Terms & Conditions

1.1  These terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) represent an agreement between the Academy (“us”, “we” or “our”) and you (“you” or “your”). By accepting your Offer, or by continuing your registration, you accept these Terms and Conditions in full. If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms and Conditions, you should contact us using the Contact Us link on our website before accepting the Offer. Where any words are capitalized throughout these Terms and Conditions, they shall have the meanings set out below.

1.2 Definitions

In these Terms and Conditions:

“Academic Year” For the purposes of this document, this means the period for which the Program of study starts and finishes. An Academic Year starts in October or January of any given calendar year, and may have entry points throughout this period.
“Application Fee” Means the non-refundable fee if applicable for your application to be considered by ZD Academy
“Cancellation Date” As set out in clause 16.2
“ZD-Academy  Complaints Policy” Means our Complaints Policy which can be by accessing the links set out in clause 1.3.
“Continuing Registration Fee” Means the fee which you are required to pay (where applicable) in order to re-register with us for each Academic Year after the first year of your studies.
“Contract” Means the agreement between you and us in relation to your studying a Program through the Academy. These Terms and Conditions and the regulations, policies and procedures referred to in this document form the Contract.
“Fee Payment Methods” online via ”Book Now” button
“Offer” means an offer of a place on a Program
“Program” Means your prospective or registered program of study with the Academy.
“Program Fees” means fees payable to the Academy which include, where applicable, Registration Fees, Continuing Registration Fees, and any other module / course fees.

published fee for the relevant Program.
“ZD Academy Recognized Teaching Centre” Means a teaching centre that supports students studying a Program that is recognized by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority and ‘others’ such as ACCA for same.
“Registration Deadline” Means the last date for online registration with us as notified to you in the Offer.
“Registration Fee” Means the fee you are required to pay to register with us for your chosen Program.
“Study Session” Means a defined period of time allocated for the study of a specified module, or modules.
“ZD Academy” or “Academy”

ZD Academy is a trade name of Zampa Debattista (Civil Partnership Registration Number: AB/2/14/04) of 230, 230 Second Floor Triq Il-Kungress Ewkaristiku Mosta MST 9039 Malta. ZD Academy is a higher education institution licensed under the Further and Higher Education (Licensing, Accreditation and Quality Assurance) Regulations and holds license number 2021-010.

“Virtual Learning Environment” Means the virtual learning environment that provides you with access to your Program materials. This includes the ZD Academy Virtual Learning Environment or, where applicable, external platforms, such as ACCA, Awards or CPEs

1.3 In addition to these Terms and Conditions, there are other regulations, policies and procedures which apply to your registration (or continuing registration) at ZD Academy and your Program. Details of the regulations, policies and procedures applicable at the time of accepting these Terms and Conditions, and the location of such documents, can be found in the table below. It is your responsibility to read these documents carefully as they, together with these Terms and Conditions, form the Contract between us and you. You acknowledge that you may be required to accept terms to use an external party’s Virtual Learning Environment where your Program is delivered on a third-party platform.

Document Location of Document
1.3.1 ZD Academy Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations

Policies – ZD Academy

Terms & Conditions – ZD Academy

1.3.2 General Regulations

Policies – ZD Academy

Privacy Policy – ZD Academy

1.3.3 Program Specifications

ACCA in Malta – ZD Academy

Sample of same; ACCA Business and Technology (FBT/BT) – ZD Academy

How to book an ACCA course – ZD Academy

Sample of MFHEA accredited Award; MQF5 Award in GAPSME – ZD Academy

1.3.4 Program Regulations

Regulations | ACCA Global

Home Page – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

Referencing Report – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

Quality Assurance Overview – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

Malta Qualifications Framework – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

Legislation – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

Useful Links – Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (mfhea.mt)

The Malta Institute of Accountants – ACCREDITATION RULES (miamalta.org)

MIA-ACCA Joint Scheme (miamalta.org)

