The procedures required to defer your studies (i.e. officially delay the commencement of your studies for the first time) differ depending on whether you are:

• a domestic undergraduate student
• a domestic postgraduate coursework student
• a domestic research higher degree student or
• an international student

The procedures are set out below under each category.

1.  Domestic Undergraduate Student
   Deferment is available for most programs offered through QTAC. If you are a domestic undergraduate student and wish to request a deferment of your QTAC offer for a place, you must respond to your QTAC offer with a deferment response. Deferment will be approved automatically. An approved deferment will lapse if:
   
   
   • You enrol in Bachelor or higher level courses in a tertiary institution during the deferment period; or
   • You fail to complete your enrolment at UQ by the dates specified in the letter of approval you receive from Admissions.
      
   Deferments are available for a period of up to two years to students who are offered a Commonwealth supported place at the beginning of the year and will be automatically granted for all programs except:
    
   
   • 707802 Bachelor of Arts/MBBS;
   • 729102 Bachelor of Health Sciences/MBBS;
   • 731702 Bachelor of Science/MBBS; and
   • 721102 MBBS (Provisional Entry for School-Leavers).
     
     Requests to defer the MBBS programs above will be considered on a individual basis. The MBBS program is under review therefore 2012 will be the last year in which students can commence in the above programs. Students commencing from 2013 onwards will be required to complete a minimum three year undergraduate degree at UQ before progressing to the Medicine program.

     To request deferment of your MBBS program you must: 

     • Respond to your QTAC offer using the deferment option by the offer response date;
     • Lodge an internal program change request through UQ to specify your preferred three year undergraduate degree
      
   To request deferment for all other programs, respond to your QTAC offer using the deferment option by the offer response date. Your deferment will be automatically approved and UQ will send written notification in October advising deferred students of the enrolment process.

   You must enrol by the date specified by the University in order to take up your deferred place.

   If your program is discontinued by the University during the deferment period, you will be unable to commence studies in your deferred program. You may wish to explore your options for entry to an alternative program however you will be required to re-apply through QTAC.

   Important! In order to retain and take up your deferred place, you are required to: 

   • Respond to your QTAC offer with the deferment response by the offer response date;
   • Enrol by the date specified by the University in order to take up your deferred place; and
   • Not enrol in any tertiary studies at the Bachelor level or higher during the period of deferment.

   Note: If you are offered a place to start in Semester 1 and want to postpone commencement until Semester 2 in the year of offer, you should contact your Faculty to see if the program can be commenced in Semester 2 as a number of programs can only be started in Semester 1. Deferments are not available for domestic undergraduate students who are offered mid-year entry.

2. Domestic Postgraduate Coursework student
   If you are a domestic postgraduate coursework student and wish to defer commencement of your studies, you should contact the Faculty offering the program for advice. If you defer your studies, you will be liable for fees at the rate applicable when you actually commence the program.
   
    
3. Domestic Research Higher Degree students
   If you are a domestic research higher degree student and wish to defer the commencement of your studies, please follow the instructions given on the Graduate School website.
   
    
4. International Students – all programs
   If you are an international student and wish to defer the commencement of your studies, you should contact the Admissions Officer listed on the top of the letter of offer or email the International Education Directorate on applicationstatus@uq.edu.au .