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Terms of purchase

1. These terms

1.1 What these terms cover. These are the terms and conditions (together with the website terms of use) which apply to all our courses for individuals and for business customers.

1.2 Why you should read them. Please read these terms carefully before you submit your booking to us. These terms tell you who we are, how we will provide training courses to you, how you and we may change or end the contract, what to do if there is a problem and other important information.

2. Information about us and how to contact us

2.1 Who we are. We are The Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge (the University of Cambridge). Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a Department of the University of Cambridge, is delivering the online courses referred to in these terms and conditions. Our principal place of business is at Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 8EA. Our registered VAT number is 823847609. The University of Cambridge Online is a trading name of the University of Cambridge.

2.2 How to contact us. You can contact us by telephoning our customer service team on +44 1223 609985 or email us at uoc.online.customerservice@cambridge.org or the address above.

2.3 "Writing" includes emails. When we use the words "writing" or "written" in these terms, this includes emails.

3. Our contract with you

3.1 How we will accept your application. Your application using the online booking form or via contacting customer services (Booking Form), whether for individual bookings, group bookings or bookings by your employer, is an offer to us to enter into a binding contract with us to purchase a place on a course (the Course). We are free to accept or decline your application at our absolute discretion. Your offer is accepted when we provide written confirmation that we have received your payment or have invoiced your employer in accordance with paragraph 15.5 of these terms. When you receive the confirmation, a contract will come into existence between you and us (the Contract). The Contract will continue until you complete the Course or your access to the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) expires (whichever is later), or the Contract is cancelled in accordance with these terms. Our courses are not generally aimed at under 18s unless otherwise advertised. If you are under 18, please ensure that you have the consent of your parent(s) or guardian(s) to undertake a Course designed for your age group.

3.2 The Contract will be subject to these terms and the Booking Form. You must check the details in these terms, the specification for the Course (Course Specification) and the Booking Form to ensure they are complete and accurate. If there is a mistake or missing information in the terms or the Booking Form, you must notify us and ask us to confirm any agreed changes in writing before you submit your application.

3.3 We do not sell courses for purchase by children. You may only apply for Courses on our website if you are over 18 years old whether for yourself or for another person. We cannot accept applications from those aged under 18. In buying a Course you must adhere to the age group that it is advertised for and gain any required consents for you, or the recipient of a gift booking, as set out in paragraph 3.1 above.

3.4 We do not sell courses for purchase to certain countries. We do not represent that content available on or through our site is appropriate for use or available in all locations. Access to our websites is permitted on a temporary and as is basis.

4. Limits on Courses and Late Applications

4.1 We may limit the number of places available on a Course. We may limit the numbers of participants that may enrol on a Course, and any such limits will be detailed on the Course Specification.

4.2 Applications submitted within 14 working days of the Course commencing. If you submit your application for the Course within 14 working days of the Course commencing, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accept your Booking Form.

5. Your Obligations

5.1 You agree to:

(a) Comply with the specific requirements (if any) for any Course as listed in the Course Specification;

(b) attend classes for the Course and access the VLE regularly;

(c) ensure that the course specification meets your requirements and abilities including a level of spoken and written English sufficient to allow you to participate and succeed in the Course (we recommend that you have an English Language level equivalent to an IELTS score of 7 to understand and participate in the Course);

(d) Login to the VLE as close as possible to the course start date;

(e) conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner and refrain from causing offence or nuisance to us, our staff or other students;

(f) provide the equipment and materials that we advise you to use on the website or in the Course information required for the Course; and

(g) not provide access to, or share login details or content of the Courses with any third parties; and

(h) ensure that any details with which you supply to us through the registration process are accurate and you will let us know promptly if any of the details about you change.

5.2 You will be required to comply with the obligations of this paragraph 5, and these terms and conditions will continue to apply to you even if you did not pay for a Course yourself.

6. Providing the Services

6.1 How we will provide the services. The Course is provided via on online virtual learning environment (VLE). We will use our reasonable endeavours to ensure that the services that we will provide in relation to the Course (the Services) meet the description set out on the Course Specification as at your application date in all material respects.

