Intermit or discontinue
Find out how to intermit (suspend) your studies or discontinue (withdraw) from a course.
- Intermission means suspending or taking a break from your studies at Deakin while keeping your place in the course. Intermission can be taken for 3 active trimesters or 2 active semesters, which can be non-consecutive. An ‘active’ trimester or semester is one in which a student is required to be enrolled in, as part of their course study plan. Students are permitted to take up to three study periods of intermission during their studies with Deakin.
- In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, intermission taken during the 2020 and 2021 academic years does not count toward this allowance. However, intermission taken from 2022 onward will again count toward the 12 months/three compulsory study periods allowed for Deakin students. In the event you need to make an application in excess of this, refer to the ‘Further or extended intermission’ information below.
- Discontinuing from a course of study means that you are withdrawing. Depending on your circumstances, there may be alternative study or career options.
Intermit
How to apply
Apply for intermission in StudentConnect (under the Enrolment heading in the left hand menu).
Allow up to 10 days for processing of your application for intermission. You will be notified by email of the outcome. You can also check on your application by clicking 'View course' in StudentConnect.
Short courses
Intermission from these graduate certificates offered through the Job Ready Graduates initiative is not normally available. This initiative is a short-term government subsidised measure and you are encouraged to complete your studies by the end of Trimester 3, 2021. Intermission in extenuating circumstances may be considered – please seek advice from a Student Adviser at Student Central at the earliest opportunity and those circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Seek advice before you intermit
Students who want to intermit their studies for financial, health or other reasons (such as not being able to enrol as final units to complete a degree are not available in a trimester) should discuss their situation with a Student Adviser at Student Central.
Please note that Trimester 3 does not require intermission unless:
- You are commencing your course in Trimester 3 and need to take an intermission
- Your course requires continual enrolment such as Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry (D302).
Implications of intermission
Disruption to study upon returning from intermission
Choose your period of intermission carefully. If you intermit, you must be aware that your study may be disrupted. You may not be able to return to a full time load if you still need to undertake pre-requisites for your next units. Talk to a Student Adviser to help plan your intermission with a course plan.
Check withdrawal dates, fees and penalties
Intermitting your course is effectively withdrawing from each unit you are enrolled in for a particular trimester or year. If you are thinking about intermitting your course, you should check the withdrawal dates, academic penalties and fees and make sure you do it before census date.
- Domestic students withdrawal dates and refund amounts
- International students trimester withdrawal dates and refunds
- International students who want to intermit should visit the international intermission compliance page.
- International fee-paying students may be liable for a retention fee if they discontinue.
If you intermit after census date you will be liable for the full amount of your fees, including the student services and amenities fee. Students will also incur an academic penalty, which will appear on their transcript.
While you are on intermission you must ensure you pay any outstanding tuition fees you have incurred by the invoice due date. If your tuition fees remain outstanding, the intermission will be lifted and your enrolment discontinued for non-payment of your fees.
In special circumstances, you can apply for a remission of debt or refund if you withdraw from your units after census date.
- Refund of debt in special circumstances for International students
- Remission of debt in special circumstances for domestic students
If you would like to check that your course withdrawal was successful, you can contact Student Central.
While on intermission
We recommend that you talk to a Deakin careers consultant to plan and get the most out of the period of intermission. For example, if you need to work full time to save some money before continuing your studies, it would be good to work in an area related to your course - you might even be able to earn credits towards your course.
Returning from intermission
If your intermission is coming to an end you will need to ensure you are enrolled before the start of your next Trimester of study.
If you are wishing to return from intermission early you should contact a Student Adviser for advice.
Further or extended intermission
If you have already taken 12 months of intermission and you are wishing to extend your intermission you can apply for further intermission.
If you have only intermitted one trimester or semester and wish to intermit for another, you can apply again via StudentConnect.
Discontinue
Discontinue
Seek advice
Before you discontinue, discuss your decision with a Deakin careers consultant or a Student Adviser who will be able to advise on alternative study or career options.
Alternatives to discontinuing
If you are thinking about discontinuing for financial or personal reasons, we recommend that you seek counselling and financial assistance - you may be eligible for financial assistance or special consideration, which may enable you to continue studying.
Instead of discontinuing altogether you should consider intermitting until your circumstances improve or transferring to another course.
Discontinuing when you accept a later offer
If you accept a later offer to a different course at Deakin (or another institution), it's very important that you discontinue from the first course you enrolled in, otherwise you may be liable for outstanding fees.
How to apply
If you do decide to discontinue your studies at Deakin, you should apply online through StudentConnect (under the Enrolment heading in the left hand menu).
Allow up to 10 days after for processing and you will be emailed confirmation of withdrawal.
It is important to know, you cannot discontinue your course verbally, either in-person or over the phone.
Check withdrawal dates, fees and penalties
If you are thinking about discontinuing your course, you should check the withdrawal dates, academic penalties and fees and make sure you do it before census date.
- Domestic students withdrawal dates and refund amounts
- International students trimester withdrawal dates and refunds
- International students who want to withdraw should visit the international discontinuation compliance page.
- International fee-paying students may be liable for a retention fee if they discontinue. Students will also incur an academic penalty, which will appear on their transcript.
If you discontinue after census date you will be liable for the full amount of your fees, including the student services and amenities fee. Students will also incur an academic penalty, which will appear on their transcript.
Deakin Accelerate students can withdraw at any time without academic penalty or tuition fees charged.
In special circumstances, you can apply for a remission of debt or refund if you withdraw from your units after census date.