1.3.5 ZD Academy Student Complaints and Academic Appeals Procedure Policies – ZD Academy
1.3.6 ZD Academy: Code of Student Conduct Policies – ZD Academy
1.3.7 Intellectual Property Policy – Part E of the policy applies to students Policies – ZD Academy
1.3.8 Data Protection Policy Privacy Policy – ZD Academy
1.3.9 Fees Schedule

Posted online for all programs individually. Kindly see here; ACCA Strategic Business Leader (SBL/P1/P3) – ZD Academy

Professional fees payable to ACCA/MIA The Malta Institute of Accountants – JOINT SCHEME STUDENT FEES (miamalta.org)

ACCA Maltese approved Exam centre fee Centre exams | ACCA Global

1.3.10 ZD Academy Refund and Compensation Policy

·        A refund can be obtained in circumstances such as ill-health and other instances which are not within an individual’s control, but which can be verified by the educational institution upon submission of proof provided from the student such as a medical certificate from a licensed Medical Practitioner.

·        In such instances the Academy will do all in its power to ensure the student(s) are refunded their course fee due to ill health. A full refund and or offer will be made to the student together with the option to enrol on the next available program of study of their choosing.

·        Should the student choose a refund then this will be actioned via Bank Transfer through the SWIFT Banking system within 5 working days.

·        Should a student choose to cancel their agreement before the start of the programme they will receive a full refund of the course fee less the cost of their course books together with an administration fee of 45 Euro.

·        Should the student return the coursebooks in the condition they were given in utmost good faith initially then the cost of the course book(s) will be waived.

·        Should a student wish to withdraw from their agreement with the Academy, after the cancellation period has lapsed and offer no valid reason for same then no refund will be due.

·        If a student decides to withdraw from their program of study before the end of the educational programme and does not provide a valid reason for same, then no refund will be due.

·        ZD Academy reserves the right to set the timeframe and terms of reference within which a request for a refund is to be actioned. The Academy will always conduct itself to the highest standards of integrity and honesty in all dealings with students.

·        Student(s) are expected to exercise the same high standards of professional behaviour to ensure a fair and equitable solution can be realized between both parties should the need arise.

·        Moreover, it must be noted that all students enrolling upon the ACCA program of study are bound by the  ACCA code of ethics and conduct | ACCA Global

·        Dispute Resolution. Should a dispute arise. The Academy will at its own cost engage an independent facilitator to arbitrate and settle same in a collaborative and inclusive manner.

·        This agreement does not preclude the student from exercising their rights re the Consumer Affairs Act (Cap378 Laws of Malta)

1.3.11 VLE Code of Conduct Policies – ZD Academy
1.3.12 Portal Terms and Conditions Policies – ZD Academy
1.3.13 Student Privacy Notice

Policies – ZD Academy

Privacy Policy – ZD Academy

2 APPLICATION

2.1 We will only assess your application once you have paid any Application Fee relevant to your Program.

2.2 It is your responsibility to ensure that all of the information, which you provide to us, is true, accurate, and complete, and that you have not omitted any key information.

2.3 If we discover that your application contains incorrect or fraudulent information or if you are found to have omitted key information from your application, we may withdraw or amend any Offer. If such information is discovered after you have registered with us or after you graduate, we have the right to terminate your registration without compensating you and/or revoke any subsequent award.

3 EVIDENCE OF QUALIFICATIONS

Where we require satisfactory evidence of your qualifications:

3.1 Before receiving your Offer, you will be required to provide or facilitate the provision of verified copies of your transcripts and/or certificates. Acceptable means of providing these documents and their verification are set out on the website.

3.2 ZD Academy randomly samples and audits the authenticity of the documentation provided to us under clause 3.1. We will normally request evidence of your qualifications directly from the awarding body. If we do not receive evidence to our satisfaction, this may prevent us from making you an offer.

4   OFFERS

4.1 If you meet the academic requirements and any other applicable requirements for admission upon making your application to us, we will make you an offer.

4.2 If you do not yet meet the requirements for admission upon making your application to us, you will receive an advice letter setting out any outstanding academic and/or other requirements for admission that you will need to satisfy within a timeframe set out in that letter.

