Students can change their program if they meet the entry requirements for another program they wish to enrol in. They can also apply to withdraw from their program if they wish to discontinue their studies, or apply for a Leave of Absence if they want to take a break. Read on for information about each of these enrolment changes.
If you need help with your enrolment, you can get in touch with Student Assist.
You should apply as early as possible when you decide you wish to change your program. Changing programs may alter your tuition fees.
If you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen in an undergraduate program, apply online to:
For changes of program at the same level you must complete the Change of Program Application Form. You should make an appointment to see an Enrolment Advisor at Student Assist to discuss your proposed change of program and to ensure that you are eligible for the program that you wish to change to. You may find that subjects already studied do not fit into your program and therefore additional subjects may be required. Students are permitted to change their program once, subsequent changes will incur a fee of $50. Once completed, you must submit the form to your Program Advisor for approval.
Apply online to change programs
Check the key dates for program change to find out when you need to apply by.
If you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen in a postgraduate program and you want to change your program, you must complete a full application for the new program.
You may be able to change your degree or make other changes to your candidature. You must contact the Research Development Manager in your faculty.
If you are an international student and want to change your program, you must complete a full application for the new program.
You must apply for a new student visa if you change to a new program at a different level of qualification (e.g. from a masters to a PhD).
You don't need to apply for a new student visa if you change to a new program at the same level of qualification (e.g. from one bachelor degree to another), unless your current visa is about to expire.
Student visa conditions (Department of Immigration and Citizenship)
If you're a sponsored student, you must get approval from your sponsor before you apply to change programs
If you wish to discontinue your studies completely you must apply to withdraw. If you wish to return at a later date then you may apply for a leave of absence for up to three semesters. The permitted duration of the leave could depend on your program. As this process requires the withdrawal of subjects, you may incur a penalty depending when you withdraw and your circumstances.
To withdraw from study you must complete a Withdrawal from Program through eStudent.
Cancelled subjects will incur the following academic penalties:
| Until end of Week 4: | No academic penalty and cancelled subjects will not appear on your official academic record |
| Week 5 to end of Week 7: | No academic penalty and cancelled subjects will appear on your official academic record with a “W” grade. |
| Week 8 onwards: | Academic penalty (ie failing grade for the subject). Cancelled subjects will appear on your official academic record with a “WF” grade. |
Please refer to the Cancellation, Withdrawal Dates and Penalty Information on the Help & Other Links tab in eStudent. Withdrawals after the “last withdrawal date” will attract a grade of W (Withdrawn) or WF (Withdrawn Fail).
Contact your program advisor for relevant dates.
If special circumstances exist, you may submit an Application to Withdraw without Academic Penalty. You must attach supporting documentation as outlined on the form, and the application must be received by Student Assist within the timeframe as stipulated in the Withdrawal Without Penalty Procedure.
A student applying to withdraw without academic penalty must apply by Friday of Week 7 of the semester following that in which the student was enrolled in the affected subject/s.
Changes to enrolment will incur the following financial penalties:
| Week 5 onwards: | Cancellation of a subject - no tuition credit (100% charge). |
Please refer to the Cancellation, Withdrawal Dates and Penalty Information on the Help & Other Links tab in eStudent. Contact your program advisor for relevant dates.
The penalty fees are not deferrable through FEE-HELP.
If special circumstances exist, you may submit an Application to Withdraw without Financial Penalty. You must attach supporting documentation as outlined on the form, and the application must be received by Student Assist within the timeframe as stipulated in the Withdrawal Without Penalty Procedure.
A student applying to withdraw without financial penalty must apply within 12 months of the date of withdrawal from the impacted subject(s), and if not withdrawn, then within 12 months from the end date of the semester in which the impacted subject(s) were undertaken.
Where a student visa holder's proposed new enrolment or withdrawal from a program is inconsistent with the National Code, a student visa holder may not receive approval to change their enrolment.
The National Code, Standard 8 requires student visa holders to be enrolled with an academic load that ensures the overseas student is in a position to complete the program within the expected duration specified on the overseas student’s CoE.
