Welcome to DFICU Universities’

Refund, Financial & Administrative Policy Page

Valid since 2023

1. Policy Overview

This Refund and Financial Policy governs all payments, withdrawals, administrative charges, and refund conditions associated with the conferment of the Doctoral Honoris Causa Award at DFICU Universities.

By making any payment, candidates acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to all terms outlined in this policy.

2. Regulatory Position & Nature of Award

The Doctoral Honoris Causa Award is:

• A non-academic, honorary distinction
• Conferred based on verified merit, societal impact, and professional contribution
• Not equivalent to an earned academic degree under UK or US qualification frameworks

DFICU affirms compliance with:

• Principles of transparency and student protection under the Office for Students
• Quality and integrity benchmarks consistent with the UK Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
• Fair commercial practices under the Federal Trade Commission

3. Contract Formation & Acceptance

A legally binding agreement is formed when:

• A candidate accepts nomination and
• Makes any financial payment

By proceeding, the candidate confirms:

• Full understanding of the honorary (non-degree) status
• Acceptance of all financial and refund conditions
• That all submitted information is accurate and verifiable

4. Fee Structure

• The total award fee is reviewed periodically (annually) and may vary.
• A non-refundable nomination and processing fee of $50 USD applies to all candidates.
• All payments made are subject to administrative and compliance deductions where applicable, exclusive of bank charges, currency conversion fees, or third-party costs

5. General Refund Principles

Refunds are governed strictly under the following conditions:

5.1. Cooling-Off & Consumer Protection

To align with international consumer protection expectations:

• Candidates may cancel within 14 calendar days of payment (“cooling-off period”)
• During this period:
  • Full refund is granted minus the $50 non-refundable fee
  • Provided no administrative processing or publication has commenced

5.2. Withdrawal by Candidate

Where a candidate voluntarily withdraws after 14 days:

• A 25% administrative fee shall be deducted from the total amount paid.
• The $50 USD non-refundable fee remains non-refundable.
• The balance shall be refunded in accordance with the refund timeline.
• All approved refunds shall be processed within a maximum period of six (6) months from the date of approval.
• Refunds shall be made using the original method of payment (by instalment or in full), unless otherwise approved.
• The University reserves the right to verify all financial claims prior to refund approval.

5.3. Publication-Based Withdrawal

Where a candidate’s profile has already been:

• Published on DFICU official platforms, websites, or
• Included in conference materials or official communications

Only 50% of the total fee (excluding the $50 fee) shall be eligible for refund. This reflects reputational and administrative costs already incurred, aligned with international institutional practices.

6. Post-Award and Certificate Issuance

• No refund shall be granted once a digital or physical certificate has been issued.
• Acceptance and issuance of the award constitute full completion of the process.

7. Misrepresentation and Disqualification

• Where a candidate’s profile is found to be false, misleading, or unverifiable:
  • The award shall be revoked or withheld
  • No refund shall be granted under any circumstance

8. Event Attendance & Rescheduling

• A minimum of five (5) awardees is required for a physical conferment ceremony.
• Where this threshold is not met:
  • DFICU reserves the right to reschedule or adjourn the ceremony
  • Affected candidates will receive prior notification

If a candidate declines the rescheduled date:

• A refund may be requested
• A 25% or 50% administrative deduction will apply accordingly (see 5.2 and 5.3 respectively)

9. Refund Delay Clause

• If DFICU fails to process an approved refund within six (6) months:
  • The candidate becomes eligible for 100% refund of all paid fees
  • Excluding the $50 non-refundable fee

10. Post-Award Modification

• Requests to change an already conferred honorary title:
  • Shall attract a 50% fee of the original award cost

11. Institutional Error and Remedy

Where an incorrect award is issued due to administrative error:

• The candidate shall bear no financial liability
• DFICU shall:
  • Withdraw the incorrect credential
  • Issue a corrected certificate at no cost
  • Publish an official correction notice across its platforms

12. Rights of the University

DFICU reserves the right to:

• Withdraw or annul any honorary award at any time in cases of:
  • Misuse of the title
  • Ethical violations
  • Reputational risk to the institution

Such withdrawal may occur without refund.

• Will follow documented internal review procedures (due process)

13. Usage of Honorary Title

• The honorary doctorate:
  • Must not be used

• as earned academic qualification
• For employment, immigration, or licensure claims

• • Shall be used strictly for honorary and ceremonial purposes
• It may only be treated as an academic credential if:
  • Upgraded through DFICU’s formal academic programs

Misuse may lead to:

• Revocation
• Public notice of withdrawal

14. Intellectual Property & Publication Restrictions

Official DFICU certificate:

• must not be published on:
  • Social media
  • Public platforms
  • Commercial materials
  • Or publicly reproduced
• Supporting credentials may be shared where appropriate

Violation of this clause may result in:

• Immediate revocation of the award

16. Data Protection & Privacy

DFICU shall:

• Process candidate data in line with:
  • International GDPR principles
  • International data protection standards
• Use personal data strictly for:
  • Verification
  • Award processing
  • Institutional records

17. Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Compliance

• DFICU reserves the right to:
  • Verify source of funds
  • Reject suspicious transactions

15. Compliance and Acceptance

• Candidates who do not agree with this policy are strongly advised not to proceed with any payment
• Payment constitutes full legal acceptance of all terms and conditions herein  and
• Waiver of claims outside stated conditions

16. Legal & Regulatory Compliance

• This policy shall be governed by applicable laws and institutional regulations of international arbitration. Applicable region shall be deemed fit by the university’s legal counsel.
• DFICU reserves the right to:
  • Update or amend this policy without prior notice
  • Enforce compliance in line with international best practices

17. Force Majeure

DFICU shall not be held liable for delays or changes caused by events beyond its control, including but not limited to:

• Natural disasters
• Government restrictions
• Public health emergencies
• Internal institutional classified policies (see 8.0)

18. Dispute Resolution and Jurisdiction

• All disputes shall first be resolved through internal administrative review. Email: complaint@dfuniversity.org
• Where unresolved, disputes may be subject to mediation or arbitration under applicable jurisdiction. Email; legal@dfuniversity.org

19. Contact and Enquiries

All refund requests and enquiries must be submitted formally to:
DFICU Finance and Awards Administration Unit. The following emails are valid for this purpose:

• finance@dfuniversity.org
• refund@dfuniversity.org

Final Note

This policy reflects DFICU’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity in the conferment of honorary distinctions.

Donwload Policy (PDF)