6.2 We may make material changes to the Services and/or the Course. We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any changes are kept to a minimum, but if we need to make any material changes to its Services or the Course (as determined by us), we will bring the material changes to your attention as soon as reasonably practicable. We may make changes to the Services and/or the Course or take any steps if:

(a) supply of the Services/Course is delayed by an event outside our control;

(b) We need to ensure that we comply with changes in the relevant laws and regulatory requirements, or government rules/guidance;

(c) Such changes do not materially affect the nature or quality of the Services, such as updating Course content to ensure we deliver up-to-date content or updating materials to address technical problems or make technical changes;

6.3 We may make other changes to the Services and/or Courses: The dates and modes for the delivery of the Services and the tutors and lecturers providing the Services may be subject to change from time to time where it is reasonable for us to do so and where the changes do not impact upon delivery of your learning outcomes. We will notify you of any such changes as soon as reasonably practicable and will use our reasonable endeavours to limit and reduce any possible disruption to the Services. Any such changes may occur for example:

(a) due to events outside our control;

(b) due to facilities and/or staff shortages;

(c) in response to regulatory changes; and

(d) in order to improve the content and/or delivery of the Services.

6.4 What will happen if you do not give the required information to us. We may need certain information from you so that we can supply the Services to you, for example, your credit card details, your address, postcode, your first and last name, and your e-mail address. If so, this will have been stated in the Booking Form. We will request you to enter the information as part of your application. If you do not give us this information within a reasonable time of us asking for it, or if you give us incomplete or incorrect information, we may either end the Contract and/or make an additional charge of a reasonable sum to compensate us for any extra work that is required as a result. We will not be responsible for not supplying any part of the Course if this is caused by you not giving us the information we need within a reasonable time of us asking for it.

7. Postponement of Live Sessions

7.1 If a live session is postponed for reasons for which we are responsible, including staff illness, we will make every reasonable effort to reschedule the live session or to add the missed hours on to the remaining Course classes.

7.2 In these circumstances we apologise for any inconvenience caused and you are encouraged to contact uoc.online@cambridge.org if you have any concerns.

8. Non-Attendance

8.1 Non-attendance at classes due to reasons other than our default does not entitle you to refunds or extra tuition.

8.2 In the event that you are unable to attend a class via the VLE, we shall, subject to paragraph 10.2, use reasonable efforts to provide you with access to an archived recording of the class.

9. Certificates

9.1 On successful completion of the Course, a digital certificate of achievement will be issued to you by email in the name specified in your Booking Form provided you have completed all Course assignments within the dates specified in the Course, achieved the necessary passing grade, met any other criteria specified in the Course Specification, and all Fees due have been paid.

9.2 As expressly stated on the website, we will only issue certificates of achievement and not certificates of attainment of a particular grade, qualification or standard (except that a certificate of achievement with distinction may be awarded where advertised for a particular Course and only in the context of the achievement of Course completion). Certificates of achievement do not constitute a degree or other qualification from the University of Cambridge.

10. End User Licence Agreement – Delivery

10.1 Courses will be delivered using the VLE. We will provide you with information on how to access the VLE prior to the commencement of the Course. You may only use the content on the VLE for your own personal learning and you are not permitted to adapt or use it for any other purpose other than for your own learning of the Course.

10.2 Unless otherwise stated, access to a Course will remain in place for a maximum of 4 weeks after the Course comes to an end at which point you will no longer have access to it or the VLE.

10.3 The Course content has been created by tutors who are predominantly based in the United Kingdom and as such caters to the environment and culture in the United Kingdom. Whilst it is not their intention, it is possible that such Course content may cause offence to cultural or religious sensitivities.

10.4 You agree to:

(a) use computing equipment which meets the minimum requirements for hardware, software and internet bandwidth as listed at https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Basics-Guide/What-are-the-browser-and-computer-requirements-for-Canvas/ta-p/66(Opens in a new window); and

(b) ensure you have the right equipment and materials as prescribed in the Course Specification;

(c) comply with the Learner Declarations made at the time of submitting your Booking Form.

10.5 The cost of any equipment and internet access are not included in the Fees and will be your own responsibility.

10.6 It is your responsibility to check that any materials and equipment, or other devices you intend to use for the purposes of undertaking the Course are compatible with the Course Specification.

10.7 Failure to comply with paragraph 10.4 may limit your progress on the Course. Progression and successful completion of the Course is conditional upon satisfactory completion of any assignments, and achieving the necessary passing grade. If you fail to complete assignments on time without good reason, or without our permission, we may consider that you have deemed to have withdrawn from, or be required to leave the Course.

10.8 If there are problems with your connection to the VLE which disrupts other students who are enrolled on the Course, we reserve the right to remove you from the Course until you have been able to resolve the issue.

10.9 We will use reasonable endeavours to make a Course available but cannot guarantee uninterrupted, timely or error-free availability or that defects will be corrected. We reserve the right to suspend access to the VLE and Course for the purpose of scheduled or emergency maintenance, repairs or upgrades to improve the performance or functionality of the VLE. We will use reasonable endeavours to give you reasonable notice in the event of any suspension or withdrawal of the VLE of which we are aware. If we have complied with the provisions of this paragraph 10.9, we will not be held responsible for any technical problems you encounter following the purchase of a Course, and we accept no liability to the extent there are errors, defects, interruptions and periods of suspension relating to the VLE.

