ASSIGNMENTS could be handed in late, but students could ill afford to fall behind with their monthly payments. Course fees ranged from $45,500 to $65,500 depending on if it was a bachelor or master's programme, but students warned of the cost of the small print. Regulations include a $50-a-day penalty for late payments, including Sundays and public holidays. An additional interest charge of one per cent, compounded daily, applied to the outstanding penalty. One ex-student said failure to meet one deadline resulted in a $100 penalty because the next day was a public holiday. He said textbooks cost him an additional $8,000 and had to be ordered from the United States. Catherine Chan Ho-ying said her studies were on hold for six months while she waited for text to arrive. If students were dropped for breaking rules, all fees were forfeited as 'liquidated damages'. If they completed their assignments and made payments on time, they had to pay a $3,200 graduation fee.
