Defer your place

Length of deferment

How long you can defer for is determined by when you apply.

If you defer from Semester 1 then your place will be deferred for one academic year so you would start your program in Semester 1 the following year.

If you defer from Semester 2 (midyear) then your place will be deferred for six months and you would be expected to start your program in Semester 1 the following year.

If you have, or wish to defer in Semester 1 but would like to start your program in Semester 2, please contact the School that runs your program to see if this will be possible.

You can only defer starting your program once.

How to defer

Deadline to defer

To secure your place in your program, you must defer before the last day to add classes. See Important dates to find the last day to add classes. 
 

Domestic students (excluding HDR)

If you wish to defer it is very important that you do not enrol.

If you are already enrolled and you want to delay your studies, you will need to apply for a leave of absence.

The deferment process is simple:

1. Log in to Enrolment Online using your RMIT email address and password.
2. Under My current program, select the Defer studies button next to the program you wish to defer.

The system will provide immediate confirmation that your deferment is successful.

International students

See Defer your offer as an international student for instructions.
 

HDR students

You must request to defer by writing to the School of Graduate Research before the enrolment date specified in your offer.

During your deferment

While on deferral you are not officially an RMIT student. This means you cannot:

• Attend classes
• Access the University Library or academic and student support services
• Access RMIT systems and online student resources
• Receive an RMIT student card.
   

Returning to study after deferment

Near the end of the deferment period (usually early November) you will receive a notification email with instructions on how to enrol and confirm your place at RMIT.

If you do not enrol by the deadline in the notification email, your offer will lapse.

On completion of your deferment period you cannot defer again. If you wish to further postpone your studies, you would need to enrol and then apply for a leave of absence.

Vocational education students

If you are looking to enrol in a government subsidised place (see Fee type in your offer) then you will need to re-establish your eligibility as required by the Victorian government.

This means that when you return from your deferment, and before you can enrol, you will need to complete an online evidence of student eligibility declaration in Enrolment Online and upload the following evidence:

1. A completed copy of the vocational education eligibility calculator (see How to check if you are eligible)
2. Documents to verify your eligibility.