FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FULL REFUND if withdrawal is three working days before start of class.

Cancelled courses: FULL REFUND if SIT cancels the course.

Note: SIT reserves the right to cancel courses due to insufficient numbers.
 

International Students - please contact the International Office for the refund and withdrawal policy for International Students
 

The "Withdrawal Date" for each course is the earlier of:

• 1 month after the course starts; or
• the date at which 10% of the course has been completed.

Students who have completed formal withdrawal processes prior to leaving SIT shall be entitled to receive a transcript from SIT detailing the papers, modules or units that have been completed.

Such transcripts shall be forwarded to students who have withdrawn at the same time as they are issued to students completing the programme, and will be forwarded to the address registered in SIT’s student management system. Unit standards successfully completed by students prior to withdrawal shall be registered with NZQA, provided that the registration fee has been paid.

Conditions for withdrawal from a programme or course:

1. Must be on the appropriate form
   1. Full time student: Withdrawal must be endorsed by the head of faculty
   2. Refund of fees: as per the table below
2. Verbal notice to any staff member will not be accepted as an official notice of withdrawal from a programme or course
3. If course fees have been paid from a student loan, any refund must be sent to StudyLink
4. Refunds may take up to four weeks to process
5. The following outlines refund entitlements:

Withdrawal policy

If you want to withdraw from your programme or course, you must formally withdraw by filling out a withdrawal form (available from your Enrolment information booklet or Administration). Withdrawal is confirmed from the date this form is received by Southern Institute of ​Technology.

Any student who is planning to withdraw should consult with their programme manager or head of faculty in the first instance (except for community courses). All notices of withdrawal should be on the appropriate form.

If a student wishes and is eligible to continue with study after the Zero Fees status has been withdrawn, they will be liable for the remaining programme fees.

If you are considering withdrawal or transfer, you must discuss the matter with the Programme Manager in the first instance. 

Withdrawal from a programme may affect students’ future entitlement to the Zero Fees Scheme.

Students are responsible for informing StudyLink that they have withdrawn from their studies.

If you withdraw from a full-time programme without a satisfactory reason, you will not be eligible for the Zero Fees Scheme should you wish to enrol at a later date.

If you withdraw from part of a programme (e.g. some of the papaers), then that part will not be Zero Fees.

The 80% attendance/performance rule will apply to the remaining component(s) of the programme in which you are still enrolled. If you wish to retain Zero Fees eligibility for your remaining papers.

These are due 14 days prior to the start date of your programme.
You can pay by:

• Student Loan (see StudyLink)
• Cash, cheque, direct debit (talk to Administration), internet banking
• On-line via MySIT
• Credit Card payments made at Reception will incur a 2% surcharge

Payment must be received by SIT on or before the date that study begins. It is your responsibility to ensure that third parties or sponsors pay your fees. Non-payment of fees is taken seriously and may result in withheld results, removal from your programme, and ultimately referral to a debt collection agency.

SIT does all that it can to assist students who are struggling financially, so please communicate with the Administration Team.

Besides being an NZ domestic student, students must meet the following criteria in order to maintain their eligibility for Zero Fees:

• Satisfactory academic progress
• Satisfactory attendance, maintaining at least 80% (or programme specific) attendance   
• Adherence to the programme’s specific rules and requirements
• Adherence to the provisions of Southern Institute of Technology Student Code of Conduct
• SIT Online programmes require evidence of ongoing engagement

If any of these requirements are not met the Zero Fees eligibility may be withdrawn (after due notice).

Zero Fees, where available, applies only to the base tuition fee attached to each programme of study.  Certain programmes may incur direct material costs to the students, for example, uniform, textbooks, tools, activities, NZQA charges.

Zero Fees is available as a result of present Government policies.  Although not foreseen, SIT is unable to guarantee ongoing Zero Fees.  Zero Fees is, however, reviewed annually.