Tuition

Ikebana Class in Melbourne 

Sogetsu School of Ikebana (Certificate & Teaching Diploma Courses) 

Weekly lessons will refresh and invigorate you and/or your staff and provide a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and thought. 

Note: This course is not "all inclusive ikebana workshops". You have to bring your own materials. If you are looking for all inclusive workshops, please visit our workshop page. 

How to Enrol (New Student)
1. Read this page (terms and conditions).
2. Attend our introductory class.
3. Send an enrolment form to enrol after you read and consent to the terms and conditions specified in this page.
4. You will receive an email to confirm your booking.
5. Pay your course fee by bank transfer or cash.
Your fee is $25 X number of remaining lessons in the term or $200 for a term if you start from a new term. 
You can also pay by credit card using our Booking Calendar. Cancellation fee (institution fees) will apply.

Essential Information
1. Check class dates online: http://www.shoso.com.au/p/newsletter.html
2. Join our mailing list for our newsletter: http://www.shoso.com.au/p/newsletter.html
3. Our Bank Account: Tsubo Melbourne Pty Ltd (Shoso Shimbo),
BSB: 033-070
No. 527917
Please fill in your name in the reference section.
4. Enrolment Form: https://form.jotform.com/200651984101852

Class Location
All classes are held in Murrumbeena, Melbourne. This is not an online course.

Class Dates / Time
Please check our class dates in our News page.
Please join our email group so that you will receive all notices for changes etc.

Course Fees: 3 Options
a. $40 per session
You can pick any class you are able to attend from the dates specified in our class dates and pay session by session. You pay only for the session you attended.
Please book by email when you are planning to attend. This is our most flexible option. It's ideal for short time visitors to Melbourne, or people who are unsure how many classes they can commit to in a term. If our class is full, however, this option may not be available.
b. $200 per term (Up to 8 Sessions)
If you pay by term, you can attend up to 8 sessions in a term. If you attend less than 8 sessions in the term, no refund will be made for the missed lessons.
c. $100 for 3 sessions
This special option is available only during the period affected by pandemic. You can attend up to 3 sessions in a term. If you attend less than 3 sessions in the term, no refund will be made for the missed lessons.    

Six Important Principles regarding course fees
1. Our students normally attend 8 sessions in one term.
We usually run 24 sessions in one year.
2. Our fees are not negotiable and not refundable.
3. The fee is valid only for the term in which you paid.
4. The fee has to be paid upfront on the first lesson of the term.
5. If payment is not made on the first day you attended in the term, a late of fee of $10 will apply.
6. Regular students can pay either by session ($40) or by term ($200). Don’t mix or change your option in the same term.

Course Fees Do Not Include:
a. Flower materials (usually a few flowers & branches)
b. Container
c. Kenzan
d. Tool - a pair of secateurs
e. Text book ($45)










What to Bring (These materials are not included in course fees)
A pair of secateurs
A container and kenzan
4-5 stems of one kind of flower
Branch material

- There is advice about how to obtain your branch materials, container & kenzan at our introductory workshop. You can borrow these for the first lesson for free. But you have to break down your work at the end of the lesson, and take home only the flower materials you used. Please bring your own kenzan and container if you already have them.

Additional Options
1. Textbook: $45 (The first text book covers over 40 lessons)
2. A container & florist form (oasis): $20 (If you want to take home your completed work)
3. Flower and branch materials: $25 per session (This is a prepaid service and nonrefundable. At least 24 hour notice is necessary to cancel or change the date. Call Shoso for details.)

Do not buy ikebana materials from other students.

Course Structure
The certificate course consists of four levels with 20 classes each. When you complete each level, you can apply for a certificate. Upon completion of your fourth certificate, you can enroll in a professional teaching diploma course which consists of 30 topics to be covered in 30 to 40 lessons. Your first diploma allows you to teach certificate courses. 

Upon completion of your first teaching diploma, you can enroll in a second teaching diploma (Sogetsu 3 kyu Shihan) course which consists of 60 topics to be covered in 60 to 90 lessons. The topics include large installations, demonstration methods and displays for commercial spaces. Your second diploma allows you to teach certificate courses & first teaching diploma course. 

Upon completion of your second teaching diploma, you can enroll in a second teaching diploma (Sogetsu 2 kyu Sanyo) course which consists of 60 topics to be covered in 60 to 90 lessons. At least two examples of recognition (awards or publications) from external bodies and at least 40 hours of teaching is recommended during the course. Your third diploma allows you to teach certificate courses, first and teaching diploma courses. 

Upgrading your title (it is not qualification) is not compulsory. First grades or higher are not available for a while due to little demand and their large costs.   


Ikebana Lesson Gift Vouchers (Order from Voucher page)
1. $60: Introductory Class (1 session)
2. $200: One term (8 sessions)
3. $245: One term + a text book

When you give our voucher, please advice following simple conditions.
a. Gift Vouchers are valid for 1 year from the date of purchase.
b. Send an email to shososhimbo@gmail.com to book lessons.
c. Course means tuition and does not include secateurs, container nor kenzan. You can borrow these materials during the introductory course. But you have to bring them once you move to a certificate course which starts from the forth lesson.
d. If your voucher includes fees for flower materials, please note that you have to give a 24 hour notice to cancel your booking.

Additional Notes
1. Our studio is upstairs, so if you have difficulty with stairs, please talk to us before you book so we can make arrangements for you.
2. If you have an allergy to cats, please let us know.