10.10 You should always keep separate copies of work you upload onto the VLE. To the extent permitted by law, we accept no liability whatsoever for loss, destruction or corruption of or to data or content uploaded onto the VLE.

11. Content, Access, Sharing and Reproduction of Course Content

11.1 Without prejudice to paragraph 11.3 , you will not record, reproduce, download, modify, re-publish, sub-license, sell, share, broadcast, transmit, make available, disseminate or distribute in any way any of the content provided to you as a part of the Course.

11.2 Without prejudice to paragraph 11.4, you will not record, reproduce, download, modify, re-publish, sub-license, sell, share, broadcast, transmit, make available, disseminate or distribute in any way any content created or uploaded by other students as available on the VLE.

11.3 You may download and use Course materials where available, for your own personal, non-commercial use only.

11.4 Due to the interactive nature of the Courses, at times it may be appropriate for you and other students to reproduce, download, modify, adapt and/or re-publish other students' material uploaded onto the VLE in relation to the Course and you agree that other students may do this in relation to content that you upload.

11.5 When you upload material to the VLE as part of the Course, you confirm that you are entitled to upload this material for this purpose and that this will not in any way infringe any other person's rights.

11.6 You will not upload or share with other students or tutors any material which is unlawful or unsuitable according to societal norms in the United Kingdom or our policies. This includes uploading of material that is false, obscene, sexist, racist, homophobic, defamatory, illegal, abusive, threatening, extremist, destructive (like malware, viruses, bugs, etc.) or otherwise discriminatory, offensive, disruptive or objectionable to others.

11.7 We shall be under no obligation to monitor, screen or censor any of the content that you or any third party uploads to the VLE. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for any such content.

11.8 We reserve the right to suspend access to the VLE or remove any material you upload or share with other students or tutors in breach of these Terms.

11.9 The VLE and Course materials may contain links or embedded links to third party content and websites. These links are provided for your reference only and we do not endorse the content or the operations associated with them. We have no control over such content and cannot accept any liability for such third party content. Accessing such content will be subject to third party terms of use and privacy policies.

11.10 Courses may makes use of third party service providers like Google, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Vimeo etc. some of which might be blocked in some countries. It is your sole responsibility to ensure you are able to access the content of Courses including content on third party service providers. If you require further advice as to what service providers will be used on any Course please contact uoc.online@cambridge.org.

11.11 We are not responsible for the location, hardware and infrastructure you choose to access VLE from and as such it is your responsibility to comply with any necessary health and safety regulations that apply.

11.12 Some Courses may contain images, videos or other footage of human tissue, defined in the UK Human Tissue Act 2004 (“HTA”) as material that has come from a human body and consists of, or includes, human cells. All such human tissue images are provided in compliance with the HTA. You must not store, reproduce or distribute by any means any Course content that displays human tissue.

12. Your rights to end the Contract

12.1 You can always end your Contract with us. Your rights when you end the Contract will depend on when you decide to end the Contract, and your reason for ending the Contract.

(a) If you want to end the Contract because of something we have done or have told you we are going to do, see paragraph 12.2;

(b) If you have just changed your mind about the Course, see paragraph 12.3.

(c) If you have paid for your course in instalments via Knoma as referred to in paragraph 15.3 and you cancel your Course, you will still be liable for all payments owing to Knoma except where you are provided a refund. In this case, any refund provided by Cambridge will be offset against the monies owed to Knoma.

12.2 Ending the Contract because of something we have done or are going to do. If any reasons set out in this paragraph 12.2 apply you may end the Contract and you will receive a full refund of any Fees paid. The reasons are:

(a) you reasonably believe that any material changes to the Services or the Course (as detailed in paragraph 6.2) will have a material prejudicial effect on you; or

(b) we breach the Contract in a material way and do not correct the situation within 28 days (where your Course is 1 month or more in duration) or 14 days (where your Course is less than 1 month in duration) of you asking us in writing to do so; or

(c) we go into liquidation or a receiver or administrator is appointed over our assets.

12.3 Exercising your right to change your mind.

(a) You have a legal right to change your mind within 14 days of submitting the Booking Form (the Cancellation Period) and receive a refund, unless the Course has started, even if the Cancellation Period is still running;

If you provide us with written notice to cancel the Contract outside of the Cancellation Period but at least 28 days before the Course starts, you will be entitled to a full refund of the Fees you have paid.

