Terms & Conditions

By accepting an application from an individual applicant, student, learner, or other person enrolling in or participating in Study Abroad in China and/or the Immersion Program (hereinafter referred to as “Participant”) and providing related educational services (any of which are hereinafter referred to as “Program”), the Chinese Language Institute, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “CLI”) agrees to fulfill all obligations associated with the Program as outlined on CLI’s website (www.studycli.org), the relevant Program page, relevant Program itinerary, relevant acceptance or enrollment materials, relevant pre-departure materials, and/or other written materials provided by CLI, subject to the terms and conditions below. If Participant is under eighteen (18) years old or is otherwise a dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian may apply, submit forms, make payment, and accept these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf, and such parent or legal guardian shall also be bound by the parent/guardian obligations expressly stated herein and in any Parent/Guardian Waiver or related written authorization submitted to CLI.

By applying, enrolling, registering, participating in a CLI Program, submitting required forms, and/or making payment for a CLI Program, Participant agrees to the following Terms and Conditions. If a parent or legal guardian completes any such step on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant, that parent or legal guardian represents that they have authority to do so, accepts these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf, and agrees to the parent/guardian responsibilities expressly stated below.

Enrollment and Period of Program Engagement
1. Enrollment in CLI is competitive. CLI reserves the right to reject an applicant for any reason. CLI accepts applicants based on careful evaluation of application and supporting documents. CLI does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, political views, age, marital status, national and ethnic origin, or disability.
2. For purposes of these Terms and Conditions, “Participant” means the individual applicant, student, learner, or other person applying for, enrolling in, registering for, paying for, or participating in the Program. A parent, legal guardian, sponsor, home institution, payor, or other third party is not a “Participant” unless that person or entity is personally participating in the Program.
3. If Participant is under eighteen (18) years old or is otherwise a dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian may accept these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf. In that case, the parent or legal guardian represents that they have legal authority to act on Participant’s behalf and agrees to be personally responsible for the parent/guardian obligations expressly assigned to them in these Terms and Conditions, any Parent/Guardian Waiver, and any other written authorization or agreement submitted to CLI.
4. The Study Abroad in China term (semester, winter, summer, and/or academic year) and/or Immersion Program term starts and ends as indicated on the Dates and Program Fees, Dates and Tuition, or comparable section of the relevant Program page on CLI’s website, in the CLI-provided Program itinerary, in the relevant enrollment or acceptance materials, and/or in pre-departure materials provided by CLI.
5. Participant is responsible for submitting complete and accurate information requested by CLI, including, as applicable, personal information, passport or travel information, dietary restrictions, health or accommodation information, insurance information, emergency contacts, flight information, and other information reasonably necessary for Program planning, academics, housing, logistics, health, safety, emergency response, and administration. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for submitting or confirming such information on Participant’s behalf.
Compliance with Laws, Rules and Regulations, and Standards of Conduct
1. Participant shall observe and obey the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China and respect Chinese social morality and customs. If Participant travels to or through any other country, region, or jurisdiction in connection with the Program or independent travel, Participant shall also observe and obey the laws, regulations, and customs of that place.
2. Participant is expected to comply with CLI’s reasonable Program instructions, local laws and regulations, housing rules, hotel and transportation rules, site-specific rules, GXNU rules and policies where applicable, and any applicable standards of conduct communicated by CLI, Guangxi Normal University (hereinafter referred to as “GXNU”), a host institution, Program staff, or another designated Program representative.
3. CLI and/or the host institution shall have the right to enforce appropriate standards of conduct and may at any time terminate Participant’s participation in the Program for failure to maintain these standards or for any actions or conduct which CLI and/or the host institution considers to be incompatible with the safety, welfare, harmony, comfort, or educational purpose of the Program, other students, Program staff, local partners, or the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China or any other country or jurisdiction in which the Program or Program-related travel is being held.
4. CLI maintains, among several explicit and implicit Standards of Conduct policies, a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding the use and/or possession of illegal substances. Use and/or possession of illegal substances may result in removal from the Program, without refund, as well as possible criminal prosecution in the host country.
5. Harassment, sexual misconduct, violence, threats, theft, reckless conduct, severe intoxication, repeated disruption, or conduct that materially interferes with the safety, welfare, harmony, or educational purpose of the Program may result in removal from the Program. CLI may consult with Participant and, where appropriate, Participant’s emergency contact, parent or legal guardian, home institution, or sponsor before a removal decision when reasonably practicable; however, CLI may act immediately when necessary to protect safety, comply with law, or respond to urgent circumstances.
