Policies & Regulations

Student Regulations, Rights & Responsibilities

Students and academic staff together form a small academic community, similar to a wider society. For this community to function effectively, clear rules, organisation, and respect for rights and responsibilities are essential. Casa College operates under internal regulations designed to ensure fairness, academic integrity, and a supportive learning environment for all students.

General Information & Regulations

Admission Criteria

Casa College follows a non-discrimination admissions policy and actively promotes diversity and multiculturalism. The College welcomes students from different backgrounds, cultures, and educational systems to create a truly global learning environment.

Admission decisions are based primarily on:

  • High school academic records
  • Proof of English Language Proficiency
  • Academic qualifications
  • Educational goals of the applicant

Re-Registration

Students wishing to re-register must:

  • Read the Re-Registration Process and complete the Re-Registration Form
  • Contact the Head Registrar to confirm attendance, academic performance, and disciplinary record
  • Settle tuition and any outstanding fees at the Office of Finance
  • Apply for a Pink Card (where applicable) through the Migration Officer
  • Apply for a European Youth Card (where applicable)

Academic Year & Registration Periods

The academic year is divided into three semesters:

  • Fall Semester: October – January
  • Spring Semester: February – May
  • Summer Semester: June – September (for new students only)

Exact dates are published annually in the Academic Calendar.

Registration periods:

  • Fall Semester: September
  • Spring Semester: January
  • Summer Semester: May–June

Re-registration deadlines:

  • Fall Semester: 31 August
  • Spring Semester: 31 January

Casa College reserves the right to refuse programme or module changes for academic or administrative reasons.

Late Registration

Students who register after the official deadline:

  • May not be guaranteed a place in their chosen classes
  • Will be charged a late registration fee
  • Are not entitled to make-up tests or assignments

Once registration is completed, changes to modules or programmes are not permitted.

Transfers Between Programmes & Credit Recognition

Students may transfer to another programme before the start of a new semester or academic year, subject to approval. Required steps include:

Approval is granted by the Academic Director, Course Coordinator, Ministry of Education, and Migration Officer.

Transfer of Credits from Other Institutions

Students wishing to transfer credits (ECTS) from another institution to Casa College must complete the form Transfer Credit Evaluation and submit:

  • An official transcript
  • Programme syllabi

Credits are evaluated by the Academic Director and Course Coordinator. Transferred credits may not exceed 50% of the total programme credits.

Withdrawal from Modules

Students may withdraw from one or more modules after the add/drop period:

  • No academic penalty applies
  • Tuition fees are not refundable
  • Any outstanding fees remain payable

Withdrawal requires submission of the form Withdrawal

Promotion, Re-Examinations & Graduation

  • A minimum 50/100 is required to pass each subject
  • Students who fail:
  • Fall Semester → Re-examination in February
  • Spring Semester → Re-examination in September

Re-examinations cover the full subject syllabus. Students who fail re-examinations may repeat the subject in the following semester.

  • Students who think they deserve a different grade for a particular module, or
  • wish for their exam paper to be reviewed, or
  • are unhappy with the grade they received for a particular module, or
  • believe that an error has occurred in the grading process, or
  • wish to dispute their semester grades in accordance with the College’s academic regulations, or
  • believes that the final grade awarded was unfair due to discrimination, unjust treatment, etc, or
  • experienced exceptional circumstances that may have adversely affected academic performance (serious short-term illness or injury, a flare-up of a diagnosed and ongoing illness or disability, including a mental health condition, symptoms of an infectious disease that could pose a risk to others, death or serious illness of a close family member, witnessing or experiencing a traumatic incident) can complete and submit the form Re-Evaluation within one week after the announcement of the exam results.

The College cannot consider a Re-Evaluation without appropriate supporting evidence.

Acceptable evidence includes, but is not limited to:

  • a medical certificate or doctor’s letter,
  • a hospital appointment or discharge letter,
  • an official statement from a Student Advisor or Disability Advisor within the Student Affairs Department,
  • a death certificate or an official document confirming the death.

