The Carlyle Institute in Dublin has become the 13th private college in Ireland to close in the last year. This month it shut its doors citing “adverse trading conditions” as the cause.
Just under 600 international students are registered at the college under the Garda National Immigration Bureau, and a further 35 have bought courses in advance but have not yet travelled to Ireland, according to the Irish Council of International Students.
“No student, whatever their situation, can expect an immediate refund of money paid”
“The Carlyle Institute regrets to announce that due to adverse trading conditions we will be closing with immediate effect,” reads a statement on its website.
“It was a privilege to work with so many talented staff and students and it’s our sincerest hope that everybody can be accommodated in this process.”
A liquidator meeting will be held on 24 April, which means that no refunds will be given to students until the end of the liquidation process, which is expected to take several months.
“Therefore, in Irish law, no student, whatever their situation, can expect an immediate refund of money paid,” warned ICOS.
“This is a challenge students have faced time and again when colleges have closed and is why ICOS continues to call for a system of escrow to keep students’ advance fees legally separate and secure to ensure they can be returned in the event of closure, visa refusal, etc.,” it said.
ICOS has said it will be “actively representing the interests of students”, both those already in Ireland and those yet to arrive, at the liquidator meeting.
The school is currently working with ICOS to support all of the affected students, it confirmed, and ICOS has held multiple information meetings for students.
Members of the recently formed Private College Network have meanwhile offered to take The Carlyle Institute’s students for no additional charge.
ICOS does not anticipate that students who have bought courses but have yet to travel will have immigration problems on arrival, it has said, if they wish to look for another college at which to continue their studies.
However, it added: “All decisions about whether to admit a specific student at port of entry are made by an individual immigration officer based on a number of considerations so ICOS can never say what will definitely happen or not happen in some kind of general way.”
ICOS has urged all affected students to contact the council as a matter of urgency to receive information and advice.
