Terms & Conditions

COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS – EUROPE (CMSEu)

COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS – EUROPE (CMSEu) Terms & Conditions

1 The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1977 to promote excellence in hotel and restaurant beverage services. The intensive education and examination programme guides aspiring Masters through four increasingly rigorous levels of coursework and examinations, culminating in the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination.

2 Enrolment is open to any persons who are 18 years or over.
To apply for enrolment in the Introductory, Certified, Advanced, or Master Sommelier exams, candidates should complete an application form which can be found against the appropriate course or examination on our website:
www.courtofmastersommeliers.org
All information concerning course fees & qualifications including the application forms can be found here.

3 Enrolment into the Certified Sommelier examination is only offered to applicants who have successfully completed the Introductory qualification.
Entry to the Advanced course and examination is limited to those persons who have successfully passed the Certified Sommelier Examination.
Applicants for the Master Sommelier Diploma must have successfully passed the CMS Advanced Certificate.

CMSEu reserves the right to request the verification of age, identity, residential address and qualifications of applicants and any other information relevant to entry and participation in a CMSEu course.

4 The CMSEu will accept for Enrolment eligible applicants for each course or examination offered. In its sole discretion, the CMSEu may increase or reduce the maximum number of applicants accepted for any course or examination offered, or refuse applicants and refund applicants according to clause 9 of these terms and conditions.

5 It is a requirement that all candidates have an appropriate amount of Service experience within the Hospitality industry working with Wine and Beverages. Experience will be determined on an individual basis depending on the candidate.

6 CMSEu will select for enrolment, eligible applicants for each of the Certified examinations offered. Eligibility for enrolment into a Certified examination is at the sole discretion of the CMSEu, but CMSEu will consider applicants who have previously successfully completed an Introductory examination and/or the top qualifying candidates from the Introductory examination conducted immediately before the Certified examination.
In its sole discretion, CMSEu may increase or decrease the maximum number of applicants according to clause 9 of these terms & conditions.
CMSEu will not be responsible for late, lost or misdirected applications or other communications written or electronic.

7 CMSEu reserves the right in their absolute discretion to reject applications for enrolment if the applicants do not meet the eligibility criteria or for any other reason as determined by CMSEu in its sole discretion, including but not limited to, submission of untruthful content during the application process.

8 Applicants may enrol in offered education programmes worldwide subject to places being available at the time of the enquiry.
An enquiry may constitute intent to participate, but the CMSEu has the discretion to confirm the places only to persons who have paid the full fee or a non-returnable deposit. Eligible candidates who apply for the Advanced Sommelier Certificate or Master Sommelier Diploma, must once be accepted on the programme remain with the accepting organisation (CMSEu or CMS-Americas) Transfer of places between Europe and America is not permitted. Any candidate who for any reason requires to relocate from Europe to America or vice versa must make a written application to the CMSEu or CMSA for consideration, stating the reasons for such change. The CMSEu & CMSA have absolute discretion to grant or deny the request.

9 The CMSEu reserves the right to cancel any course or examination if insufficient applications for enrolment are received. In the event that the CMSEu must cancel any course or examination, it will give applicants a minimum of 21 days’ notice prior to the scheduled commencement of the course in which the applicant is enrolled.
Applicants will then be entitled to receive a full refund according to Clause 9 of these terms and conditions.

10 If an applicant cancels enrolment up to 90 days prior to the commencement of the course, the applicant will incur the loss of 50% of the full course fee
Any cancellations received within 89 days of the scheduled start date of the course or examination in which the applicant is enrolled will incur a 100% cancellation fee.

In the event that CMSEu cancels a scheduled course or examination or declines an application into any one or all examinations for which the applicant has applied for enrolment, the applicant will receive a full refund.
Any refunds made according to this clause will be credited to the applicant.

11 Applicants who are accepted on a course or examination will be assessed and examined throughout the course by the nominated CMSEu assessors. The CMSEu assessors will ultimately determine whether or not an applicant has successfully completed an examination in which the candidate is enrolled. In assessing and exercising their judgment, the CMSEu assessors will be guided by the assessment criteria set out on the CMSEu website. www.courtofmastersommeliers.org

12 CMSEu or any related body, shall not be liable for any loss, damage or injury suffered (even if caused by negligence) as a result of individuals enrolling and participating in any CMSEu examination, except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

13 The use of mobile phones or electronic devices to take video footage, photos or post updates to social media will not be permitted at any time during any CMSEu course or examination.

14 Students enrolled in any CMSEu course, or examination are not permitted to share via social media any quiz, web portal login details or supporting materials which have been provided by the CMSEu.

15 Applicants will be refused service of alcohol or provision of alcoholic beverages during any CMSEu course or examination if it would breach any relevant laws, codes or policies of the relevant liquor license, including those relating to the responsible service of alcohol. The CMSEu supports the responsible service of alcohol.

16 Applicants consent to CMSE or any sponsor/supporter of the CMSEu programme using their name and likeness for an unlimited period without remuneration, to promote the CMSEu courses and examinations or any sponsor/ supporter of the CMSEu programme.

17 Details from entries will be collected and used to administer the CMSEu examinations (which may include the disclosure to third parties) including any sponsors/supporters of the CMSEu programme.
By applying to enroll in a CMSEu course or examination applicants consent to the use of their information or image and agree that the CMSEu and any third party may use it for any future promotional marketing and publicity purposes without any future notice, reference or payment to the applicant.

18 Individuals who successfully complete all parts of the Master Sommelier Diploma will be expected to uphold the accepted ethics and standards of the Court of Master Sommeliers. Recipients of the diploma will be required to sign an agreement binding them to a code of ethics and conduct of a Master Sommelier.

19 Full membership to the Court of Master Sommeliers is open by invitation only to those persons who have been awarded the Master Sommelier Diploma, upon passing the three stages of examinations (theoretical, practical and tasting of the MS Diploma Exam) subject to approval by the board of the CMSEu.
The CMSEu Board retains the right to withdraw its invitation to the Court if deemed necessary.
An annual membership fee is payable to maintain membership. Only membership to the Court allows usage of the legally protected term ‘Master Sommelier’ and use the initials ‘MS’.

Use of Title and Logo
• Candidates successfully passing the Introductory Course may use the title
‘Introductory Sommelier’ or ‘IS’ but not ‘Introductory Master Sommelier’ or ‘IMS’
• Candidates successfully passing the Certified Course may use the title ‘Certified Sommelier’ or ‘CS’ but not ‘Certified Master Sommelier’ or ‘CMS’
• Candidates successfully passing the Advanced Course may use the title ‘Advanced Sommelier’ or ‘AS’ but not ‘Advanced Master Sommelier’ or ‘AMS’
• Candidates successfully passing the Master Sommelier Diploma may use the title ‘Master Sommelier’ or ‘MS’ but not the word ’Master’ alone. It must be used with the suffix of Sommelier – ‘Master Sommelier’.

• The CMS logo is a legally protected image and cannot be used without written permission from the Board of the CMS.