Information: Terms and conditions
1. Enrolment & confirmation
By enrolling, you accept the contract and travel terms and conditions of ESL - Language Studies Abroad. The enrolment can be handwritten/ sent by fax (enrolment form), made by telephone/orally or through our website. Once we have received your enrolment, we will confirm your language stay within 7 days. We inform you quickly and propose an alternative course if the courses you have chosen are full. In the case of a late enrolment, 2 weeks (or less) prior to your departure, a last-minute fee of EUR 30 is invoiced. The total amount in foreign currency, relative to your trip, is converted into euros the day your invoice is issued (approx. 6 weeks prior to your departure). The choice of payment in foreign currency needs to be specified at the time of the initial booking.2. Payment
The deposit amount of EUR 300 is to be paid following the reception of the enrolment confirmation. The balance is due at the latest 4 weeks prior to the course start. If the enrolment is made less than 8 weeks prior to the course start, the total balance is to be paid once you have received the invoice. The flights must be paid for once your plane ticket has been confirmed. The total payment need to reach us prior to your departure. In the case of non-payment of the deposit and/or balance, your booking may be cancelled by ESL - Language Studies Abroad (according to the conditions of cancellation mentioned in point 4). Your file is sent to you following reception of the full payment (around 10 days prior to your departure).3. Changes to booking
Prior to your departureFor every change in booking taking place prior to your departure, we invoice a levy of a minimum EUR 30 and a maximum EUR 100. A change of school is considered as a cancellation in accordance with the conditions specified in point 4.
Following your departure
Following your departure, any change in the initial arrangement does not bring about a reopening of your file. Contact the school directly if you are leaving the school prematurely, wish to change your accommodation option or want to ask for any other change. If the change is with regard to a complaint, refer to point 12.
4. Cancellation
Concerning language studies abroada) An eventual cancellation needs to reach us by registered letter. If the cancellation occurs more than 30 days prior to your departure, a fee of EUR 300 is invoiced to you
b) If your cancellation occurs less than 30 days prior to your departure, the following additional cancellation fees are invoiced on top of the total sum of the invoice:
from 29 to 15 days prior to the departure 20%
from 14 to 8 days prior to the departure 40%
from 7 to 1 days prior to the departure 80%
From the 1st day of your stay or in the case of an early return, no refund is granted.
Concerning flights
In the case of a change in booking after the ticket confirmation, tour operators' or airline companies' change fees will be invoiced to you in full, except if you have an insurance which partly covers cancellation fees (cf. point 6).
Concerning accommodation
The residences/apartments/studios/hotel rooms are subject to the terms and conditions of cancellation of the various local service providers and the cancellation fees are generally higher than for host families. Detailed terms and conditions of cancellation on request. Consequently, for these types of accommodation, a supplement of the sum mentioned in point 2 will be invoiced during the booking confirmation.
5. Travel guarantee
ESL is a member of the Guarantee Fund of the Swiss travel industry. This Guarantee Fund refunds you the package costs of your language study stay, in the case of failure or insolvency of the service provider prior to your departure. If the insolvency were to occur following your departure, the Guarantee Fund would take charge of the return travel fees, insofar as the service provider does not fulfil its obligations.6. Insurance
Cancellation-assistance insuranceA cancellation fees-travel insurance (EUR 45) may be taken out for all of our language studies abroad with our partner ELVIA. In the case of incapacity to travel (illness, accident, death of a close one, employment or loss of a job, stolen passport, etc.) occuring prior to your departure, this insurance covers you personally against cancellation fees. This insurance also covers assistance guarantees (early return, hospital transport, repatriation, etc.) for the first 3 months of your stay. If the planned stay is longer than 3 months, it is possible to extend the assistance cover (EUR 6.30 per month). By opting for this insurance during your enrolment, you accept the ELVIA insurance terms and conditions. Contractual clauses are available on request or on our website.
ELVIA Annual cancellation-assistance insurance
For long-term stays, from 6 months upwards, we recommend taking out an annual insurance (EUR 46 if the participant is under 26 years on the day of enrolment or EUR 63 from 26 years). If you already have travel insurance, let us know during your enrolment. If you mention it in your enrolment form, you will receive an information leaflet regarding ELVIA travel insurance. This insurance is valid from the date of your enrolment. It will be renewed automatically each year. The suspension of the insurance policy is carried out by the insurance holder, by letter, 3 months prior to the renewal date.
Free ESL exam cancellation insurance
If you have to sit an exam for which a negative result would influence your departure, it is possible to take out our free exam cancellation insurance. Should the case arise, we request that you produce an official document as proof of the above-mentioned situation. You will get a full refund. We ask you to please note that the plane ticket is separate and is not part of this cancellation insurance. This insurance is valid up to 10 days prior to departure.
Accident-health insurance
You are obliged to be covered against the risks of illness and accidents abroad. It is necessary to announce your departure abroad to your health organisation (or additional mutual insurance company).
Accident - Health Insurance (Globe Partner contract)
You are obliged to be covered against the risks of illness and accidents abroad. ESL can offer you such a medical assistance cover thanks to the "Globe Partner" contract (terms and conditions available on request).
If you ar a European resident (whatever the destination): EUR 39 per month
Other places of residence (whatever the destination): EUR 75 per month
Please note however that for every stay of a maximum of 12 weeks within the European Community, you may be covered by your own Health Insurance fund. We strongly recommend that you directly contact them and ask for a European Health Insurance card.