Withdrawing your Semester Abroad application
How to Withdraw from a Semester Abroad Program
Withdrawal Penalty
If you withdraw your application after you have been formally allocated to a host institution for Exchange/ISA, or you have received an offer for the GIP, for reasons other than those accepted as extenuating circumstances, you will not be able to submit an application for a semester abroad program for the subsequent application due date following the date of your withdrawal.
For example, if you withdraw your application in February of a given year, the next application due date is in May of that year (for an exchange in semester one of the following year). This means that you would not be able to submit an application for Semester Abroad until the October deadline in that year (for an exchange in semester two or the following year).
The withdrawal policy will not apply if your withdrawal is the result of extenuating circumstances. You will, however, be required to show proof that your reason for withdrawing your application meets the definition of extenuating circumstances. These are defined as any event that is:
- unavoidable
- unforeseen
- outside of your control, or
- not primarily resulting from your discretion or choice)
Supporting documentation will vary depending on the situation, some examples may be a medical certificate, death certificate, or notice of visa rejection or delay by the host country authorities. If you are unsure of what to provide, you should contact your relevant International Education Coordinator to clarify what documentation is required.
It’s really important that you think about the following circumstances before you submit your application, as they will not be considered extenuating circumstances for withdrawing, and the penalty will apply:
- having insufficient funds to support your semester abroad;
- being unable to take leave from your place of employment or taking up a new employment opportunity;
- choosing to participate in an alternative international study or travel experience that coincides with the period for which you’ve applied;
- transferring courses or otherwise altering your course progression AFTER an acceptable study plan has been approved by your faculty;
- changing your mind (where the travel advice remains unchanged at DFAT Level 1 or 2); or
- any other rationale that could be reasonably planned for in advance of submitting an application to participate in a semester abroad program.
If you have any concerns about the above circumstances, you are encouraged to contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss what options might be available to you.
If you choose to withdraw for one of these, or similar, reasons, you will not be able to reapply for a Semester Abroad by the next due date following the date of your withdrawal. You will, however, be able to apply in the next application cycle for short-term programs as normal.
| Program | Application Date | Last Date to Change Preferences | Announcing Allocated Institution for Exchange and Last Date to Withdraw Without Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange sem 1 | mid-May | Results release date, July | mid-August |
| Exchange sem 2 | mid-October | Results release date, December | early February |
| Study Abroad sem 1 | mid-May | N/A | early September |
| Study Abroad sem 2 | mid-October | N/A | mid-February |
| GIP sem 1 | mid-October | N/A | early-November |
| GIP sem 2 | mid-April | N/A | early-May |
Specific dates will be published each semester.