Urgent Notice: Closure Of Lonsdale Institute & Course Transfers To APC / EU

We have been informed that Lonsdale Institute has decided to discontinue providing courses from Monday, 14 July 2025.  

Unfortunately, this means that Lonsdale Institute will now be in default from Monday 14 July and have an obligation to, within 14-days of that date:

1. Place students (and the student accepting that offer in writing) in an alternative course; or
2. Refund unspent tuition fees.

APC/EU – Preferred Provider of Alternative Courses

Due to the high number of same/similar courses (see Schedule 1 below), APC/EU has been announced by Lonsdale as the preferred provider of alternative courses (with the exception of some Hospitality courses) for LI students.   

To ensure an orderly and timely transfer, students must complete the Transfer and Consent Form by Friday, 29 August 2025.

Streamlined Processing

As the preferred provider of alternative courses, LI has implemented a streamlined process for all students who transfer to APC/EU courses. 

APC/EU benefits

In addition, students who agree to  transfer their studies to APC/EU will benefit from the course credit and transfer arrangement already in place and receive benefits including:

1. Any pre-paid and unused (unspent) portion of tuition fees already paid to LI will be honoured by APC/EU (no extra payment). Unspent tuition fees are tuition fees that have not already been used in delivering your education and training at LI.
2. Access to existing and future APC/EU pathway credit arrangements (with fee and time savings) with over 15 Australian institutions and Universities,
3. More Study Locations – options with APC/EU with no or minimal disruptions to current study plans:
   • Sydney
   • Manly Beach
   • Melbourne
   • Brisbane
   • Gold Coast
   • Adelaide
4. “No-fee-disadvantage” is assured by APC/EU:
   • APC will provide “fee-matching” of tuition fees, even where APC/EU fees are higher
   • No-extra-cost admissions and credit transfer processing (application fee waiver)
   • New Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) at no cost (if needed)

Students Rights

Students have the right to make a properly informed decision, including:

1. They may, but do not have to accept to transfer to finish their studies with APC/EU;
2. If they chose not to transfer to APC/EU, they can seek a refund of unspent tuition fees prepaid directly from LI; 
3. Should the student consent to explore a transfer to APC/EU, we will try and liaise directly with LI to obtain the necessary information and minimise any disruption to current study plans;
4. If they choose not to transfer to APC/EU and want to continue their studies, students will need to make a written request for their academic documents directly. This will help with future enrolments.
5. The alternative course does not have to be the same course that the student was undertaking prior to the default and it can be a different course that the student is capable of entering and that they have agreed to undertake.
6. After a provider default, if the education provider does not meet its legal obligations within the 14 day obligation period, including placing the student with an alternative provider or refunding the unspent tuition fees, the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) will either assist with advising of alternative course options or may provide eligible students with a refund of unspent tuition fees. However, if the tuition fee costs of the alternative course are higher than the original course, the student will need to meet those costs. For more information, refer to the TPS Student Support Process after a provider default.
7. In past cases where a provider defaults:        
   • Students were allowed 3 months to find an alternative course and provider, and
   • If the new course is longer than the current course, affected students may be eligible for a Visa Application Charge (VAC) exemption from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) as long as the student (and family members) apply for further student visa no more than 12 months after the provider default day.
   • However, the above arrangement is subject to confirmation by the Department of Home Affairs and students MUST finalise a new enrolment within 3 months.

Schedule 1

Courses offered by Lonsdale Institute that are same or similar as APC/EU current programs is as follows:

Note that even in the event we do not have the same or similar programs, a transferring student may select an alternative course that is not the same/similar as your current course – refer to the attached FAQs.

Information Sessions and Webinar:

Australian Pacific College and English Unlimited

VIRTUAL (Webinar only):

• Session 1:  2.30pm – 3.15pm, Friday 11 July 2025 – Register here
• Session 2: 10.30am – 11.15am, Monday 14 July 2025 – Register here

To transfer to APC/EU, please complete the Transfer and Consent Form.

In the current environment we acknowledge and support the commitment of our valued agents.  For all student transfers to APC/EU that are assisted by our current agents, we will maintain all the current financial arrangements under your current agency agreement, subject to any regulatory requirements. If you are currently not an agent of APC/EU, please refer here.

Our friendly admissions and recruitment staff are here to assist with any queries, so please contact the relevant relationship manager or admissions on [email protected].

Warm regards

APC Admissions