SEDA College is committed to ensuring that all learners are treated fairly, transparently, and consistently in relation to fees and refunds.

This policy outlines:

• the circumstances under which a refund or partial refund may be granted;
• the conditions attached to refund eligibility;
• the procedures learners must follow when making a refund request.

Each learner is granted personal access to the MySEDA app upon acceptance to SEDA. All refund requests must be submitted through the learner’s own MySEDA account. Requests submitted by email or through third parties will not be accepted.

1. Grounds for a Refund or Partial Refund

Refunds may be considered in the following circumstances:

A. Visa Refusal or Extension Refusal

If a learner is refused an Irish Study Visa or a visa extension, they may apply for a refund. The request must be submitted through the MySEDA app and include:

● A copy of the official visa refusal letter issued by the relevant Irish immigration authority;
● A copy of the learner’s stamped passport;
● Return of all original letters issued by SEDA;
● Return of the learner’s GNIB card (if previously issued).

SEDA will review the visa refusal documentation to determine whether a full or partial refund may be granted. Refunds will not be granted if the refusal is due to false, misleading or incomplete information provided by the learner.

Appeal Requirement

Where a visa application is refused, SEDA expects the learner to pursue an appeal where

• an appeal process is available; and
• reasonable grounds for appeal exist.

As part of any refund request, SEDA may require:

● confirmation of the learner’s intention to appeal; and
● evidence that an appeal has been submitted.

Learners must confirm their intention to appeal within the timeframe outlined in Section 2 of this policy.

Failure to submit an appeal, where it would be considered reasonable to do so, may result in:

● a reduced refund; or
● refusal of a refund.

SEDA reserves the right to waive this requirement where:

● no appeal process is available; or
● the refusal is based on grounds where an appeal would not be viable (e.g. false or misleading documentation).

B. Refusal of Entry to Ireland

If a learner is refused permission to enter Ireland, a written refund request must be submitted through the MySEDA app and include:

● A copy of the official refusal of entry letter;
● A copy of the learner’s stamped passport.

SEDA will review the documentation and determine whether a refund may be granted.

C. Illness or Disability (Pre-course Start Only)

If a learner is unable to begin their course due to illness or disability, a refund request may be submitted along with valid medical documentation.

• For learners who are outside Ireland, the documentation must come from a licensed medical professional.
• For learners who are in Ireland, the documentation must be issued by a doctor registered with the Irish Medical Council.

This condition applies only where the course has not yet commenced. No refunds will be granted for medical issues raised after the course has started.

2. Conditions and Exemptions

• In cases of visa refusal, learners must confirm their intention to submit an appeal within 10 working days of the date of the refusal decision.
• Where a learner does not confirm their intention to submit an appeal within 10 working days, the refund request will be assessed on the basis that no appeal has been made.
• Refunds will only be granted in respect of the most recent year of payment related to the event or reason for the refund.
• Learners who change their mind about studying at SEDA are not entitled to a refund.
• If a learner withdraws after the course has started, no refund will be given.
• Course cancellations must be submitted through the learner’s MySEDA account before the course start date.
• Learners who are found to have submitted false or incomplete information, resulting in a visa refusal, are not eligible for a refund.
• If a learner is expelled from the College for disciplinary reasons, no refund will be granted.
• If SEDA is unable to run or complete a course after the start date, all fees will be refunded in full, without deduction of administrative charges.
• Where a visa application is refused, SEDA may require evidence that the learner has submitted an appeal before a refund decision is made. Failure to do so may result in a reduced refund or refusal of a refund.
• Where an appeal is submitted, refund requests will not be processed until the outcome of the appeal has been formally issued by the relevant immigration authority.
• SEDA reserves the right to pause or defer the processing of any refund request where required documentation or appeal-related evidence has not been provided.

3. Processing Time and Enquiries

A refund request will only be considered complete when all required documentation has been submitted through the MySEDA app.

A Refund request will only be processed once:

● the request has been submitted through the MySEDA app;
● all required supporting documentation has been provided; and
● where applicable, the outcome of any visa appeal has been formally issued.

Learners will be informed of the outcome within 10 working days of submitting a complete refund request.

SEDA reserves the right to apply a reasonable administrative charge when processing refunds, except where otherwise stated.

SEDA reserves the right to request additional documentation where required to assess a refund request.

4. Appeals Procedure

If a learner is refused a refund or is not satisfied with the outcome of the refund decision, they have the right to appeal.

• Appeals must be submitted in writing using the Refund Appeal Form.
• Appeals will be reviewed by the Course Refund Appeals Panel, made up of members of SEDA’s Senior Management Committee.
• Appeals relating to visa refusal must include a copy of the refusal letter and a stamped passport.
• Appeals relating to medical issues must include appropriate medical documentation, and if the learner was in Ireland, it must come from an Irish-registered doctor.
• The learner will be informed of the outcome within 5 working days of the next scheduled panel meeting.
• The decision of the Appeals Panel is final.

Appeals will be managed by Tiago Mascarenhas, CEO ([email protected])

Dated: 15 April 2026
To be reviewed 15 April 2027