I am an international student from Nigeria, and I was admitted to GISMA University of Applied Sciences for the M.Eng. in Computer Science program starting April 2025. I paid a deposit of $3,200 with the full intention of attending the program. Unfortunately, due to visa delays and financial hardship, I was unable to proceed and began requesting a refund even before the April intake started.

Despite the fact that I never attended a single class, never accessed any university resources, and withdrew from the program, GISMA continues to demand full semester payments. They have refused to refund my deposit or issue an official withdrawal letter unless I pay thousands of euros more — for services I never used.

What’s worse is the repeated threats of debt collection and the refusal to acknowledge their own refund policy, which clearly states that withdrawal is allowed with only a €150 admin fee. I have sent many respectful emails, escalated to their finance team, and even received confirmation that I was owed a refund — only for it to be ignored or reversed later.

GISMA's treatment of students, especially from non-EU countries, has been disheartening. I hope other students, especially those coming from abroad, proceed with caution before trusting this institution with their time, money, and future.