Intermission (study leave)
Once you've started your course, and your first census date has passed, you may be able to apply for study leave. You can apply to take a break of up to 12 months during your course. This can be taken over consecutive teaching periods, or at different times.
Before you apply
You need to complete your course within a certain time frame (which includes study leave), so make sure you have enough time left before you apply for intermission. See study load for more information.
If you need advice or support before you apply, just submit an online enquiry through our virtual assistant.
Eligibility and how to apply
Domestic coursework students
International coursework students
Research students
Monash Online students
Malaysia
When to apply
To avoid financial and academic penalties, apply for intermission:
- during the re-enrolment period (before enrolling in units for the next academic year)
- before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date, if you decide to take a break once the semester has started.
If you plan to go on study leave for only one semester or teaching period, you need to re-enrol in the next semester or teaching period. See re-enrolment dates and details.
If you're a research student, you can apply for leave at any time.
Penalties incurred after the census date
If you apply for study leave after the census date, you’ll be charged for all enrolled units and receive a withdrawn or withdrawn fail grade. For penalty dates, see census dates and teaching periods.
Fees
If you've paid your fees upfront and apply for study leave before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date, you can apply for a refund. Fees will not be refunded if you apply for study leave after the census date. If you fail to re-enrol for the following year on time, and then apply for study leave, you'll be charged a late enrolment fee.
Exception
If you can provide proof that the reason you applied for study leave after the census date was due to exceptional circumstances, you can apply for a refund or reversal of loan debt (remission of debt).
Outcomes and notification
Once you’ve submitted an intermission request, we’ll get back to you within five University working days to discuss your request and take you through the process.
Your student visa and CoE
You’re still considered a current student when you’re on study leave (intermission).
If you’re granted study leave for compassionate or compelling circumstances:
- we’ll notify the Department of Home Affairs that you’re on study leave
- you’ll need to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) before you return from study leave because your current CoE will be cancelled.
When you return from study leave, we’ll give you an updated CoE with a revised completion date. You may also need to apply for a new student visa, but make sure to first get your updated CoE.
Before you return to Australia to resume your studies, you need to check your visa status on VEVO. If your student visa has been cancelled, you’ll need to get a new one to enter Australia.
During your study leave
While you're on study leave, you:
- remain a student of Monash University with access to University services, including the library, WES, my.monash and the Monash intranet
- must keep your contact details up to date to receive communication from the University
- must check your Monash email account for important information.
Returning from study leave
You'll receive a reminder to re-enrol in September. You must re-enrol during the October/November re-enrolment period to avoid a late fee and retain your place in your course. For details, see re-enrolment for coursework students.
International students on a student visa need to apply for a new Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) with a revised completion date, before returning from study leave. See visa requirements for more information.
Extending or returning early
If you want to return early, contact us at Monash Connect.
If you need to take a longer period of study leave than you initially requested, submit a new intermission request. Intermission extensions beyond 12 months of total leave are only approved in exceptional circumstances, and at the discretion of the faculty. You may need to provide supporting documentation.
Supporting documents
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide one or more of these documents to support your intermission request:
- medical certificate, letter from a medical professional (even if your doctor has filled in your intermission request form)
- letter from a social worker, lawyer, psychologist, or counsellor
- death notice or certificate and evidence of relationship
- police report
- statutory declarations from students or relevant people
- notification from:
- defence services
- Juries Commissioner's Office
- emergency service organisations such as the Country Fire Authority.
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