Choosing where to study is a big decision. At Dorset College, we put protections in place so that your English course, your learning journey and (where applicable) your fees are supported from registration through to completion.
If you are applying for a visa before travelling to Ireland, your booking may use ELE Ireland’s secure ESCROW facility. This protects fees during the pre-arrival stage and releases them when you arrive and are ready to start.
Once you begin your course in Ireland, all Dorset College English language learners are covered by our Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) arrangements, supporting you to complete your programme in the unlikely event that it ever ceased unexpectedly.
As a member of ELE Ireland, we follow clear standards around student information, support and protection, so you feel safe, informed and well looked after while studying in Ireland.
Different protections apply at different stages. This is the simplest way to understand it:
| Stage | Protection | Who it applies to | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before travel (visa application stage) | ESCROW fee protection (where used) | Mainly visa‑requiring learners | Fees can be held securely until you arrive in Ireland and are ready to start. |
| On arrival & during your course | Dorset College PEL arrangements | All enrolled learners | If a programme ever stopped unexpectedly, you would be supported to complete your programme at a protecting college. |
| Courses over 12 weeks | ELE Ireland Student Protection Scheme (SPS) | Learners on courses over 12 weeks | Additional protection through the ELE Ireland scheme (see details via ELE Ireland). |
ELE Ireland member schools offer a secure ESCROWoption that is used mainly for students who need to apply for a visa before travelling to Ireland. Where your booking is processed via ELE Ireland’s approved ESCROW payment facility, student/agent payments are protected and released only when the student has arrived in Ireland and is ready to commence their course.
You receive clear booking details. If ESCROW is used for your booking, fees are paid securely into the approved facility rather than directly to the school.
Funds remain protected during the pre‑arrival period, including the visa application stage (where applicable).
Fees are released to the school when you have arrived safely in Ireland and are ready to begin your programme.
Dorset College has formal Protection of Enrolled Learners (PEL) arrangements in place. This means that, in the unlikely event that a Dorset College programme ceased prematurely, students would be supported to complete their programme at a designated protecting college (partner school) — with all efforts made to ensure a smooth transition.
PEL applies to all enrolled learners once they commence their programme in Ireland, regardless of how the course fees were paid. These arrangements are designed to support you through to completion of your programme and end-of-programme exams.
Dorset College has PEL arrangements with the following protecting colleges:
Dún Laoghaire, Dublin
Galway
Dublin 8
Dublin 2
Dublin 2
| Protecting college | Programmes covered (examples) | Maximum capacity (per agreement) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Language Learning | General English; Business English; Academic English (EAP) | Up to 200 learners |
| International School of English (ISE) | General English; Business English; Academic English (EAP) | Up to 200 learners |
| Galway Cultural Institute | General English; Business English; Academic English (EAP) | Up to 200 learners |
| SWAN Training Institute | General English; Business English; Academic English (EAP) | Up to 200 learners |
| Griffith College | General English; Business English; Academic English (EAP) | Up to 160 learners |
As an ELE Ireland member school, Dorset College participates in a Student Protection Scheme that supports enrolled learners throughout their programme. The ELE Ireland scheme applies to students on courses of over 12 weeks duration.
To learn more about ELE Ireland’s approach, you can read their overview here: ELE Ireland – Our Welcome ↗
No. ESCROW is mainly used for visa‑requiring learners (before travel), and only where that payment route applies to your booking. We will confirm clearly at the time of booking whether ESCROW is being used.
Yes. PEL is in place to protect all enrolled learners once they commence their programme in Ireland, regardless of payment method. It is focused on course continuity (helping you complete your programme if a programme ever stopped unexpectedly).
PEL arrangements are designed to support enrolled learners through to completion and end-of-programme exams. The ELE Ireland Student Protection Scheme applies to courses over 12 weeks duration.
Contact Dorset College Student Services / International Office and we will explain what protections apply to your booking and course length, and provide supporting documentation on request.
Want reassurance before you book? We can confirm whether ESCROW applies to your booking (e.g., visa applications), and explain the PEL protections that apply once you start your programme in Ireland.