Progression Policy

1. Introduction

This Policy outlines the requirements for students to achieve satisfactory academic progress in order to complete their programme of study in accordance with the award requirements set out in the Internal Regulations and Prospectus of Casa College.

The Progression Policy provides a framework for identifying students who are not meeting programme requirements and for implementing timely interventions to support re-engagement. Lack of progression may arise from academic, personal, or financial circumstances; however, early identification and appropriate support can enable at-risk students to successfully continue and complete their studies.

Students who fail to engage with their studies within the first six (6) weeks of a semester will receive an Academic Probation Letter and will be placed on Academic Probation for that semester due to unsatisfactory academic performance. Such students are strongly encouraged to seek academic guidance from the Director of Academic Studies to support progression. In cases of complete non-engagement, students may be withdrawn from their programme of study.

2. Principles

a. Student Responsibility
Students are responsible for maintaining satisfactory academic progress and for complying with all programme and award requirements, including completing their studies within the maximum permitted duration (8–12 semesters, depending on the programme).

b. College Responsibility
The College is responsible for monitoring academic progression and identifying students who are failing, at risk of failing, or unable to meet progression requirements.

c. Engagement as a Key Factor
Student progression is primarily determined by engagement with the programme of study, including but not limited to:

  • Attendance at scheduled classes
  • Participation in in-class and independent learning activities
  • Timely submission of coursework and assignments
  • Use of library and learning resources
  • Participation and performance in mid-term and final examinations

Failure to engage through the above mechanisms places students at risk of academic underachievement, failure, and possible termination of studies.

e. Academic Support
The College is committed to supporting students in meeting progression requirements through available academic and support services, including:

  • Academic Mentoring
  • Teaching Assistants (Peer Tutoring)
  • Library and Learning Services
  • Student Affairs Services

f. Academic Criteria
All progression decisions are based solely on academic criteria.

g. Fairness and Transparency
The College applies this Policy in accordance with principles of procedural fairness, ensuring decisions are equitable, consistent, transparent, respectful of confidentiality and privacy (GDPR-compliant), and made in a timely manner.

3. Monitoring and Data Sources

Academic progression is monitored using multiple data sources, including:

  • Attendance monitoring systems (CaCoMA)
  • Moodle platform data on student engagement and activity
  • Formative assessment records stored on Moodle
  • Mid-term and final examination results
  • Library usage data provided by EBSCO Information Services, collected twice per academic year (once per semester, prior to Week 6)

4. Responsibilities

a. Lecturers and Academic Mentors
From Weeks 4–5 of the semester, lecturers and academic mentors are responsible for identifying students with poor academic performance or engagement, initiating communication, and arranging individual meetings where necessary.

b. Programme Coordinator
The Programme Coordinator, in collaboration with lecturers, oversees student engagement and progression and reports at-risk cases to the Academic Committee via the Director of Academic Studies.

c. Students
Students are responsible for actively engaging with their programme of study, responding to communications issued under this Policy, attending required meetings, and informing the College of any circumstances that may affect progression. In cases of extenuating circumstances, students must submit appropriate and verifiable supporting evidence.

d. Student Affairs Department
The Student Affairs Department provides relevant input into progression decisions where appropriate and permitted under confidentiality and GDPR (e.g. ACCESS registration, financial assistance applications, or academic advising records).

Financial Policies & Regulations

  • Tuition fees must be paid before classes begin
  • Non-EU students must pay full first-year tuition before arriving in Cyprus
  • The College reserves the right to suspend, terminate, or refuse entry into examinations if a student has outstanding balances

Termination

Termination Appeal

A Termination Appeal is a formal process that allows a student who has been academically dismissed or whose studies have been terminated to request a review of that decision. Academic termination may occur when a student fails to meet the College’s academic requirements, including satisfactory academic progress and engagement in academic activities.

Through the Termination Appeal process, students are given the opportunity to present valid and well-documented reasons explaining why they should be permitted to continue their studies despite the circumstances that led to the termination.

Students wishing to appeal the termination of their studies must submit a completed Termination Appeal form within seven (7) days of receiving the Termination of Study Letter from the Director of Academic Studies.

