General Terms and Conditions for the Beijing Hutong School Internship Program, Intensive Chinese Program, Full Immersion Program, Soft Landing Program and other programs based on service modules derived from the aforementioned programs

These are the General Terms and Conditions set out by the Hutong Group Limited valid for all program bookings made with the Hutong Group Limited ("we", "us", "the company") by you ("the client", "the course participant", “the student”). All bookings are subject to these conditions, which become legally binding upon receiving the enrollment form as electronic mail. The Hutong Group Limited reserves the right to withhold confirmation of enrollment at its discretion, if such action is deemed necessary in the interests of the client or the Hutong Group Limited. All students of the Hutong Group Limited are obliged to act in compliance with the rules and regulations of the PR China.

Your Contract

Before your arrival in Beijing, the Hutong Group Limited will send you electronic copies of a) the enrollment form which acts as a sales contract and confirms acceptance to the specified Program which needs to be signed and returned before arrival in Beijing, b) an insurance waiver form, c) payment request form and d) a copy of these Terms and Conditions. These forms are for your own reference and form the contract terms between you and the Hutong Group Limited. The contract takes effect upon your acceptance of the Terms and Conditions (continuing the application process without protest to the Terms and Conditions will be understood as acceptance of the contract). You will be asked to sign a hard copy set of these forms upon your arrival at the Beijing Hutong School for Hutong School administration. 

Fees

Fees can be paid by bank transfer only and are to be paid in full. Bank charges are the client's liability.

The fee for the whole stay has to be paid within 5 days after the start of the program (= arrival at Hutong School). Payment is defined as receipt of funds in our bank account or presenting a valid proof of bank transfer as hard or electronic copy. Any bank costs incurred are the client’s liability.

Late payments in excess of the 5 day deadline are subject to a 50 EUR monthly surcharge.

It is the client’s responsibility to make sure that payment by bank transfer is possible in time from his/her bank account or find alternative ways of making the bank transfer before arrival in Beijing.

No compensation, fee reductions, refunds, credit, additional lessons or extension of the course can be given under normal circumstances, including:

• Services or facilities as defined on the enrollment form and not used
• Late arrival, absence or early departure from a course (see also chapter Cancellation)
• Days when the school is closed because of official Hutong School holidays defined by the Hutong School management

No refunds are possible unless approved by the Hutong Group Limited management.

General Rules

The Beijing Hutong School is not liable for any costs not included in the booked package.

The Beijing Hutong School will not grant any refunds to clients who apply for a language course of a certain level but are unable to join this specific course. In such a case, the client will be offered a suitable alternative. In case there are insufficient student numbers to run a group class, a reduced number of individual classes will be offered. The number of hours for a weekly ten-hour group course is reduced to 4 private class hours, the number of hours for a weekly twenty-hour group course is reduced to 8 private class hours. A student is only entitled to individual classes if no appropriate group is available. The Beijing Hutong School reserves the right to determine which group is appropriate for which student and add students to any on-going group class up to a maximum class size of eight students.

If a student chooses to switch from the internship program to the intensive Chinese program or vice versa an administration fee of 290 Euro is applicable. If a student wishes to take a break during his/her program an administration fee of 290 EUR applies.

Internship (only for Internship Program)

The internship position found for the student will only be confirmed after the student has given his/her consent. Upon completion of the internship program, the student can obtain a work certificate issued by the company. Any work-related issues between the student and the company are to be solved between the two parties only. The Hutong Group Limited is an agent for the internship position only and has no control over the content and quality of the internship. It is the interns responsibility to inform themselves about content and quality of his/her internship through direct contact with the company.

In case of dispute the Hutong Group Limited can act as a mediator if necessary.

In case that a student needs to change his/her internship position due to bankruptcy, the Hutong Group Limited will try to reassign the student as quickly as possible based on the information given by the intern upon first application.

If no reassignment is possible within one month, the intern has the right to leave the program and will be refunded 50% of the fees of the remaining months. If an intern is fired due to improper behavior, violation of contract with the employer or any violation of company rules or the laws of the PR China, no refunds can be made.