4.3 Once you notify us that you have satisfied any outstanding requirements and have provided evidence that is acceptable to us, both within the timeframe set out in the advice letter, we will make you an offer.

4.4 If you have not satisfied the outstanding requirements within the timeframe set out in the advice letter, your application and the content of the advice letter will be deemed to have expired, and you will have to reapply.

5  CHANGES TO AN OFFER

5.1 We may make changes to the Offer at any time before you accept it. We will inform you as soon as possible and issue an updated offer.

6  CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM PRIOR TO REGISTRATION

6.1 Due to the period between publication and your registration, circumstances may change due to factors beyond our reasonable control and therefore it may sometimes be necessary to vary the content of the Program or services described in the prospectus. We will use reasonable efforts to ensure that changes are kept to a minimum, but if we are required to make any material changes to your Program (as described in the Offer and/or prospectus) before you register at the Academy, we shall bring these to your attention as soon as possible. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change/s will adversely affect you, you may withdraw your application for the Program or apply to another program offered by us for which you are qualified. Where you withdraw your application in these circumstances, any Application Fee paid by you will be refunded.

6.2  Cancellation of Program

We will use all reasonable efforts to deliver all Programs described in the prospectus. However, if there are insufficient student numbers either to make a Program viable or to deliver a quality student experience, we may cancel the Program. If you have received an offer for any Program described in the prospectus, but we discontinue the Program prior to your registration with the Academy, we will notify you as soon as possible and, where possible, we will recommend an alternative University Program for which you are qualified. If we are unable to provide a suitable alternative Program, or if you are unhappy with the recommended alternative Program, you may withdraw your application. Where you withdraw your application in these circumstances, any Application Fee paid by you will be refunded.

7 ACCEPTANCE OF AN OFFER

7.1 If you have met all the academic and/or other requirements for admission and have received an Offer from us, you can accept the Offer by registering with us online by the Registration deadline.

7.2 If you do not register with us online by the Registration Deadline, your Offer will lapse.

8 CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM AFTER REGISTRATION

8.1.1 Once you have registered as a student of ZD Academy, we will use our reasonable efforts to deliver your Program as per the terms of the contract.

8.1.2 In circumstances where there is no material disadvantage to you, we reserve the right to make minor variations to the contents or methods of delivery of Programs from those described in the prospectus. These will be made to improve the quality of the educational services, to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body, or in response to student feedback. How we notify you will depend on the nature of the changes but, in any event, such changes will be recorded in the updated Program information on our website.

8.1.3 In circumstances where it is necessary to make a material change to your Program (likely to have a significant impact on your studies as reasonably determined by us), we will consult with you before final decisions are made and consider your concerns. We will assess these against the needs of the wider student body. If you are unhappy with the material change(s) to your Program, you may cancel the Contract and withdraw from the Program without incurring any further liability for Program Fees and we may refund your Program Fees paid to date.

8.2 Discontinuing a Program

If we discontinue your Program because of matters beyond our control and we are unable to complete delivery of the Program, we will inform you as soon as is reasonably possible. In such circumstances we will endeavor to offer the Program for a period of up to 3 years from such notification or until the last student has completed their studies, if this is sooner.

If, following such notice, we are unable to offer the Program for a period of up to 3 years or until the last student has completed their studies, if this is sooner, then we will use all reasonable efforts to transfer you to a suitable alternative Program for which you are qualified. If we are unable to provide a suitable alternative Program, or if you are unhappy with the recommended alternative Program, you may cancel the Contract and withdraw from the Program without incurring any further liability for Program Fees and we may refund Program Fees paid to date.

8.3 Refund and Compensation Policy

Fees may be refunded in accordance with ZD Academy’s refund policy listed in 1.3.10 above.

9.1 We shall:

deliver your Program with reasonable care and skill and in accordance with the description applied to it in the Program Specification for the Academic Year; and
Clearly set out the academic requirements for the Program to you.

