Student Handbook

These rights are drawn from commitments the university has already made in its policies and in its Student Fees Guide. They are stated here in one place so that a student does not have to assemble them from several documents.

• To be taught in an environment free from discrimination on grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or any other protected characteristic.
• To be treated with mutual respect, and to study free from harassment and bullying.
• To be heard before a disciplinary decision is taken, to present evidence, and to appeal that decision before an independent panel.
• To receive a fee statement quarterly, and to be told of any change to fees immediately it is made.
• To request a refund of surplus money paid, credited electronically to the paying account.
• To withdraw from study and receive the refund set out in Part VI, provided a Withdrawal Form is submitted.
• To apply for a bursary, scholarship or funding in the second semester, considered on financial need, academic performance and character.
• To receive the same curriculum, assessment and award at either campus — a student in Douala studies the same material as a student in Buea.

• To uphold honesty in all academic work, and to avoid plagiarism, cheating and every other form of academic dishonesty.
• To comply with local and national law, and with the university’s own regulations.
• To register by the published date. Registration dates are posted at all university communication centres, and not having seen them does not excuse a late registration.
• To meet published payment deadlines, whether or not a fee statement has been received.
• To keep the university informed of a correct postal and account address, and to follow up unpaid amounts on your own account.
• To submit a Withdrawal Form and await clearance before leaving a programme.
• To attend the seminars required by your level of study — two five-day seminars a year at Master’s level, four one-week doctoral seminars a year at doctoral level.

The Code of Conduct at ICOF Global University delineates the expected behaviors and standards for all members of the university community, including students, faculty, and staff:

• Academic Integrity: upholding honesty in all academic endeavors, prohibiting plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty.
• Respectful Behavior: promoting mutual respect among community members, prohibiting harassment, bullying, and any form of discriminatory behavior.
• Non-Discrimination: ensuring an inclusive environment free from discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
• Compliance with Laws and Regulations: adhering to local, state, and federal laws, as well as university-specific regulations.

Academic integrity is the first obligation in the Code of Conduct. A breach is handled through the disciplinary process below.

• Investigation: a thorough investigation is conducted to gather all relevant information and evidence.
• Assessment: the gathered evidence is assessed to determine whether a violation has occurred and the severity of the infraction.
• Decision: based on the findings, a decision is made regarding the appropriate disciplinary action, communicated with its rationale.
• Right to Appeal: the parties involved have the right to appeal the decision before an independent panel.

Range of disciplinary actions

• Warning: a formal or informal warning outlining the nature of the violation and the consequences of further infractions.
• Probation: a period during which specific conditions must be met, possibly with additional monitoring.
• Suspension: temporary removal from the university, prohibiting participation in classes and campus activities.
• Expulsion: permanent dismissal from the university for the most severe violations.

The pass mark is 65%. Grades run from A at 94–100% to F below 65%, and the full scale with grade points is set out in the Academic Regulations.

Study load

• CertificateMinimum 10 and maximum 12 subjects per year.
• Ordinary DiplomaMinimum 10 and maximum 12 subjects per year.
• Bachelor’s Degree (distance learning)Minimum 10 and maximum 12 subjects per year.
• Bachelor’s Honours Degree (distance learning)One full academic year, to a maximum of eight subjects.
• Master’s DegreeCoursework and dissertation combined; a small number of degrees may be taken by thesis only.
• Doctorate and Ph.D.Mostly by dissertation, with the exception of a few doctorates in the business sciences.

The terms below are the ones most often relied on. The complete fee schedule, the charges payable in addition to tuition and the terms for sponsors are in the Academic Regulations.

• The Application Fee is USD 100 and is paid with the application.
• An admitted student may begin studying immediately. Teaching does not wait on the fee schedule: a student is enrolled on admission and starts with their cohort.
• The Acceptance of Place Fee and the University Levy are due within the first period of study, and an initial deposit of 50% of tuition is due on the schedule the Finance Office confirms at registration.
• Payment dates are published each semester on the student website and in the university bulletin, and must be honoured.
• Payment may be made in cash, by cheque, or by direct deposit. Students pay in their own national currency to the ICOF national base in their country; the amount is the dollar figure converted at the rate published for that period.
• A late registration penalty of USD 20 applies to all late registrations. Registration dates are posted at all university communication centres; not having seen them does not remove the penalty.

Withdrawal

• A student who wishes to withdraw must submit a Withdrawal Form and wait for clearance to be granted.
• All withdrawals are processed through the faculty responsible for the programme.
• A student who leaves without completing a Withdrawal Form remains liable for the fees due for the whole semester of study.
• The university is not obliged to refund fees to a student who withdraws after three months in the programme.

Refund schedule

The university commits to due process in all disciplinary proceedings: the right to be heard, the right to present evidence, and the right to appeal before an independent panel.

ICOF Global University is committed to upholding the principles of due process in all disciplinary proceedings: the right to be heard, the right to present evidence, and the right to appeal. Our commitment to transparency, fairness, and accountability is unwavering.

Until the procedure below is adopted, a complaint should be raised in writing with the faculty responsible for your programme, copied to info@iguc.net.

A graduating student with outstanding fees will have a hold placed on transcripts, diplomas and degrees until those fees are paid in full. Certificates are charged at USD 20 and academic records at USD 5; the full list is in the Academic Regulations. Fees are quoted in US dollars and paid in your own national currency to the ICOF national base in your country.

Doctoral candidates complete all required coursework, pass comprehensive examinations and defend the dissertation before a faculty committee.

A student handbook is only as good as its weakest section, so the ones the university has not yet decided are named here rather than filled with plausible text.