Leave of Absence
Policy | All continuing degrees and all coursework degrees in the Melbourne Model |
Students may for a variety of reasons wish to take time off from their studies and may gain significant benefit from doing so. Leave of absence is subject to the approval of the relevant faculty or graduate school.
All students are eligible to apply for leave of absence for up to one year for personal, compassionate or other compelling reasons.
Leave for periods shorter than one year (usually measured in standard teaching period units, such as a semester) may be permitted, subject to the structure of the course and availability of relevant subjects.
Leave of absence from some postgraduate or honours degree courses may not be possible for various reasons concerning the availability of academic staff or resources (e.g. availability of supervisor for research project, specialist subjects unable to be guaranteed).
In circumstances where a course/stream/subject is being phased out, students would be required to plan their course to account for these constraints before an application for leave could be approved.
Students who need to be absent and will miss classes for a very short period of time (less than one standard teaching period) may not need to take leave but should refer to policies relating to attendance at classes, assessment requirements and special consideration, as appropriate.
Providing a student is enrolled in at least one subject in each standard teaching period in which they are required to enrol (e.g. undergraduate students are required to enrol or take leave for semesters 1 and 2) they are not considered to be on leave of absence.
A student on leave of absence is not expected to be engaged in any activities related to their studies. A student who is on leave from their studies will normally retain restricted access to University facilities during the period of leave. Please refer to the policy on Student Access to University Facilities for further detail.
Leave will not be permitted to undertake studies towards another tertiary course. Exceptions may be possible for students enrolled in a diploma concurrent with their undergraduate degree, or for those who wish to undertake study abroad for credit towards their course.
There may be conditions placed on entry to some subjects following a period of leave (e.g. students may be required to successfully re-audition for entry to some advanced level practical subjects in the Bachelor of Music).
Applications
Students must inform the University of their intention take leave of absence by submitting an application.
Students will normally not be permitted to take leave of absence in the first teaching period of their enrolment in a course except on compassionate or other compelling grounds.
Students should apply for leave well in advance of the commencement of teaching in a semester. Nevertheless, the last date for submission of a timely application is the last date for deleting subjects without a 'WD' grade being recorded / before financial penalties apply (the census date).
Students who fail to re-enrol or take leave of absence may have their enrolment terminated on the grounds that they have abandoned their studies.
Late Applications
Applications after the census date would be only be considered on compassionate grounds. If leave is approved after the census date for the relevant subject(s), the student will remain financially liable for the subject(s).
If an application is received after the fail date (the end of teaching) of a current teaching period, leave will not be approved, except where there are truly exceptional circumstances that explain the student's inability to apply before this date.
In exceptional circumstances a student may be eligible for a remission of the fees (see policy on Subject Changes for further detail) after a late withdrawal from subjects and/or late leave of absence.
Unapproved Leave
A student who ultimately withdraws from all their subjects in a semester after a census date, but who has not been granted approved leave of absence, will be considered to be withdrawn without leave (noted as 'unapproved leave'). This status is a trigger for unsatisfactory progress review.
Additional Leave
Students may be permitted to take up to one year of additional leave on serious medical, compassionate or other compelling grounds.
Students will not be permitted to take leave of absence for more than a total of two years. Students who have taken the maximum leave permitted, and who are still unable to return to their studies, will be required to discontinue their enrolment and re-apply for entry at such time as they are able to return.
Student Visas
The University may grant leave to student visa holders, however the reason for taking leave will affect the student's visa. The Educational Services of Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2007 stipulate the grounds on which students can take leave from their studies without cancellation of their student visa, and require the University to report students who have taken leave from their studies to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Students who take leave for reasons not allowed under this legislation will be deemed to have discontinued their studies and will have to apply for a new visa in order to re-enter the country as a student.