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Deferring studies

  1. Home
  2. Information and services
  3. Manage my program
  4. Withdraw, defer, or return to study

What's the difference between deferring and interrupting?

To defer your studies means to delay the commencement of your program to a future semester (i.e. to delay your first day in a program to a future semester).

Informally, many students use the word “defer” to mean “take a temporary break from studies”.

Strictly speaking, if you have started studying and you want to take a break, the correct word to use is interruption.

It’s important to understand the difference between deferring and interrupting, because they refer to quite different administrative processes.

Deferring is explained on this page. See the Interrupting Studies page if you're a current UQ student and you want to take an interruption.

How do I defer my program?

Domestic undergraduate students

If you applied through QTAC to commence a program in Semester 1, you can defer your program for one year.

Offers for mid-year (i.e. Semester 2) entry cannot be deferred.

More information is on the Deferring your QTAC offer page.

Domestic postgraduate coursework students

The process of deferring a postgraduate coursework program depends on how you applied for the program.

I applied online to UQ
Contact the faculty offering the program for advice.

Programs and courses list the faculty associated with each program.

I applied through QTAC
If you applied through QTAC to commence a program in Semester 1, you can defer your program for one year.

Offers for mid-year (i.e. Semester 2) entry cannot be deferred.

More information is on the Deferring your QTAC offer page.

If you defer, you must pay fees at the rate applicable when you commence the program.

International students

If you would like to defer your studies to a future semester, request a change through the online application portal. 

If you're unable to request a change through the portal, email iasdeferral@uq.edu.au. In your email include:

  • your student number
  • the semester you would like to defer to 
  • the reasons for your deferral.

Higher Degree by Research students

Contact the Graduate School for information about deferring.