ESOS students (students visa holders)

Guide for deferring, suspending or cancelling student’s enrolment

 Deferment of studies means an ‘adjournment of the starting date for study which allows a student's place in a course to be held for a nominated length of time, usually one year'.
 

Under standard 13 of the National Code 2007, students can defer or temporarily suspend their studies (including intermission) in limited circumstances. A student's enrolment may also be suspended involuntarily or cancelled.

Deferment of studies

 If you are unable to commence the course at the time, teaching period or semester you applied for or if you commence your course but subsequently decide to delay your commencement before the census date for your first teaching period, you may be able to defer your entry until a new agreed start date.  

Coursework students

Coursework students who wish to defer commencement of their course should complete the Defer studies or change preference form (pdf 87kb) provide all necessary information and return the form to International Recruitment Services (IRS). Alternatively, send an email to scenquiries@monash.edu  explaining the reason for your application and provide all necessary documentation. IRS will make a decision on your application and inform you of the outcome. If your deferral is approved, you will receive a new offer letter and start date

A request for the deferment should be submitted as soon as you know you will be unable to arrive in time for the semester.  Deferments received after the semester starts may not be accepted.

Higher Degree Research Students

Any application for a deferment of the offer of candidature must be submitted in writing to the Monash Research Graduate School. Deferment, if approved, will be for a maximum of one year only.

Offers of candidature lapse six months after the date of the initial offer of candidature if the prospective candidate does not enrol and/or has not sought and been granted a deferment.

For information see chapter 2.7 of the Handbook for Doctoral and MPhil Degrees

 What are the grounds for temporary suspension of study?
The grounds are outlined in standard 13.2 of the National Code 2007:

• compassionate or compelling circumstances or
• misbehaviour by the student

For course work students, a temporary suspension of study includes a period of voluntary intermission from studies or involuntary suspension arising from discipline.

What is the meaning of 'compassionate or compelling' circumstances?
Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally those beyond your control and which have an impact upon your course progress or wellbeing.  ‘Compassionate' circumstances include situations where you have a serious illness or personal condition affecting your ability to study  or a family situation has arisen requiring your assistance or support e.g. bereavement of a close family member.  'Compelling' circumstances refers to circumstances that are involuntary and where you have little or no alternative but to take a period of leave (intermit) e.g. personal or family situations which require your attention and over which you have no control or social or political upheaval in your country affecting your family.

 Suspension of study- Intermission
Coursework students

Course work students who are enrolled and who have been enrolled for more than one semester of study, and wish to take a break in their studies may apply for an intermission of up to 12 months. This can only be granted on the basis of compassionate or compelling circumstances. In granting this leave of absence from your course, a place in the course is reserved for you when the intermission has ended providing that you reenrol during the designated periods.

Each faculty will advise whether the period of leave will count, or not, in the time limits for completion of the course. The maximum time limit for completion of each course is given in the faculty regulations. During the intermission you are considered to be a student of the university for the period of the intermission. To maintain your enrolment after this time you must observe the scheduled re-enrolment dates for the following semester/academic year

To apply for intermission, you should complete the 'Intermission Application form' and return it to your faculty. This form is also available at the Student Service Centres or faculty offices. Your faculty will decide on your application and inform you of the outcome. You should also seek advice about the visa implications of intermission from the offices of Health and Wellbeing  on your campus

Higher Degree Research Students- types of leave

If you are higher degree research student, you are entitled to a period of annual leave and can also apply for other leave (intermission, sick leave, special leave and maternity leave). Annual leave will not affect your candidature but ‘other leave' will.  More information is available in the Handbook for Doctoral and MPhil Degrees which does not affect your candidature

Suspension of study- Discipline
This is an involuntary suspension of study which is activated by student misconduct. For information about discipline see Discipline: Student Procedures or for Higher Degree Research students see Discipline procedures for doctoral and MPhil candidates

 Cancellation of enrolment
At Monash a student's enrolment in a course can be discontinued/cancelled for a number of reasons including, but not limited to:

Unsatisfactory Academic Progress (Coursework students)

Exclusion for Health Reasons (University Statute 6.3)

Academic and General Misconduct (University Statute 4.1)

Non-payment of Tuition Fee

Where Monash intends to terminate, suspend or cancel a student's enrolment, the student must be notified that s(he) has 20 working days to access the ‘complaints and appeals' processes. A student's enrolment must be maintained (i.e. the student not reported to DIISRTE) while the internal appeals process is ongoing. This means that where the termination, suspension or cancellation of enrolment is not Monash initiated, it must not take affect until the internal appeals process is complete unless ‘extenuating circumstances relating to the welfare of the student apply'.

For further information about Complaints and Appeals see Guide to Complaints and Appeals