Eligible enrolled students may apply for a leave of absence for either six months or a year.
In most cases, if you're enrolled in an RMIT program you can apply for a leave of absence. If you're a new student who hasn't yet enrolled, you need to defer your place rather than take a leave of absence.
The total maximum period of leave for a student in a coursework program is 50% of the total duration of the program, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
If you're on a student visa, you can apply for a leave of absence if compassionate or compelling circumstances apply. For details, including examples, please see the Compassionate and compelling circumstances page.
Please note that if you have enrolled but will not be able to commence your program in your first semester you will need to defer your offer. Leave of absence is not granted for student visa holders in their first semester of study.
Apply for a leave of absence before your census date to avoid paying fees.
If you're a higher education student, you must also apply before the last day to withdraw without academic penalty, which can be found in your important dates.
If you're a higher education student enrolled in classes in the flexible term that you don't intend to study while on leave, you must drop these individually in Enrolment Online. These classes may have different census dates. Refer to your Statement of Enrolment for more information.
Apply for a leave of absence by following these steps:
To track the status of your application, go to Enrolment Online > My student record > Track my application.
The outcome of your application (or a request for more information) will be sent to your RMIT student email account.
Research students must apply by completing and submitting the Higher Degree by Research Leave of Absence (LOA) Form.
If you’re studying an RMIT program through Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), you can apply for a leave of absence through SIMConnect. For students at all other partners institutes, follow the steps below to apply for a leave of absence.
Download the Application for Leave of Absence Form. Read the instructions, complete the required fields, and submit the form to your local partner contact.
Note: The form is a writeable PDF meaning you can complete it without needing to print the form. You can digitally sign the form using the Digital ID in the Adobe Reader application.
If you aren’t able to digitally sign the form, you can also email it to your local partner contact from your RMIT student email account and provide your consent to process.
You’ll receive an outcome by email within 2-5 days from receipt of your application.
You can apply for leave of absence at any point during the term, but there may be financial or academic penalties if you submit your request after the relevant census date.
Check your important dates or speak with your local partner contact if you need more information about when to apply.
If you have commenced an RMIT Online program and would like to take a break, you can apply for a leave of absence. The maximum period of leave is usually 50% of the total duration of the program, e.g. 6 months of leave can be granted for a one-year graduate certificate program, unless there is an exceptional circumstance.
Apply for a leave of absence before your census date to avoid paying fees.
In the first instance, please contact your Student Success Advisor if you wish to withdraw from a course. They'll work with you to plan a return to study date and provide a revised study progression plan.
After talking to a Student Success Advisor, you need to lodge a leave of absence request via the Student Connect Portal. Include the following information in your request:
Once we've received your request, a staff member will contact you to confirm the outcome of your application. Please note, if you don't provide all requested information, your application may be delayed or not processed.
If you want to extend your leave, submit a new leave of absence request via the Student Connect Portal. Include the following information in your request:
If you want to return early from your leave, submit a request through the Student Connect Portal before the commencement date of the next teaching period. Include the following information in your request:
We might need to contact you during your leave with important information. Continue to check your RMIT student email account and, if needed, update your personal details.
Students can continue to access services and support while on leave of absence.
Once your leave of absence period ends, you'll need to enrol in the next study semester by the enrolment deadline. If you don't, you may lose your place in your program.
We'll email you ahead of the enrolment period to explain the enrolment process and deadline.
If you change your mind and want to cancel your leave of absence request after you've submitted it, you must request for it to be cancelled before your census date.
If you have missed classes while on leave of absence, you will need to catch up on the course material covered. For this reason, we advise that you talk to your course and/or program coordinator and consider your personal circumstances before you cancel your leave of absence request.
You can recommence your studies straight away – you don’t need to wait for confirmation that your leave of absence has been withdrawn.
Note: If your leave of absence has already been approved, your request to cancel your leave of absence is not guaranteed. Approval will depend on a number of factors including:
For academic advice and information about your program and courses, contact your College via Student Connect.
If you have technical problems with Enrolment Online or password queries, contact IT Service Connect.
If you have any questions about enrolment, contact Student Connect.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.