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Deferring your program (Information for international students)

Programs and Intakes

In some cases, international students can defer their program for up to a maximum of one academic year. If you wish to defer your program, please complete and submit a Deferral of offer/acceptance form (PDF 39kb 1p) .

When RMIT University receives your application to defer, your application is reassessed to determine if an offer can be made for the newly requested intake. You will be notified of the outcome of your application.

Note: No application fee is applicable for deferring the first time. However, you are required to pay an application fee if you defer for a second time.

For more information about deferring your offer, please email: ISapplications@rmit.edu.au

Important information

1.   If your visa has been granted, submit evidence of the compassionate or compelling circumstances which prevented you from enrolling in your program on time, along with the above form.

Acceptable circumstances include:

  • serious illness or injury (medical certificate)
  • bereavement of a close family member such as a parent or grandparent (documentation required)
  • major political upheaval or natural disaster in your home country requiring emergency travel which has impacted on your studies
  • a traumatic experience which could include: involvement in or witnessing a serious accident; or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has had an impact on you (police or psychologists’ reports)
  • where RMIT University is unable to offer a prerequisite unit
  • failure to meet the condition on the acceptance letter
  • delay in receiving a student visa (dated documentation required).

2.   If your visa has been granted but your reason for deferring is not a compassionate or compelling reason, RMIT University must report this as a ‘non-commencement’ (i.e. did not start studies) to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). You will need to contact (DIAC) for information on how this will affect your student visa.

3.   If your visa has been granted but you apply to defer more than 14 days after the commencement date on your eCoE (electronic Confirmation of Enrolment), you must contact RMIT International immediately for advice:

Phone + (613) 9925 5156 or Email ISvisa@rmit.edu.au