1. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of these Terms and Conditions:

Applicant means a person who has submitted an application but whose admission and registration have not yet been completed.

Student means a person whose admission and registration have been confirmed in accordance with QCMD Institute requirements.

Institute means QCMD Institute, Company Registration No. 2018/020456/07.

Registration Fee means the R2,000 fee payable as part of completing registration.

Tuition Fees means the programme fees payable in addition to the Registration Fee.

Recurring Card Payment means an authorised recurring electronic bank-card payment arrangement through an approved payment service provider.

Responsible Payer means the student, parent, guardian, employer, sponsor or other person responsible for all or part of the student’s fees.

Student Portal means the secure online student environment made available by QCMD Institute for student information, resources, notices, support and related institutional services.

2. APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND REGISTRATION

2.1 No Application Fee

There is currently no application fee for the January 2027 Intake.

2.2 Application Does Not Constitute Admission

Submitting an application:

does not guarantee admission;

does not guarantee registration;

does not automatically reserve a place;

does not confirm academic eligibility; and

does not constitute final acceptance into a programme.

Applications remain subject to programme requirements, information and document verification and QCMD Institute’s admissions process.

2.3 January 2027 Programmes

The January 2027 application process includes:

Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner (NQF Level 4)

and

Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (NQF Level 5)

Matric is not currently required for the Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner (NQF Level 4).

The Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (NQF Level 5) normally requires an appropriate NQF Level 4 ECD qualification.

Applicants whose eligibility requires clarification may be requested to provide additional information or documentation.

2.4 Provisional Acceptance

QCMD Institute may provisionally accept an applicant subject to:

verification of information and documents;

academic eligibility;

completion and electronic signature of the applicable Student Agreement;

payment of the applicable Registration Fee or approved first registration instalment; and

any other reasonable admissions requirements.

Provisional acceptance does not itself mean that registration has been completed.

2.5 Supporting Information and Documents

Applicants and students must provide information and supporting documentation that is true, complete and accurate.

False, altered, misleading or fraudulent information or documentation may result in rejection of an application, cancellation of registration, suspension, deregistration or other appropriate action.

3. REGISTRATION FEE

3.1 Registration Fee Amount

The Registration Fee for the January 2027 Intake is:

R2,000.00

The Registration Fee may be paid:

R2,000 once-off;

through an approved instalment arrangement; or

through another payment arrangement specifically approved and communicated by QCMD Institute.

Approved instalment arrangements may vary according to the date on which the applicant applies or commences the registration process.

3.2 Partial Registration Payments

A student who makes the first successful payment under an approved Registration Fee arrangement may, once the Student Portal is available, be granted access to the QCMD Institute Student Portal.

Such access does not mean that full registration has been completed.

3.3 Completion of Registration

The full R2,000 Registration Fee must be successfully paid, verified and allocated before registration is regarded as complete.

Partial payment of the Registration Fee does not constitute completed registration.

The full Registration Fee must ordinarily be settled before the student is permitted to commence the active academic programme or first class, unless QCMD Institute approves otherwise in writing.

4. STUDENT PORTAL ACCESS

QCMD Institute may provide an applicant/student with access to its Student Portal after the first qualifying Registration Fee payment has been successfully processed and allocated.

Where access is granted before the full Registration Fee has been paid:

Student Portal access does not constitute completed registration;

Student Portal access does not guarantee final admission;

Student Portal access does not guarantee access to classes, assessments or the full academic learning environment; and

the applicant/student remains responsible for completing all outstanding registration requirements.

Students must:

activate their own Student Portal account where required;

create and maintain a secure password;

keep login details confidential;

not share access credentials with another person; and

use the Student Portal only for authorised purposes.

QCMD Institute may restrict or suspend Student Portal access where reasonably required due to:

non-payment;

incomplete registration;

academic requirements;

misconduct;

security concerns; or

other legitimate institutional reasons.

5. LEVEL 4 PROGRAMME FEES

The total programme fee for the:

Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner (NQF Level 4)

is:

R13,500.00

comprising:

Registration Fee: R2,000.00

Tuition Fees: R11,500.00

The standard tuition payment arrangement is:

10 monthly tuition instalments of R1,150.00 each.

