Terms & Conditions
PREAMBLE
Alliance Française d’Ottawa (hereinafter “AF OTTAWA”) is a non-profit organization governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario.
Any purchase of products or services from Alliance Française Ottawa (AF OTTAWA) implies full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
These Terms and Conditions constitute the contractual framework applicable to all AF OTTAWA activities. Any situation not expressly provided for herein shall be assessed by AF OTTAWA in accordance with the pedagogical, organizational, and legal principles governing its services.
BEHAVIOUR POLICY
Any aggressive behaviour, whether verbal or physical, is strictly prohibited at AF OTTAWA. In the event of inappropriate or violent conduct, AF OTTAWA reserves the right, at management’s discretion, to refuse registration or immediately exclude the individual concerned without any refund. This policy applies to all services offered, including the language school, examination center, and cultural events organized by Alliance Française Ottawa.
PRIVACY AND EMAIL COMMUNICATION POLICY
AF OTTAWA will request only the information necessary to process course or exam registrations (name, phone number, email address, identification documents, etc.). Personal information of students and members will not be shared with third parties except where legally required or when requested by official certifying organizations.
This information may be used for communications aimed at improving the quality of our services (satisfaction surveys, session information). You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.
Classes may occasionally be recorded strictly for quality assurance purposes; no distribution will occur without participants’ consent.
PAYMENT METHODS
Online or by phone: VISA (credit or debit), MASTERCARD (credit or debit), AMEX (+2.4% fee applies), Discover.
In person: VISA (credit or debit), MASTERCARD (credit or debit), direct deposit, Interac e-transfer, AMEX (+2.4% fee applies), Discover, Debit/Interac card.
Cheques payable to AFRCNC or Alliance Française de la Région de la Capitale Nationale du Canada. A CAD $50.00 fee applies to returned cheques.
AF OTTAWA is a Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity. Tuition fees may be eligible for tax credits. Tax receipts are issued once per year at the end of February (a Social Insurance Number may be requested and will not be retained once processed).
Banking information is not stored and is destroyed once payment is processed.
REGISTRATION FEES AND MEMBERSHIP
New AF OTTAWA students and returning students who have not attended a course in the previous year: CAD $45.00 annual administrative fee.
Members registering in a class: CAD $25.00 annual administrative fee.
Individual membership: CAD $30.00 per year.
Family membership: CAD $50.00 per year (one parent, their partner, and children under 18).
Student becoming a member: CAD $25.00 per year.
AF OTTAWA student becoming a family member: CAD $42.00 per year.
All registration and administrative fees are non-refundable and apply from the date of purchase.
ORIENTATION TEST
An orientation test is mandatory for all new students as well as for returning AF OTTAWA students who have not attended a course within the previous twelve (12) months.
The orientation test constitutes a complete service including both the written component and the oral interview. It is conducted in two (2) stages:
• an online written assessment to be completed independently;
• an oral interview with one of our instructors.
The oral interview must take place within two (2) weeks following completion of the online component, unless an exceptional circumstance has been duly justified and approved by AF OTTAWA.
Students may request to reschedule their oral interview up to twenty-four (24) business hours prior to the scheduled time. Any absence without prior notice within this timeframe will result in the expiration of the placement test.
If the oral interview is not completed within the required timeframe, or in the event of an unexcused absence as described above, the placement test will be considered expired and a new test must be purchased in full.
The results are valid for six (6) months within AF OTTAWA’s registration process.
Orientation test fees are non-refundable.
PRODUCTS
The purchase of the following products is final; these items are non-refundable and non-transferable:
• Shipping and handling fees
• Learning materials (e.g., textbooks, workbooks, Frello)
• PrepMyFuture online programs
• Orientation test
GROUP COURSES AND WORKSHOPS (SCHEDULED)
Enrollment in a course constitutes acceptance of the pedagogical format, pace, and organizational structure specific to AF OTTAWA.
To register for an adult course, students must be at least sixteen (16) years of age. Written consent from a parent or legal guardian is required for minors.
The general rules described below also apply to children’s and teenagers’ courses, unless otherwise explicitly stated for those specific programs.
