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 require a visa before travelling to Ireland, your required fees must be paid in advance through Dorset College’s approved TransferMate Escrow facility. Fees are held securely during the visa process and are released only when evidence of visa approval has been provided to TransferMate.
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) | TransferMate Escrow fee protection | Visa‑requiring learners | Required fees are paid securely into Dorset College’s approved TransferMate Escrow facility and held until evidence of visa approval has been provided to TransferMate. |
| 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). |
Students who require a visa before travelling to Ireland must pay their required fees in advance through Dorset College’s approved TransferMate Escrow facility. These payments are made into the approved escrow facility rather than directly to Dorset College. Fees are held securely while the visa application is being processed and are released to Dorset College only when evidence of visa approval has been provided to TransferMate.
You receive clear booking details. If you require a visa, your required fees must be paid securely into Dorset College’s approved TransferMate Escrow facility rather than directly to the school.
Funds remain protected in the TransferMate Escrow facility while your visa application is being processed. They are not released to Dorset College during this stage.
When your visa is approved, evidence of approval must be provided to TransferMate. The funds are then released to Dorset College in accordance with the escrow process.
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 ↗
Yes, if you require a visa before travelling to Ireland. Visa‑requiring learners must pay the required fees in advance through Dorset College’s approved TransferMate Escrow facility. If you do not require a visa, you may pay Dorset College directly using our standard payment methods.
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? If you require a visa, we will guide you through the TransferMate Escrow payment process and explain the PEL protections that apply once you start your programme in Ireland.
