Poor communication, vague policy and unaccommodating

I’m starting to wonder if the rumors are true that BCC is nothing but a money grabbing institution after all. To start off I’ve studied with Boston in 2021 and did a Higher Certificate which I passed quite well. I wanted to resume my studies in the 2nd semester of 2022 which would commence on 1st August. I app****, registered and paid the entire first year fees in full. Unfortunately about 2 weeks after the semester commenced a family circumstance occurred which forced me to apply for a deferral which meant I’d have to resume my studies the following semester which would be now on 20th February 2023. The deferral was granted and my modules for the qualification were all disabled/deactivated on 25 August 2022. Mind you this was well before any assignments were due.

Last week I’ve reached out to consultant to kindly assist me as id like to change the qualification I’d like to study towards. After nearly a week someone finally responds that I can no longer change as I’ve already accepted my textbooks for the current qualification. Firstly, nowhere on your website, Student Rulebook or Quick Facts does it mention that once textbooks are accepted you can never reconsider and seek guidance. The policy on students changing qualifications is nowhere in black and white, it’s more like a “you’ll know when you know” policy that a consultant tells you after the fact only. You cannot tell me that I’m the first student to ever realize that perhaps they chose the wrong field of study after all. Thus far I’ve not been helped much on this issue. Now if I was already mid year into my studies and actually participated in Colcampus as per normal and handed in assignments for my semester I’d completely understand why changing mid year would be rejected and not even considered. But that’s not the case at all. I’ve spent approximately 2 and half weeks in the course only before my deferral. No assignments handed in yet.

So what options do I have? Should I complete year 1 of a course I’m no longer interested in even though I’ve tried to seek assistance to rather change to something I’m passionate about? That’s just wasting time and money(which I paid in full, once off). Completing a first year and then switching next year seems pointless as I could tell you a year in advance already what my intention was. Should I just not participate this first year even though I’ve paid everything in full, in other words throwing money away for an entire year of nothing?

I understand completely that perhaps students changing courses isn’t a one size fits all kind of policy as each situation needs to be considered case by case. I’m hoping this review will reach the right people that can try and take the whole situation into consideration, the paid up fees, the fact that I’ve hardly been in the course at all, the fact that before semester starts later this month is reaching out to get help to change courses etc.

I genuinely believed that BCC takes it students academic journey seriously and cares for students but now I’m not sure anymore.