage you suffer if it fails to reasonably carry out the obligations under the contract it has with you. It will also be liable for any breaches of duty that the law imposes on it. The School will not be liable for events outside its control that it could not have foreseen or prevented even with reasonable care, such as industrial action, over or under-demand from students, or staff illness; Except for any liability in negligence for death and personal injury, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any matter it cannot exclude or limit by law, its total liability resulting from a breach of contract or statutory duty, or resulting from tort, misrepresentation, or any other liabilities, is limited to the value of tuition fees paid by you to the School; The School does not in any way limit its liability for:; - Death and personal injury caused by negligence on the part of the School or its staff;; - Fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;; - Any matter it cannot exclude or limit by law. SECTION 8: I am an international applicant. Can the School help me with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (“CAS”)? ------------------ 8.1. Text (by Students): The School invites applications from international students. It can issue a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (“CAS”) to facilitate a visa to study in the UK. However, before it does so, it will require an international student to have met the conditions of their offer, formally accepted it, and paid a deposit. SECTION 9: What happens if I breach my contract, or the School’s Regulations? ------------------ 9.1. Text (by Students): It is important that you understand the School’s terms and conditions, and regulations and policies as well, as a failure to follow them could amount to a material breach allowing the School to terminate the contract; In all cases, the School will investigate a breach under the appropriate regulations and policies and the procedures contained within them. All evidence will be duly considered, and all procedures will be exercised fairly. The School will provide all necessary help and support, including through its Wellbeing team; For example, if you use someone else's work without giving them the credit they deserve (plagiarism), your marks may be lowered, or you may have to retake the assessment. If it is determined that you have attempted to get an unfair advantage (cheating), your studies may be terminated. SECTION 10: What happens if I misuse School’s IT services? ------------------ 10.1. Text (by Students): If you misuse the School’s IT services under its regulations and policies, the School may remove your access to these services and initiate a disciplinary investigation. SECTION 11: What does the contract say on the use of the library and resources? ------------------ 11.1. Text (by Students): By accepting the offer, you agree to use the School's library and resources in strict compliance with licences and conditions, including not sharing, altering, or using materials commercially. Access is limited to authorised users with unique credentials. The School reserves the right to amend terms without notice; continued use signifies acceptance. You must comply with all copyright and licensing regulations. Subject to any applicable limitations, the School disclaims liability for misuse, and you agree to indemnify it for any violations. Breaching terms may result in suspension or expulsion and further disciplinary action. SECTION 12: What happens if I do not pass my assessments? ------------------ 12.1. Text (by Students): You may have to retake some or all the assessments, and in some cases, you may not be awarded a degree or other qualification; Please see the School’s assessment regulations, which can be found on the School’s website; If you have any further questions, please contact admissions@lsi-ac.uk