6. If Participant is removed from the Program, any additional costs, including lodging, transportation, supervision, medical care, or return travel, shall be the responsibility of Participant, and no refund is guaranteed. If Participant is a minor or dependent, such costs shall also be the responsibility of Participant’s parent or legal guardian to the extent that parent or legal guardian accepted these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf, completed CLI’s Parent/Guardian Waiver, or otherwise agreed in writing to responsibility for such costs. If a sponsor, institution, payor, or other third party has separately agreed in writing to responsibility for such costs, CLI may also look to that party as applicable.
Academic University Credits and Transcripts
1. CLI is an official affiliate of GXNU in Guilin, China, and shall, if applicable, process academic university credits through GXNU or the relevant academic partner, host institution, or transcript-granting institution associated with the Program. Study Abroad in China participants may be eligible for GXNU academic credit as described in the relevant Program materials. Immersion Program participants do not receive university credit unless credit arrangements are expressly confirmed in writing by CLI.
2. CLI shall, if applicable, provide supporting documentation for credit transfers to the best of its ability, but does not guarantee credit transfers. Transferring credits to Participant’s home institution is ultimately the responsibility of Participant, and credits shall be accepted by the home institution at the home institution’s sole discretion.
3. Academic transcripts shall, if applicable, be issued upon satisfactory completion of the Program and fulfillment of applicable academic requirements. Additional transcripts may be issued upon written request to CLI by Participant. CLI reserves the right to deny transcript requests by Participants with outstanding financial obligations to CLI.
Termination of Participation, Cancellation, Withdrawal, Refunds, Force Majeure, and Travel Advisories
1. CLI, GXNU, and/or the host institution reserve the right to cancel the Program due to an insufficient number of registered participants and/or to reschedule the Program start date to another time.
2. If CLI cancels the Program before the start of the Program for reasons within CLI’s reasonable control, 100% of Program fees and Program deposits paid to CLI shall be refunded. This provision does not apply to cancellations, modifications, or disruptions caused by force majeure circumstances, government directives, travel advisories, severe weather, transportation shutdowns, public health emergencies, or other circumstances beyond CLI’s reasonable control.
3. If Participant cancels participation before the start of the Program, or if Participant’s parent or legal guardian cancels on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant, the following baseline refund schedule shall apply unless otherwise agreed in writing by CLI and Participant or, where applicable, Participant’s parent or legal guardian:
  1. More than 180 days before the Program start date: 100% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
  2. 120 to 179 days before the Program start date: 80% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
  3. 60 to 119 days before the Program start date: 60% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
  4. 59 days or fewer before the Program start date: 40% of Program fees refunded, excluding any non-refundable Program deposit;
  5. After the Program start date: no refund is guaranteed.
4. Cancellations must be submitted to CLI by email to the CLI Program Director or other designated CLI representative. If Participant is a minor or dependent, cancellation may be submitted by Participant’s parent or legal guardian. Cancellations will be recorded based on the date CLI receives written notification. Program deposits are non-refundable unless otherwise agreed in writing by CLI.
5. Any banking fees, transfer fees, payment processing fees, currency conversion fees, or other costs associated with payment or refund of Program fees shall not be the responsibility of CLI.
6. If Participant is unable to participate due to illness before the start of the Program, the cancellation will generally be treated as a Participant cancellation under the schedule above. CLI will review such cases in good faith and may, at its discretion, provide a refund, credit, or other accommodation to the extent costs associated with Participant are recoverable or avoidable, after deducting non-refundable deposits, unrecoverable third-party costs, and any banking, transfer, payment processing, or currency conversion fees.
7. Refunds for unused portions of the Program after arrival are generally not feasible.
8. Force majeure circumstances may include events beyond the reasonable control of CLI, Participant, GXNU, or any relevant host institution that materially prevent the Program from operating as planned, including but not limited to government directives, visa or border restrictions, mandatory evacuations, natural disasters, severe weather events that make Program operation unsafe or impossible, transportation shutdowns, public health emergencies, terrorism, war, civil unrest, or other comparable circumstances.