9.2 You shall:

use all efforts to fulfil the academic requirements of your Program in accordance with the terms of the Contract, including ensuring that all work you submit is entirely your own; and
Ensure that you have appropriate access to a computer, internet connection, and any related requirements in line with the technical specifications of your Program.
You acknowledge that degrees obtained by online and distance learning are not always recognized by relevant authorities such as ministries of education or regulators, including for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. You recognize that it is solely your responsibility to check the position regarding such recognition in your local context before registering for an online and distance degree, whether or not supported by a Recognized Teaching Centre.

You agree to pay all fees required for your Program. These consist of Program Fees and any applicable charges associated with your study with us. Information in relation to Program Fees and how to pay can be found at clause 1.3.9. Fees are only payable in accordance with the Fee Payment Methods.
The following elements of the Program Fees, as applicable, are non-transferable within the same Academic Year and cannot be carried forward to subsequent Academic Years:
Registration Fee if applicable; and/or
Continuing Registration Fee if applicable; and/or
Program fees
Any fees payable to external parties, including, where applicable, examination centers, and professional membership fees et al are your sole responsibility
You acknowledge that, where applicable and in line with our fee’s schedules in clause 1.3.9, certain fees are not included in your Program Fees and are payable to us separately. These include non-refundable fees in respect of a number of optional services.
Where the Academy is required to pay local taxes or charges to relevant authorities in connection with your course of study, we will add these charges to your Program Fees.
Fees may be refunded in line with ZD Academy’s refund policy as listed in clause 1.3.10 above.

11.1 To register for a Program of study, you must pay the Registration Fee in accordance with the applicable fee schedule if relevant. Until the Registration Fee is paid in full:

11.1.1 you cannot register with us for your studies;

11.1.2 and we will not release your Program materials to you, including through the Virtual Learning Environment.

12.1 As part of your obligation to pay any applicable Program Fees, where you are required to pay a Continuing Registration Fee as indicated in the relevant Program fee schedule, you must do this when requested for each subsequent program of study.

12.2 Until the Continuing Registration Fee is paid in full:

12.2.1 you cannot re-register with us;

12.2.2 we will not release the relevant Program materials to you, including through the Virtual Learning Environment; and

12.2.3 you will not be able to enter any assessments for the Academic Year;

12.3 Where no Continuing Registration Fee is payable, you may still be required to re-register with us for each subsequent program of study. Until you re-register, we will not release the relevant Program materials to you, including through the Virtual Learning Environment.

13.1 If a third party is paying all or part of your fees on your behalf, you will remain liable for the payment of those fees in all respects, including (without limitation) the  consequences of non-payment, late payment or failed payment by the third party.

14.1 Until all outstanding Program Fees are paid to us, we reserve the right at any time to suspend or withhold all education-related services and facilities (including assessment entry, Virtual Learning Environment services, and provision of student support).

14.2 Before exercising our rights under clause 14.1, we will give you reasonable notice of our intentions. Kindly note, that once your Program starts we are unable to action any refunds as a result of changes in your personal circumstances.

14.3 If you are in debt to us for Program Fees, you may not be allowed to sit your examinations and we reserve the right not to allow you to register for the next Study session.

14.4 If you are in the final part of your Program, we will not release your certificate, or a letter of confirmation of award, until all outstanding Program Fees are paid. In order to attend the Graduation your Program Fees must be paid in full.

15.1 If the Program of study requires you to pay exam fees to a professional body such as ACCA or membership fees to the Malta Institute of Accountants, you will pay such fees directly to same. Kindly note, the fee you pay ZD Academy for your ACCA module do not include your ACCA/MIA fees. Furthermore, ACCA Exam Centre’s may request an additional cost for use of their facilities. These fees in addition to the above are in addition to any fees payable to the Academy. Your relationship with ACCA and MIA and the exam center you chose to sit for your ACCA membership fee fall outside of this Contract.

15.2 As per the ACCA/MIA joint scheme in Malta all students registering for the ACCA program of study must be registered with ACCA and MIA prior to starting their ACCA module(s). For further information kindly see here; https://www.miamalta.org/students/MIA-ACCA-Joint-Scheme . Once completed students are required to send their ACCA/MIA membership numbers to info@zdacademy.com

16.1 You may cancel this Contract within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of payment of the Program Fees (“the Cancellation Period”), unless the Program has started before the end of the Cancellation Period.