For the normal January 2027 Intake, no tuition instalment is payable in January 2027.

The first standard tuition instalment becomes due on:

25 February 2027

and the remaining instalments are payable monthly in accordance with the student’s approved payment schedule.

6. LEVEL 5 PROGRAMME FEES

The total programme fee for the:

Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (NQF Level 5)

is:

R14,000.00

comprising:

Registration Fee: R2,000.00

Tuition Fees: R12,000.00

The standard tuition payment arrangement is over 10 tuition payment periods.

The standard payment pattern is:

the first 8 tuition instalments at R1,000.00 each;

followed by the final 2 tuition instalments at R2,000.00 each.

Total Tuition Fees:

R12,000.00

The exact due dates will be reflected in the student’s approved payment schedule.

Where a student commences later than the normal intake period, QCMD Institute may issue an adjusted payment schedule while preserving the total applicable programme fee.

7. LATE COMMENCEMENT AND ADJUSTED PAYMENT SCHEDULES

QCMD Institute may permit an applicant to join the programme after the normal January commencement period where academically and operationally feasible.

A late commencement does not automatically reduce the total programme fee.

A late-starting student must:

complete the applicable Registration Fee requirements;

sign the applicable Student Agreement;

accept an approved payment schedule; and

comply with any academic catch-up requirements.

Where fewer normal payment months remain, QCMD Institute may adjust the amounts or timing of future instalments to ensure that the applicable programme fee is settled within the approved payment period.

Any material adjustment to the payment schedule will be communicated to the Student or Responsible Payer.

8. RECURRING BANK-CARD PAYMENT IS REQUIRED

8.1 Monthly Tuition Payments

Students who elect to pay tuition in instalments must maintain an approved recurring bank-card payment arrangement.

Recurring card payment is the standard method for ordinary monthly tuition instalments unless QCMD Institute Finance approves an alternative arrangement in writing.

Manual month-to-month EFT payments are not the normal approved method for monthly tuition.

8.2 Recurring Payment Authority

By selecting an instalment payment option, entering bank-card details, authorising the payment arrangement and/or electronically signing the Student Agreement, the Student or Responsible Payer authorises the approved payment service provider to:

securely tokenise or retain the applicable payment authority;

process the agreed initial payment;

process subsequent recurring payments;

make permitted retry attempts after an unsuccessful payment; and

process payments according to the approved payment schedule.

The Student or Responsible Payer acknowledges that the actual card details may be securely processed or tokenised by the approved payment service provider and need not be stored directly by QCMD Institute.

8.3 Maintaining a Valid Payment Method

The Student or Responsible Payer must:

maintain a valid bank card;

keep payment details current;

ensure sufficient funds are available;

update expired, cancelled or replaced card details promptly; and

maintain the approved recurring-payment authority for the duration of the payment arrangement.

Cancelling, blocking, replacing or allowing a payment card to expire does not cancel the underlying financial obligation.

9. MONTHLY PAYMENT DATES

For ordinary monthly tuition arrangements:

QCMD Institute may send the monthly payment notice or invoice approximately 10 days before the due date;

the standard monthly due date is the 25th of the applicable month;

the Student or Responsible Payer has until the last calendar day of that month to ensure that the outstanding amount is successfully paid and resolved; and

where payment remains outstanding on the 1st day of the following month, QCMD Institute may suspend the student’s access and/or active academic status, subject to applicable legal and procedural requirements.

A payment reminder, invoice or recurring-payment notice does not change the underlying due date unless QCMD Institute expressly confirms a different date in writing.

10. FAILED OR MISSED PAYMENTS

Where a scheduled recurring payment is unsuccessful, the outstanding amount remains immediately due and payable.

QCMD Institute and/or its approved payment service provider may:

notify the Student or Responsible Payer;

make further authorised collection attempts;

issue an outstanding-payment invoice;

request updated payment details; and

require the outstanding balance to be brought up to date.

The Student or Responsible Payer must take reasonable steps to resolve the failed payment before the end of the applicable grace period.

11. SUSPENSION FOR NON-PAYMENT

Where a monthly tuition instalment remains unpaid by the end of the applicable month, QCMD Institute may place the student on financial suspension from the 1st day of the following month, subject to applicable legal and procedural requirements.

