Request to adjust candidature period 

Before you complete this form we advise you to:

1. Get advice by talking with your Course Advisor or a member of the Student Services team to understand what discontinuing means for you and your course progression. If you are an international student or on a student visa there may be additional implications. 
2. Understand the financial and academic implications of your request. Check the Academic Calendar to make sure you’re aware of the important dates and deadlines associated not only with your course but also your units of study (as their census dates may vary). Depending on when you complete this form, you may face academic and/or financial penalties. It is important for you to make any necessary changes to your study as early as possible. If you’re receiving government payments you also need to tell the Australian Government about any changes to your study.
3. Consider which request is right for you. It may be that requesting a break (Leave of Absence or Suspension/Extension of Studies) will be enough. We suggest that if you are unsure about your decision it would be best to request a break in your studies rather than simply discontinue. 

You can use this form to make 3 different types of request:

• Break from Study/Leave of Absence: A Leave of Absence (LOA) is a period of non-enrolment where the student has the intention to return to their studies at the end of the authorised period. When applying for a LOA, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have enough time to complete the course of study before its time limit is reached. The LOA is counted towards the maximum time required to complete the course. It does not allow for additional time to complete the course.
  • For example, if a student takes one-year of LOA and the award is to be completed within a maximum of five years, the five-year limit does not change. The student will have one-year of LOA and four-years to undertake the required units of study to complete their course.
  • CCSC & EDU: For more information, please refer to the LOA policy on the College website.
  • Requests for Bible and Theology students are approved by the Australian College of Theology. Please check their Coursework Course Enrolment Policy on the ACT website.
  • Supporting documentation
    • ACT: Supporting documentation is required for a 6 month period of leave application
    • CCSC & EDU: Supporting documentation is required for a 12 month period of leave application

• Suspension of Candidature : A Suspension of Candidature may be the preferred option for students who are intending to complete to complete their course of study but are unable to continue their studies for a period. At the end of the approval period, the time limitation for the award will be reinstated i.e., the clock restarts.
  • CCSC: For more information, please refer to the Suspension/Extension of Candidature policy on the College website.
  • Requests for Bible and Theology students are approved by the Australian College of Theology. Please check their Coursework Course Enrolment Policy on the ACT website.
  • Students should submit their Suspension of Candidature application before the start of a semester. Retrospective application is not allowed and the period of the leave cannot be backdated.
  • Supporting documentation
    • ACT: Supporting documentation is required for a 6 month period of leave application
    • CCSC & EDU: Supporting documentation is required for a 12 month period of leave application
  • Approved Suspensions of Candidature automatically extend the Candidature period. 

• Discontinuation of Studies: This is a request to withdraw entirely from your current studies; to discontinue your course. If you want to continue your studies at a later time, you would need to submit a new application to the College. 
  • If you have not already done so, completion of this form will also be treated as a request to withdraw from any units you are currently enrolled in. Please be aware that after Census date, fee charges and academic penalities will apply. Check the Academic Calendar for more details. 
  • Requests for Bible and Theology students are processed by the Australian College of Theology. Please check their Coursework Course Enrolment Policy on the ACT website. 

• Extension of Candidature: Where a suspension of candidature has not been previously requested, and a student’s remaining candidature period is insufficient to complete the course, a student may request an Extension of Candidature. An extension of Candidature may be granted for up to 12 months.
  • Supporting documentation
    • ACT: Supporting documentation is required for a 6 month period of leave application
    • CCSC & EDU: Supporting documentation is required for a 12 month period of leave application