Terms & Conditions of Enrolment
Please read our enrolment Terms & Conditions very carefully before signing your enrolment form. There is some very important information here for you that describe fee payments, fee protection policies, refund of fees, conduct and complaints procedures.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
All students agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine Limited (NZSFW) and the laws of New Zealand. Full details of rules, regulations, conduct, attendance, academic requirements, complaint procedure will be explained on Day One of the course and in the NZSFW Learner Handbook.
2. Fees
2.1 Course fees paid in advance to NZSFW are held in a Trust Account maintained by the Public Trust, an approved independent trustee owned by the Crown and overseen and managed by the New Zealand Government. This arrangement has been accepted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as meeting the requirements of the Education and Training Act 2020 and the NZQA Student Fee Protection Rules 2022.
2.2 Indemnification of Student Fees
This Trust Account protects student fees in a number of situations including NZSFW being placed in liquidation or receivership, as well as student refund entitlements under the Education and Training Act 2020.
2.3 Fees are remitted to NZSFW from the Trust Account periodically in accordance with NZQA’s Fee Protection Rules.
3. Payment of Fees
3.1 Students are required to pay course fees in full at least twenty working days before the start of the course. If fees are not received by this time, NZSFW reserves the right to withdraw the offer of place.
3.2 Course fees are paid to the NZSFW Trust Account by bank transfer to Public Trust Wellington: Bank of New Zealand, North End Branch 02 0536 0305865 01 Swift Code BKNZNZ22.
4. Refund of Fees
The following NZSFW policy on refunds and withdrawals applies to courses of more than 3 months. A student must notify the Director/General Manager in writing of withdrawal from a programme.
4.1. Domestic Student refund
a) If a Domestic student withdraws from their programme before it starts they receive a full refund.
b) If a Domestic student withdraws within the first eight days after course commencement, they are entitled a full refund of the total fees paid, less 10% or $500 which ever is the lesser amount.
c) If a Domestic student withdraws from course from day nine onwards (or fails to complete a course for any reason) no refund or reduction of fees is available.
4.2 International student refund
a) If an International student withdraws from their programme before it starts they receive a full refund less 25% of the course fees.
b) If an International student withdraws within the first 10 working days of course commencement, they are entitled to claim a refund of all remaining fees paid up to 75% of the total fee.
c) If an International student withdraws from a course after 11 days no refund or reduction of fees is available.
d) The international enrolment fee of $200 is non refundable.
4.3 Attendance
Students are required to maintain regular attendance in order to progress. A student who fails to attend any part of their course may be directed to withdraw. Subject to 4.1-4.2 above, they will not be entitled to a refund, nor to attend any other classes in place of those missed. The Director of NZSFW shall be under no obligation to refund any portion of fees under 4.3.
4.4 Voluntary closure or course cessation
In the unlikely event that NZSFW closes or ceases to offer a course in which students are enrolled, NZSFW will refund the course fees for affected students on a pro rata basis within five working days, unless NZQA permits a longer period. Where a Course Closure Event is due to a natural disaster the Course may resume within ten working days after any notice by NZQA of course closure but students will be notified by NZSFW within five working days of their right to opt out of the course within 20 days and receive a pro rata refund from when they last attended.
5. Misconduct and Disciplinary Processes
5.1 The Director/General Manager of NZSFW reserves the right to terminate the training of any student at any time for misconduct subject to 5.2 and 5.3 below (e.g. theft, irregular attendance of class, use of alcohol, drugs, disruptive behaviour, academic misconduct or noncompliance with laws of New Zealand) or any other reason as they think fit after fair and reasonable notice & consideration of the student perspective.
5.2 A disciplinary problem will be formally acknowledged by one verbal warning from the Director/General Manager to the student concerned. If the student fails to rectify their behaviour, the Director/General Manager will formally write to the student with their concern and notice of their intention to withdraw the student.
5.3 Upon receiving written notification from the Director/General Manager a student shall no longer be permitted to attend any further class or classes on any course.
6. Liability
6.1 NZSFW shall be under no liability to any student or their family for any loss or damage, including personal injury or death, sustained at or upon NZSFW’s premises howsoever caused and whether in respect of any negligent act or omission by NZSFW, its employees or agents.
6.2 NZSFW is required to ensure that international students take out appropriate and current medical and travel insurance to cover themselves against accident or illness, theft, loss of or damage to their personal property, or homestay property for the duration of their visa.
6.3 The Director/General Manager of NZSFW reserves the right in their absolute discretion and without notice to alter the organisation, time and/or date and/or structure, and/or teachers of any course at any time, after fair and reasonable notice & consideration of those affected by the proposed change.
7. Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021
NZSFW has agreed to observe and be bound by The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. The Code sets out the minium standards of advice and care that are expected of educational providers in New Zealand. View the Code here.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
8. Counselling and support for international students on campus
The international student support staff are responsible for supporting international students while studying at NZSFW.
9. Immigration and visas
NZSFW may only enrol a prospective international student for a course lasting longer than three months if the prospective student holds a current student visa or permit. Details of visa requirements can be found at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas
10. Medical and Travel insurance
International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. Students will need to provide NZSFW with evidence of their insurance policy documentation in English or purchase insurance from providers recommended by NZSFW.
11. English Language Requirements
International students, whose first language is not English, must provide evidence of their English Level. For further details read here
English Language Pathways
Students enrolling in Certificate in Professional Wine Knowledge need to have an IELTS (general English) score of 6.0 or equivalent. All other NZQA courses require IELTS 5.5.
Although IELTS is our preferred assessment method there are other recognised programmes such as TOEFL, University of Cambridge and NZCEL. We work regularly with the following English Language Schools:
- NZ Languages Centre (NZLC)
- Languages International
Please contact us for contact details of these schools.
12. Complaints Procedure
Internal Procedure:
NZSFW welcomes feedback and students should approach NZSFW staff with any concerns or issues, whether a complaint or an appeal against an assessment decision. If a student is unhappy about an assessment, they must contact their tutor within 7 days to request a reassessment. The tutor will then reassess the student at a mutually agreeable time.
If the student is not satisfied with the outcome, the student may appeal to the General Manager/Director of NZSFW. Appeals must be made in writing within 7 days. The General Manager/Director will then evaluate the case after discussions with the tutor. The matter may then be referred to the NZSFW Management Board for consideration.
External Procedure:
At the Director/General Manager's discretion, an independent evaluation or reassessment will take place e.g. by the NZSFW Advisory Management Board or a person appointed by the Director/General Manager. This evaluation or reassessment will be full and final. No further appeals will be entertained by NZSFW.
If the student is unhappy with the system of complaint resolution or the outcome, a complaint can be made to NZQA by following the procedure set out on the NZQA website here.
