An extension is an increase to the length of your Australia Awards Scholarship.

Aside from an Honours-year extension, only one extension for a maximum of six months can be approved for the duration of your scholarship. An extension will not be granted for a study program that’s only one academic year long.

For full details, see section 8.5. of the AAS Policy.

Eligibility

Completing your normal course of study

Extensions are rare and will only be approved if there are legitimate reasons, such as unforeseen and exceptional circumstances beyond your control.

The option to extend your scholarship will only be considered when:

• you’re already in the second or subsequent year of your course
• you’re expected to achieve the qualification as a consequence of the extension
• Monash deems an extension to be the only acceptable strategy to achieve your qualification
• you’ve failed a subject and Monash has implemented a strategy to help you complete your study program on time and address the reasons for the failure, and
• your extension request has been lodged in accordance with the instructions in section 13.1.10. of the AAS Policy.

To apply for an extension, reach out to the SCO at australia.awards@monash.edu and let them know that you’re experiencing difficulties which are affecting your studies (such as family or health problems), The SCO can discuss your situation with you and help determine the best course of action. If needed, we can arrange to suspend your scholarship for a period of time.

Upgrading your course of study

You may be eligible to upgrade your course and extend your scholarship if your Program Area permits it, DFAT approves it and your situation is one of the following:

• If your institution recommends you for an Honours program, you may be permitted to upgrade.
• If you’re currently studying a Master’s degree, you may be able to upgrade to a PhD in exceptional cases. You’ll need to meet the specific requirements in Section 13.6 of the AAS Policy.

Requirements

If an extension to your scholarship is approved, you’ll be responsible for paying any costs associated with getting a new visa.

You’ll need approval from DFAT before the Department of Home Affairs will consider your visa application, and you’ll need to begin the visa application process well before your current visa expires.

Enrolling in summer or winter courses

You can enrol in one or two units during the winter or summer semesters to:

• make up for failed units (so you won't need to extend your course)
• reduce your workload during regular semesters (you'll still need to enrol in at least 18 credit points per semester for your student visa)

DFAT will approve your winter or summer units if:

• the only cost associated with the enrolment is tuition fees
• the units count towards your degree
• it doesn't extend the duration of your course or your scholarship.

Before enrolling in winter or summer units, you'll need to:

• get approval from your faculty
• email your Student Contact Officer at australia.awards@monash.edu

Your faculty course adviser can help you choose suitable units and explain how this will affect the rest of your course.

For details, see section 12.6.9 of the AAS Policy.

An Australia Awards Scholarship suspension temporarily pauses your study program and your financial support from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Your scholarship may be suspended for various reasons – for example, you might request to suspend your scholarship because of health issues or family circumstances, or Monash may suspend your scholarship as a consequence of misconduct. It can be suspended more than once, but not for longer than 12 months total.

To request a suspension, speak to your Student Contact Officer (SCO).

If you've already been granted a scholarship extension, a suspension won't be granted if it results in additional costs.

For full details, see section 13.4. of the AAS Policy.

During your suspension

If your scholarship is suspended, you need to:

• Return to your home country for the suspension period (with your family, if you're accompanied by them).
• Remain in contact with the Program Area in your home country during your suspension
• Before returning to Australia at the end of the suspension, reach out to both your SCO and the AAS office in your home country to confirm the date of your return.
• Contact Monash to arrange your return date – you’ll need to do this at least two months before you plan on returning to Australia.
• Contact the Department of Home Affairs for information about visa requirements.
• Purchase your own Overseas Student Health Cover for the time you’re in Australia during the suspension (your OSHC will be suspended with your scholarship).

Medical suspensions

If your scholarship is suspended for medical reasons, you'll need to complete a medical examination to make sure you’re fit to travel and resume full-time study in Australia (the examination will be at your own expense). You may be asked to provide evidence of your fitness to study to both DFAT and Monash University before your return to Australia is approved and a return flight is booked on your behalf.

We can’t approve a suspension of your scholarship in order to undergo or recover from elective surgery (see section 14.6.4 of the AAS Policy).

Pregnancy

If you get pregnant during your scholarship, you can ask for an intermission from your course and a suspension of your scholarship until after the birth of your baby. However, you must return home for the intermission/suspension period

Email your Student Contact Officer to let them know, and attach a doctor's letter including your due date.

If you need to upgrade your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), contact the OSHC representative on campus or the Student Contact Officer for help.

Costs and expenses

During your suspension period, none of your living expenses, fees or other entitlements will be paid, and your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) will be suspended – you’ll need to arrange your own OSHC if you remain in Australia for any part of the suspension.

If you have a reunion airfare entitlement, you can use it in advance to fund your travel home. If you don’t have a reunion entitlement, DFAT will fund your return trip airfare. If you have dependents travelling with you though, you’ll be responsible for paying their airfares.

If you need to repeat units you’ve already paid for because of your suspension, we’ll treat your suspension as a suspension with an extension – this means your scholarship will be extended to cover the costs of the unit(s) you’ve already paid for but couldn’t complete. Keep in mind, if this happens, you won't be able to request any further extensions for the remainder of your scholarship.