After your initial subject enrolment each study period, it is possible to add subjects or withdraw from subjects. If you need to change your enrolment for any reason, it is important you understand the consequences that may be involved.
Important dates
Please check AIHE’s Academic Calendar on the Important Dates and Timetable Page for these important dates:
• Last day to enrol
• Census date
• Last day to withdraw without fail

Adding subjects is permissible up until the last day to enrol for the teaching period. You can vary your subject enrolment using the AIHE Enrolment Form.

Subject withdrawal is permissible up until the last day to withdraw without fail. You can withdraw from a subject/s using the AIHE Subject Withdrawal Form. Depending on when you withdraw from your subject, there may be academic and financial consequences.
Before withdrawing from a subject, consider your options carefully. Read through the advice below and seek support as required.

Subject withdrawal on or before census date:
• The subject result will not appear on your academic record or official transcript
• Tuition fees are removed.
Subject withdrawal after census date and on or before the last day to withdraw without failure:
• ‘WN’ (Withdraw, Not Fail) will be recorded on your academic record and official transcript
• You remain liable for your tuition fees
Subject withdrawal after the last day to withdraw without failure:
• ‘WF’ (Withdraw, Fail) will be recorded on your academic record and official transcript
• You remain liable for your tuition fees.
If you withdraw from all your subjects before the census date and wish to remain enrolled at AIHE, you need to apply for Leave of Absence or Deferment depending on when you started your course:
• New students: You need to apply to defer your course commencement.
• Continuing students: You need to apply for a Leave of Absence.

If you wish to take time off from the course you are currently enrolled in, you may be able to apply for a Leave of Absence. International students are not permitted to take leave of absence, except on compassionate or compelling grounds, which are supported by documentary evidence.
You may request a Leave of Absence for a period of up to 12 months in a calendar year. This will mean that your course is put on hold for you to complete after you have returned from your leave.
You do not require a Leave of Absence after the census date has passed for any of the subjects you are enrolled in. Once the census date has passed for a subject, it is counted as part of your study load. After census date you can withdraw from subjects but there will be financial and academic consequences. For more information see Withdrawing from your course tab below.
If you plan on taking a longer break, you should apply for a Leave of Absence for the next half-year period.
At the end of the period of Leave of Absence you are required to re-enrol in your course.
For international student visa holders – In accordance with the ESOS National Code 2018, international students are not permitted to take Leave of Absence, except on compassionate or compelling grounds, which are supported by documentary evidence. Please see the International Students Procedure and talk to the Student Support Officer.

Withdrawing from your course is a big decision. It means you have decided to end your studies in your current course.
Depending on when you choose to discontinue your degree there may be financial and academic penalties that you should be aware of.
Before you apply to withdraw from your course, it is recommended that you seek course advice to ensure that course withdrawal is right for you. It is important to make sure you have considered all your options and understood the implications of withdrawing from your course. For instance, additional academic support, reducing your study load or applying for a Leave of Absence may enable you to get through a particularly difficult patch or challenging personal circumstances.
For international student visa holders – withdrawing from your course may have significant visa implications for you and you may be at risk of being non-compliant with your visa conditions. This can lead to the cancellation of your student visa and a ban imposed on you by the Department of Home Affairs.
Your withdrawal will be effective from the date the application is received by AIHE, or the start of the study period indicated on your withdrawal application, whichever is later.
If you stop attending classes and don't notify AIHE that you wish to withdraw, you will remain an enrolled student and will be charged fees and receive fail results for your enrolled subjects.
Course withdrawal is final. If you withdraw from your course but decide in the future to resume your studies in the same course, you will need to reapply to AIHE.

If you need to start your studies later than originally planned, you may be eligible to defer your course commencement for up to one year. AIHE will hold your place in the course for the duration of an approved deferment.
You must apply before the earliest census date for any of your first study period’s subjects. After this, you cannot defer your offer, and will have to withdraw from your subjects if you wish to discontinue or take a break from your studies.
You can apply to defer commencement of your course using the Deferment of a Course Form prior to the census date of the scheduled commencing study period.
All approved deferment will incur a fee (refer to AIHE Schedule of Fees and Charges). You must pay their deferment fee before the scheduled commencement of your course.
At the end of the period of deferment you must enrol in your course or in exceptional circumstances you may apply for a second period of deferment for one year.
For international student visa holders – Deferment of study may have ramifications for an international student’s visa. International students may only defer studies through formal agreement in certain limited circumstances. Please see the International Students Procedure and talk to the Student Support Officer.

If you are studying on a student visa and have not yet completed 6 months of your principal course at AIHE you must apply and be approved for release from AIHE before you can enrol at a new institution. This is an Australian Government requirement.
If you have completed more than 6 months of your principal course, then you may transfer without requiring release approval from AIHE.
Six-month requirement - The Australian Government requirement refers to 6 calendar months exactly from the start date of your course, and not one teaching session. Therefore, even if you have completed one study period of your course, you may not satisfy the six-month requirement and will therefore require release approval from AIHE to transfer to another institution.
Please see Section 6 of the International Students Procedure for full details.