General contract terms

Through its website, the UOC offers distance higher education services both within and outside of Catalonia, in the latter case mainly to the Spanish and Latin American markets. Teaching of the courses and programmes is developed on its Virtual Campus, in accordance with a proprietary teaching methodology that aims to respond to people's lifelong educational needs.

These General Terms are subject to the provisions of:

•  Law 7/1998, of 13 April, on the general terms of contracts;
•  Legislative Royal Decree 1/2007, of 16 November, approving the Consolidated Text of the General Law on the Protection of Consumers and Users and other complementary laws;
•  Law 22/2010, of 20 July, on the Catalan Consumer Code;
•  Organic Law 15/1999, of 13 December, on Personal Data Protection;
•  European General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679;
•  Law 34/2002, of 11 July, concerning Information Society and Electronic Commerce Services.

The UOC may modify these General Terms, after giving sufficient advance notice thereof to the students, with the goal of improving the services and products offered through www.uoc.edu. It will be considered that this obligation to notify is fulfilled with the modification of the General Terms set forth on the UOC's website. In any case, before using the services or entering into a contract for the products offered on the website, students are advised to read the General Terms.

The contracting process, ie, the completion of enrolment, will be developed in line with the periods set in the UOC’s academic calendar and through the online channels established for this process on the UOC's website.

In order to complete enrolment, students must meet all the requirements set for enrolment on the corresponding course or programme. The requirements for enrolment are set out in the University’s academic regulations.

After completing the enrolment process, the student will receive a confirming email. This email does not imply that the student has been admitted to the UOC. Admission is conditional upon meeting the admission requirements stipulated by the University for each of its qualifications.

The UOC reserves the right to cancel teaching of courses or programmes if a minimum number of enrolments is not reached. If a course or programme is cancelled for this reason, all enrolled students shall be notified and may choose between reimbursement of the enrolment fees or switching to another course or programme. In the latter case, if the enrolment fees are more than initially paid, the student must pay the difference and, likewise, if the fees are less, the UOC shall return the difference.

The student may exercise the right of withdrawal of enrolment, without any need for justification or penalty, within a maximum period of fourteen (14) calendar days, counting from the date of submission.

To exercise the right of withdrawal, the student must have submitted the corresponding application using the channels created for this purpose by the University, and return the learning resources that may have been sent to him or her, with the original seal intact, to the address that will be stated. The cost of returning the learning resources will be the responsibility of the student.

The UOC will return the amount paid for enrolment within a maximum period of 14 calendar days, counting from the date of receipt of the corresponding application. The reimbursement will be paid into the current account provided by the student at the Virtual Campus.

In any case, reimbursement of the enrolment is conditional upon returning the learning resources with the original seal intact and final confirmation of payment by the student.

After exercising the right of withdrawal in due time and form, the student may request reactivation of the enrolment, effectively cancelling the withdrawal. This request must be made using the standard form provided by the University, and, in any case, before commencement of the semester. Each enrolment will be personal and non-transferable and the rights arising therefrom cannot be transferred to another person.

The UOC does not accept any liability for non-performance or delayed performance of any of the obligations contracted hereunder, if said non-performance or delayed performance is the result or consequence of a situation of force majeure or a fortuitous event.

The student may make complaints, suggestions or comments via the student help service channels provided by the University.

Payment for all of the UOC's courses and programmes may be made by the methods and in the ways indicated for each on the website or on the Virtual Campus. Fraudulent use of credit cards or denial of payment for any reason will entitle the UOC to cancel the contract for the course or programme purchased, without prejudice to the corresponding civil and criminal liabilities.

Non-payment of the enrolment fees, or any of the instalments, in the periods established for each payment method may lead to temporary suspension of a student’s rights and, where applicable, cancellation of enrolment and any other effects this may have had. Students shall not have any rights to reimbursement, as stipulated in the UOC’s Economic Regulations.

The UOC requires, as a prior condition for enrolment or issuing of diplomas and certificates, that all amounts pending for enrolments on any academic course or programme, and any corresponding interest, be paid in full.

The UOC, as an entity regulated by Law 10/2010, of 28 April, will immediately notify the Executive Service of the Commission for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Monetary Offences of any operation suspected of being used for money laundering or financing terrorism.