If you are paying in instalments via Knoma, as set out in paragraph 15.3, you will need to also inform them separately of your cancellation.

(b) There may be circumstances where we need to cancel the contract and will register you to attend the Course on a different date instead. In these circumstances you will have 14 days from being notified of the cancellation of the Course and/or your registration on the revised Course date to cancel the Contract. Please see paragraphs 13.1 and 13.2 below.

12.4 How we will refund you. We will refund you the price you paid for the products including delivery costs, by the method you used for payment.

12.5 When your refund will be made. We will make any refunds due to you as soon as possible. If you are exercising your right to change your mind then we will refund you the Fees that you have paid within 14 days of the date on which you inform us that you wish to cancel the Contract.

12.6 Your obligations to cease using the VLE and Course content. If you end your Contract in relation to any Course, you must cease using the VLE and any Course content.

12.7 Deferring a Course. After purchasing the Course, you may contact Cambridge to ask for deferment to a later Course subject the following conditions:

(a) Deferments to a later Course may only be sought before the current Course has reached its half way point;

(b) Any requested deferment must be to a Course which starts within 12 months of the original Course start date;

(c) Deferment to a later Course is only permitted once and is subject to availability of other courses scheduled at our discretion;

(d) If You have deferred to a later Course you will not be entitled to cancel the Course and receive a refund. However, if Cambridge cancels the later Course then you will have a right to receive a refund as set out in paragraph 13.1.

Variation of Course dates will be at the entire discretion of Cambridge and Cambridge cannot guarantee that a Course will be run again in the future.

12.8 Illness. Please notify us immediately if you are unable to complete the Course due to illness. Depending on your individual circumstances, we may offer you a full or partial refund of the Course fees, or we may be able to transfer you to a different cohort and you can complete the Course at a later date. You may be asked to provide supporting information, for example in the form of a doctor’s note. Cancellation due to extenuating circumstances will be at our sole discretion.

12.9 How to end the Contract with us (including if you have changed your mind) or defer a Course. To end the Contract with us, or to request a deferral of a Course that you have booked, please let us know by calling customer services on +44 1223 609985 or email us at uoc.online.customerservice@cambridge.org. Please provide your name, address, details of the order and your phone number and email address.

13. Our rights to end the Contract

13.1 We may end the Contract if circumstances mean we cannot run the course. We may cancel the Contract no later than 5 working days before the Course starts if for example there is insufficient availability of tutors for the Course to be taught, or insufficient demand for the Course to make its running economically viable (as determined by us). We will notify you as soon as reasonably practicable in the event we cancel the Contract under this paragraph 13.1. In the event of such cancellation we will register you to attend the Course on a later date as we may be able to provide and we will inform you of the revised date at the time we notify you of the Course’s cancellation. If, however, you do not wish to attend the Course on the revised date proposed, or we are unable to provide the Course on an alternative date, then you can cancel the Contract within 14 days of being notified of any such revised date (or, if we are unable to provide alternative dates, within 14 days of being notified of the Course cancellation) and receive a full refund of the Fees.

13.2 We may cancel the Contract if an event outside our control prevents us from providing the Services when we are supposed to for a period of 4 weeks or more or if we lose our right for the purposes of relevant legislation to provide the Services. In the event of one of these occurrences, if we are able to, we will register you to attend the Course on a later date and we will inform you of the revised date at the time we notify you of the Course’s cancellation. If, however, you do not wish to attend the Course on the revised date proposed, then you can cancel the Contract within 14 days of being notified of any such revised date. We will provide you with a refund of any Fees paid as at the date of any cancellation under this paragraph 13.2.

13.3 We may end the Contract if you breach it. We may cancel the Contract or suspend you from the Course on written notice to you if:

(a) you breach the Contract in a material way and do not correct the situation within 5 days of us asking you in writing to do so;

(b) you give your login details to any third party without our prior written permission; or

(c) you share Course content with any third party without our prior written permission.

14. If there is a problem with the Course

14.1 How to tell us about problems. If you have any questions or complaints, please contact us. You can email us at uoc.online@cambridge.org.

15. Fees and payment

15.1 Where to find the Fee payable. The Fees payable will be as per the fees published on the website as at the application date (which includes value added tax or other applicable sales tax). We take all reasonable care to ensure that the price of the Course advised to you is correct. However please see paragraph 15.2 for what happens if we discover an error in the Fees for the Course.

15.2 What happens if we got the price wrong. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the Courses we sell may be incorrectly priced. We will normally check prices before accepting your order so that, where the Course’s correct price at your order date is less than our stated price at your order date, we will charge the lower amount. If the Course’s correct price at your order date is higher than the price stated to you, we will contact you for your instructions before we accept your order. If we accept and process your order where a pricing error is obvious and unmistakable and could reasonably have been recognised by you as a mispricing, we may end the Contract and refund you any sums you have paid.