16.2 To cancel the Contract within the Cancellation Period, you must clearly inform us of your decision to cancel via email on info@zdacademy.com . The date we receive the notice shall be deemed the “Cancellation Date”.

16.3 If you have made any payment, or any payment has been made on your behalf under this Contract before the Cancellation Date, excluding payment of the Application Fee, then we will provide you with a full refund as soon as reasonably possible but in any event at the later of:

a. 14 days from the Cancellation Date; or

b. 14 days from the Academy receiving returned physical materials or receiving satisfactory evidence that the materials have been returned, whichever is earlier.

16.4 Where you have received any physical materials, you will have to bear the direct cost of returning these to us in case of cancellation. Where you have received any licensed materials, these should not be accessed without specific instruction from your Academy Manager. If you fail to return the physical materials to us, or access the licensed digital materials without specific instruction, we will deduct the cost of the physical materials or the licensed digital materials, as applicable, from the monies you have paid to us, prior to making the refund.

16.5 We may make a deduction from the refund for loss in value of any materials supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

17.1 Persons wishing to make a complaint should refer to our Complaints Policy, which sets out our policy for dealing with complaints received from current and former students of ZD Academy. It also explains how to file a complaint and how we investigate legitimate complaints. Complaints should be made in writing using our Complaints Form.

17.2 You cannot submit an appeal against the result of an assessment on academic grounds. The grounds under which an appeal may be submitted are detailed in the ZD Academy Procedure for Student Complaints as stated here; Contact – ZD Academy

17.3 Any student that wishes to make a complaint to ACCA regarding our institution will be advised to follow our institution’s complaints procedure first. If the complaint is not handled to your satisfaction, the student then has the option to escalate their complaint to ACCA. If a student has exhausted both our complaints process and ACCA’s, they can escalate to the appropriate regulator. Details of which can be found on the ACCA website at the following link: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/footer-toolbar/contact-us/unhappy.html

18.1 In instances of misconduct by you (including behavior online), we may take disciplinary action against you under the Academy Code of Student Discipline at clause 1.3.6 above. One of the possible outcomes of such an action is that your Contract with us may be terminated and you may be removed from the Program. As a consequence, you will not be entitled to any refund.

19.1 You will comply with our Intellectual Property Policy at clause 1.3.7 above throughout the Program.

20. 1 ZD Academy values your privacy and cares about the way in which your personal information is processed. We process personal data in accordance with the GDPR and our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, share, and transfer your personal data. It also explains your data privacy rights in relation to the personal data shared or available to us.

21.1.      In order to pursue a Program you will require as a minimum:

Access to a PC or laptop;
Access to your own email address and mailbox;
Ability to connect to the internet via a broadband connection;
Calculator;
Access to Adobe Acrobat Reader;
Access to Microsoft Word or equivalent software;
Access to Microsoft Excel or equivalent software.

22.1.  We may change a Program and these terms at our own discretion subject to providing you with notice of such changes by email. Such changes will typically be made in the following cases.

To reflect changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements.
To correct errors in Program materials.
If a third party such as a government body, an awarding body or professional institute which governs ZD Academy or a Program imposes the changes on us, such as amending a policy or procedure, changing the syllabus or method of assessment.
To implement minor technical adjustments and improvements, which will not affect the delivery of a Program.
To ensure consistency with professional education sector practice and guidance.
To accommodate minor or temporary changes to dates and locations, which do not impact on the overall provision of the Program.

23.1. Without prejudice to other terms contained herein or in any of the documents listed in clause 1.3, we may end the Contract with you in any of the following cases:

if you fail to comply with any of these terms and conditions;
if you do not make payment to us when requested;
if you withdraw from the Program after the start date;
if you fail to start the Program on the agreed start date;
where a student is in breach of their student visa or fails to obtain the any requisite student visa to pursue the Program;
if the continuation of the Contract could expose ZD Academy, our staff or officers to actual or potential harm, loss or other adverse consequence;
in the event of a force majeure event as specified in clause 25 of these Terms and Conditions.

