Welcome to the Atlantic Language Galway.

 

Individual bookings are subject to the following terms and conditions:

Booking Courses and/or Accommodation
- Bookings may be made by either completing:

- the on-line registration form at www.atlanticlanguage.ie/book; - a printed registration form, which may be downloaded from our website and then sent by fax or post to the address printed on the form; or - an electronic registration form and returning it by email.

- It is important to complete all necessary sections of the registration form.
- Group classes are subject to a minimum booking of 2 weeks.
- The school will acknowledge all bookings within 2 working days and, where all necessary booking information is available, a proforma invoice will be issued.
- The proforma invoice is due for payment within 14 days to secure a place on the course. See Fee Payments below for further details.
- Atlantic Language Galway operates two school centres during the peak summer season. Students at each centre have access to the facilities at the other.
- Atlantic Language Galway reserves the right to transfer students between sites for operational and academic reasons, but in doing so, will endeavour to avoid unnecessary transfers while also endeavouring to ensure that students have access to an equivalent level of tuition and service.
- Booking requests for specific school centres cannot be guaranteed, particularly in peak periods.
- Atlantic Language Galway reserves the right to refuse bookings.

- Full payment of fees must be made within 14 days of receipt of the proforma invoice. Bookings will be cancelled automatically, according to the cancellation policy, for non-payment.
- Payments are accepted in Euro only.
- Payments may be made by bank transfer or by credit card.
- To pay by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) please provide card number, expiry date, security code and cardholder’s signature. Credit card payments are subject to an administrative fee of 2.0% of the total transaction amount.
- All payments must be marked with an invoice number or proforma invoice reference and student’s name. We cannot guarantee that we have received payment unless bank transfers carry this information.
- All bank charges are the responsibility of the student.

Course Cancellation Policy
- Notice of cancellation must be provided in writing and applies from the date it is received by Atlantic Language Galway.

Days before course commencement	Refundable fees
28+ days	Full fees
14-27 days	Full fees subject to a minimum charge of €360
7-13 days	50% fees subject to a minimum charge of €360
Less than 7 days	30% fees subject to a minimum charge of €360
On/after start	No refund

 

Course Change Policy
- Course changes requested no later than 7 days before course commencement can be made as a re-booking. Existing courses will be cancelled and a new booking will be made for courses to the pricelist value of the original course booking or above on payment of changed fees.
- Course changes requested within 7 days of course commencement are not possible.
- Course changes can only be effected from the next course starting week (that is, from the next Monday or Tuesday) subject to availability of suitable class places and the payment of any change fees.
- No refund is available where a course change is taken to a less intensive course: the duration of the less intensive course may not be longer than the original booking.
- Upgrades in group course are permitted subject to the availability of course places and the payment of any course price difference.
- Date changes for courses are permitted subject to 7 days advance notification and the availability of suitable class places for the changed dates.
- Course breaks are not permitted once a course has commenced.
- Students who request a change from group courses to private tuition will be required to pay the full cost of private tuition. No transfer of course value is available.

- The maximum class size for General English group classes is 12 students. The actual number of students will vary with an average in summer of 10 students and in winter of 7 students.
- Five levels are offered from Elementary to Advanced.
- Beginner courses can be taken as private tuition only. Please note that a student who tests at beginner level and is booked on a group course will be charged the full additional cost of private tuition.
- Group courses:  1 lesson  = 45 minutes.
Private tuition:  1 lesson  = 60 minutes.
- The minimum age for students on adult courses is 18 years.

- Students on Junior coures under the age of 18 must present a completed and signed parent consent form which may be downloaded from www.atlanticlanguage.ie/pcf.

- Atlantic Language Galway reserves the right to cancel a course if there is not sufficient demand for it. In this case, full refunds will be given.

- All accommodation is offered subject to availability.
- Accommodation fees are non-refundable.
- There is an accommodation placement fee of €50.

