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Dozens waiting for refunds from English language schools
🇮🇪 Ireland /Economy & Trade

Dozens waiting for refunds from English language schools

From RTÉ News · (1d ago) English Critical tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Dozens of students from developing countries are owed significant sums by Irish English language schools after visa refusals.
  • These students paid provisional course fees upfront, which schools are obliged to refund within 20 working days if visas are denied.
  • The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) is aware of 30 cases involving 10 schools, with one student waiting 10 months for a €2,810 refund.

A concerning number of young people from developing nations are facing financial hardship due to English language schools in Ireland failing to return provisional course fees after visa applications were refused. The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) has highlighted at least 30 cases, involving 10 different schools, where prospective students are struggling to recoup substantial sums of money. This situation is particularly distressing as students from non-EEA countries are required to pay course fees in advance to secure an Irish study visa.

Dozens of young people in developing countries have been left out of pocket because English language schools operating here have not returned significant sums of money owed to them.

— RTÉ NewsIntroducing the core issue of unpaid refunds to international students.

The regulations clearly stipulate that these colleges must hold such provisional fees in a ring-fenced escrow account and refund them within 20 working days of a visa application being unsuccessful. However, RTÉ News has spoken to Lorena Prasca Ramirez from Colombia, an architect by profession, who has been attempting to get a €2,810 refund for a 25-week course since February 2025. Despite repeated attempts to contact NED College, she has faced significant delays and a lack of response, leaving her feeling "sad and worried" and "deceived."

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) has said it is aware of 30 cases, involving 10 schools, where prospective students whose visa applications were refused are struggling to recoup provisional course fees they paid.

— RTÉ NewsProviding statistics on the scale of the problem.

ICOS reports that approximately €60,000 is owed to other students from countries such as Senegal, Cambodia, Cameroon, Morocco, and Myanmar. Brian Hearne of ICOS expressed deep concern over the "exceptional number of students" contacting them since the start of 2026, waiting for their refunds. The Department of Justice has recently reminded English language colleges of their obligations, acknowledging an increase in such requests and the worry experienced by students facing these delays. While Ms. Prasca Ramirez has finally received news that her refund is on its way, the broader issue of delayed or withheld refunds continues to affect numerous international students seeking educational opportunities in Ireland.

People from non-EEA countries are obliged to pay course fees upfront before they can apply for an Irish study visa.

— RTÉ NewsExplaining the financial requirement for international students.
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Originally published by RTÉ News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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