Refund policy

Effective Date: May 6, 2026

This Refund & Cancellation Policy applies to all bookings, programmes, and purchases made through The Global Conservatory ("TGC"), operated by Kalinklo Limited (Hong Kong SAR). It is incorporated by reference into our Terms of Service. In the event of conflict between the Terms of Service and this Policy, this Policy controls for refund matters.

1. General Principle

TGC aims to be fair to both students and faculty. We honor refunds where the service was not delivered as promised, where you cancel within the published windows, or where TGC determines a refund is appropriate. We do not honor refunds for services already delivered or for missed sessions outside the cancellation windows.

2. Private Lessons

2.1 Cancellation by Student

  • 72 or more hours before lesson start: Full refund.
  • Less than 72 hours before lesson start: No refund (you may reschedule with your teacher's agreement). Lesson treated as completed for faculty payout purposes.
  • Student no-show: No refund. The faculty is paid for the time they held (per Faculty IC Agreement Section 4).

2.2 Cancellation by Faculty

  • Faculty no-show or cancellation: Full refund to student or rescheduling at student's preference.
  • Repeated faculty no-shows (3+ in 90 days): Subject to delisting/suspension under the IC Agreement; affected students receive full refunds.

2.3 Substitution

If a faculty member becomes unavailable, TGC may offer a substitute faculty of equivalent qualification. Students may decline the substitute and receive a full refund for the affected session.

3. Group Lessons & Studio Classes

  • More than 7 days before first session: Full refund or transfer to next cohort.
  • Within 7 days but before first session: 75% refund.
  • After first session: No refund. Pro-rata refund may be issued at TGC's discretion for documented hardship (medical, bereavement).
  • Cohort cancellation by TGC: Full refund.

4. Masterclasses

  • Performer slots: Full refund if cancelled 7+ days before. 50% refund 3-6 days before. No refund within 72 hours.
  • Observer passes: Refundable up to 72 hours before the masterclass starts. After that, non-refundable.
  • Replay/Vault access: Non-refundable once accessed.

5. Certificate Programmes

  • Application fee: Non-refundable (covers admissions review).
  • Deposit: Refundable up to 30 days before programme start. After that, non-refundable.
  • Full tuition (paid in advance): 80% refundable up to 14 days before programme start; 50% refundable 1-13 days before; 25% refundable in week 1; non-refundable after week 1.
  • Monthly payment plan: You may cancel future months at any time. Past months and the current month are non-refundable.
  • Programme cancellation by TGC: Full refund of all paid amounts.

6. Memberships & Subscriptions

  • You may cancel any subscription at any time through your account dashboard.
  • Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
  • Past billing periods are non-refundable.
  • Annual subscriptions: pro-rata refunds may be issued at TGC's discretion for unused full months.

7. Bundles, Packages, and Lesson Multi-Packs

  • Multi-pack lesson bundles must be used within 90 days of purchase unless extended in writing by TGC.
  • Refunds on partially-used bundles: pro-rata refund at single-lesson rate, less a 10% administrative fee.
  • Promotional/discounted bundles: refunds at the discounted rate paid (not the per-lesson list price).

8. Application & Audition Fees

Application fees, audition fees, and assessment fees are non-refundable. They cover staff time and faculty review.

9. Chargebacks

If you initiate a chargeback or payment dispute, TGC reserves the right to:

  • Suspend your account access during the dispute period;
  • Recover reasonable collection costs;
  • Reverse any associated faculty payouts (per IC Agreement Section 4A).

Please contact us first at info@theglobalconservatory.com before initiating a chargeback. We resolve most disputes informally within 7 days.

10. Refund Authority & Withholding

TGC retains full authority to issue refunds where TGC determines appropriate, including in cases of:

  • Substantiated student or family complaint;
  • Faculty no-show or material service failure;
  • Pedagogical, safety, or conduct concerns affecting the student;
  • Faculty's breach of the IC Agreement;
  • TGC's reasonable judgment that the relationship is no longer appropriate.

Where such refund relates to a session already paid out to faculty, TGC may reverse, withhold, or set off the corresponding amount against pending faculty payouts.

11. Refund Method & Timing

  • Refunds are issued to the original payment method.
  • Processing time: typically 5-10 business days after approval.
  • Some banks/cards may take additional time to display the refund.

12. Promotional Codes & Scholarships

  • Promotional codes are non-transferable and have specific expiry windows.
  • Scholarships are governed by their specific scholarship terms.
  • Refunds on promo-code purchases are at the discounted rate paid.

13. Hardship Exceptions

TGC may, at its discretion, issue refunds outside the published windows for documented circumstances of medical emergency, bereavement, natural disaster, or other genuine hardship. Contact info@theglobalconservatory.com with documentation.

14. Governing Law

This Policy is governed by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Disputes are resolved per Section 13 of our Terms of Service (HKIAC arbitration).

15. Contact

For refund requests or questions:
Email: info@theglobalconservatory.com
Postal: Kalinklo Limited, 74-78 Stanley Street, Flat 5, Hong Kong