Defer my studies means that the students are requesting to postpone the commencement of a course.

If you have already commenced your course and wish to suspend your studies, you will be required to select Suspend my studies.

Have you considered the following before submitting your request?

• Have you spoken with the Student Services Offcier to discuss the Support Strategies available to you, and if they may be able to help you with your situation?
• Am I aware how a deferral may affect my tuition fees?
• Have you spoken with your Agent or the Department of Home Affairs to consider the effect a deferral from your course may have on your visa status?
• Are you able to supply all the required supporting evidence to upload with your request?

Suspension my studies refers to students placing the course on hold temporarily after the commencement of a course. A Suspension is not a Deferral. Deferring the studies means that the students are requesting to postpone the commencement of a course.

If you have not yet commenced your course and wish to defer your course start date, you will be required to select Defer my studies.

Have you considered the following before submitting your request?

• Have you spoken with the Student Services Offcier at campus to discuss the Support Strategies available to you, and if they may be able to help you with your situation?
• Am I aware how a suspension may affect my tuition fees?
• Have you spoken with your Agent or the Department of Home Affairs to consider the effect a suspension from your course may have on your visa status?
• Are you able to supply all the required supporting evidence to upload with your request?

 If you wish to proceed with your request, please note:

As a condition of suspension, students must ensure all outstanding fees are paid. Outstanding fees may include tuition fees and/or additional fees owing. 

Compassionate and Compelling Circumstances

SCIC defines compassionate and compelling circumstances as:

• Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the overseas student was unable to attend classes.
• Bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided).
• Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the overseas student’s studies; or
• A traumatic experience, which could include; involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has impacted on the overseas student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologist reports).

You agree that:

• SCIC may inform the Department of Home Affairs of your enrolment variation which may adversely affect the student’s visa.

• Evidence such as flight tickets, medical certificates must be submitted with relevant requests.

• An Administration Fee of $250 is applicable to Suspension or Withdrawal/ Cancellation requests submitted after course commencement.  This fee is an application fee only and does not guarantee that the requests will be approved.

• The Administration Fee of $200 will be applied to any refund amount approved for a student whose application for withdrawal/ cancellation due to visa refusal has been approved.

• For all requests to be processed and approved, you must have paid all fees as specified on your Letter of Offer & Written Agreement at the time of submission of your enrolment variation form.

• All refunds are subject to SCIC’s Refunds Policy.

• All requests are subject to relevant SCIC policies and procedures.

• SCIC will assess and reply to your request in writing within ten working days from the date of submission of all required documents and information.

• Failure to provide adequate documents may result in further enquiries from SCIC which will delay the processing of your application

Deferral requests

• Deferral requests can only be made before the commencement of the course.
• Deferral requests can only be accepted if there are compassionate or compelling circumstances* or if there is a delay in receiving student visa.
• When a deferral is approved, the COE will be changed accordingly which might affect your student visa.
• SCIC is not responsible for the problems which might arise as a result of inconsistencies between the duration of your CoE and your student visa.

Suspension requests

• Suspension requests can only be approved if there are compassionate or compelling circumstances* defined below.
• Students can only apply for maximum 3 months of suspension
• Where a suspension request is approved, the student’s CoE might be extended. In those cases, it is students’ responsibility to seek advice about the effect of CoE extension on the student visa.

Withdrawal Cancellation Requests

• Withdrawal requests can only be approved if there are compassionate and compelling circumstances*, if the student is returning to their home country for good or if the student’s student visa status has changed.
• Withdrawal requests will only be approved if you have completed your first 6 months of the principal course. The primary course is the last course you are enrolled in. For example: If you are enrolled in General English followed by the IELTS Examination Preparation course, the principal course is the IELTS course.
• If you have not completed the first 6 months of your principal course, at the discretion of the college, you may withdraw if you meet ALL of the following conditions:
  • You have met academic progress requirements, and
  • You have met attendance requirements, and
  • You are up to date with your tuition fees payments, and
  • You have provided a letter from another registered provider confirming that a valid enrolment offer has been made, and
  • Exceptional circumstances relating to the change in your study and career goals which require changing the education provider sector were satisfied by SCIC.

 Transfer Requests

• Please refer to the Provider Transfer Request Form.

Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances

• Refer to SCIC’s Enrolment Variation Policy and Procedure – Appendix 1, for information about compassionate or compelling circumstances.

• I declare that all the information I have given above is correct and complete.
• I confirm that I have read all the conditions and agree to abide by those rules and any subsequent amendments.
• I have provided supporting documentation to support my enrolment variation application.
• If understand and accept that, if any information provided by me as part of this application is false or misleading, it may result in me being subject to disciplinary proceedings.