15.3 When you must pay and how you must pay. Fees are payable in the currency displayed on the website and we accept payment by credit or debit card with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Visa Debit. You may pay for the Course up front or in instalments. If you choose to pay for the Course up front, unless the circumstances described in paragraph 15.2 apply, you must pay the Fees at the same time as you submit your Booking Form. If we do not accept your Booking Form, we will refund your Fees within 14 days of the rejection of the Booking Form. If you choose to pay for the Course in instalments, these services are provided by Knoma. As soon as Knoma approves your funding you will receive information from Knoma on how and when to complete your payments and a separate agreement will be set up with them in respect of these payments. Your obligations with Knoma and your rights with respect to cancellation of payments to them will be set out in your agreement with them. For further information or questions regarding your payment please check Knoma(Opens in a new window). Please note that for payments via an instalment plan, bank transfer or quote, full payment must be received 2 weeks before the course start date to secure your place on the course. The enrolment deadlines for all other payment methods are listed on the relevant course page.

15.4 If you do not pay the Fees. If you do not pay the Fees in accordance with these terms, you will not be entitled to start the Course.

15.5 If you are not paying the Fees personally. If your employer or organisation has agreed to pay all or part of your Fees, you will remain liable for the payment of the Fees and you will be responsible for making arrangements with your employer or organisation to ensure that the Fees are paid to us. If your employer or organisation is paying the Fees and wishes to be invoiced, it is your responsibility to ensure that they contact Customer Services at +44 1223 609985 or email us at uoc.online.customerservice@cambridge.org to complete the Booking Form and make payment. In these circumstances, payment of the Fees will be required within 30 days of submission of your Booking Form and in any event, prior to the start of the Course.

15.6 Exchange rates: For overseas purchases where currency is not displayed in sterling, our prices are set with reference to prescribed exchange rates against sterling which are updated periodically. The price displayed at the time of Order reflects the exchange rate applied at that given time. We accept no liability for any losses caused by exchange rate fluctuations or by any failure to remit or convert funds to the UK at a particular time or at a more favourable rate of exchange than actually used.

15.7 Once we have accepted your order and you have paid the Fees for the Course, we will not be able to amend your order to apply any new or additional discounts. This does not affect your cancellation rights under clause 12.3.

16. Our responsibility for loss or damage suffered by you

16.1 We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors; for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; for breach of your legal rights in relation to the Course and Services.

16.2 If we fail to comply with the Contract, we are responsible for loss or damage that you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of the Contract, or our negligence. We are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious consequence of our breach or if it is contemplated by you and us at the time the Contract was entered into.

17. How we may use your personal information

17.1 If you supply personal information to us through this site we will maintain, record and use such personal information in accordance with our Privacy Notice.

17.2 On completion of your booking, we will share important information with you via email including how to access your course. In addition to this, you will be added our mailing list to hear from us and relevant university departments about related courses and exclusive discounts. You have the option to unsubscribe at any time.

18. Other important terms

18.1 We may contact you for feedback on the Course. We may contact you to request feedback about the Course. By providing feedback you may consent to give us the right to include your material in our own online and print material for promotional purposes.

18.2 We may transfer this agreement to someone else. We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another organisation. We will contact you to let you know if we this happens, but this will not affect your rights or our obligations under the Contract.

18.3 You need our consent to transfer your rights to someone else. You may only transfer your rights or your obligations under these terms to another person if we agree in writing that you may do so.

18.4 Nobody else has any rights under the Contract. The Contract is between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms. Neither of us will need to get the agreement of any other person in order to end the Contract or make any changes to these terms.

18.5 If a court finds part of the Contract illegal, the rest will continue in force. Each of the paragraphs of these terms operates separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them are unlawful, the remaining paragraphs will remain in full force and effect.

18.6 Even if we delay in enforcing the Contract, we can still enforce it later. If we do not insist immediately that you do anything you are required to do under these terms, or if we delay in taking steps against you in respect of your breaching the Contract, that will not mean that you do not have to do those things and it will not prevent us taking steps against you at a later date. For example, if you miss a payment and we do not chase you but we continue to provide the products, we can still require you to make the payment at a later date.

18.7 This Contract is drafted in the English language. If these terms are translated into any other language, the English language text shall prevail.

18.8 Which laws apply to the Contract and where you may bring legal proceedings. These terms are governed by English law and you can bring legal proceedings in respect of the products in your local courts.

These terms were issued 03 January 2023.