23.2. If we end the Contract in advance of the Program start date, we will refund any money you have paid in advance or the Program, but we may deduct from that refund as reasonable compensation for the net costs we will incur as a result of ending your Contract.

24.1. We are responsible to you for foreseeable loss and damage caused by us. If we fail to comply with these terms, we are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breaking this Contract or our failing to use reasonable care and skill, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable

24.2. If defective digital content which we have supplied damages a device or digital content belonging to you and this is caused by our failure to use reasonable care and skill we will either repair the damage or pay you compensation. However, we will not be liable for damage which you could have avoided by following our advice to apply an update offered to you free of charge or for damage which was caused by you failing to correctly follow installation instructions or to have in place the minimum system requirements advised by us It is your responsibility to use virus checking software.

24.3. We only supply the courses for domestic and private use. If you use the courses for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose we will have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.

application data will form part of your student record. By entering into the Contract with us, you are agreeing to us holding and processing your personal data including;

Your identification card/passport and or qualifications and academic transcripts
Some special category personal data. We will process your personal data in accordance with Data Protection legislation, our Data Protection Policy at clause 1.3.8 above, and our Student Privacy Notice at clause 1.3.13 above.
You agree that our Data Protection Policy and Student Privacy Notice, which can be found here Privacy Policy – ZD Academy apply to your application and throughout your registration with

25.1.   If any party to this Contract (the “Affected Party”) is prevented from fulfilling, or is otherwise materially impacted in the fulfillment of, any of its obligations under this Contract by reason of a force majeure event as defined in the next clause, it shall immediately give written notice of this fact and of the nature of the force majeure event to the other Party. If the period during which the Affected Party is unable to perform any of its obligations under this Contract by reason of a force majeure event exceeds three (3) months, then this Contract may be terminated by either Party giving five (5) calendar days notice in writing to the other Party and provides. Furthermore, the Affected Party may not be held liable for the failure to fulfill its obligations in terms of this Contract if such non-fulfillment is due to a force majeure event.

25.2.   For the purposes of this Contract, the term ‘force majeure event’ shall mean and include any event, act, circumstance or cause beyond any of the Parties’ reasonable control, including, but not limited to: (a) warfare, civil war, civil commotion, political unrest, armed conflict and/or terrorism; (b) earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, fire, floods or other events that may occur in the atmosphere; (c) illness, plagues, disease, epidemic and other grave maladies that may occur from time to time and any act of Government or other competent authority as may result therefrom or be connected or related therewith; (d) strikes, boycotts or trade disputes; (e) road closures or other infrastructural work and development; and (f) any other external force, circumstance, occurrence or act of God not attributable to any Party.

26.1.1.   If the provisions of these Terms and Conditions conflict with the provisions of any of the documents listed in the table at clause 1.3, the provisions of these Terms and Conditions shall

26.1.2.   Each of the clauses in these Terms and Conditions operates separately. If a clause is declared unlawful, the remaining clauses will remain in full force and

26.1.3.   The Contract constitutes the entire agreement between you and us. All previous agreements, arrangements and understandings between you and us relating to your admission on to a Program, whether written or oral, shall have no legal effect unless expressly set out in the

26.1.4.   Where a party fails to enforce its rights under this agreement, or delays in doing so, that will not mean that such party has waived its rights. Where we waive a default by you, this will only be valid when confirmed in writing, and will not apply to any subsequent default by

26.1.5.   These are the terms of the Contract between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of the

26.1.6.   The Contract, and any other matters arising out of or in relation to the Contract, are governed by and construed in accordance with Maltese law.

26.1.7.   We and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Maltese courts to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in relation to the Contract.

You may contact us at:

ZD Academy

230, 230 Second Floor

Triq Il-Kungress Ewkaristiku

Mosta MST 9039

Malta

T: +356 2235 0000

E: info@zdacademy.com

www.zdacademy.com

You may contact ACCA at:

ACCA Connect

110 Queen Street

Glasgow G1 3BX

United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)141 582 2000

E: info@accaglobal.com

www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/student.html