International Student Refund Policy

Under the National Code 2007, international students holding a student visa are required to enrol so they complete their course within the duration specified in their electronic Confirmation of Enrolment Form (eCoE). Unless an Underload is approved, this generally requires that students maintain a full-time enrolment load for the duration of the course. Refund requests from international students must be authorised by the Manager, Fees Monash University, or their nominee. To be eligible for a refund (less applicable administrative charges), an international student must withdraw from a course within the first four teaching weeks (or four weeks of a research program).

Note: where fees are paid by a party on behalf of the student, the University/Monash College reserves the right to notify that party.

Withdrawals and deferments

If an international student withdraws, completes their course early, transfers to another provider, is excluded on academic grounds (and thereby fails to meet their student visa condition), defers or intermits their study or otherwise changes the duration of their course, then Monash University/Monash College is obliged to inform the immigration authorities of this change of status and the student may be required to leave Australia.

In the event of a course not being delivered

In the unlikely event that Monash University/Monash College is unable to deliver your course in full, you will be offered a refund of all the course money you have paid to date. The refund will be paid to you within 2 weeks of the day on which the course ceased being provided. Alternatively, you may be offered enrolment in an alternative course by Monash University/Monash College at no extra cost to you.

You have the right to choose whether you would prefer a full refund of course fees, or to accept a place in another course. If you choose placement in another course, you are required to sign a document to indicate that you accept the placement.

Refund of fees

The University observes the principles of the Australian National Policy on Fee Refunds established by the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee. This agreement does not remove the right to take further action under Australia's consumer protection laws. Provisions of the ESOS Act 2000 and the ESOS Regulations apply in the event that the University, as a registered provider, defaults on this written agreement on refunds.
In the event that an applicant wishes to contest the decision on a request for refund, they will have access to established dispute resolution procedures, which will not circumscribe the applicants' right to pursue other legal remedies.
An enrolled student, who withdraws from a course for whatever reason beyond the Census date in that teaching period, shall not be eligible for a refund
The funds covering the tuition fees must be clear (i.e. cheques cleared, telegraphic transfers received, etc).
All debts to the University/Monash College must have been paid before any refund can be calculated with any outstanding amounts to be deducted from the refund.
The refund must be made to the same person or body from whom the payment was received on behalf of the student.
Refunds will be paid within 4 weeks of receiving a written claim from the student.
A refund will normally be made in the currency of the student's country of permanent residence and payable in that country. Exceptions include non-tradable currencies (where the refund would normally then be paid in USD) or payment to another Australian educational institution. Monash University/Monash College is not liable for any variance from the foreign exchange rates fluctuations.
For international students who are withdrawing prior to enrolment or discontinuing from a course after enrolment, applications for a full or partial refund must be made to the Manager, Fees Monash University, by completing the Application for Refund of International Fees form and accompanied by supporting documentation, as appropriate. The authority for approving a refund of fees for a commencing international student rests with the Manager, Fees Monash University, or their nominee.
Requests for refunds from continuing students who are enrolled should be made to the Fees Unit, Student Administration, Monash University, by completing the Application for Refund of Fees form.

The grounds for refunds are set out below:

Full refunds

A full refund will be made:

in the event that an offer is withdrawn by the University/Monash College;
where the University/Monash College is unable to provide the course;
where a student was not able to meet a condition required by the University/Monash College in its letter of offer;
where a student has been excluded by the University/Monash College for failure to meet degree or diploma progression rules where fees were paid in advance of notification of exclusion;
where there is a refusal by Australian Government authorities to grant a student visa;
where a commencing student withdraws or discontinues from their course more than 4 weeks prior to the commencement of teaching or more than 4 weeks prior to the commencement of a research program;
when illness or disability prevents the student from taking up the course;
If the University/Monash College makes an offer on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information being supplied by the applicant/student, the offer will be withdrawn and the tuition fees paid are refundable;
A continuing student who re-enrolls then withdraws before census date (Note: In the case if Monash College students enrolled in Trimester 2, a full refund will only be made when a continuing student withdraws within the first four weeks of teaching. Where written notice of withdrawal is received after 28 days of the commencement of the program, the College may retain a non refundable amount of equivalent to 50% of the Trimester tuition fee. No refunds after census date).
when death of a close family member (parent, sibling, spouse or child) occurs; Or
when other special or extenuating personal circumstances prevent a student from taking up a course, and which may be accepted for a full or partial refund at the discretion of the Manager, Fees Monash University, or their nominee, provided a submission under this provision is made to Monash University/Monash College prior to the commencement of the course;

Documentary evidence must be provided in support of an application for a refund under any of the above provisions.

Partial Refunds

Note: The policy of partial refunds applies to commencing students.

Where a student:

gives less than four (4) weeks notice prior to the commencement of teaching in that semester/trimester of an inability to undertake the course; or withdraws from a course prior to the Census date; or
withdraws within four (4) weeks of commencement of a research program;

the tuition fee paid for the semester/trimester is refundable, less an administrative fee of $1,000.

Annual Course Fee Refunds

A full refund will be made under the conditions of the full refund criteria as set out above.
Where a commencing or continuing student having paid his or her tuition fees for the full year in advance; and gives less than four (4) weeks notice, prior to the commencement of teaching in the commencing semester/trimester, of an inability to undertake the course; or withdraws from a course prior to the Census date; or withdraws within four (4) weeks of commencement of a research program; all of the tuition fee paid for the first semester is refundable, less an administrative fee of $1,000. The full second semester/trimester tuition fee is refundable.
A student who withdraws after the census date in either semester/trimester, for whatever reason, shall not be eligible for a refund for that semester/trimester.
A research student who withdraws, for whatever reason, more than four (4) weeks after the commencement of the course shall not be eligible for a refund for that research period.

Package Fees Refunds

A full refund will be made under the conditions of the full refund criteria as set out above.
Where a student, having paid a package course fee deposit in advance, gives notice in writing to Monash University of an inability to undertake the principal course prior to the commencement of semester, a refund will be paid of the balance (if any) of the deposit paid, after deducting an administrative fee of $1,000 of the tuition fee payable for the semester

Once a student enrols in the Monash University/Monash College course the normal refund provisions apply.

Complaints and Appeals

In the event that a student wishes to contest Monash University’s rejection of their request for a refund, they will have access to established dispute resolution procedures. This policy and the availability of complaints and appeals processes, does not remove the right of the student to take further action under Australia’s consumer protection laws.