Retention of place and interruption of studies

After commencing your program, you might want to take a temporary break. Officially, this is called 'interrupting studies'.

From 2023, a maximum period to complete a program has come into effect and there are new requirements for students to retain their place in a program. Because of these changes, the process for students to interrupt their studies or return from an interruption has changed.

Retention of place

Regardless of when you commenced your studies, from 2023, to retain your place in a program following commencement of studies you must meet:

the applicable eligibility criteria and conditions outlined in the Enrolment Procedure (see Table 1 for domestic students or Table 2 for international students);
any program-specific academic progression requirements; and
any (and all) conditions imposed on your enrolment under the Academic Progression Procedure. If you are refused enrolment under the Academic Progression Procedure, the requirements for retention of place will be deferred from the time the refusal takes effect until you are permitted to re-enrol.

Interruption of studies

From 2023, regardless of when you commenced your studies, there is a limit to the length and number of interruptions you can take, and a new process to apply for an interruption and/or return from an interruption.

The requirements and process depend on whether you're a domestic student or an international student. Click one of the below to find out more:

Domestic students

If you want to take an interruption, the first thing to do is to confirm whether any of the following apply to your program:

if your program has continuous enrolment requirements
if your program has been discontinued
if your program is a 1 year honours program.
If your program has continuous enrolment requirements, if it has been discontinued, or if it is a 1 year honours program, you must apply for an interruption.
If your program does not have continuous enrolment requirements, and it has not been discontinued, and it is not a 1 year honours program, you don't need to apply for an interruption.

Does my program have continuous enrolment requirements?

Use the program and course catalogue to search for your program. Make sure you select the year in which you commenced your program in the Program Year field to confirm you are looking at the requirements that apply to you.
On the program page, click 'Courses and requirements'.
- If your program has continuous enrolment requirements, you must apply for an interruption.
- If your program doesn’t have continuous enrolment requirements, you can interrupt your studies without prior approval, for a maximum period of 24 months. See instructions below for the process you need to follow when you want to return to studies.

I don't need to apply for an interruption. What should I do next?

You can take a maximum interruption of 2 years (24 months of non-enrolment) by simply not enrolling in any courses. You don't have to notify the University, or formally tell anyone. While you don't need permission, it's a good idea to discuss your plans with your faculty and check the retention of place requirements (see Enrolment Procedure).

The University monitors interruptions and will email you after 12 months of non-enrolment to let you know that we have retrospectively applied a leave of absence to the past year, and that you are able to take a further year of interruption before you must resume your studies.

Following this further 12 months of non-enrolment, for a total of 2 years (24 months), the University will email you to let you know that you are due to return to your studies.

If you don’t re-enrol and maintain enrolment in courses after the census date within six months following the 2 years of interruption, your enrolment will be suspended. This means that you will need to contact your faculty to discuss resuming your studies, and you may need to re-apply for the program.

Remember it is your responsibility to manage your enrolment.

If you are enrolled in any future semester(s), make sure you update your enrolment
If a semester has started and you no longer wish to continue studying in the current semester, please note that academic or financial penalties can apply if you withdraw from your courses in order to take an interruption.

When you are ready to return to study, please follow the instructions on the returning to study page.

How to apply for an interruption

Complete the online form below to apply for an interruption of study. The form will be assessed by your faculty's Associate Dean (Academic).

Remember it is your responsibility to manage your enrolment.

If you are enrolled in any future semester(s), make sure you update your enrolment.
If a semester has started and you no longer wish to continue studying in the current semester, please note that academic or financial penalties can apply if you withdraw from your courses in order to take an interruption.

When you are ready to return to study, please follow the instructions on the returning to study page.

Apply to interrupt studies

For more information about interrupting studies, speak to an advisor in your faculty.

Request now

International students

In some circumstances, you can apply for an initial interruption of up to 12 months and an extension of up to a further 12 months (for a maximum non-enrolment period of up to 24 months).

Before you apply for an interruption, talk to an advisor in your faculty. We also strongly recommend contacting the Department of Home Affairs. Taking an interruption can affect your student visa.

Once you've spoken to your faculty consider the potential impact on your student visa, and if you intend to apply for an interruption submit an online Program Interruption, Withdrawal or Resumption form.

You will have to demonstrate you have compassionate or compelling circumstances to justify the interruption and attach documents to support your request.

If you are enrolled in any future semester(s), your courses will be dropped when your request is approved.
If a semester has started and you no longer wish to continue studying in the current semester, please note that academic or financial penalties can apply if you withdraw from your courses in order to take an interruption.

Impact on your visa

If you are studying at UQ on a student visa, we will not cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment if you are approved to interrupt your studies because of compassionate or compelling reasons.

According to the Australian Government’s ESOS National Code, compassionate or compelling reasons might include:

Serious illness or injury: You must provide a medical certificate to support your claim. The medical certificate must state that you were unable to attend university classes.
Death of a close family member (e.g. parents, grandparents). Where possible, please provide a death certificate and proof of relationship to the close family member in the form of a statutory declaration (birth certificate, etc).
Major political upheaval, or a natural disaster in your home country. These events must have required emergency travel that impacted your studies.
Military service. Please provide correspondence from the military organisation including the duration of the service.
Serious personal trauma (e.g. a serious accident or crime that jeopardised your ability to study). Please provide police reports, or reports from a psychologist or counsellor.
UQ was unable to offer a prerequisite course. You must show supporting evidence from your school or faculty.

There may be other circumstances that qualify as compassionate or compelling reasons. We assess each case on its individual merits.

The following are examples of situations not considered as compassionate or compelling:

minor illness or medical condition
failure to enrol by the due date
financial hardship
work commitments.

If you need to take a break for reasons not considered compassionate or compelling or if you want to withdraw from your program your Confirmation of Enrolment will be cancelled.

We are required by law to notify the Department of Home Affairs when an international student interrupts their studies. Please refer to the Department of Home Affairs website for information regarding your student visa following a change in your enrolment.

Retention of place and interruption of studies

Retention of place

Interruption of studies

Domestic students

International students

HDR students