Refund Policy
What is refundable, what is not, and who controls each payment in your study-abroad journey.
1. UK Visa & Government Fees
| Payment | Amount (2026) | Refundable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Visa application fee | £490 | Non-refundable | Paid to UKVI. Kept whether visa granted or refused. |
| Priority Service | £500 | Non-refundable | Same — UKVI keeps it. |
| Super Priority Service | £1,000 | Non-refundable | Same — UKVI keeps it. |
| IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) | £776 × years | Refundable | UKVI auto-refunds ~10 weeks after visa refusal or withdrawal. Refund goes to the original payment card. |
| Biometric enrolment (VFS/TLS) | £100–£200 approx | Non-refundable | Paid to VFS/TLS at appointment. |
2. University Deposits & Application Fees
| Payment | Typical Amount | Refundable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £0 – £27.50 (UCAS) | Non-refundable | Paid to university/UCAS at application time. |
| CAS deposit (UK) | £1,000 – £5,000 | Partial | Refund policy varies by university. Most refund the CAS deposit minus £500–£1,000 admin fee if visa is refused with genuine reason. Deposit is usually not refunded if you simply change your mind or defer. Ask your counsellor for the exact policy of your university before paying. |
| Tuition fee (Semester 1) | Varies | Partial | Usually refunded (minus deposit portion) if visa refused. Not refunded if you cancel after arrival. |
3. Insurance & Accommodation
| Payment | Refundable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| OSHC (Australia) | Pro-rata | Refunded pro-rata by the OSHC insurer if visa refused or study period shortened, subject to that insurer's terms. |
| Travel insurance | Depends | Refundable within cool-off period (usually 14 days); after that, follows insurer T&Cs. |
| Accommodation booking deposit | Depends | Follows the provider's own cancellation policy. Booking is directly between you and the provider — Nexthara does not process the refund. |
4. Forex
| Payment | Refundable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forex booking margin | Non-refundable | Once forex is booked at a rate, the spread and processing fee are gone. The base foreign currency amount is refunded at the then-prevailing rate, which may be lower than what you paid. |
| Bank TT / SWIFT fee | Non-refundable | Bank keeps the transaction fee (~₹500–₹2,000). |
5. Language Tests
IELTS, PTE, TOEFL, OET, Duolingo — all non-refundable once you have appeared for the test. Test-cancellation-with-refund windows vary by provider (usually 3–5 weeks before test date).
6. Nexthara's Own Service
Nexthara charges you no service fee. There is nothing to refund from Nexthara because there was no charge to you in the first place. Our revenue comes from commissions paid by universities and lenders on successful outcomes.
7. Refund Timelines
- IHS refund by UKVI: ~10 weeks from visa refusal / withdrawal.
- University tuition/CAS refund: 4–12 weeks, university-dependent.
- OSHC pro-rata refund: 2–4 weeks.
- Forex refund: 1–3 working days at the current rate.
This policy summary is a reference only. Figures shown (visa fees, IHS, typical deposit ranges) are indicative and may change at any time — always verify the current amount and refund terms directly with the paying institution before making a payment. In case of any conflict, the individual provider's own written terms (UKVI / university / insurer / forex bank / accommodation platform) prevail over this summary. Nexthara is not a party to any refund transaction and does not warrant or guarantee any refund. This document is versioned; the current version is v1.0 dated 14 July 2026. For queries: hello@nexthara.in.