The registered provider must not extend the duration of the overseas student’s enrolment if the overseas student is unable to complete the program within the expected duration, unless:
A student visa holder must consult with an Enrolment Advisor at the Student Assist prior withdrawal from a subject/s, unless the student will replace the withdrawn subjects with an alternate subject with equivalent academic load that is consistent with the students’ academic program structure and sequence.
A student visa holder must seek approval from the Student Assist to study less than full time academic load in any ‘in session’ period of study to ensure the proposed academic load is in accordance with National Code Standard 8 & 9
The National Code, Standard 8 outlines that student visa holders are not permitted to undertake more than one-third of a higher education program by distance learning or on-line learning. Student visa holders are not permitted to undertake subjects exclusively by online or distance learning in each compulsory study period. A student visa holder must study at least one unit that is not by distance or online learning in each compulsory study period, unless the student is completing the last unit of their program.
Student visa holders withdrawing from study entirely will no longer be meeting the 8202 condition on a student visa and may be required to leave Australia. If you are unsure about your student visa obligation following a withdrawal we strongly recommend you contact the Department of Home Affairs or a representative of the Bond University International Student Team at the Student Assist
The National Code standard 7 does not allow a registered provider to knowingly enrol an overseas student seeking to transfer from another registered provider’s program prior to the overseas student completing six months of his or her principal program, except where any of the following apply:
The above standard requires student visa holders to complete 6 calendar months study in their principal program before they are eligible for a release letter.
The Bond University Overseas Student Transfer Policy provides information relating to student visa holder requests for a release letter prior to the completion of 6 calendar months study in the principal program.
Where a student visa holder lodges a full and complete release letter application to the Student Assist a relevant officer will conduct a review and provide an outcome in writing within 14 semester days from the date of lodgement.
The relevant officer may request further documents or evidence from the applicant, which may extend an outcome timeframe. An applicant may request a stay on an outcome decision in order to gather and provide further evidence or documentation for the application.
There are times when continuing your studies is not possible due to competing priorities, unexpected circumstances or financial reasons. You may want to take a break for a semester/s with the intention of returning to the same program in the future. In this case, you may be eligible to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) from your program.
Bond students can request a LOA from their program for up to three semesters (please refer to the Enrolment Policy).
Current students can request a LOA here.
You can request an LOA for the current semester until the Census Date. You will be automatically withdrawn from any subjects in which you are still enrolled. Please check for any potential implications.
Students will not normally be granted a leave of absence in programs (including program versions) that are scheduled to be discontinued. Leave approved on the basis of compassionate or compelling circumstances after the suspension process has commenced for the relevant program will be negotiated on the basis that a return to the program in which the student is currently enrolled may not be possible.
If you are taking a leave of absence and want to extend it for another semester/s, you should complete a new application. However, if you have already taken three semesters of leave in your current program or this extension will take you over the three semesters, you will need to attach a personal statement to your application for consideration by the faculty. Your personal statement should outline the reasons you wish to extend your leave, and you must attach any documentation that supports your request.
Scholarship recipients must attach a personal statement and relevant documentation to their leave of absence application. Scholarship holders must comply with the provisions outlined in the Enrolment Policy.
In the semester before you are due to return from your leave of absence, you should enrol before classes commence. You can enrol in your subjects for the next semester from Monday, Week 10 of the previous semester.
If you want to request an additional semester of leave of absence, you will need to submit an additional application.
If you do not return from your leave of absence at the approved time, you will need to re-apply to study at Bond University, and you may not receive credit for all subjects previously completed.
Some programs do not allow students to take leave without faculty approval. In these cases, you will be sent an email to confirm that your application has been closed and directing you to consult your faculty directly.
Student visa holders are not permitted to remain in Australia during LOA unless compelling and compassionate circumstances apply.
If you believe you have compelling and compassionate circumstances, you must provide medical supporting documentation with your leave of absence application. Permission to stay in Australia whilst on LOA ultimately rests with the Department of Home Affairs and is generally only granted due to medical circumstances that prevent you from leaving Australia.
A period of LOA may affect the status of your student visa.
If it is your first semester in a new program, you are requesting to defer the commencement of your program rather than taking a leave of absence. In this case, you should send an email to the Admissions team to request a new offer for the semester in which you would like to commence.