All program participants of SIS Lecce (School of Italian for Foreigners – Lecce) are required to read the following list of terms and conditions. All course registrations are subject to these terms and conditions which become legally binding upon one’s admission to SIS Lecce. Registration is considered complete only when the school has sent confirmation in the form of a written letter or email.
LESSONS
Lessons are held from Monday to Thursday for ordinary courses (OR) and from Monday to Friday for intensive courses (INT). Both ordinary courses and intensive courses are taught from 9:00 to 1:00pm and/or from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, depending on the needs of the school and include a 20-minute break between grammar and conversation classes.
Group classes are usually held in the morning, however, the school may organize lessons in the afternoon if deemed necessary.
Please note that an hour of lessons is considered 55 minutes.
Individual lessons are available upon request. Individual lessons are generally held before or after group classes.
The number of hours of the course includes the mandatory placement test and the final exam (optional and on request).
The completion of a 4-week course does not guarantee advancement to the next level.
HOLIDAYS
The school is closed on January 1 (New Year), January 6 (Epiphany), April 25 (liberation from fascism) on Easter Monday, 1 May (Labour Day), 2 June (Republic Day), August 15 (Assumption of Mary), 26 August (Feast of the Patron Saint of Lecce), November 1 (All Saints Day), December 8 (Immaculate Conception), December 25 (Christmas Day), and December 26th (Boxing Day).
Classes will be cancelled if they fall on a public holiday. There is no refund or recovery of lost hours for the days of anticipated festivities.
ACCOMMODATION
The school offers a free accommodation search service for all regularly enrolled students and for those who request an accommodation search.
The school acts only as an intermediary for housing and is exempt from all responsibility concerning interactions between landlords and students.
All accommodation offered by the school are selected based on location, structure, furnishings, cleanliness, comfort. As they are privately owned and operated, accommodation may contain minor differences in their interior spaces and in their location within the city, but all meet the required standard of quality that is regularly checked by the staff in charge.
The school assigns accommodation on a first come, first served basis meaning the sooner you request accommodation, the greater chance you have of receiving one that suits your needs.
Each student is personally responsible for damages incurred to student housing. If damage is found, there may be additional costs depending on the type of damage.
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Our additional activities are managed by external partners who are considered responsible for the services offered. SIS Lecce reserves the right to advance, postpone, or cancel events.
ADVANCES
When enrolling in a language course, with or without extra activities, a non-refundable deposit of €150 must be paid in advance (valid for language courses). Payment can be made by cash or bank transfer.
For regularly enrolled students who require the accommodation search service, a non-refundable payment of €80 (valid on accommodation availability) must be paid at the time of registration. It is used to reserve the accommodation for the dates of your study abroad.
Please note that the €80 payment counts towards your first-month’s rent and does not serve as a deposit.
BALANCE
The balance for language courses and accommodation must be paid for within 30 days before the start of the course. In exceptional cases, the admissions office may grant a different payment deadline.
If by the third day of classes the bill has not been paid in full, the student will neither attend lectures nor be allowed to remain in the allocated accommodation.
PAYMENT METHOD
Payments for the language course (with or without extra activities) and housing can be made by cash or by bank transfer. All necessary information will be provided by the office of admissions.
Bank transfer fees are to be paid by the student.
Advances, entry fees or any other payment are non-transferable and may not be passed from person to person.
WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE AND REFUNDS
The school must be informed immediately, in writing, of any changes or cancellations. To be entitled to a refund, we must be informed at least 30 days prior to the start of the course.
If the withdrawal from the course is communicated:
30 days or more prior to the start of the course, the course fee will be refunded, excluding the €150 deposit which is non-refundable.
15-29 days prior to the start of the course, a further 30% calculated on the proportion of the whole course will be withheld, in addition to the non-refundable deposit of €150,
Less than 15 days prior to the start of the course, no amount will be refunded.
If the student does not attend or interrupts the course after it has begun, he will not be entitled to any refund.
No refund for late arrivals or early departures. Missed lessons by the student are not refundable. No refund in case of suspension or expulsion from the program.
Reimbursement is subject to the approval of SIS Lecce. Approved reimbursement is made by bank transfer within 60 working days. Bank charges are paid by the recipient.
WITHDRAWAL FROM HOUSING AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR STUDENT HOUSING
To be entitled to a refund, we must be notified, in writing, at least 30 days prior to the start of the course. If these conditions are met, the student will be entitled to a full refund for the cost of the accommodation excluding the non-refundable deposit of €80 and a cancellation fee of €50.
No housing refund is provided for cancellations less than 30 days before the start of the course.
No refund for late arrival or early departure. No refund in case of suspension or expulsion from the program.
A student who requests a change of accommodation must present valid and justified reasons. In this case, after assessing the reasons for the request and deeming the request justified by a malfunction of the facilities in the house or other acts of God, the person or persons in charge will provide other suitable accommodation at no additional charge.
If the change request is not deemed valid and supported by justified reasons, housing staff can search for other accommodation at an additional cost to the student. In this case, the cost of substituted housing is not refundable.
ACCIDENTS & MEDICAL INSURANCE
We advise students to take out a personal medical insurance before leaving their home country.
EU citizens, in possession of the E111 (which is possible to request through health authorities in their home country) are entitled to medical care in Italy. Students from outside the European Union must comply with the rules laid down by the Italian government. Further details can be obtained from an Italian Embassy or Consulate.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
If a student wishes to complain about any service, they shall, first of all, present their complaints to the admissions office of the SIS Lecce.
Complaints will be considered if the student attends classes regularly and if his/her account has already been adjusted in full.
LIABILITY
SIS Lecce and its staff, are not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury to persons or property, except where the liability is required by Italian law.
SIS Lecce declines any liability in the event that a service booked shall become unavailable for reasons outside the direct control of the Italian School for Foreigners.
VALIDITY OF PRICES
All prices listed in the brochure and on the website are valid from January 1 to December 31 of the given calendar year.
EXPULSION
The SIS Lecce reserves, at the discretion of the Director, the right to expel a student whose conduct is considered reprehensible. In the case of expulsion, no refund will be provided and all missing payments must be paid immediately.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE RULES
With the acceptance of an electronic registration form or a paper form signed by the student or the agencies or representatives, the contractor / student tacitly accepts these Terms and Conditions.