Financial suspension may include restriction of access to:

classes;

the Student Portal;

the online learning environment;

learning material;

assessments;

academic support;

recordings;

student services; and

other services reserved for students in good standing.

Suspension does not automatically cancel:

the Student Agreement;

the recurring payment arrangement;

amounts already lawfully due; or

the student’s underlying financial obligations.

12. DEREGISTRATION

Persistent or unresolved non-payment may result in deregistration after appropriate notice and procedure.

Deregistration may result in termination or further restriction of:

class access;

Student Portal access;

the academic learning environment;

assessments;

learning materials;

academic support; and

other student services.

Deregistration does not automatically cancel amounts already lawfully due under the Student Agreement.

12.1 Reinstatement

A suspended or deregistered student may request reinstatement after bringing the account up to date.

Reinstatement is not automatic and may be subject to:

payment verification;

academic feasibility;

administrative approval;

programme capacity;

missed academic work;

availability of classes or learning opportunities; and

other reasonable reinstatement requirements.

13. PAYMENT VERIFICATION

Uploading or emailing Proof of Payment does not itself confirm that:

funds have cleared;

payment has been received;

payment has been correctly allocated;

the student’s account is financially up to date; or

registration has been completed.

Payments remain subject to verification and allocation by QCMD Institute Finance.

Students must use the correct Student Account Number as the payment reference where a payment reference is required.

The Student Account Number must be used on its own unless QCMD Institute expressly instructs otherwise.

Where an incorrect payment reference is used, the Student must provide the necessary Proof of Payment and information so that Finance can attempt to trace and allocate the transaction.

A Student should not make a duplicate payment merely because an earlier payment has not yet been identified unless specifically instructed by Finance.

14. EFT AND ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT METHODS

Recurring bank-card payment is the standard payment method for ordinary monthly tuition.

EFT may be accepted where:

a substantial portion of tuition is being paid in advance;

the full tuition amount is being settled;

the full programme amount is being settled; or

QCMD Institute Finance approves the arrangement in writing.

Acceptance of an EFT payment on one occasion does not create an ongoing right to pay ordinary monthly tuition by EFT.

Any exception remains subject to written approval by QCMD Institute Finance.

15. THIRD-PARTY PAYERS

Where another person or organisation undertakes responsibility for the Student’s fees, QCMD Institute may require the Responsible Payer to acknowledge the applicable payment obligations.

The Responsible Payer may be required to:

provide identifying and contact information;

authorise recurring card payments;

sign or accept the applicable payment arrangement; and

maintain a valid payment method.

A third-party payment arrangement does not automatically release the Student from responsibility unless QCMD Institute expressly agrees otherwise in writing.

16. CANCELLATION, WITHDRAWAL AND REFUNDS

A Student wishing to cancel or withdraw must notify QCMD Institute through an approved written communication channel.

Simply:

stopping attendance;

stopping card payments;

cancelling a card-payment authority;

ceasing to use the Student Portal or online learning environment; or

verbally advising a staff member

does not by itself constitute a completed cancellation.

Cancellation does not automatically extinguish fees or amounts that became lawfully due before the effective cancellation date.

Refunds, where applicable, remain subject to:

the circumstances of the cancellation;

reconciliation of the Student’s account;

the applicable Student Agreement;

these Terms and Conditions; and

applicable South African consumer law.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to remove a consumer right that may not lawfully be excluded.

17. DEBT AND COLLECTION

Amounts properly due and unpaid remain recoverable in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, the Student Agreement and applicable law.

Where appropriate, QCMD Institute may refer an overdue account for internal or external collection.

Collection charges, legal costs, interest or other recovery charges may only be imposed to the extent permitted by applicable law and the applicable agreement.

18. STUDENT INFORMATION

Students must ensure that information supplied to QCMD Institute remains accurate.

Students must promptly notify QCMD Institute of material changes to:

name;

identity or passport information;

physical address;

WhatsApp/mobile number;

email address;

Responsible Payer information;

bank-card or payment information where applicable; and

other information relevant to their registration.

19. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

QCMD Institute may communicate with applicants and students through approved channels including:

email;

WhatsApp;

SMS;

telephone;

Student Portal;

online learning environments; and

other approved electronic communication systems.

