Understanding your Letter of Offer

What is a Letter of Offer (LOO)?

Once the CIT International Student Services Unit has received your Application Form, it will be assessed. If your application is successful it will be accepted, and CIT will make you a formal offer in your chosen course. This document is called your Letter of Offer (LOO).

The LOO  clearly lists the following:

  • Your Course: The course or courses you have been accepted into.
  • Start Date and Study Details: When your course starts, how long it lasts, where it is, and how you will study (for example, online or in person).
  • Requirements: What you need before starting, including your English level.
  • Conditions: Any rules or steps you must follow before you begin studying.
  • Tuition Fees: How much you need to pay for your course, when to pay, and how to pay.
  • Other Fees: Extra costs you may have to pay, such as if you delay or extend your studies, or pay late.
  • Health Cover Fees: Costs for overseas student health insurance (if required).

· The LOO  will also explain:

  • Offer Terms and conditions: The rules and details of your offer to study.
  • Privacy: When and how your personal information may be shared, based on Australian law.
  • Complaints and Appeals: How to make a complaint or ask for a review if you are unhappy with something.
  • Refunds: When refunds apply and the amount of money you may or may not get back.
  • Course Cancellation: What happens if your course is cancelled, and how the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) helps.
  • Your Rights: You may have rights under Australian Consumer Law.
  • Contact Details: You must tell CIT your current address, mobile number, and email. Also, give the name of someone CIT can contact in an emergency. If these details change, you must update CIT within 7 days.

Important:

  1. Read the terms and conditions carefully before signing
  2. Keep a copy of your offer letter and all payment receipts.

After your application has been assessed, CIT will issue one of the following letters of offer:

  1. An Unconditional Offer: This provides you with an offer into the program with no conditions.
  2. A Conditional Offer: This offer states the conditions you need to meet before you are able to accept the letter of offer.
  3. A Package Offer: This offer will be issued if you have applied for more than one program or if you are required to complete an English Language Skills program before being eligible to commence studies in your nominated program.  You must meet any conditions and accept all programs before payment can be made and an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) can be issued.

How to Accept your LOO

Accept your offer

To accept your letter of offer from CIT you must complete the following steps:

  1. Meet all the conditions of the letter of offer.
  2. Sign and return your Letter of Acceptance and the Entry Conditions Form
  3. Make the initial payment for Preparatory or English program (if applicable), Initial payment for Academic fees, and payment of Overseas student health cover to the International Student Services Unit

The steps above need to be completed before an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) can be issued.  This document is required for the processing of your student visa.

Apply for a student visa

When you have received your COE you should submit this document along with other required documents online through the Department of Home Affairs website at www.homeaffairs.gov.au

Conditions will apply to your student visa.  Please see Australian Student Visa for additional information on your visa conditions.

How to defer, change or withdraw before commencement of studies

Deferring your offer

If you have accepted your LOO you must advise the International Student Services Unit in writing that you wish to defer your studies at least 14 days before the commencement of the Semester in which you were to study. You must submit a new application form for the new start date. You may be required to pay additional tuition fees if you are commencing studies in the next calendar year.

If you have not accepted your letter of offer you should complete a new application form for the new Semester of commencement.

Changing your course

If you have accepted your LOO you must advise the International Student Services Unit in writing that you wish to change programs before the end of the second week of studies in the Semester in which your studies commence.  You should submit a new application for the new program of study. Changing programs may result in you having to apply for your student visa again if the original COE has been processed.

If you have not accepted your original LOO please submit a new application form for the new program.

Withdrawing from studies before commencement of the program

If you decide to withdraw from your program before the commencement of classes you must advise the International Student Services Unit in writing 14 days before the commencement of the Semester of studies. If you do not withdraw from studies within this time, you will not meet with refund of tuition fees requirements.