Policies and Procedures

Policies and Procedures

Course Transfer Policy

BITC International College (BITC) is committed:

1. To communicate BITC’s Course Transfer Policy and Procedure to all students.
2. To process the ‘Request for Transfer’ only if:
   • The student submits a duly completed ‘Request for Transfer’ form with valid reason(s) and if the student is below 18 years of age, the parent or guardian’s approval for the transfer request will be required.
   • The student meets the admission requirements for the course he wants to transfer into.
   • There is available place in that course.
3. To perform Pre-course Counselling to student on the new course.
4. To brief the student on the implication of his/her Student’s Pass.
5. To complete the processing of ‘Request for Transfer’ within 4 weeks for locally developed courses and within 8 weeks for courses collaborated with external partner.

Course Withdrawal Policy

BITC is committed:

1. To communicate BITC’s Course Withdrawal Policy and Procedure to all students.
2. To process the ‘Request for Withdrawal’ only if the student submits a duly completed ‘Request for Withdrawal’ form with valid reason(s) and if the student is below 18 years of age, the parent or guardian’s approval for the withdrawal request will be required.
3. To brief the student on the implication of his/her Student’s Pass.
4. To ensure any refund entitlement (based on BITC’s Refund Policy) is calculated correctly. All qualified refunds shall be approved by the Executive Director, School of Higher Education, and completed within 7 working days.
5. BITC shall complete the withdrawal request within 4 weeks from the date of the withdrawal request.

Deferment Policy

BITC International College (BITC) is committed to:

1. Not accept any request for ‘Deferment of Course’. Any prospective student who had enrolled into a course offered by BITC but unable to start on the course commencement date is deemed to have withdrawn the enrollment.
2. Communicate BITC’s Deferment Policy and Procedure to all students.
3. Process the request for Deferment only if the student submits a duly completed ‘Deferment Request form’ with valid reason(s) and if the student is below 18 years of age, the parent or guardian’s approval for the deferment request will be required.
4. Communicate the maximum allowable duration of 12 months for deferment of modules.
5. Brief the student on the implication of his/her Student’s Pass.
6. Complete the processing of deferment request within 4 weeks for locally developed courses and within 8 weeks for courses collaborated with external partner.

Refund Policy

BITC International College (BITC) is committed to handle refund of course fees arising from the below situations in a timely manner:

1. Refund for withdrawal due to Non-delivery of Course

BITC will notify the student within three (3) working days upon the knowledge of any of the following (each a “Refund Event”):

• It cannot commence the provision of the Course on the Course Commencement Date;
• It cannot complete the provision of the course by the Course Completion Date;
• It terminated the Course before the Course Completion Date;
• The student does not meet the course entry or matriculation requirements as stated in Schedule A of the Student Contract.
• The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) rejects the Student’s application for the Student Pass.

Refund rules:

• For non-delivery (a–c): Refund all or pro-rated Course & Miscellaneous Fees within 7 working days.
• For (d–e): No refund, since no fees are paid until Student Pass approval.

2. Refund During Cooling-Off Period
BITC provides a 10-day cooling-off period from the date the Student Contract is signed. If the student withdraws within this period, all Course and Miscellaneous Fees are refunded within 7 working days.

3. Refund for Withdrawal Outside the Cooling-Off Period
Refunds follow the Refund Table in Schedule D of the Student Contract, based on when the withdrawal notice is received.

Dispute Resolution Policy

1. A dispute could arise from:
   • Unacceptable complaint resolution
   • Complaints unresolved after 21 working days
   • Appeals against suspension or expulsion
2. BITC is committed to resolve disputes via:
   • SSG/CPE Mediation-Arbitration Scheme
   • Small Claims Tribunal (≤S$20,000, or ≤S$30,000 if both parties consent)
   • Student’s own legal counsel

Disciplinary Policy

1. Abide by Singapore Laws and Student Code of Conduct

At BITC, students are expected to maintain and uphold the highest standards of integrity and honesty in line with respect of self, respect of others, and abide by the Singapore laws and the BITC’s Student Code of Conduct. 

2. Disciplinary Measures

The Disciplinary Policy sets out the disciplinary measures that BITC will take against the student when he/she had committed an offence. The disciplinary measures shall be implemented in the form of intervention measures (except, Expulsion/Termination of study) in the following order:

• 1^stCounselling
• 1^stWarning
• 2^ndWarning (Final Warning)
• Expulsion/Termination of Study

3. For Serious/Major Offence

The order of implementing disciplinary measures will be determined by the seriousness of the offence. Student may be subjected to the most serious disciplinary measure ‘Expulsion/Termination of Study’ for major offences but not limited to the following:

1. Breaking any Singapore law (e.g., theft, fighting, possession of dangerous weapons).
2. Illegal employment while holding a Student’s Pass.
3. Assault or acts of violence
4. Drug related offences
5. Sexual misconduct such as sexual assault, outrage of modesty and voyeuristic act
6. Bullying, harassment, or intimidation.
7. Non-compliance to Student Code of Conduct
8. Student’s Pass holders absent for more than seven (7) continuous days without approval.
9. Any other serious act of misconduct that threatens the safety, welfare, or reputation of the College community.

4.For Minor Offences

Student who had committed a minor offence shall be subjected to the disciplinary measures as mentioned under the disciplinary policy.

Examples of minor offences:

1. Failure to achieve minimum attendance rate
2. Late for attending lessons
3. Untidy dressing or inappropriate dressing
4. Any other behaviour that disrupts teaching, learning, or administrative activities, or that is deemed unprofessional

5. Effectiveness of Disciplinary Measures

BITC shall evaluate the effectiveness of disciplinary measures in January of each year for the previous year.

Student Attendance Policy

1. Attendance Requirements

• Local Students

• Students are required to maintain a minimum of 75% attendance per month. This is the course attendance requirement and also serves as the eligibility criterion for the respective module assessment.

• International Students (Student’s Pass Holders)

1. • Students holding a Student’s Pass must maintain a minimum of 90% attendance per month, as required by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Attendance is monitored on a cumulative basis.

• Any Student’s Pass Holder whose attendance falls below 90% will be subject to disciplinary action.

Students who are absent for 7 or more consecutive days without valid reason shall have their Student’s Pass cancelled as per ICA regulations.

2. Attendance Requirement to Qualify for Assessment

All students must attain a minimum of 75% attendance in each respective module in order to qualify for its assessment. Failure to meet this requirement will result in ineligibility for the assessment, and the module will be considered failed. Students who fail on this basis will be required to re-module.

3. Intervention Measures

Students who do not meet the stipulated attendance requirements will be subject to the College’s intervention and disciplinary measures.

4. Evaluation

BITC shall evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention measures in January of each year for the previous year.

Ethical Behaviour Policy

1. Interact with others professionally, with integrity and respect regardless of background.
2. Deal honestly, address inappropriate behaviour, avoid fraud or deception.
3. Abide by Singapore laws.
4. Respect confidentiality and safeguard personal information within legal/policy limits.
5. Pursue continual improvement, feedback, and best practices for college processes.