What must I do if I want to interrupt my studies?

• In most cases, unless your program rules require ‘continuous enrolment’, if you want to interrupt your studies, you can do so simply by not enrolling in a subsequent semester.
  
• If you are already enrolled and no longer wish to study in a semester, you must cancel your enrolment before the census date. When you want to return to studies, you then contact your faculty or school to have your enrolment and mySI-net access reactivated.
  
• If you are an international student studying in Australia on a student visa, please read the information below before applying to interrupt your studies.
  
• Some program rules specify the need for ‘continuous enrolment’ and you need to seek prior permission to interrupt your studies in these programs. You can check under the ‘Special rules’ section in the 'Program rules' to see if this applies in your programs and such provisions are usually labelled ‘continuous enrolment’ or ‘interruption to studies’. The 'Program rules' can be found under the Information for current students or Program requirements links  for each program on the Programs and courses website. 
  
• Please note that if you do not complete the program within the time limits specified in the General Award Rules, you may lose credit and will have to do additional work to complete the program. You will find a link to the General Awards Rules on the University rules page. Refer to the section ‘Cancellation of credit’ for details.
  
• If you are unsure about the requirements for your program, contact your faculty or school for assistance before you make your final decision.

International students

• Interruptions to your study can only be done in compassionate or compelling circumstances and in all cases, prior approval must have been granted by the University . Compassionate or compelling circumstances are defined in the National Code and include –
  • Serious illness or injury where a medical certificate states that you were unable to attend classes.
  • Death of a close family member such as your parents or grandparents (attach the death certificate if possible).
  • Major political upheaval or natural disaster in your home country which requires emergency travel which has impacted on your studies.
  • A traumatic experience (e.g. involvement in a serious accident or serious crime) that has impacted on your studies (supported by a police report or report from a medical doctor/psychologist).
  • Where UQ was unable to offer a prerequisite course (e.g. a compulsory course offered once per year), support from your faculty or school is required.
  • You had a delay in receiving your visa and you could not commence your program on time.
• If you are an international students and wish to interrupt or withdraw from your studies, you need to complete an ‘Application to Withdraw’ form and submit it to the Student Centre on your campus. If you apply to interrupt your studies, you will need to cite the reason/s and include supporting documentation with your application.
• Please note that the University is required to report the withdrawal/interruption to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and you may be required to return to your home country for the period of the interruption.