Request release from, or transfer to, Deakin University and refund of tuition fees

Transferring between registered providers guidelines

Transferring between registered providers guidelines

Under the National Code 2007, providers are restricted from enrolling transferring students prior to the students completing six months of their principal course. The principal course is one for which a student visa has been issued at the highest level of study in the program. For example, for a DUELI program of 10 weeks and postgraduate program of 78 weeks, the student will be issued with a visa for 88 weeks in duration with the highest level of study (postgraduate) as visa sub-class 573, higher education.

For Deakin University, this impacts in two ways:

A student may apply to be released from the Deakin program before completing six months of the principal course; this includes students on a pathway program of which the higher education component is the principal course.
A student may apply to commence a program at Deakin, after arriving in Australia on the visa generated by another education provider, prior to completing six months of the principal course with that provider.

Approval of release from Deakin

Normally all students who are issued a Student visa as a result of a Deakin generated electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) will be expected as a minimum to complete the first six months of the Deakin principal course.

The following criteria are the only circumstances in which Deakin will grant a release before the completion of the first six months of the Deakin program:

Deakin University’s CRICOS registration has been suspended;
The course offered in the Letter of Offer becomes unavailable for new intakes;
Failure to qualify for admission to the principal course at the end of the pathway program;
A government sponsor deems that the transfer is in the best interest of the student;
Evidence of the course being inappropriate because it does not meet the needs of the student;
There are grounds for compassionate and compelling circumstances (see below); and
An applicant under 18 years old presents a valid offer from a receiving institution (which also acknowledges the responsibility to provide accommodation, support and general welfare) and provides written evidence of parents'/guardian's support for the transfer.

Compassionate and compelling circumstances to be considered for approval of release from Deakin University will normally be a sudden change of circumstances, beyond the student's control, that impact on plans for on-campus study in Australia. Such circumstances, supported by evidentiary documents, include:

Illness of the student or immediate family member evidenced by a medical certificate;
Death of a student’s immediate family member evidenced by a death certificate;
You or your family’s financial circumstances change unexpectedly to the extent that you are not able to continue with your studies evidenced by a statement from your family or other appropriate documentation; or
Other compassionate circumstances as evidenced by a letter from a qualified counsellor/psychologist.

Please note that the following circumstances will not generally be considered compassionate or compelling circumstances:

Lack of understanding of Deakin University Transfer between Registered Providers Guidelines or Tuition Fee and Refund Policies.
Lack of understanding of Deakin University’s enrolment procedures.
A desire to change to a new course with lower fees.
Failure to enrol at Deakin or at pathway provider before the published/offered enrolment dates.

Please note that a release letter may not be issued if it jeopardises a student’s progress through a package of courses as this may be detrimental to the student.

The applicant requesting a release letter will be advised of the decision in writing within the agreed time frame, outlined upon receipt of application.

Please use the form "Request for a Release Letter and Refund for international students not yet enrolled at Deakin University (including pathway students) (210 KB)".

For international students who are currently enrolled at Deakin University, please go to the Current International Students website.

Applications can be submitted in any one of the following ways:

in person at Deakin University International Reception, Level 2 LA Building, or
emailed to int.release.refund@deakin.edu.au, or
sent to: Release Applications, Deakin International – Quality and Compliance, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood Victoria 3125

NOTE: If a student is eligible to commence and continue the nominated Deakin program, changes to another level of study in an unrelated field to the original program will not generally be approved in the period prior to or within the first six months of the principal course of study. Similarly, requests for transfers from commencing students who are in an adjustment period should not expect approval prior to enrolling for six months in the principal award course, except where there is evidence of compassionate or compelling reasons.

The applicant will be free to pursue the change of study plans after completing an enrolment of six months in the originally intended award course at Deakin University.

Refund eligibility

If you are not yet enrolled in your Deakin University course, you may apply for a refund via the "Request for a Release Letter and Refund for international students not yet enrolled at Deakin University (including pathway students) form” (210 KB). Refunds will be assessed according to the Tuition fee, fee refund and privacy policies.

Approval to transfer to Deakin

As a receiving educational institution, Deakin University must not knowingly enrol a student wishing to transfer prior to the end of the first six months of the principal course of study ( ie the highest level of study for which the student visa was issued).

If an application is received from an onshore student indicating that they are currently studying at another Australian institution, the applicant must confirm the completion of the first six months of the principal course of study (ie the highest level of study for which the student visa was issued), and attach a copy of visa.

Applicants wishing to transfer to Deakin before completing six months of the principal course will need to submit a Letter of Release from the education provider offering the principal course.

Note: If the applicant is in receipt of a Government scholarship, a letter from the sponsoring Government agency is also required to support the transfer.

Request release from, or transfer to, Deakin University and refund of tuition fees

Transferring between registered providers guidelines

Study

Research

Access Deakin

On campus

Connect

Study

Research

Access Deakin

On campus

Connect