General Terms and Conditions

General Terms and Conditions (GTC) - DKH Institut GmbH

1. Registration

1.1. Participation in our events is generally only possible with prior registration. Exception: Trial lessons.

1.2. Registration can be done in person, in writing, or online. Payment can be made via Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit card, bank transfer, or cash payment at the institute.

1.3. Your registration for the events of DKH Institut GmbH is binding and requires immediate payment of the fee.

1.4. For in-person registration, a down payment of at least 200 euros is required. The remaining balance must be paid no later than two weeks before the course starts. Otherwise, the full course fee will be 450 euros, and your place may be forfeited.

1.5. Course fees for a level (e.g., B2.1) in Hannover:

• Payment more than 1 month before course start: 390 euros
• Payment between 4 and 2 weeks before course start: 420 euros
• Payment less than 2 weeks before course start: 450 euros

1.6. Course fees for an online level (e.g., B2 Online):

• Payment more than 1 month before course start: 490 euros
• Payment between 4 and 2 weeks before course start: 520 euros
• Payment less than 2 weeks before course start: 550 euros

1.7. For in-person registration, you will receive the confirmation of registration immediately after payment. For online or written registration, it will be sent via email. Course attendance is only possible with a valid registration confirmation.

1.8. A separate invoice will be issued upon the explicit request of the customer. The participant may only start the course once full payment has been received. Exception: Trial lessons.

1.9. The examination for a DKH Institut GmbH certificate costs 170 euros.

1.10. Exam review is conducted under strict supervision by two teachers. Maximum participants per review session: 1 person. The use of pens, mobile phones, or any recording devices is prohibited. The review takes place exclusively on the institute’s premises. Cost: 120 euros.

2. Visa

2.1. Before registering, please check with the German embassy or consulate in your home country regarding current visa regulations. Note that obtaining a visa can take several months (often up to 3 months).

2.2. If a visa is required, the full fee for the course and accommodation must be paid in advance before a visa certificate can be issued. The certificate will be sent via email. Cost: 100 euros (free if at least three courses are booked).

2.3. All booked courses must be consecutive; breaks between courses are not allowed.

2.4. If the visa is denied and notification is provided more than one month before the course starts, a refund will be issued minus a processing fee of 200 euros and any applicable bank charges.

2.5. Refund of 250 euros for cancellations 30 to 14 calendar days before the course starts.

2.6. No refund less than 14 calendar days before the course starts or in case of non-attendance.

3. Cancellations

3.1. Cancellations must be submitted in writing. Cancellation fees:

• Up to 30 days before the course starts: 200 euros
• 30 to 14 days before the course starts: 250 euros
• Less than 14 days before the course starts or non-attendance: No refund

3.2. Proof (e.g., medical certificate, visa rejection) is required.

3.3. The original registration confirmation must be returned. Each case will be reported to the immigration office.

3.4. Refunds are only made via bank transfer within 14 business days.

3.5. No refunds for course withdrawal or interruptions. Missed course days cannot be made up or refunded.

3.6. After a course rescheduling, cancellation is no longer possible.

3.7. If a deposit has been made, cancellation is not allowed.

3.8. If a visa certificate has been issued, cancellation is only possible in case of visa rejection.

3.9. If you paid for the waiting list and did not get a spot, you will receive a full refund. If a registration confirmation has been issued, cancellation is not possible, but rescheduling is.

3.10. No refunds in cases of force majeure, natural disasters, or epidemics. If the course cannot be held at the premises of DKH Institut GmbH, classes will be conducted online. If you are not in Germany, courses can be rescheduled or frozen. Rescheduling fees are outlined in section 4.

4. Rescheduling

4.1. Fees for rescheduling:

• From ∞ to 30 calendar days before course start: 200 euros
• Less than 30 calendar days before course start: 250 euros
• After course start, switching to another course on the same date is only possible within the first two course days, in consultation with the teacher and subject to availability – 250 euros
• Changing the course date after it has started costs 390 euros

4.2. A rescheduling can be postponed by a maximum of 2 months and may only be done once.

4.3. Proof is required in all cases.

4.4. Course rescheduling to another person is possible if the person can prove the required language level. The rescheduling fee is 100 euros. The new participant cannot reschedule or cancel the course again.

4.5. The registration confirmation must be presented for rescheduling.

4.6. Rescheduling is only allowed within the same course level (e.g., from A1 to A1). Moving from A1 to A2 is not possible unless the participant presents a TELC certificate.

4.7. By carrying out a rescheduling, the GTC are deemed to be accepted again.

4.8. If the course fees before and after the rescheduling differ, the participant must pay the difference.

5. Scope of Services

5.1. The content of the events of DKH Institut GmbH is exclusively derived from the official course program. Oral commitments or descriptions are not binding. Instructors are not authorized to make individual agreements.

5.2. DKH Institut GmbH reserves the right to have events conducted by different instructors. Course location and time may also be changed for valid reasons within reasonable limits.

5.3. Each morning and afternoon course consists of 88 teaching units (45 minutes each), including breaks and exam times. If the course has fewer than 8 participants, the number of teaching hours will be adjusted (see 10.4).

5.4. An additional course with 2 teaching units per week takes place on Saturdays at 11:00 AM. This is a communication course that can be added to standard courses. To meet the visa requirement of 20 teaching hours per week, the communication course can be added to evening courses.

5.5. If fewer than 4 participants attend a course, it is considered private tuition, and the number of lessons will be reduced by 50%.

