Transfers and Deferrals

At a Glance

This policy applies to individual learners on our scheduled courses, whether in person at Mazzeh Western Villas or live online. It works together with our Refunds and Cancellations Policy, and the same notice periods apply in both.

A transfer moves your existing enrolment and the fees you have paid to another cohort, course or format. A deferral is a transfer where you have not yet chosen the new date, for example while you recover from illness or finish a work assignment.

• One free transfer per enrolment, requested in writing before the course starts.
• After the start, one free transfer if you have attended less than 25% of the sessions.
• Your new cohort must start within 6 months of your original start date.
• Switching course: pay or receive credit for any fee difference.
• Switching between in-person and live online: free, subject to availability.
• Documented illness or emergencies: we may extend the 6-month window once.

Moving to a Later Cohort of the Same Course

You may move to a later cohort of the same course once, free of charge, if you ask in writing before your course starts. If you ask at least 7 calendar days before the start, you could choose a refund instead under our Refunds and Cancellations Policy; within the final 7 days, the free transfer remains available.

The new cohort must start within 6 months of your original start date. If no suitable cohort is scheduled in that time, we will offer you a place on the next one available or another course of equal value, or you may withdraw under the refund terms that applied on the day you first asked to transfer.

Once a course has started, a free transfer is still possible once if you have attended less than 25% of the scheduled sessions. Our certificate requires 80% attendance, and attendance is counted afresh in your new cohort.

Switching to a Different Course

If you would rather join a different course, we will move what you have paid across to it. Where the new course costs more, you pay the difference before it starts, either in full or under an instalment plan agreed in writing. Where it costs less, the difference is held as credit for a course starting within 6 months, or refunded to you within 14 days if you prefer.

Our advisers are happy to talk through your options first, so that the course you move to suits your level and goals.

Switching Between In-Person and Live Online

Many of our courses run both in our Damascus classrooms and as live online classes. You may switch from one format to the other, free of charge, where the same course is running in the format you want and a seat is available. Moving format in this way does not count as your one free transfer if you stay on the same dates.

If you change format and dates at the same time, it counts as a transfer to a later cohort. Self-paced library access and Alalamia Unlimited are separate products, so moving from a live course into them is treated as switching to a different course.

Deferring for Illness, Travel or Work

If illness, necessary travel or work commitments mean you cannot attend as planned, tell us as early as you can. Before the course starts, you can defer without giving a reason or providing documents, using your one free transfer.

If something serious happens after the course has started, such as illness, a family emergency or an unexpected work posting, we will look at your situation with care even if you have attended more than 25% of the sessions. In these cases we ask for reasonable supporting evidence, for example a medical note or a letter from your employer, and we keep it confidential.

Where your circumstances are documented, we may also extend the 6-month window once, by up to a further 6 months. We will confirm any decision in writing.

When a Transfer Is Not Possible

We always try to find a way to help, but a transfer cannot usually be offered in the following cases:

• You have already used your free transfer for this enrolment; further requests are at our discretion and confirmed in writing.
• You have attended 25% or more of the course, unless the deferral rules for serious circumstances apply.
• The course has finished. If you completed it, you may be eligible for our separate free re-attendance offer instead.
• No cohort of the course is running within the transfer window and no suitable alternative is acceptable to you.
• Self-paced library access or Alalamia Unlimited, once activated, cannot be transferred to another person or product.
• Exam vouchers and exam bookings follow the exam provider's own rescheduling rules, not this policy.

Learners Sponsored by an Employer

If your place is paid for by your employer, any transfer, deferral or change of format needs your organisation's approval. Please ask your training or HR contact to confirm the request with us in writing.

For group and in-house training, changes to dates or participants follow the terms in the signed proposal. We will always try to accommodate reasonable changes, such as replacing one participant with a colleague.

How to Request a Transfer or Deferral

Send your request in writing by email to info@alalamia-sy.com or by WhatsApp to +963 991 099 555. Please include your full name, the course and start date, what you would like to change and, where relevant, any supporting documents and a copy of your payment receipt.

We will reply with the options available and confirm your new arrangement in writing. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can make a complaint: we acknowledge complaints within 2 working days and answer them in full within 10 working days.

Other policies

• Refunds and cancellations
• Course retakes and exam resits
• Exam rescheduling and no-shows
• Attendance and certificates
• Code of conduct
• Complaints and feedback
• Exam accommodations
• Fees and payment
• All policies