- Accommodation is provided on a self-catering basis and is as described in the brochure.
- Requests for specific apartments cannot be guaranteed, particularly during peak periods.
- Bookings are based on a Saturday to Saturday basis (7 nights): there is no facility for the booking of extra nights.
- All apartment bookings are subject to a security deposit of €150. This security deposit will only be accepted by way of a pre-authorisation for the amount on a valid credit card: this will temporarily reduce the limit of the credit card but will not be debited from the credit card. The pre-authorised card will only be debited in the event of (a) damage to the apartment or its fittings, (b) the cancellation of the booking.
- A confirmation of apartment booking cannot be issued without valid credit card details: bookings will be cancelled after 7 days if the credit card details have not been received.
- Apartments are fully equipped with fitted-kitchen including cooker, microwave, washing machine and tumble dryer. In July and August some apartments do not have a washing machine but can use the laundry at the reception which is open from 1000 to 2200.
- Apartments have a shared living room area.
- Single, twin and double rooms are available on request. Twin and double rooms are for two people sharing, suitable for friends or a couple.
- Each apartment offers one standard shared bathroom with a shower. Private bathrooms are available on request.
- Apartments have 2 and 3 bedrooms and hold 3 to 5 people. In July and August extra apartments are available that have up to 7 bedrooms.
- The accommodation price includes heat, electricity, cable TV, bed linen and towels.
- Minimum booking is 2 weeks and subject to availability for dates requested. Apartment accommodation is extremely popular and early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
- Apartments are exclusive to Atlantic Language Galway students.

- Host family accommodation is on a Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday basis. Extra-night accommodation may be requested and may be offered at a nightly rate subject to availability.
- Should a student wish to change Host Family, Atlantic Language Galway will only do so after discussing the situation and reasons with both the student and the family.
- Accommodation prices include half-board (breakfast and evening meal) between Monday and Friday and full-board (breakfast, lunch and evening meal) on Saturday and Sunday.
- Students are provided with a single room as standard.
- An Executive option (private bathroom) is available on request at a supplement.
- Students may be accommodated with families from a 5 to a 35 minute bus ride from the school.
- Families may host students a number of nationalities. There will be no more than one speaker of each mother tongue in the same host family.

- Minimum booking is 2 weeks and subject to availability for dates requested. Students are advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment especially if they wish to study during the high season.

- Atlantic Language Galway’s Accommodation Manager is in charge of recruiting families and knows each family on a personal basis. Families come from a variety of backgrounds from traditional Irish families to modern-day families where both parents work. Some hosts are single professional people.

- The Accommodation Manager is available to students and all are welcome to discuss any situation with her.
- Students staying with host families will have their clothes washed once a week.
- There is a code of conduct that must be respected between family and student. The details of this are available in the student handbook and on request from the Accommodation Manager. If any problems arise the Accommodation Manager will endeavour to resolve this in the best interests of the student, the family and Atlantic Language Galway.
- Special requests (e.g. regarding diet, pets, children) must be made at the time of the initial booking. We may not be able to accommodate special requests after a student has been placed.
- If a number of special requests are made by or on behalf of the same student, Atlantic Language Galway reserves the right to prioritise the importance of each request.
- There will be an extra charge for special dietary requests.

- Students are strongly advised to take out full travel and health insurance.
- EU/EEA nationals are advised to obtain an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card, formerly an E111) as minimum cover: for further details on issuing organisation see http://bit.ly/EHIC-en - Students from non-EU/EEA countries must have full travel and health insurance. This can be organised by the school.
- Atlantic Language Galway will not cover costs that may arise as a result of the need for treatment or repatriation of student.
- Students are responsible for their own personal effects.
- Students are advised to insure against loss of fees and/or expenses that may be incurred due to cancellation, sudden or early departure. There will be no refunds for days missed, late arrival or early departure.

School and Public Holidays 2010

- The school will be closed on the following dates in 2010:
Friday 1 January, Wednesday 17 March, Friday 2 April, Monday 5 April, Monday 3 May, Monday 7 June, Monday 2 August, Monday 25 October and Monday 20 December 2010 to Monday 3 January 2011 (inclusive for Christmas holidays – re-opening on Tuesday 4 January 2011). 
- Where public holidays occur on a Monday, students will commence their course on the Tuesday. Lessons missed due to public holidays will not be made up and no refund or credit will be given.

- Intensive English, Combination and Private tuition start any Monday, or where necessary due to public holidays, Tuesday.
- Special Courses, including Cambridge Examination Preparation courses and Teacher Training courses are offered on defined dates: details of these are available in the pricelist and from www.atlanticlanguage.ie/downloads.

Students' Holidays
- Holidays may be taken, subject to the conditions below, by students on all courses except examination preparation courses.
- The duration of holidays allowed depends on the length of a student’s course booking. Students staying for 12 weeks are entitled to a holiday of 1 week; those staying for at least 24 weeks are entitled to 2 weeks holidays; students staying for 36 weeks may take 3 weeks and those staying for 48 weeks are entitled to 4 weeks holidays.
- Holidays must be requested no later than 7 days prior to the intended start date of the holiday period.
- The duration of holidays taken by a student will be added to the end of the course from which they have taken holidays: where a student takes a holiday of 2 weeks then 2 weeks will be added to the end date of the course.
- All holidays must be taken over the duration of a full week, that is, starting on Monday and finishing on Friday.