9. If a force majeure event materially prevents the Program from operating and rescheduling is not feasible, CLI will make commercially reasonable efforts to recover refundable amounts from housing providers, transportation providers, activity providers, educational partners, and other vendors or suppliers. Any refund or credit will be limited to amounts actually recoverable or avoidable by CLI after deducting unrecoverable third-party costs and any bank, transfer, payment processing, or currency conversion fees.
10. Travel advisories, health notices, anticipated weather, or possible disruptions do not automatically constitute grounds for cancellation, postponement, rescheduling, or refund. If a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notice, Chinese government directive, host-country government directive, GXNU directive, or other comparable official guidance materially prevents safe and reasonable Program operation, the matter will be addressed under the force majeure terms above. If Participant, or Participant’s parent or legal guardian on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant, elects to cancel even though CLI can still reasonably operate a modified or substantially comparable Program, the cancellation will be addressed under the baseline refund schedule above.
11. CLI may, but is not obligated to, offer rescheduling, substitute programming, alternative activities, modified housing arrangements, modified itineraries, or other arrangements where operationally feasible. Additional costs, vendor change fees, fare differences, staffing costs, or other incremental expenses may apply.
12. In the event of termination of participation in the Program due to any violation of Section 2 of these Terms and Conditions, Participant shall have no right to any refund of any part of the Program fee, and, upon notice by CLI, whether verbally or in writing, Participant shall forthwith depart from the Program and return home at Participant’s own expense.
Changes to Program and Cancellation of Program Components
1. CLI, GXNU, and/or the host institution reserve the right to make reasonable cancellations, changes, and/or substitutions to the itinerary, housing, transportation, activities, schedule, Program sequence, restaurants, local arrangements, academic arrangements, and other Program components when necessary for safety, logistics, vendor availability, weather, government guidance, emergency circumstances, changed conditions, academic scheduling, housing availability, or other operational reasons.
2. Specific classes, instructors, schedules, housing assignments, excursions, site visits, restaurants, accommodations, transportation arrangements, and activities are subject to availability and may be replaced with comparable alternatives consistent with the academic, cultural, language-learning, and logistical goals of the Program.
3. Such modifications do not automatically entitle Participant to a refund, provided that CLI makes reasonable efforts to deliver a substantially comparable Program experience.
4. During any activities, tours, or Programs arranged by CLI, GXNU, and/or the host institution, Participant shall accept the will of the majority whenever a matter of choice is presented to the group.
5. Once the Program has started, Program services and components may not be canceled or downgraded by Participant, but they may be upgraded or changed to a higher service type as offered by CLI provided Participant pays any fee differential and the requested upgrade or change is available.
Visa
1. Upon request by Participant, CLI shall provide reasonable support and guidance to Participant in obtaining visas and required documents associated with travel to China. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of Participant to obtain such visas and required documents, to submit accurate and timely application materials, and to comply with all applicable visa, entry, registration, and immigration requirements. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for supporting, authorizing, or completing such steps where required.
2. In the event Participant cannot obtain the necessary visas and/or required documents for participation in the Program, Participant shall not hold CLI responsible.
3. In the event Participant’s visa application is rejected prior to the start of the Program or Participant cannot obtain other required documents despite good-faith and timely efforts by Participant, Participant shall be entitled to 100% refund of the Program fees paid to CLI, excluding the non-refundable Program deposit and any banking, transfer, payment processing, or currency conversion fees.
4. In the event Participant requires a visa renewal after the start of the Program and Participant’s visa renewal application is rejected, causing Participant to be unable to continue the Program, Participant shall be entitled to a refund of Program fees proportionate to Program time remaining after date of Participant’s visa expiration, excluding any non-refundable, unrecoverable, or already-incurred third-party costs and any banking, transfer, payment processing, or currency conversion fees.
Medical and Health
1. All Participants studying and/or traveling with CLI are required to have appropriate health insurance for the Program. Participant may be required to show proof of health insurance during registration or pre-departure procedures. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for confirming that Participant has appropriate health insurance for the Program.
2. Participant is strongly encouraged to maintain appropriate travel, medical, trip cancellation, emergency evacuation, and repatriation insurance. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is strongly encouraged to obtain or confirm such coverage for Participant.
3. It is the responsibility of Participant to thoroughly review health and safety information from the CDC, the U.S. Department of State, Chinese authorities, host-country authorities, GXNU where applicable, and any information indicated by CLI in pre-departure materials, and to take any safety or health precautions Participant deems necessary prior to or during the Program. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for reviewing such information and helping Participant take appropriate safety and health precautions.
