Terms of Service.

Program Commitment

The Aspire Fellowship is a cohort-based, mentorship-driven program with limited capacity. Mentor time, resources, and program access are reserved in advance for each participant. As such, refunds are limited and governed by the policy below.

7-Day Refund Window

Participants may request a full refund within seven (7) calendar days of the official program start date, provided that:

  • No more than one (1) mentorship session has been completed, and

  • No substantial portion of the program has been delivered.

The program start date is defined as the date on which the Fellowship officially begins for the cohort, not the purchase date.

Refund requests must be submitted in writing within this window.

No Refunds After Initial Period

After the 7-day refund window has passed, or once more than one mentorship session has been completed, no refunds will be issued under any circumstances.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Changes in personal circumstances

  • Lack of participation or engagement

  • Dissatisfaction with outcomes

  • Competition results or external decisions

Aspire does not guarantee awards, publications, or admissions outcomes.

Non-Attendance

Failure to attend scheduled sessions, delays in scheduling, or voluntary withdrawal from the program do not qualify for a refund.

Payment Plans & Third-Party Financing

For participants using payment plans or third-party financing providers (including Affirm), approved refunds will be processed in accordance with the provider’s policies. Aspire cannot override the terms of third-party payment providers.

How to Request a Refund

Refund requests must be submitted in writing to:

team@aspireresearch.net

Requests must include:

  • Participant name

  • Program enrolled

  • Date of program start

Approved refunds will be processed within 7–10 business days.

Policy Acceptance

By enrolling in the Aspire Fellowship, participants and parents/guardians (if applicable) acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to this Refund Policy.

Security Deposits
1 Purpose of Deposit. A student (or their parent/guardian) may pay an enrollment deposit ("Deposit") to reserve a seat in a future Aspire Research program cohort and to lock in the tuition price quoted to them at the time the Deposit is paid ("Assigned Tuition Price").

2 What the Deposit Secures. Upon receipt of the Deposit, Aspire Research will (a) reserve one seat for the student in the cohort with the start date agreed upon in writing at the time of payment ("Agreed Start Date"), and (b) guarantee the Assigned Tuition Price for that enrollment. The Assigned Tuition Price will not increase before the Agreed Start Date, regardless of any changes to our published pricing.

3 Deposit Is Not Tuition. The Deposit is a seat-reservation fee and is separate from, and in addition to, tuition. It will not be credited or applied against the Assigned Tuition Price or any other program fees.

4 Non-Refundable. The Deposit is non-refundable. If the student does not enroll, withdraws before the Agreed Start Date, or fails to complete enrollment and pay tuition as required under Section X.5, the Deposit is forfeited in full.

5 Completing Enrollment. To claim the reserved seat, the student must complete enrollment and pay the Assigned Tuition Price (or begin an agreed payment plan) on or before the Agreed Start Date, or by any earlier deadline communicated in writing. If enrollment is not completed by that time, the seat reservation and price guarantee expire and the Deposit is forfeited.

6 Changes to Start Date. The Agreed Start Date may be changed only by written agreement with Aspire Research. If a change is approved, the Deposit and Assigned Tuition Price carry over to the new start date. Any change requested by the student that Aspire Research does not approve does not extend the reservation, and Section X.5 continues to apply to the original Agreed Start Date.

7 Cancellation by Aspire Research. If Aspire Research cancels the cohort or is otherwise unable to offer the student a seat for the Agreed Start Date (including inability to provide a suitable mentor match), the student may choose either (a) a full refund of the Deposit, or (b) transfer of the reservation and Assigned Tuition Price to a later start date. This is the sole remedy for such cancellation.

8 Non-Transferable. The Deposit, seat reservation, and Assigned Tuition Price are specific to the named student and may not be transferred to another person or program without Aspire Research's written consent.