Die The General Terms and Conditions are valid for every course registration.
Valid from: September 2024
1 – Registration | Vouchers
You are welcome to register for our courses if you have reached the age of 16. For the SeniorenUni, the minimum age is 58 years. If you register for one of our courses, you are obliged to pay the course fee. Your registration will be considered valid from the date of receipt.
Registration is no longer possible after the start of the course. Language courses and basic education courses (Grundbildung) are exceptions. In these courses a later start is usually possible, provided there are free places.
If you wish to pay with vouchers, please send them together with your registration. Vouchers sent in at a later date will not be accepted.
2 – Courses | Confirmation of your registration
If you register via our website, you will receive a confirmation of receipt by e-mail. If you register for a course by phone or in writing, you will not receive a confirmation of receipt.
However, all registrations are binding, regardless of the manner of registration.
As soon as the minimum number of participants has been reached, you will receive the invoice (usually by e-mail). This is also confirmation that the course will definitely take place. However, if the minimum number of participants is not reached, we reserve the right to cancel the course. In this case you will be informed in writing at least five working days before the start of the course. If you have not received written notification from us at least five days before the start of the course, please contact our office directly.
If the course, for any reason cannot take place in the classroom, we reserve the right to run the course online subject to the same conditions.
3 – Cancellation of registration
Cancellations of registration within the deadline: Course withdrawals must be made in writing and reach the office no later than one week (7 calendar days) before the course begins. The date of receipt is the deciding factor. In this case, you have to pay a cancellation charge of CHF 30.–. In case the course fee is lower than the cancellation charge, only the lower course fee is due. If the withdrawal is made because you change to a different course with a course fee that is equally high or higher, you do not need to pay a cancellation charge.
Cancellations of registration after the deadline: Withdrawals after the deadline will be charged in full. In the case of a certified illness, (medical certificate), only the cancellation charge and the fees for the attended lessons will have to be paid. If you withdraw your registration due to a certified illness and change to a different course with a course fee that is equally high or higher, you do not need to pay a cancellation charge.
Verbal withdrawals to the teacher or failure to pay course fees will not be accepted as cancellations.
4 –Language Course
Change of Course in the Languages: For the language courses, it is possible to change to a different level of the same language within the first two weeks of the semester only. If you join at a later date, you cannot change courses.
Later start: It is possible to join a language course that has already started, provided there are free places. If you join within the first three weeks, the full course fee is due. If you join in week 4 or later, the course fee is reduced pro rata and you pay an additional administrative charge of CHF 30.
Group size and Duration of your Language Course: Our language courses are held from 5 to 12 participants. The duration of a single class depends on the number of participants in your group:
5–7 participants: 75 minutes
8–12 participants: 90 minutes
If, after the first two weeks, the number of participants remains at 3-4, you will be sent a special offer for the so-called “small group course”. This must be accepted by all the participants in order for the course to continue.
5 – Course Fees | Missed lessons
Our course prices are indicated in the course programme for each individual course. Missed course hours do not entitle you to a course fee deduction. You also cannot make up for missed lessons.
6 – Payment | Payment Period
Unless otherwise indicated, you will receive the invoice by e-mail with a payment period of 30 days. For payment of the invoice, the reference number on the payment slip must be indicated. Please note that in the case of a delay in payment, a reminder fee of CHF 30.– will be charged in the event of a 2nd reminder.
7 – Reduction of Course Fees
If you are a student, a trainee or have a Caritas KulturLegi, you can apply for a reduction of between 15% and 50% of the course fee.
Enclose a copy of your appropriate ID card with your course registration. We regret that we are unable to consider documents and identity cards submitted at a later date.
Course fee reductions are valid for one semester only - please note that you must do this every semester.
8 – Admittance/ Course ID card
You fill find your course ID on the invoice you get by e-mail. It grants you access to the respective course. Please bring a printed or digital copy of the invoice or course ID card to the course and present it on request. For the language courses, the invoice serves as the course ID and is personal and non-transferable.
9 – Insurance
Insurance is a matter of the individual course participant. The VHSBB accepts no responsibility for accident, injury or losses.
10 – Recognition as further vocational training
You can have Volkshochschule courses recognized as further training. On request we are happy to issue you with a course confirmation.
11 – Contracting Party
You as a private person are the contractual partner of the Volkshochschule beider Basel. This also applies if your employer pays for the course.