4. CLI is not a medical provider and does not provide medical advice. If Participant becomes ill or incapacitated during the Program, CLI may provide reasonable assistance in coordination with Participant, Program staff, local medical providers, and any applicable insurance provider, including helping to secure medical treatment and/or transportation. Any medical, transportation, evacuation, repatriation, or related costs shall be the responsibility of Participant. If Participant is a minor or dependent, such costs shall also be the responsibility of Participant’s parent or legal guardian to the extent that parent or legal guardian accepted these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf, completed CLI’s Parent/Guardian Waiver, or otherwise agreed in writing to responsibility for such costs. If a sponsor, institution, payor, or other third party has separately agreed in writing to responsibility for such costs, CLI may also look to that party as applicable.
5. Participant hereby grants CLI and its agents full authority to take whatever actions they may consider to be warranted in the event of any personal emergency, international or political unrest, public health issue, natural disaster, or other event regarding the health and safety of Participant, and Participant fully releases CLI and its agents from any liability for such decisions or actions as may be taken in connection therewith, except to the extent prohibited by law. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian grants this authorization on Participant’s behalf by accepting these Terms and Conditions, completing CLI’s Parent/Guardian Waiver, or otherwise providing written authorization to CLI.
6. In the event of medical emergency, or as deemed necessary by CLI, Participant authorizes CLI and its agents at their discretion to place Participant, at Participant’s own expense and without Participant’s further consent, in a hospital for medical services and treatment, or if no hospital is readily available, to place Participant in an alternative facility to be treated by a medical doctor. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian grants this authorization on Participant’s behalf by accepting these Terms and Conditions, completing CLI’s Parent/Guardian Waiver, or otherwise providing written authorization to CLI.
7. CLI will make reasonable efforts to notify Participant’s listed emergency contact and, where appropriate, Participant’s parent or legal guardian, home institution, sponsor, or other contact designated by Participant of significant health, safety, conduct, or emergency incidents involving Participant. Participant is responsible for ensuring that all emergency contact, parent or guardian, institutional, sponsor, and related contact information submitted to CLI is complete, accurate, and up to date.
Insurance, Liability, Third-Party Providers, Waiver, and Indemnification
1. Participant is responsible for maintaining insurance appropriate for the Program and for Participant’s own acts, omissions, decisions, and conduct. Upon reasonable request, Participant shall provide evidence of applicable insurance coverage. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for confirming that Participant has appropriate insurance coverage for the Program.
2. CLI may use hotels, housing providers, transportation providers, restaurants, activity providers, educational partners, local guides, GXNU, host institutions, and other third-party vendors or suppliers in connection with the Program. Such third parties are independent providers. CLI shall use reasonable care in selecting and coordinating third-party providers but shall not be responsible for their acts or omissions except to the extent caused by CLI’s own negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of these Terms and Conditions.
3. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Participant agrees to waive and release CLI, which term includes the Chinese Language Institute, LLC and its officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents, contractors, affiliated companies, GXNU, host institutions, and any person or entity employed or utilized by CLI, from claims which may arise from or in connection with physical injury, illness, death, or property damage which Participant may suffer from risks inherent in travel, Program activities, independent travel, third-party providers, natural disasters, strikes, government restrictions, war, terrorist activities, sickness, quarantine, transportation disruptions, or other events beyond CLI’s reasonable control. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian agrees to this waiver and release on Participant’s behalf to the fullest extent permitted by law.
4. Participant shall be responsible for taking all measures and exercising caution and common sense at all times to avoid injuries, illness, property damage, and/or death.
5. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Participant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CLI and its officers, directors, employees, agents, contractors, affiliated companies, and representatives from and against claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of Participant’s negligence, willful misconduct, material breach of these Terms and Conditions, failure to follow applicable laws, Program rules, safety instructions, or standards of conduct, except to the extent caused by CLI’s negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of these Terms and Conditions. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian agrees to such indemnification obligations on Participant’s behalf and in their own capacity to the fullest extent permitted by law.
6. CLI shall not be liable to Participant for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the Program, except to the extent prohibited by law.