FAQ: Tuition
Q: When does the late fee apply? - Regular Students
A: The late fee of $10 will apply every time your payment is not made. If you pay on your third lesson of term you will incur a late payment of $20 because your payment was due on your first lesson and is two sessions late on your third lesson. In short, don’t attend class without paying. Late fee applies for being late for paying in full upfront, but not for being late to start the term.

A 1: If you attended the first lesson without paying in full because you did not have enough cash, or you could not work out how much to pay or any other reasons. You have 2 options on the second lesson.
1) You pay $40 (1st lesson) + $40 (2nd lesson) + $10 (late fee)
2) You pay $200 (for the term) + $10 (late fee)


A 2: The late fee does not apply, if you start from the second week or later in a term, and pay on the day you attend. You have 2 options for the term:
1) Pay $40 each lesson.
2) $200 for the term (up to 8 sessions)

Q: I missed one lesson this term. Can I make up the lesson next term?
A: No. You have to make up your missed lesson in the same term. In principle we allow you to make up your missed lessons for free in the same term. But regard it as an optional service, not as your guaranteed right. We are not obliged to offer you make up lessons. Under some conditions, we may not be able to offer you make up lessons, and you will not receive any refund for that. If you are lucky, you can attend make up lessons. But you may have to pay for your missed session even when you cannot attend make up lessons, because you paid by term. Please understand the differences between paying by session and paying by term. Refer to next Q & A as well.

Q: I payed by term, but the term was cancelled. How much refund do I receive?
A: That may happen under very unusual circumstances. In principle, refund will be made according to the percentage of the term duration uncompleted. It will not be based on the number of sessions you attended, because you paid by term, not by session. If the course was cancelled just half way, in principle you will receive 50% of your term fee even when you attended only one session during that time.

Q: I missed a few lessons this term. Can I get a discount next term?
A: No. Fees paid do not carry over from one term to another. We only give credit for the term when due to circumstances outside our control we have to cancel a class and cannot reschedule a make up lesson within a term.

Q: I missed some lessons this term. Can I get refund?
A: No. No refunds will be given.

Q: I have attended 8 sessions in a term and would like to attend more in the same term. How much to pay for the extra sessions?
A: You must have attended more than once in a week. Pay $25 per session from the 9th session in the term. If payment is not made on the day, however, the late fee of $10 applies.

Q: I failed to pay full on the first day I attended. What happens?
A: Always pay on the first lesson to avoid the late fee. If you fail to pay on the first day you attend the term, the late fees apply.
If you pay on the second lesson, you have 2 options.
1) Pay $90 ($80 for 2 sessions plus $10 for late fee). Pay $40 lesson by lesson for the rest of the term.
2) Pay $210 (the term fee and late fee).

Q: I failed to pay in full on the first two days I attended. How much do I have to pay on the third session?
A: Find out yourself by reading the terms and conditions. Because you missed payment twice, your late fee is $20. If you failed to work out the right amount, we will send you an invoice of $100 ($40 x 2 sessions plus $20).

Q: I missed the first 2 sessions and would like to start from the third week of the term. I can attend only 6 sessions this term. How much should I pay?
A: You have 2 options.
1) Pay $40 session by session.
2) Pay $200 for the term. If you don't pay on your first session, a $10 late fee will apply.

Q: I missed the first 3 sessions and would like to start from the fourth week of the term. How much should I pay?
A: You have 2 options. 
1) Pay $40 session by session.
2) Pay $200 for the term. If you don't pay on your first session, a $10 late fee will apply.

Q: I can attend only 5 sessions this term, so my fee is $125, isn't it?
A: No. If you pay by session, your fee is $40 X 5 = $200. But you can pay each time so that you don't have to pay for your missed session. If you pay by term, your fee is $200 whether you attend 8 sessions or less in the term. You may get a discount by paying by term, but there is a small risk for you. You can attend up to 8 sessions in the term, but that does not mean each session is $25. Pay by term only if you think you can attend up to 8 sessions that term. If you feel you are paying for missed sessions, pay by session or restart from the next term. If you don't understand this normal conditions about paying by term, consider the situation from teacher's point of view, or check how other institutions or businesses charge for their lessons.

Q: I paid by session twice. But my situation has changed. Can I pay by term from the third lesson?
A: No. You cannot change the way you pay in the same term. In addition, due to our non-refundable policy, changing your paying option does not give you much benefit.

Only one possible option is to pay additional $200 for the term and restart the term from the third lesson. You may attend up to 6 weekly lessons and 2 make up lessons in the term. Paying by term may be cheaper per session, but that option has some conditions.

Q: I am attending a course using a voucher that includes both tuition and flower materials. I could not give 24 hours notice to cancel my lesson. Can you prepare flowers for me again next time?
A: Because we had late or no notice, the flowers we prepared for you were wasted. So you have two options. You may bring your own flowers next time or pay an extra fee to have your flowers prepared for you again.

Q: I booked using my credit card. Can I cancel my booking?
A: Yes. You can cancel your booking up to 48 hours prior to the session. To cancel your booking, please send an email with your booking details (name & date of the class to cancel) to shososhimbo@gmail.com
Although we do not charge a cancellation fee, the administration fees related to your booking will be deducted: Stripe (1.75% + AU$0.30), Smoothbook (1.5%) and Government tax. You will be refunded through Stripe in accordance with their conditions.

Learn Online
Online Ikebana lesson is also available. Join Zoom Ikebana Dojo - High quality online courses.