It is the responsibility of the student (or their parent/legal guardian, where applicable) to ensure, prior to registration, that the selected course corresponds to their availability as well as the chosen delivery format (in-person or online). No change of modality or schedule will be permitted once registration has been confirmed, except in exceptional circumstances duly justified and approved by AF OTTAWA. AF OTTAWA is not liable for changes in student’s professional commitments or personal circumstances.
If a student experiences significant learning difficulties after the course has started (for example regarding level placement or pedagogical progression), they must notify AF OTTAWA in writing without delay so that the situation may be reviewed. Where appropriate and depending on availability, AF OTTAWA may propose an alternative pedagogical solution.
Requests based solely on personal preference, convenience, or non-pedagogical considerations will not be accepted. Any decision will be made at the discretion of AF OTTAWA, following consultation with the instructor concerned and based on pedagogical justification. No change is guaranteed.
Regular attendance is essential to ensure individual progress and the proper functioning of the group. In the event of repeated absences (defined as five (5) consecutive absences), AF OTTAWA reserves the right to reassess the student’s participation in the course and determine the most appropriate pedagogical options. Depending on the situation, continuation in the original group may no longer be recommended. Missed sessions are neither refundable nor replaceable.
AF OTTAWA courses are designed in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and follow an immersion-based approach. Instruction is primarily delivered in French.
Courses may occasionally be recorded for quality assurance purposes.
AF OTTAWA reserves the right to cancel any course or adjust the total number of instructional hours of a given group based on the number of enrolled students. Regardless of class size, the full program content for the corresponding level will be covered; only the total duration of instruction may vary accordingly. Such adjustments in duration do not result in any fee modification.
For informational purposes, for adult general French group courses only (excluding workshops), the instructional hours required to complete the full program for a given level are as follows:
• 6 or more enrolled students: full session duration, i.e., 26 hours (except in exceptional circumstances)
• 5 enrolled students: 24 hours
• 4 enrolled students: 22 hours
• 3 enrolled students: 20 hours
This structure allows smaller groups to remain open while ensuring pedagogical progression.
For all group courses offered by AF OTTAWA, a minimum of three (3) enrolled students is required. Below this threshold, the course will be cancelled.
Students joining a group after the start of a session remain responsible for payment of the full course fee.
Payment Terms
Individual clients / students
Full payment is due at the time of registration and includes tuition fees, learning materials, and any other applicable charges. Registration will not be considered confirmed until payment has been received in full.
Employer-funded training
For training funded by an employer, full payment is required no later than one (1) week following the first scheduled lesson, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Cancellation Requests from the Student or Employer
Any request for a refund or credit must be submitted in writing to info@af.ca no later than two (2) business days prior to the first scheduled class. Requests received after this deadline will not be eligible for refund or modification, and the registration will be deemed final.
Exception: documented medical or family emergency, subject to review and approval by AF OTTAWA upon receipt of appropriate supporting documentation (e.g., hospital note).
A cancellation or session transfer fee of seventy-five dollars (CAD $75.00) will apply to all eligible cancellation or transfer requests.
Credit notes are valid for a period of one (1) year from the date of issuance. They may be applied toward any other AF OTTAWA service (courses, private lessons, books, or events) and are strictly non-transferable.
CUSTOM COURSES / MCEL
General Provisions (applicable to all Private, Semi-Private and MCEL courses – PRIV and CORP)
Unless otherwise specified, the provisions below apply to all PRIV and CORP contracts.
PRIV or CORP status is determined solely by the funding source of the course (self-funded or employer-funded), regardless of the student’s personal status.
Students are invited to refer to the corresponding subsections (PRIV or CORP) to review the specific terms applicable according to the funding method.
Applicable rates are available on the AF OTTAWA website and vary depending on the number of hours selected (from 2 to 100+ hours) and the number of participants enrolled in the course (from 1 to 6 students).
For the Mon Cours en Ligne (MCEL) program, the number of hours is fixed at thirteen (13) hours.
Once the contract has been signed, schedules are considered fixed. Students may not request changes to the overall schedule (time slots, days, or duration).
