Eden College Closure – Note for Students

                            

NOTE: Following the closure of Eden College students are advised that INIS has not agreed to any bilateral arrangements with Eden College regarding the direct transferral of students. The normal non-EEA student immigration registration requirements will apply. Students are advised not to pay any money to or enrol with another college without first contacting INIS at edencollegestudents@justice.ie.

The arrangements set out below have been put in place in order to facilitate students affected by the closure of Eden College.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) notes that Eden College has closed with immediate effect. It is important that students are informed as to how this closure impacts on their immigration status. INIS is also in discussions with the education sector as regards the options available to students who wish to complete their courses.

There is no immediate threat to students' immigration status. All current permissions remain intact.

Eden College students seeking information regarding their immigration status are requested to write to edencollegestudents@justice.ie. NOTE: When contacting this e-mail address students are required to provide their full name, INIS reference number and GNIB number both of which can be found on the GNIB registration card.

Students should not attend at the GNIB/INIS offices

All current students of Eden College are now deemed to be on academic holiday up to 1 September 2014 (NOTE: This refers to non-EEA Students whose student Immigration permission is currently valid). In line with the conditions of student vacation periods students are not required to attend class during this period and can work for up to 40 hours per week. There is no immediate requirement for non-EEA students to seek a new course and students should take time to consider their options.

NOTE: Other than English Language students transferring to another course recognised by ACELS (see below), all transfers from Eden College students will need to be approved in principle by INIS and no fees should be paid to another institution in advance of this approval. This applies until further notice.

Non-EEA students whose permission expires prior to 1 September 2014 should contact edencollegestudents@justice.ie in relation to their immigration status.

English Language Students at Eden College

Following discussions with Marketing English in Ireland (MEI) non-EEA students of Eden College registered with the immigration authorities as pursuing a programme previously recognised by ACELS may be in a position to complete the balance of their programme with another ACELS recognised English Language school. Where the fees of the new school exceed those of Eden College, the student may be in a position to receive a discount in respect of fees already paid to Eden. To potentially avail of any discount, and to establish the amount (in a limited number of cases the student may not incur any further costs), students will be required to provide a dated receipt for fees paid to Eden, or where fees were paid by electronic transfer, a bank statement providing this information.

Non-EEA students seeking to avail of this option to complete their studies are required to contact the MEI in the first instance by e-mail outlining:

• the course you are on (including an enrolment / acceptance letter from Eden College);
• the dates on which you began your course; and the expected completion date of your course.
• Students should contact MEI at info@mei.ie

This information should also be provided to the immigration authorities at edencollegestudents@justice.ie.

MEI will deal with each case individually and will then contact students with details of their placement. Non-EEA students who do not avail of this option will be deemed to be on academic holiday.

Non-EEA students who have paid for and have registered for an external examination should be in a position to complete those exams in the normal way.

FETAC Non-EEA Students at Eden College

Non-EEA students of Eden College registered with the immigration authorities as pursuing a FETAC accredited programme at Eden College are required to contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) directly in relation to their course of studies. Please go to the QQI website for further information. QQI will respond to student queries on a case-by-case basis.

Non-EEA students will be required to provide information to QQI which includes

• your contact details, including email address and telephone number
• PPS Number and date of birth
• the course on which you are on (including an enrolment /
• acceptance letter from Eden College);
• the dates on which you began your course; and
• othe expected completion date of your course.

This information should also be provided to the immigration authorities at edencollegestudents@justice.ie.

Students should not attend at the QQI offices

Australian Institute of Business Non-EEA Students at Eden College

For non-EEA students of Eden College registered with the immigration authorities as pursuing an Australian Institute of Business-accredited programme at Eden College the following applies:

In line with the Australian Institute of Business policy where a teaching centre loses accreditation, students of this centre can independently pursue their course of study. Therefore no further immigration permission will be issued in respect of Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Business Administration students at Eden College. INIS understands that students can pursue these courses by distance with the Australian Institute of Business.

Non-EEA students pursuing the AIB BBA or MBA at Eden College should contact the Australian Institute of Business directly in relation to their status and for information regarding the possibility of continuing their course following their return to their home country. Information for students can be found at the following links:

http://e-study.aib.edu.au/students/index.php

http://www.aib.edu.au/study-via-distance-learning/12-month-mba-dl.html

If students have further queries they can contact edencollegestudents@justice.ie

Other Accrediting Bodies

Non-EEA students of Eden College registered with the immigration authorities as pursuing courses accredited by bodies other than those set out above are required to contact their accrediting body directly.

Students may also contact edencollegestudents@justice.ie in relation to their status. Each case will be dealt with on its own merits.