NGO Placement (only for Volunteer Program)

After completion of the Hutong School Volunteer Program, you can apply for volunteering for one or several of our partner NGOs. The NGO will follow their own hiring procedures so placement is NOT guaranteed. After you successfully applied at one of our partner NGOs and start working as a volunteer for them, we will transfer a donation of 15% of the total program price to the NGO involved. If you do not start working at one of our partner NGOs after completion of the Hutong School Volunteer Program, we will instead donate 10% of the program fee and spread the donation to all partners of the NGO program.

Accommodation

All accommodation provided is fully furnished. The occupying student is responsible for any material damage to the apartment occurring during his/her stay.

Any special requests in regard to accommodation must be made 21 days before commencement of the course at the latest. These requests may include all-male/female housing or requests to share an apartment with a particular person or group of persons. In case that a student wants to change accommodation for any reason, a request can be made at the Beijing Hutong School office. However, success of such a request cannot be guaranteed. Students who find an agreement with another student to change accommodation are free to do so, but must first inform the administration of the Hutong School by written or personal notification. Room changes without the consent of the Beijing Hutong School may lead to non-refundable cancellation of the student’s program.

Students are only allowed to have over night guests in their rooms after informing and receiving consent from the Beijing Hutong School office. The Beijing Hutong School reserves the right to eject any visitors from its apartments if deemed necessary by the Beijing Hutong School administration.

The Beijing Hutong School reserves the right to enter all accommodation at all times without prior notification for repairs, maintenance and other situations when it may be necessary.

If overstaying in the apartment (staying longer than the amount of months applied for), this is subject to a fee of 150 RMB per night. Overstay is subject to availability and can only be granted if the room has not been reserved for new students.

Cancellation

If the full balance of the course fees is not paid by the due date specified on the payment request form, the Hutong Group Limited reserves the right to cancel the client's booking and impose cancellation charges.

Cancellation charges

If the student unilaterally cancels the program within 5 days after arrival in Beijing a management and service fee of 490 Euro has to be paid.

If the student unilaterally cancels the program within 30 days after arrival in Beijing a management and service fee of 1190 Euro has to be paid.

Cancellations after 30 days count as services not used and cannot be refunded.

Booking alterations

Alterations by the client to a booking regarding course dates and accommodation can be made up to one month before course commencement.

Cancellation by the Hutong Group Limited

If a client does not comply with these Terms and Conditions or exhibits undue behavior (e.g. racism, verbal abuse of staff or other course participants, drug abuse, violations of the laws of the PRC, etc.), the Hutong Group Limited reserves the right to cancel the student’s program with immediate effect. The course fees will not be reimbursed. Possible surcharges, e.g. additional airport transfer charges, will be the client’s responsibility.

Quality guarantee

Should there be fault with the services provided by the Beijing Hutong School this claim must be declared to the Beijing Hutong School’s administration during the course period. Any claims made after the end of the course will not be recognized. In the event of a justified claim, the Beijing Hutong School administration reserves the right to make adequate reimbursement.

Passport, Visa, Customs and Health Restrictions

It is each course participant's responsibility to comply with all regulations concerning passport validity, visa validity, customs and health regulations. Non-compliance with these regulations and any costs that might be incurred due to this are the participant's responsibility. Furthermore, it is the course participant's sole responsibility to obtain the required documents, such as visas, passports etc. However, the Hutong Group Limited will assist participants to extend visa and is always available for inquiries about issues concerning Chinese visa.

Insurance

The Hutong Group Limited, its representatives, staff, and any individual affiliated to its activity will not be liable for any loss, damage, illness or injury to persons or property of whatever cause. It is the client's responsibility to have personal insurance against all such risks, including inability to attend or continue a course and insurance for the payment of medical expenses.

The Hutong Group Limited cannot be held liable for any insurance claim whatsoever. Any lack of proper insurance is the sole responsibility of the intern.

Unavoidable Circumstances

It shall be a fundamental condition of the contract between the Hutong Group Limited and the client that Hutong Group Limited will in no way be liable to the client in the  event of any contracted service becoming impossible to supply be reason of force majeure, e.g. war, civil strive, industrial dispute or any other cause outside their control.

Validity of Conditions

These Terms and Conditions are valid from 25 August 2008 and are subject to Chinese law. Alterations to these Terms and Conditions are valid from the moment of publication on the website.