If you're an international student on a student visa, the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code 2018 allow you to apply for the below support measures if you are able to demonstrate compassionate and compelling circumstances:
- Reduced study load
- Intermission (Leave of absence)
- CoE extension
- Deferral of your course commencement
- Transfer to another education provider within the first 6 months of study (letter of release)
- Fee Remission in special circumstances
Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances criteria
Compassionate and compelling circumstances are generally those beyond your control and which affect your ability to attend classes and study. These could include, but are not limited to:
Health reasons | Serious illness or injury |
|---|---|
Pregnancy | |
Family reasons | For bereavement or serious illness of close family members such as parents or grandparents |
Personal reasons | Major political upheaval, natural disaster in home country |
A traumatic experience, which could include:
| |
Visa reasons | Delay in receiving your student visa. |
Circumstances that are not considered compassionate or compelling are those considered to be within the control of a student, or which are to be expected in the normal course of the student's study, work, family or social life. These include, but are not limited to:
- A desire to change course
- The course is difficult or not what was expected
- Minor illnesses or homesickness
- Difficulties in adjusting to living in Australia or academic life
- Failure to enrol in a course by the enrolment date
- Failure to understand or seek clarification of key dates or withdrawal procedures
- Financial difficulties
- A desire to move to another provider to be with friends /family
- Work commitments
Supporting documents
When applying for one of the above due to compassionate or compelling circumstances, you’ll need to provide independent documentation to support your claims. It is not sufficient to provide only a personal statement outlining your special circumstances, even if it is a statutory declaration or an affidavit. A request without evidence of compassionate or compelling reasons will not be approved.
Examples of appropriate documentation include:
| Compassionate or Compelling reason | Appropriate documentation required | |
|---|---|---|
Health reasons | Serious illness or injury | A detailed medical statement from a physician or medical specialist that the student was unable to attend classes |
Pregnancy | Medical statement from a physician or medical specialist or hospital statement with expected due date. | |
Family reasons | For serious illness or bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents | Proof of relationship and
|
Personal reasons | Major political upheaval, natural disaster in home country | Any relevant documents such as
|
A traumatic experience, which could include:
| Any relevant documents such as police reports and/or a detailed medical statement. | |
Visa reasons | Delay in receiving your student visa. | Evidence of lodgment and/or that the outcome is still pending |
In the absence of sufficient documents, provide a Statutory Declaration including an explanation of why additional documents aren't possible (for exceptional circumstances only).
Documentation requirements
Medical documents
Any medical documentation provided should contain a detailed medical statement from a physician or medical specialist (a doctor’s certificate is not acceptable). They need to include:
- confirmation that the doctor or medical specialist has consulted with you and the date of consultation;
- the date your medical condition began or changed;
- how your condition affects your ability to study;
- indicate that you will be impacted for a substantial period of the semester, or
- have a clear duration of recommended time away from studies; and
- include a treatment plan if applicable
Please note: you should inform your physician that the statement will be sent to CDU in support of your application.
Please ensure all documents are recently dated and/or confirm circumstances are ongoing and relevant to the timeframe to be considered.
Documents issued in a language other than English must be translated into English by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) or an overseas notary department with a common seal. You must submit copies of both the original documentation and the English translation of the documentation.
- You must not submit photographs, audio files or videos with content that may be considered distressing or graphic. In addition, for any application where you are required to provide supporting evidence, photographs, audio files or videos are generally not considered appropriate evidence as their authenticity cannot be verified.
- You are not required to provide certified copies of documents during the initial application process. However, the University reserves the right to require applicants to provide original documentation subsequently. Any document submitted may be audited and is subject to verification from the issuing body.