Students are responsible for monitoring the official email address, mobile number and other contact details supplied to QCMD Institute.

An applicant/student must notify QCMD Institute if these contact details change.

20. PRIVACY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

QCMD Institute may collect and process personal information reasonably required for:

applications;

admissions;

registration;

academic administration;

identity verification;

student support;

communications;

payments;

recurring-payment administration;

debt administration;

academic and accreditation processes;

certification processes;

regulatory reporting;

fraud prevention;

Student Portal administration; and

legitimate institutional administration.

Personal information will be processed in accordance with applicable South African data-protection requirements, including POPIA where applicable.

Information may be shared with authorised academic partners, accreditation partners, payment providers, technology service providers, regulatory bodies and other authorised service providers where reasonably necessary and lawfully permitted.

21. STUDY MATERIAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Study material supplied through QCMD Institute or its academic partners remains subject to applicable intellectual-property protections.

Students may not, without authorisation:

reproduce;

sell;

redistribute;

publish;

publicly upload;

commercially exploit;

share protected login credentials; or

provide unauthorised third-party access to

learning material, student systems, classes, recordings, assessments or digital resources.

22. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to:

participate appropriately in their programme;

attend and engage with required classes and learning activities;

complete required academic work and assessments;

comply with academic-integrity requirements;

behave respectfully towards staff and other students;

comply with applicable institutional policies;

maintain the required payment arrangement;

keep contact information current;

protect Student Portal and system login details; and

use academic and student-support services appropriately.

Serious or repeated misconduct may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the applicable process.

23. ONLINE AND CONTACT-CLASS DELIVERY

QCMD Institute provides nationwide online study and selected contact-class opportunities.

Contact classes are not guaranteed in every town, city or province.

Physical/contact delivery may be offered at selected centres, primarily within the:

Western Cape;

Eastern Cape; and

North West.

Locations remain subject to:

confirmed enrolment;

venue availability;

facilitator availability; and

operational feasibility.

QCMD Institute may reasonably change:

venues;

timetables;

facilitators;

delivery methods;

academic schedules; or

class arrangements

where operational or academic circumstances reasonably require this.

Where appropriate, contact delivery may be moved to online or distance delivery.

24. INTERNATIONAL / SADC APPLICANTS

Selected international or SADC applicants may be considered primarily for online study.

QCMD Institute does not guarantee that a South African qualification will automatically:

be recognised in another country;

meet a foreign licensing requirement;

confer employment rights;

meet immigration requirements; or

satisfy another country’s regulator.

International students remain responsible for determining additional requirements that may apply in their own country.

25. ACCREDITATION AND ACADEMIC PARTNERS

QCMD Institute delivers programmes through established academic and accreditation partnerships.

For the applicable January 2027 pathway, this may include T4 Technologies (Pty) Ltd, subject to the relevant programme, registration and academic arrangements.

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions should be interpreted as a claim that QCMD Institute itself holds direct accreditation in its own name where this has not formally been confirmed.

26. ASSESSMENT, RESULTS AND CERTIFICATION

Registration does not guarantee:

successful assessment;

progression;

programme completion;

certification; or

any particular academic outcome.

Students remain responsible for satisfying all applicable academic, practical, attendance, assessment and competency requirements.

Certificates, statements of results and related academic records may remain subject to:

successful programme completion;

assessment;

moderation;

verification;

certification processes;

academic-partner processes;

regulatory processes; and

lawful administrative requirements.

QCMD Institute cannot guarantee certificate-release dates controlled by external bodies.

27. EMPLOYMENT AND FURTHER STUDY

QCMD Institute does not guarantee:

employment;

promotion;

a salary increase;

admission to another institution;

professional registration;

eligibility for another programme; or

any immigration, licensing or regulatory outcome.

Further-study opportunities remain subject to the admissions requirements of the applicable institution.

28. EVENTS OUTSIDE REASONABLE CONTROL

QCMD Institute will make reasonable efforts to continue programme delivery when unforeseen circumstances arise.

QCMD Institute may reasonably adapt:

venues;

timetables;

delivery arrangements;

facilitator arrangements;

academic schedules;

technology platforms; or

operational processes

where circumstances outside its reasonable control require such changes.

