Withdrawing from a course or program
When you withdraw from a course or program, there can be academic, financial and visa consequences.
The date you withdraw determines if you are financially liable for a course and if there are any academic penalties. If you’re experiencing overwhelming health or personal problems, consider withdrawing immediately to avoid any unnecessary penalties.
In some instances, you may be able to complete your course with the help of academic adjustments such as:
If special circumstances prevented you from completing or passing a course, even with adjustments, you may be eligible to remove your academic penalty and/or financial liability. To learn more and check your eligibility, see applying for removal of course.
Before you withdraw
Before you withdraw from a course or program, check:
1. Support and advice
Before withdrawing from a course or program, please seek advice and check the available resources and support.
Check our general advice for helpful information and who to talk to:
Domestic students
As a domestic student, you don’t need approval from the University to withdraw from your program. You can simply drop your courses through mySI-net.
Before you withdraw from any courses:
- ensure you understand how your program progression may be impacted.
- consider deferring or interrupting your studies. If you withdraw from your program before passing any courses, you will lose your place and have to re-apply for admission.
- speak to someone from Centrelink if you receive Austudy, ABSTUDY, Youth Allowance or other payments from the Australian Government.
- check the terms and conditions of any UQ scholarships you hold to understand the impact of reducing your study load or withdrawing from your program.
Who to contact
Domestic undergraduate students
If you're in your first semester, email Admissions (admissions@uq.edu.au) for advice.
Domestic postgraduate coursework students
Who you should contact depends on how you applied for the program:
- if you applied online to UQ, contact your school or faculty for advice
- if you applied through QTAC, email Admissions (admissions@uq.edu.au) for advice.
International students
Withdrawing from your program or a course or reducing your study load may affect your student visa eligibility.
If you are on a student visa, seek advice from your faculty before taking any action to withdraw from a course or program. We also strongly recommend contacting the Department of Home Affairs.
- leave Australia
- enrol in an alternative program, or
- apply for a different visa.
If you want to transfer to another Australian education provider but haven't yet completed the first 6 calendar months in your program, you must meet certain criteria for this to be approved by UQ. Read the Transfer of Provider – Overseas Students Procedures before applying.
If you withdraw from your program after census date, you will remain liable for fees in that semester. If you withdraw before census date in your first semester of enrolment, an administrative charge for late cancellation of enrolment will apply.
Who to contact
Seek advice from your faculty before dropping a course or withdrawing from your program.
Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students
There are no academic penalties for HDR students who withdraw. ‘Financial liability’ refers specifically to course fees, and you will not need to repay your scholarship.
If you withdraw, you will still be able to apply for re-admission at a future date.
Who to contact
You do not need your supervisors' permission to withdraw, but we encourage you to discuss your options with your advisory team.
You can also contact Student Central for advice about your options and the withdrawal process.
If you've been experiencing stress, anxiety, depression or other problems, Student Central offer confidential and free counselling for UQ students both online and face-to-face.