How To Defer Your University Offer In Australia

If you were planning on starting university in 2020, you may be facing feelings of uncertainty in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Future students are concerned about their university courses starting as promised, and whether the shift to online learning will continue into the next academic year.

In this situation, it’s understandable if you feel that deferring your university place for another year and taking a ‘gap year’ before starting higher education is the right step for you. But how does deferring your university offer work in practice?

Deferring your university offer in Australia 

If you want to defer a university offer in Australia, you will first have to apply and be accepted by an institution. The deferral process is quite simple: you either submit a deferral request through state or territory’s Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC, if you’re a domestic student), or directly through the university’s own online portal. You will likely have to provide a reason for your request to defer your place, and what you plan to do in your ‘gap year’.

The standard maximum length for a deferral is one year, although some institutions may allow up to two years. However, the likelihood of your deferral request being approved depends on your chosen course, as some vocational or very competitive courses (like medicine) will require you to reapply.

You should also be careful with what you do in your year off, as completing certain tertiary education qualifications may nullify your deferral approval, as your educational record will have changed. This generally applies to study from certificate level III onwards. Some institutions will charge a deferral fee of around AU$100-200, which may or may not be refundable.  

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