Lorena Prasca Ramirez, an architect from Colombia, said she paid more than €2,800 (US$3,277) for a 25-week English course at NED College in February last year. Her visa application was denied in June, after which she requested a refund.
Ramirez said she repeatedly contacted the school, which initially cited administrative delays before ceasing communication altogether in October.
“That’s a significant amount of money in Colombia. I feel deceived and have lost all trust,” she told RTÉ News.
Last month, the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) contacted NED College regarding her unpaid refund and another similar case, but said it had received no response.
Ten months after her initial request, Prasca Ramirez, an architect in Colombia, was still awaiting reimbursement. It was only last Tuesday that she was informed her refund is now being processed.
Her case is not isolated.
Following this, ICOS issued a warning on its Facebook page, stating it had received complaints from at least 30 students, with total withheld fees reaching €60,000, and said it is “deeply concerned” about the situation.
A procession moves past Trinity College on Saint Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland, March 17, 2021. Photo by Reuters |
In a post on its Facebook page last week, the organization warned that the true figure could be significantly higher, with many affected students coming from developing countries such as Cambodia and Colombia.
Under rules set by the Irish Department of Justice, non-European Economic Area students must pay full tuition fees before applying for a study visa. If the visa is refused, schools are required to issue refunds within 20 days.
Speaking to The PIE NewsICOS policy and communications manager Brian Hearne described the situation as “unacceptable,” warning that such practices cause financial hardship and risk damaging Ireland’s reputation as an education destination.
He called for stronger oversight and a formal investigation by the Department of Justice.
The names of the schools involved have not been disclosed.
However, English Education Ireland said the institutions in question are not among its members, adding that EEI-affiliated schools adhere to high standards and process refunds promptly, according The PIE News.
EEI also noted that the government is rolling out the TrustEd Ireland system, a quality assurance framework for education providers. Institutions that fail to meet required standards may lose the right to recruit non-EU students.
Ireland remains a major hub for English-language education, with demand continuing to grow. Enrollment reached a record 44,500 students in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to a recent report by ApplyBoard.
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