AF OTTAWA cannot be held responsible for changes in students’ professional commitments or personal circumstances.
Transfers from one program to another (e.g., private course to MCEL or group course, and vice versa) are not permitted. Course hours are non-transferable to a third party.
No addition or withdrawal of participants is permitted in a semi-private course once the contract has been signed. The minimum contract duration is twenty (20) hours.
Courses may occasionally be recorded for quality assurance purposes.
For all private, semi-private and MCEL courses, if no response is received from the student within seventy-two (72) hours following three (3) follow-up communications regarding course proposals, document signatures, or payment processing, the course will automatically be removed from the instructor’s schedule, and the reserved time slot will be released.
Regular attendance is essential to ensure individual progress. In the event of repeated absences (defined as thirty percent (30%) of absences over the duration of the contract), and except in cases of serious illness or duly documented force majeure, Alliance Française Ottawa reserves the right, following written notice, to terminate the student’s contract without refund of any fees already paid.
Contract Suspension
Once a contract has started, it cannot be placed on hold except in the case of a medical or family emergency duly supported by official documentation (e.g., hospital note).
Otherwise, the contract cancellation terms will apply.
Contract Extension
A student may extend their contract under the following conditions:
• If the extension involves the same number of hours or fewer hours than the initial contract, the hourly rate remains unchanged.
• If the extension involves a greater number of hours but remains within the same pricing tier, the hourly rate remains unchanged.
• If the extension involves a greater number of hours resulting in a change of pricing tier, the new hourly rate corresponding to that tier will apply.
Business hours are defined as 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding Ontario statutory holidays).
Clients / Students Self-Funded (PRIV)
Payment – PRIV
All fees are payable at the time of registration, including course hours, administrative fees, learning materials, and any applicable charges.
Payment must be received at least seventy-two (72) hours before the start of the first lesson in order to guarantee the training. Failing this, the course cannot be confirmed, and the start date will be postponed.
After three (3) postponements of the start date, the course will automatically be removed from the instructor’s schedule and the reserved time slot released.
Lesson Cancellation and/or Rescheduling – PRIV
One (1) adjustment (rescheduling or cancellation) is permitted per ten (10) hours of instruction.
Any adjustment exceeding this quota will be charged, even if the forty-eight (48) business-hour notice period is respected.
All adjustment requests must be submitted in writing to privatecourses@af.ca and info@af.ca at least two (2) business days in advance.
Lessons cancelled without this notice will be charged in full.
Exception: documented medical or family emergency.
No adjustments are permitted for semi-private courses.
Contract Cancellation – PRIV
Administrative fees and learning materials are non-refundable and non-creditable.
More than seven (7) business days before the first lesson:
• refund or credit possible (credit notes valid for one (1) year);
• fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the total contract amount;
• administrative fees and materials remain non-refundable.
Between two (2) and seven (7) business days before the first lesson:
• no refund;
• credit equivalent to ninety percent (90%) of the contract value (valid for one (1) year);
• administrative fees and materials remain non-refundable.
Less than forty-eight (48) hours before the first lesson or after the contract has started:
• no refund or credit.
The applicable fees represent a reasonable estimate of incurred costs, including administrative management and schedule reservation, and do not constitute a penalty.
Employer-Funded Training (CORP)
Payment – CORP
Administrative fees and learning materials are payable at registration.
Course hours may be paid in full or monthly (except MCEL) and must be settled within thirty (30) days following invoice receipt.
For MCEL programs, full payment is required within thirty (30) days of invoice receipt.
Signed documents and required payment must be received at least seventy-two (72) hours before the start of the first lesson to guarantee the training.
After three (3) postponements of the start date, the course will automatically be removed from the instructor’s schedule and the reserved time slot released.
Lesson Cancellation and/or Rescheduling – CORP
One (1) adjustment (rescheduling or cancellation) is permitted per ten (10) hours of instruction.
Any adjustment beyond this quota will be charged, even if the forty-eight (48) business-hour notice period is respected.
All adjustment requests must be submitted in writing to privatecourses@af.ca and info@af.ca at least two (2) business days in advance.
