Intermission

If you need a break from your studies due to compassionate or compelling circumstances, you can apply for intermission and keep your place in your course.

What is intermission?

Intermission is an approved break from your study. It can be a whole trimester or, if applied for after a trimester begins, the remainder of a current trimester. You can apply for intermission on the grounds of compassionate or compelling circumstances, such as serious illness or death of a family member or in the case of compelling circumstances, something that is beyond your control for which you can provide evidence.

While on intermission you can remain in Australia, and you are permitted to work.

Why an intermission application is important?

Students must submit genuine and valid supporting documents to the Department of Home Affairs to have their intermission period recognised for the purpose of obtaining a visa extension to complete their course in Australia. If appropriate documentation is not provided, the visa extension may be refused. In such cases, the student may be required to return to their home country and complete the remainder of their course online, if available.

Apply for intermission

You can apply for intermission in StudentConnect. During the application process you will be:

• contacted by a student adviser for further information
• asked to provide supporting documents
• asked to complete an international student intermission form (PDF, 321KB)
• advised of the outcome within ten working days.

If your application is approved, your current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled, and you will be issued a new CoE for the trimester in which you intend to recommence your study.

Higher Degree by Research students

If you are a HDR student looking to intermit please refer to information on changes to candidature.

Need to take a shorter break? (continuing students only)

International students are required to be in Australia and studying on campus prior to the start of each compulsory study period.

View Deakin's trimester start dates.

You can apply for a short-term leave of absence if you need to attend a wedding overseas, return home to visit a sick relative or have a minor medical procedure during a compulsory study period. You will need to apply for a short-term leave of absence if you intend:

• to take up to ten days during a compulsory study period
• to return to Australia within 10 days from the start of the trimester.

Please speak with a student adviser about applying for a short-term leave of absence.

Apply for a short-term leave of absence (continuing students only)

When you apply online for a short-term leave of absence you will need to upload the following documentation:

• A copy of your air ticket showing departure and return dates.
• A statement indicating the reason for your intended leave of absence.
• Any other documentary evidence to support your grounds for short-term leave of absence

Leave of absence is not available during end of unit assessment and exam periods.

You will be advised of the outcome by email within 5 business days. Please keep this email with you when you return to Australia as proof of your leave.

Commencing students (first study period)

If you are a commencing student, you are required to be onshore and have commenced studies before any short-term leave of absence can be considered.

You are expected to be onshore and ready to study on-campus from the orientation date. If you cannot arrive onshore to study on-campus by Thursday of week 1, you must defer your course to the next available study period. More information about arrival can be found on the When to arrive in Australia webpage.

Visa compliance

• You must ensure you return to Australia and continue to study on-campus for the remainder of the compulsory study period.
• According to visa condition 8202, student visa holders must remain enrolled in a registered course and maintain satisfactory course progress in each study period to ensure they complete their course within the duration of their student visa.
• It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the conditions of your visa. You can find all the information you need on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Full time load requirement for student visa holders at Deakin

It is important for student visa holders to maintain a full-time study load to ensure satisfactory course progress, to complete their course within the duration of your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and approved student visa duration. At Deakin University, a full-time study load is defined as 8 credit points per academic year. International student visa holders are required to enrol in units worth 8 credit points during the compulsory Trimesters 1 and 2. Alternatively, they may also enrol in the non-compulsory Trimester 3 to meet this requirement.

What happens if an international student does not maintain full time enrolment?

If a student intentionally under-enrols without obtaining formal approval to reduce their study load, they may not be eligible for a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) extension at Deakin. As a result, the student may need to complete the remainder of their course online from their home country, if available.