ETHOS Payment Policy:

Payments, Cancellations, and Refunds

A. “No Pay – No Study”

ETHOS has a strict payment policy for both classroom and online studies: all study packages must be paid in full in advance.

ETHOS quotations include charges for study materials, instruction, housing (if selected), internet service at school (and in ETHOS housing), all required government taxes, and processing fees. There are no hidden fees in our quotations.

After a quotation is accepted, billing invoices are emailed to customers. Each invoice has an expiration date. If an invoice expires before payment, a replacement invoice may be requested.

Customers residing in the Philippines will be billed in Philippine pesos (PHP). Customers outside the Philippines will be billed in US dollars (USD).

B. Expenses Not Included in Quotations

ETHOS quotations cover reasonable charges for study and housing, and we provide free airport transfers for arrivals and departures. The following expenses are not included:

1. Immigration expenses. ETHOS processes student immigration paperwork free of service charges, but students pay all government fees (e.g., SSP, visa extensions, I-Card if required) and the taxi cost for our staff to process documents at the immigration office.
2. Meals. Except for weekday breakfast in the “Home Stay” option, customers provide their own meals. ETHOS does offer paid meal program, which is available upon request, but not included in quotations.
3. Recreation. ETHOS can help arrange activities on weekday afternoons, weekends, and ETHOS holidays without a service fee; customers pay all activity costs.
4. Transportation. All transportation other than free airport transfers is at the customer’s expense.
5. Cell phones and service. Customers pay for their own mobile devices and service.
6. Laundry. Customers pay for their own laundry. Several laundry shops are near the school.
7. Medical care / insurance. Customers cover their own medical costs, including any pandemic-related testing or quarantine required by the Philippine government before attending ETHOS. All students should obtain international travel insurance before departure.
8. Additional housing days. If flight schedules require arriving earlier or staying later than the dates in the quotation, extra housing days may be charged.

C. Payment Policy

ETHOS accepts cash, credit/debit cards, and direct bank transfer. Invoices are issued by the ETHOS home office in Cebu City with payment instructions.

1. Online studies. One invoice covers the total cost of the selected online study time. The invoice is valid for seven (7) days from its issue date. If it expires unpaid, a replacement invoice may be requested.
2. Classroom studies. At least two invoices are issued:
   1. REGISTRATION FEE: An amount equal to 15% of the total study package price will be collected as a nonrefundable REGISTRATION FEE. This is not an extra cost, but is simply a portion of the total quotation for your study package. It is collected by us in order to confirm your booking. Space in our classes and housing is reserved only after the REGISTRATION FEE is paid. (Please note that the REGISTRATION FEE for Kids Camps will be 25%.)
   2. BALANCE: After the REGISTRATION FEE is paid, an invoice for the remaining BALANCE will be issued. The BALANCE payment must be received no later than two (2) weeks before your arrival at ETHOS.
3. Invoice expiry. All payment links have time limits. If a link expires, it becomes invalid; a replacement invoice can be issued (replacement invoices are only valid for seven (7) days).
4. Official receipts. Each payment to ETHOS will have an Official Receipt in PHP. USD payments are converted to PHP using the exchange rate at conversion. Cash receipts are available immediately upon payment. Receipts for card/bank payments are available five (5) days after the start of study at ETHOS.

D. Class Cancellation and Refunds

1. Online classes (no refunds). Once online study has been purchased and started, tuition is non-refundable. ETHOS may assist with schedule changes, but refunds are not available.
2. Classroom study. The BALANCE may be refunded only if the customer has not yet arrived at ETHOS. After arrival, no BALANCE refunds are available. The REGISTRATION FEE is non-refundable in all cases.
3. Pandemic Clause (no REGISTRATION FEE refunds). If your study is disrupted due to pandemic travel restrictions, only the BALANCE may be refunded (if paid). The REGISTRATION FEE remains non-refundable. To avoid losing the REGISTRATION FEE, customers may reschedule to a future date within one (1) year after restrictions are lifted; the package cost will be recalculated using the current rates at rebooking.
4. Refund charges. Refunds require the customer’s account and bank transfer details. Transfer/processing fees for returning funds will be deducted, and the net amount will be sent. The customer’s receiving bank may also charge a fee. An accounting of funds and charges will be provided.

E. Cancellation / Loss of Tuition Due to Absences

1. Online customers. One (1) excused absence is allowed for every ten (10) lessons purchased. Excused absences include accidents, illness, or family emergencies (e.g., a death in the family). An advance request to be excused may be made at least two (2) days before the class. After using the allowed excused absences, further absences are not permitted; the customer must attend remaining classes as scheduled or forfeit the tuition for missed classes.
2. Classroom studies. One (1) excused absence day is allowed for every four (4) weeks of study. Excused absences include accidents, illness, or family emergencies (e.g., a death in the family). A request to postpone a scheduled class should be made at least one (1) day in advance. After using the allowed excused absences, further absences are not permitted; the customer must attend all remaining classes or be dropped from the program and forfeit any remaining tuition.

F. Cancellation / Loss of Tuition Due to Customer Neglect (Online)

1. Failure to begin. After payment, a teacher is assigned and will contact the student by email or social media to set a schedule. If the customer does not respond and set a schedule within two (2) weeks, ETHOS will send up to three (3) emails to the address provided at enrollment. If there is still no response within two (2) weeks, the customer will be dropped from the program and all tuition will be forfeited.
2. Failure to continue. If a customer starts classes but then stops attending, ETHOS will send up to three (3) emails to the address provided at enrollment. If the customer does not respond and resume study within two (2) weeks, ETHOS will drop the customer from the program and all tuition will be forfeited.

G. Expulsion

Customers expelled for alcohol or drug violations, curfew violations, or conduct violations must leave ETHOS immediately and arrange their own housing and transportation home. No refunds are available in cases of expulsion.

H. Philippine Holidays

To respect our international students, ETHOS closes only on Philippine Regular Holidays (government-mandated closures). On those days the school is closed and the dates are skipped in the academic calendar. No classes are scheduled and no make-up classes are provided for those dates. (You can see the list of ETHOS school holidays for 2025 HERE.)

* Details are subject to change. Last revised on 2025-09-17.
** While Google Translate may render these terms in other languages, only the original English version is legally binding.

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