Lessons cancelled without this notice will be charged in full.
Exception: documented medical or family emergency.
No adjustments are permitted for semi-private courses.
Contract Cancellation – CORP
More than seventy-two (72) business hours before the first lesson:
• administrative fees and learning materials are non-refundable;
• fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the total contract amount.
Less than seventy-two (72) hours before the first lesson or after the contract has started:
• administrative fees and learning materials are non-refundable;
• billing of two (2) weeks of lessons following the cancellation request date;
• fees equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the total contract amount.
The applicable fees represent a reasonable estimate of incurred costs, including administrative management and schedule reservation, and do not constitute a penalty.
EXAMS AND CERTIFICATIONS
General Provisions
It is the sole responsibility of the candidate to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate exam. AF OTTAWA and its employees are note liable for choices made by the candidate.
Full payment is required at the time of registration.
At the request of official institutions, additional personal information may be required for registration to certain tests.
By registering, candidates understand and agree to comply with any restrictions or organizational measures imposed by AF OTTAWA and/or governmental authorities. Registration for an exam also constitutes acceptance of the official regulations of the relevant certifying body (France Éducation International, CCI Paris Île-de-France, etc.).
All requests and supporting documents (such as passport identification) must be received before the registration deadline indicated in the calendar. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. No refund or credit will be issued, and candidates will be required to register again at their own expense.
Any candidate arriving after the time indicated on the exam notice will be denied access to the examination room. No refund or credit will be issued, and candidates will be required to register again at their own expense.
Statements of results are personal and confidential and will not be released to any third party without the candidate’s authorization.
Printed Exam Notice Required
All candidates must present themselves with a printed copy of their exam notice.
In the absence of this document:
• a $20 printing fee will be charged on site;
• otherwise, access to the examination room will be denied.
Cancellation and Rescheduling
Any cancellation or rescheduling request must be sent by email to info@af.ca before the registration deadline.
A $100 cancellation fee applies to requests received within the permitted timeframe.
No refund or rescheduling will be granted after this date, except in cases of duly documented medical or family emergencies.
If AF OTTAWA must cancel an exam session, a new exam date will be offered, or a full refund will be issued.
TCF
A waiting period of twenty (20) calendar days must be respected between two registrations for the same type of exam. In the event of non-compliance, the registration will be cancelled and a $100 fee will be retained.
Candidates may request a re-marking of their written and/or oral production within thirty (30) days following the publication of results.
Any re-evaluation request is charged $100 per component.
TEF
A waiting period of twenty (20) calendar days must be respected between two registrations for the same type of exam. In the event of non-compliance, the registration will be cancelled and a $100 fee will be retained.
No re-evaluation is possible.
DELF-DALF
A $75 fee applies to any request to send a statement of results to a third party.
A $25 fee applies for sending a statement of results via FedEx.
A $25 fee applies for sending the diploma via FedEx.
Any request for diploma or certificate re-issuance is charged $20.
Off-site exams
A $55 file opening fee applies.
Annual administrative fees of $45 as well as $45 per hour of invigilation are charged.
In case of withdrawal, these fees are non-refundable, except in cases of duly documented medical or family emergencies.
CULTURAL EVENTS
Tickets are non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
In the event of a schedule change, AF OTTAWA will make every reasonable effort to inform participants of any modifications or errors. However, it remains the responsibility of each participant to verify the accuracy of the event information. If a cultural event is cancelled or postponed, AF OTTAWA will issue a credit note for a future event.
AF OTTAWA cannot be held responsible for any damages, accidents, or losses occurring before, during, or after cultural events.
Admission for ticket holders is not guaranteed within twenty (20) minutes prior to the scheduled start time of an event.
By participating in Alliance Française Ottawa events, you consent to being photographed or filmed for communication and promotional purposes. Participants retain the right to explicitly refuse.
VALIDITY
Credit notes, discounts, and promotional codes are personal and individual. They are non-transferable and each has its own validity period.
Definition of “business days”: from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays in Ontario and the annual closure period of AF OTTAWA).
Last update on February 24, 2026