Refund Policy

The refund of Tuition Fees for students who decide to withdraw or suspend their application and/or studies shall be processed in accordance with the following criteria:

  • If the student’s documents have not been submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Migration Department of Cyprus for approval, 90% of the tuition fees already paid will be refunded.
  • If the student’s documents have been submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Migration Department of Cyprus for approval, 50% of the tuition fees already paid will be refunded.
  • If a student has been granted a visa, but decides to withdraw for any reason, there will be no refund of tuition fees.
  • If the Migration Department refuses to issue a visa on the grounds that the student’s documents are not authentic, there will be no refund of tuition fees.
  • If a student gets expelled, suspended or withdraws from his/her studies, there will be no refund of tuition fees.
  • If a student requests to transfer to another institution, regardless of the time at which the request is submitted there will be no refund of tuition fees.
  • In the event of Force Majeure occurring after the student’s documents have been submitted to the Ministry of Education and the Migration Department of Cyprus or after a visa has been issued, no tuition fees shall be refunded. In such cases, the student will be required to resume the application process or commence/continue their studies as soon as circumstances permit.

Application, registration fees and other bank charges are non-refundable. The date on which the student submits his/her written application to the College is considered the day of the student’s decision not to accept the position offered to him/her or to end his/her studies and request a refund of the tuition fees.

Visa Guarantee Refund Policy

In order to claim the Visa Guarantee a student must request it no later than 30 days after the expiration on his/her registration letter. If a student decides to withdraw or terminate his/her studies before the expiration of his/her registration, then (s)he must request the refund of the Visa Guarantee within 30 days. The Visa Guarantee shall NOT be refunded if:

  • The student does not request it within 30 days from withdrawing/terminating their studies
  • The student does not request it within 30 days of expiration of their registration
  • The student loses his/her student status for any reason
  • The student is suspended by the College and/or the Migration Department
  • The student remains in Cyprus illegally after graduation without obtaining any other form of visa
  • The student leaves Cyprus without informing the College of his/her intent to withdraw/terminate from his/her studies
  • The student applies for political asylum
  • The student marries a European Union national
  • The student does not provide evidence that (s)he has left Cyprus legally and completed all College procedures
  • The student does not graduate within the n+2 years set by the Ministry of Education of Cyprus (where n equals the duration of the programme in years)

Attendance Policy

Attendance of at least 70% is mandatory by the Ministry of Education, Sports, Youth & Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and is continuously monitored. Absences are classified as excused or unexcused

  • Medical absences require a doctor’s note
  • Students exceeding 30% unexcused absences:
  • Cannot sit the final exam
  • May sit the re-take exam

Evidence supporting absences must be submitted to the Director of Academic Studies within five days of return to lectures.

Complaints & Student Support

Students may submit complaints individually or collectively. Complaints concerning lecturers must be submitted through the Director of Academic Studies, who will investigate and forward them appropriately.

Academic & Personal Support

Students may seek assistance from:

  • Academic Mentors
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Counsellors
  • Director of Student Affairs
  • Lecturers they trust

Cheating & Plagiarism

Cheating or plagiarism is considered a serious disciplinary offence.

Penalties include:

  • Immediate termination of the examination
  • Award of a mark of 1

Repeated offences may lead to further disciplinary action by the Disciplinary Committee.

Student Rights & Obligations

  • Freedom of Expression: Students have the right to express opinions respectfully, without harming others or promoting hatred, discrimination, or political extremism.
  • Freedom of Thought & Religion: The College respects freedom of belief and conscience, subject to laws protecting public order, health, and the rights of others.
  • Rights as European Citizens: Students are entitled to rights outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including:
    • Personal development
    • Education and cultural participation
    • Health and social protection
    • Special protection for vulnerable groups
  • Right to Privacy: Students have the right to privacy and protection of personal dignity, reputation, and correspondence.
  • Protection & Welfare: The College takes all necessary measures to protect students from violence, exploitation, abuse, or neglect.
  • Student Council Participation: Students have the right to vote and stand for election in the Student Council.

Casa College reserves the right not to offer a programme or module if enrolment numbers are insufficient.