Loan
1. If deemed necessary or desirable by CLI and/or its agents to advance or loan any monies to Participant or incur special expense on Participant’s behalf while Participant is enrolled in the Program, Participant shall make immediate repayment prior to or upon Participant’s return home. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian shall be responsible for such repayment to the extent that parent or legal guardian accepted these Terms and Conditions on Participant’s behalf, completed CLI’s Parent/Guardian Waiver, or otherwise agreed in writing to responsibility for such costs.
Social, Cultural, and Travel Activities
1. CLI shall organize the activities, events, travel, accommodations, restaurants, and other Program components listed as included in the relevant Program page, Program itinerary, or written Program materials, subject to the change, substitution, cancellation, and force majeure terms in these Terms and Conditions. CLI shall cover costs associated with these items for Participant only to the extent such costs are listed as included in the relevant Program materials.
2. CLI may organize additional social, cultural, and/or travel activities for Participant from time to time. Participant participation in these activities is optional unless otherwise stated in the Program itinerary or written Program materials. For activities not included in Program fees, Participant shall be eligible to participate at Participant’s own expense.
3. Participant is responsible for Participant’s own independent travel, personal activities, personal expenses, and decisions outside scheduled Program activities. CLI may provide travel arrangement assistance, safety tips, itinerary suggestions, or local recommendations from time to time, but such assistance does not make CLI responsible for Participant’s independent travel or personal activities. If Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian is responsible for authorizing or restricting Participant’s independent travel and personal activities as appropriate.
Participant Information and Data Handling
1. CLI shall treat non-public Participant information received in connection with the Program as confidential and shall use such information only as reasonably necessary to plan, administer, and operate the Program or as otherwise required by law.
2. Participant, or Participant’s parent or legal guardian on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant, may provide CLI with information necessary for Program administration, including names, contact information, passport or travel information, dietary restrictions, health or accommodation information, insurance information, emergency contacts, flight information, and related logistical information. CLI may use and share such information with its employees, agents, local partners, vendors, medical providers, insurers, authorities, GXNU, host institutions, listed emergency contacts, parents or legal guardians where applicable, home institutions where authorized or reasonably necessary, and other relevant parties as reasonably necessary for Program planning, academics, housing, logistics, health, safety, emergency response, and administration.
3. CLI shall use reasonable safeguards for sensitive Participant information and shall make reasonable efforts to address any unauthorized access to or disclosure of sensitive Participant information related to the Program in accordance with applicable law.
Use of Student Photos, Videos, and Statements
1. CLI reserves the right to use any photos or videos of Participant, or statements made by Participant, for print, verbal, internet, or other commercial use and shall not be held liable for such use.
2. Requests to decline such use must be sent via email to a CLI director or other designated CLI representative. If Participant is a minor or dependent, such request may be sent by Participant’s parent or legal guardian.
Email List
1. By submitting CLI’s Application, Enrollment Form, Student Information Form, and/or other Program registration materials, Participant may be subscribed to CLI’s email list to receive news, updates, and other information about CLI. If a parent or legal guardian submits such materials on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant, the parent or legal guardian may also receive Program-related communications and other CLI updates.
2. To unsubscribe from this list, Participant or, where applicable, Participant’s parent or legal guardian may click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of any CLI newsletter, or email a CLI director or other designated CLI representative with a written request to unsubscribe.
Legal Governance
1. This agreement shall become effective when Participant’s Application Form, Enrollment Form, Student Information Form, Parent/Guardian Waiver, and/or other Program registration materials are accepted by CLI, when Participant or Participant’s parent or legal guardian makes payment for a Program, or when Participant begins participation in a Program, whichever occurs first, and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the state of Colorado applicable thereto.
Modifications
1. These Terms and Conditions may be modified or interpreted only in writing executed or confirmed by CLI and Participant or, if Participant is a minor or dependent, Participant’s parent or legal guardian. No verbal modification or interpretation shall have any validity.
CLI
1. All references herein to “CLI” apply to the Chinese Language Institute, LLC and its officers, directors, staff members, campus directors, teachers, employees, agents, contractors, affiliated companies, and, where applicable, GXNU officials, host institution representatives, and any person or entity employed or utilized by CLI. Participant and CLI are independent entities. A parent or legal guardian who accepts these Terms and Conditions on behalf of a minor or dependent Participant does so in their capacity as Participant’s parent or legal guardian and, where expressly stated, in their own capacity. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended or shall be construed to create an agency relationship, employment relationship, partnership, or joint venture between the parties.