6. Course Allocation, Course Goals, and Requirements

6.1. Final course allocation is determined by DKH Institut GmbH at the beginning of the course.

6.2. Minimum age for participation: 16 years. Participants must be able to read and write the Latin script.

6.3. Regular attendance (at least 90%), active participation, and completion of written assignments are required to achieve the course goal.

6.4. If a participant does not meet the basic requirements or cannot keep up with the course level, DKH Institut GmbH may assign them to a lower level after consulting the course instructor.

6.5. DKH Institut GmbH does not guarantee a specific learning outcome. The specified teaching units are minimum requirements but may vary depending on individual needs.

6.6. Participants who have attended more than 50% of the second part of a course level can take the DKH test free of charge and receive a DKH certificate.

6.7. Language proficiency must be proven before course start via a placement test or a recent language certificate (not older than 6 months).

7. Termination by DKH Institut GmbH

7.1. If a participant disrupts the course through their behavior or fails to comply with the participation conditions, DKH Institut GmbH has the right to exclude them from the course without notice. In this case, there is no entitlement to a refund of the course fees.

7.2. If the course fee has not been fully paid and more than 2 days have passed since the course start, DKH Institut GmbH has the right to exclude the participant from the course without notice. No refund of course fees will be granted in this case.

7.3. DKH Institut GmbH reserves the right to cancel courses without giving reasons. In such cases, course fees already paid will be fully refunded, minus a processing fee and any bank charges incurred. Liability for further costs or damages due to the cancellation is not assumed.

8. Liability

8.1. You are liable for any damages caused by you during your stay and are obliged to provide compensation. DKH Institut GmbH assumes no liability for potential damages, injuries, or the loss of personal belongings and clothing.

8.2. Legal guardians are liable for minors.

8.3. Participation in our leisure activities is at your own risk.

8.4. We recommend taking out health, accident, and liability insurance. Course participants are neither accident nor health insured by DKH Institut GmbH.

8.5. We assume no liability for damages or costs resulting from the cancellation of an event.

9. General Provisions

9.1. Textbooks are not included in the course prices.

9.2. Unless otherwise stated, no classes are held on German public holidays. Missed lessons due to public holidays will be rescheduled.

9.3. The allocation of teaching staff for courses and training sessions is determined by DKH Institut GmbH. There is no entitlement to instruction by a specific teacher.

9.4. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance if they have attended at least 70% of the course. Certificates/confirmations of attendance for ongoing courses are issued free of charge.

10. Cancellation by DKH Institut GmbH, Reduction of Course Duration, Event Cancellation

10.1. Events may be canceled by DKH Institut GmbH if:
a) the instructor is unavailable,
b) the minimum number of participants is not met,
c) no available rooms are accessible.

10.2. If an event does not take place, DKH Institut GmbH will inform you immediately. If you have a long journey, please check with our registration offices before traveling to confirm if the event is still happening.

10.3. If an event is canceled, any course fees already paid will be refunded.

10.4. If an event does not reach the required minimum number of participants by the third session, it will be shortened. The reduction will be implemented while maintaining the planned content and course structure as follows:

• 8 participants – 100% of the planned course duration
• 7 participants – 86% of the planned course duration
• 6 participants – 72% of the planned course duration
• 5 participants – 58% of the planned course duration
• 4 participants – 50% of the planned course duration
• 3 participants – 42% of the planned course duration
• 2 participants – 27% of the planned course duration
• 1 participant – 10% of the planned course duration

10.5. If participant numbers are limited, DKH Institut GmbH reserves the right to overbook courses, provided this remains reasonable for the participants and maintains the intended structure and content of the event.

10.6. We assume no liability for damages or costs resulting from the cancellation of an event.

11. Right of Withdrawal

11.1. You have the right to withdraw from the contract/registration within fourteen days without stating reasons, unless you have given your consent to the early expiration of the withdrawal right.

11.2. The withdrawal period is fourteen days from the date of contract conclusion (from the day of registration).

11.3. You may withdraw from the contract within 14 calendar days from the contract conclusion without stating any reasons by submitting a written withdrawal declaration (e.g., letter, email). It is sufficient if the withdrawal declaration is sent within this period (the date of the postmark is decisive). Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays are included in this period.

11.4. The written withdrawal declaration must be addressed to:
DKH Institut GmbH
Hamburger Allee 42, 30161 Hannover, Germany
Email: [email protected]

11.5. You also have the option to withdraw in person at DKH Institut GmbH within the withdrawal period.

11.6. If you withdraw from this contract, we will refund all payments received from you immediately and at the latest within fourteen days from the date we received your withdrawal notification.

11.7. If you have requested that the services begin during the withdrawal period, you must pay us a reasonable amount according to our GTCs, which corresponds to the proportion of services already provided up to the time at which you informed us of the exercise of the withdrawal right in relation to the total scope of the contractually agreed services.

12. Certificates

12.1. Registration confirmation – 0 euros

12.2. Certificate of attendance – 0 euros

12.3. Holiday certificate – 10 euros

12.4. Confirmation of participation – 10 euros

12.5. Visa confirmation – 100 euros (free if at least three courses are booked).

13. Notice Regarding the Early Expiry of the Withdrawal Right

13.1. Your 14-day withdrawal right expires early in a service contract if DKH Institut GmbH has fully provided the service or has begun executing the service only after you have given your consent and simultaneously confirmed your awareness that you will lose your withdrawal right.

13.2. Classes can only be conducted or any confirmations/certificates provided if you agree to the early commencement of services.

14. Online Materials

14.1. The provision of materials is done through access to a password-protected, customer-specific area of DKH Institut GmbH.

14.2. The customer is obliged to check their email account regularly.

All information provided is without guarantee. Typographical errors and changes are reserved. The contractual language is German.