detail of stained glass window in Bishopsgate Institute

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Courses for Adults

  1. How do I enrol for a course?
  2. What if my chosen course is full?
  3. Do you offer concessions on course fees?
  4. I am having problems with enrolling online. Who should I contact?
  5. Are all your courses held at Bishopsgate Institute itself?
  6. How do I know which level of course to enrol on?
  7. Do I pay a pro-rata rate if I enrol late for a course?
  8. I can't attend my class this week. Can I attend a class on another night to make up for it?
  9. Am I able to get a refund if I am unable to attend my course?
  10. Are there courses starting mid-way through the term?
  11. When does the next prospectus come out?
  12. How can I enrol more than one person on the same course?
  13. Can I buy a gift voucher for a course to give to a friend as a present?
  14. What should I wear to my dance or exercise class?

1. How do I enrol for a course?

Please see the How to enrol page

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2. What if my chosen course is full?

If your course of choice is full then do not submit an enrolment form as we will be unable to process it. Please choose another course or contact the Courses team and ask to join the course waiting list. We will need your full name, email and a contact phone number and will contact you if a place becomes available or a new course is opened.

If you submit an enrolment for a full course then we will contact you. You will be offered the chance to join the course waiting list or to pick another course.

Waiting lists are not transferred onto the next term so places will not be reserved on future courses for those on the waiting list. A new enrolment form will need to be submitted if you are interested in joining a course the following term. 

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3. Do you offer concessions on course fees?

Yes, concessionary rates (25% discount) are available for the following groups:
  • ES40 holders
  • Full-time students of UK Institutions
  • People in receipt of Disability Living Allowance
  • Senior Citizens
We regret that enrolment at concessionary rates can only be made online by Senior Citizens who have already submitted their concessionary id.

For all other concessions, please enrol at Reception or by post with the necessary documents. 
 
You may also be eligible for a free place on a course through our bursary programme. We provide a number of full-fee bursaries to people who find it hard to pay for the full or concessionary rates.

To apply for a bursary place, you will need to complete a short application form and return it with an enrolment form. For further information on bursaries please phone 020 7392 9200 and ask to speak to Scott Wood or email the Courses team with your contact details.
 
Please note that free places are not available for self development courses and Unravelling Modern and Contemporary Art.  The free place on the course of your choice will be subject to availability.

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4. I am having problems with enrolling online. Who should I contact?

If you have any problems with your online enrolment, email us or phone 020 7392 9200 and ask to speak to the Courses Officer.

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5. Are all your courses held at Bishopsgate Institute itself?

All courses except our walking courses, Sketch in the City, Unravelling Modern Art and Photographing London are usually held at our building at 230 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4QH.


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6. How do I know which level of course to enrol on?

Please see the courses available page for level guides.

For further advice on language levels please see our individual language Course Outlines or you can complete a language level assessment. This self-assessment test will help you determine which level to enrol on. You can also attend one of our regular Languages Open Evening, where experienced tutors (French, German, Italian, and Spanish) will help you decide which level is most suitable for you. For additional help or information on contact the Language Courses Manager.


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7. Do I pay a pro-rata rate if I enrol late for a course?

We are unable to offer pro-rata rates so you will need to pay the full course fee whenever you enrol for a course. We are usually only able to accept enrolments up to the third week of a course.

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8. I can't attend my class this week. Can I attend a class on another night to make up for it?

No, unfortunately swapping between courses is not possible. This is both for health and safety reasons and because it would be impossible for us to accommodate every student who made this request.

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9. Am I able to get a refund if I am unable to attend my course?

You may request a refund or transfer if it is within seven days of enrolment, providing your course has not started within that period. After this period, no transfers or refunds will be given. No refund or transfer will be given once a course has started.
 
All refund and transfer requests must be received in writing. Please write to the Courses Officer, Bishopsgate Institute, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH or email the Courses Officer. Refunds and transfers may be subject to an administration fee of 10% of the cost of the course. Transfers are subject to availability and fee adjustments. We are unable to offer refunds to students who for whatever reason cannot attend the whole course.

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10. Are there courses starting mid-way through the term?

Yes, many of our Leisure, Performing Arts, Body and Exercise courses start mid-way through the term. Visit the courses search page to see what's available.

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11. When does the next prospectus come out?

Our Courses for Adults prospectuses are due to come out on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 14 July (for the Autumn 2010 term starting Monday 13 September)
  • Wednesday 17 November (for the Spring 2011 term starting Monday 10 January)

Enrolment opens on the same day that the new prospectus is available. 


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12. How can I enrol more than one person on the same course?

We need to have the details for all individual students who enrol on a course. You may complete an enrolment form for a friend but must include their details on the form.

However, if you're enrolling on-line you will need to register each person enrolling - you are unable to enrol two people through the same log-in account. 

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13. Can I buy a gift voucher for a course to give to a friend as a present?

We have gift vouchers available for our courses. Unfortunately these cannot be purchased on-line but are available at our Reception.

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14. What should I wear to my dance or exercise class?

Details of what to wear for each course can be found here.

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