Visas
-  Students with non-EU/EEA citizenship require a Study Visa to enter Ireland, except for those who are citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay and Venezuela (for more details visit http://bit.ly/visa-countries).
- All non-EU/EEA citizens intending to be in Ireland for more than 90 days must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
-  The minimum requirement for a study visa is a full-time course of 15 hours per week.
- At least 6 weeks are needed to process a visa application. Please do not apply for registration on a course that will not allow enough time for visa processing.
- In the case of a visa being refused, all school fees must be paid in advance and are refundable, except for €300.
- Fees will not be refunded if a visa is denied because of submission of false information.
- Fees cannot be refunded where a visa is granted, even if the issuing of the visa is delayed by the authorities. Where the issue of a visa is delayed, the course and accommodation bookings may be delayed in entirety by the number of delayed weeks, provided that at least 14 days written notice is provided to Atlantic Language Galway of the delay in the visa. Course fees may change if the course does not take place in the calendar year.
- It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the visa and immigration registration requirements of the Irish government. Atlantic Language Galway cannot be responsible for students’ legal responsibilities.

General Conditions
- Atlantic Language Galway does not assume responsibility for loss, delay or accident of any kind whatsoever that may occur due to fault or negligence of any company or persons carrying out ancillary arrangements outside of our control.
- The School reserves the right to cancel any arrangements or bookings without prior notice if payment conditions are not met.
-  Any disputes in relation to accounts or services provided will, where necessary, be heard in the courts of the Republic of Ireland where the bulk of the service is being carried out.
- The student is responsible for any damage or injury he/she may cause to buildings, furniture, fittings, individuals' or host family property, etc., while registered with Atlantic Language Galway.
- In cases where a medical condition makes it impossible to complete a course and if this condition existed but was not advised at the time of the booking, Atlantic Language Galway refuses any liability and no refund will be given.
- Should a student behave in an unseemly and/or inappropriate manner that may bring the school or its agent(s) into disrepute or cause damage to its reputation or standing in any way, either real or imagined, he/she will be asked to leave the school immediately. The directors of Atlantic Language Galway will be the only arbitrators in any such event.
- A serious misdemeanour or infringement of the laws of Ireland will result in instant dismissal from the school. Costs incurred by the student as a result of dismissal in these circumstances from the school are the sole responsibility of the student and Atlantic Language Galway will accept no liability of any kind.
- Atlantic Language Galway cannot accept responsibility for flight delays, changes in timetables by other third parties outside of our control.
- The school reserves the right to change, without notice, the contents, dates, times, locations or any other details of course(s) brought about by political events, natural disasters, weather or any other events considered by the organisers to be pertinent.
- Atlantic Language Galway reserves the right to refuse or cancel bookings in circumstances where school or accommodation facilities are unsuitable to a student’s special needs.
- Atlantic Language Galway is a teacher-training school: over the duration of a student’s study they may, on occasion, be taught by a trainee teacher who will, at all times, be under the observation and supervision of a qualified teacher.
- If we do not enforce any condition of these Terms and Conditions or we delay in enforcing it, this will not prevent us from retrospectively enforcing the condition and will not constitute a waiver of that condition.
- Interpretation of these Terms and Conditions, all agreements and communications with Atlantic Language Galway shall be through the English language.

Junior Students
- Students between 11 and 17 years only are accepted on junior programmes.
- A fully completed Parental Consent Form is required for each student under the age of 18.
- Students with special dietary or medical considerations are accepted solely at the discretion of Atlantic Language Galway. Students with enuresis (bed-wetting) cannot be accepted.
- All junior students’ accommodation is based on room sharing: single rooms are not provided for junior students.
- The use of alcohol, drugs or other proscribed substances is forbidden. Students found in possession or found taking alcohol, drugs or other proscribed substances will be sent home immediately at parents’/guardians’ expense. Group leaders or parents/guardians will be advised of the termination of the student’s stay and must make arrangements for the student’s immediate return home. No refund of fees will be permitted in this circumstance.
- Under the provisions of Irish law young people under the age of 18 years of age may not visit public houses (pubs) and they may not purchase alcohol.
- Junior students are subject to a curfew: they must be at their nominated host family by 2300 each night and may not be away from their host family after this time except under specific supervision of a school nominated leader or their host family.