29. NO WAIVER

Any extension, indulgence, payment accommodation or temporary relaxation granted by QCMD Institute does not constitute a permanent waiver of its rights.

Failure to immediately enforce a provision does not automatically prevent later enforcement.

30. ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE AND SIGNATURE

Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions may take place electronically.

By:

ticking the relevant Terms and Conditions acceptance checkbox;

submitting an electronic application or registration form;

electronically signing the applicable Student Agreement;

selecting an approved payment option;

entering bank-card details;

authorising a recurring payment arrangement; and/or

completing an electronic payment authority,

the Applicant, Student and/or Responsible Payer confirms their acceptance where legally valid.

The electronic:

date;

time;

contact record;

IP or system record where available;

form submission;

electronic signature;

payment authority; and

acceptance record

may be retained as evidence of acceptance.

31. STUDENT AGREEMENT

The applicable QCMD Institute Student Agreement forms part of the contractual relationship between QCMD Institute and the Student.

Where there is an approved student-specific:

payment schedule;

programme arrangement;

late-start arrangement; or

written amendment,

that approved arrangement must be read together with:

these Terms and Conditions;

the Student Agreement; and

the applicable programme information.

By electronically signing the Student Agreement, the Student confirms their prior acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and agrees to remain bound by them.

32. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

Nothing contained in these Terms and Conditions is intended to exclude any right or protection which may not legally be excluded.

33. FINAL APPLICANT / STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By accepting these Terms and Conditions, I confirm that:

I have read and understood these Terms and Conditions;

the information I supplied is true and correct;

I understand that submitting an application does not automatically mean I have been admitted or fully registered;

I understand that the Registration Fee is R2,000;

I understand that partial payment of the Registration Fee does not constitute completed registration;

I understand that Student Portal access may be granted following a qualifying first Registration Fee payment, but that such access does not mean that my full registration has been completed;

I understand that my full R2,000 Registration Fee must be successfully paid, verified and allocated before my registration is regarded as complete;

I understand that the standard total fee for the Occupational Certificate: Early Childhood Development Practitioner (NQF Level 4) is R13,500, comprising a R2,000 Registration Fee and R11,500 Tuition Fees;

I understand that the standard Level 4 tuition plan consists of 10 instalments of R1,150;

I understand that for the normal January 2027 Intake the first standard Level 4 tuition instalment becomes due on 25 February 2027;

I understand that the standard total fee for the Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development (NQF Level 5) is R14,000, comprising a R2,000 Registration Fee and R12,000 Tuition Fees;

I understand that the standard Level 5 tuition plan is paid over 10 tuition payment periods, normally consisting of 8 instalments of R1,000 and 2 instalments of R2,000;

I understand that the actual payment schedule may be adjusted where I commence later than the normal intake period;

I understand that an approved recurring bank-card payment arrangement is required for ordinary monthly tuition payments unless Finance approves an alternative arrangement in writing;

I authorise recurring payments in accordance with the payment arrangement I select and approve;

I understand that I must maintain a valid bank card and sufficient available funds;

I understand that cancelling or replacing my payment card does not cancel my underlying financial obligations;

I understand that ordinary monthly tuition payments are generally due on the 25th of each month;

I understand that I have until the last calendar day of the applicable month to resolve an outstanding monthly payment;

I understand that where an instalment remains unpaid, QCMD Institute may place me on financial suspension from the 1st day of the following month, subject to applicable legal and procedural requirements;

I understand that suspension may result in loss or restriction of access to classes, Student Portal services, academic systems, learning materials, assessments and support services;

I understand that persistent unresolved non-payment may result in deregistration;

I understand that suspension or deregistration does not automatically cancel amounts already lawfully due;

I understand that reinstatement following suspension or deregistration is not automatic;

I understand that submitting Proof of Payment does not itself constitute payment verification;

I understand that I must use my correct Student Account Number as my payment reference where a payment reference is required;

I understand that registration does not guarantee successful academic completion or certification;

I consent to the lawful processing of my personal information for the purposes described in these Terms and Conditions;

I understand that electronic communications, electronic signatures, Student Portal records and payment-authority records may form part of my official institutional record; and

I agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, the applicable Student Agreement and my approved payment arrangement, subject to applicable South African law.

Version Control: v2 updated: 18 October 2026