Withdrawals and refunds
Withdrawal and Refund Fact Sheet for Students
Deferral Application Form
VET Student Loans Withdrawal & Deferral Application Form
Students who decide to cancel or withdraw from their study are required to notify their campus in writing using the Withdrawal Application Form.
The following information is for vocational courses, and there are different withdrawal, cancellation and refund conditions and forms for:
If you are an International Student, please contact the International Student Officer at your campus of enrolment.
TAFE NSW regularly reviews the progress of students through the course of study. Students who have not demonstrated participation and/or attendance in their study at the commencement of their course and/or on a regular basis will be contacted to discuss their options including deferring or withdrawing from their studies.
TAFE NSW will assist you to re-commence your studies, however if no response is received within times specified, action will be taken to withdraw you from your enrolment.
How to withdraw from your course
To cancel or withdraw from your course, you must complete the Withdrawal Application Form and return it to your campus of enrolment.
If you are enrolled in a Government Subsidised course such as Smart and Skilled you may consider deferring your studies rather than withdrawing.
Deferring your subsidised training means…
You can defer your study in the course for up to 12 months during the duration of the course.
To defer from your study you must complete the Deferral Application Form and return it to your campus of enrolment.
If you return to your studies within 12 months, your Smart & Skilled student fee or Concession fee will not change.
If you do not return to study within this 12 month period, your student record will be updated to show you as 'withdrawn/discontinuing' your study.
NOTE: Deferrals under the Commonwealth Government's Skilling for Recovery Job trainer initiative may be considered where the request is supported by a medical certificate, the deferral period is for no longer than six months and you have commenced training prior to seeking deferral.
Discontinuing your studies means…
You have decided to end your studies in your enrolled qualification before the completion of your training,
- or you have not returned to study after deferring your studies.
If, at a time in the future, you wish to return to complete your qualification, you will be reassessed against the Smart & Skilled eligibility and entitlement criteria, current at that time, to determine your access to a subsidised student fee, a concession fee or fee exemption, or a fee-for-service course fee.
Not participating/engaging in your studies…
To maintain your enrolment, you need to participate and engage in your assessments and studies on a regular basis, and where you do not, you will be contacted to determine if you are continuing or withdrawing from your studies.
You will be assisted to re-commence your studies, if this is what you request.
If you do not respond to the attempts to contact you, action will be taken to 'withdraw and discontinue' your study.
Requesting a refund
A refund of your fee you have paid may be given in the following circumstances:
- Where you enrolled in a course that has been cancelled by TAFE NSW – you do not need to apply for a refund;
- Where you have overpaid your fee – you do not need to apply for a refund;
- Where you have paid the Smart and Skilled fee and, after commencement of study, you are granted a fee exemption dated to the time of your course enrolment – you do not need to apply for a refund;
- Where you formally advise the campus in writing prior to the start of your course that you wish to withdraw;
- Where, for training less than one(1) week duration, you formally advise the campus in writing at least five(5) business days prior to the start of your course that you wish to withdraw
Other circumstances where you may be eligible for a partial refund or amendment to your fee (and future fee instalments) include:
- Where you withdraw from your study after the start of your course and you have pre-paid on future fee instalments, you may be eligible for a refund of the pre-paid fee instalments;
- Where you have paid the full Smart and Skilled student fee but then receive Youth Allowance or Austudy, within two weeks of the Course start date and become eligible for a concession fee, your student fee (and future fee instalments) will be amended;
- Where you have paid the full Smart and Skilled student fee and you have been granted Credit Transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning after commencing your study, your fee (and future fee instalments) will be amended.
If you're requesting a refund for a commercial or fee-for-service course, please contact your campus of enrolment for specific requirements.
Apprenticeships and traineeships – special circumstances
If you enrol in an approved apprenticeship or traineeship course without evidence of being an apprentice or a trainee, you will be asked to pay the Smart and Skilled fee for the qualification.
If you subsequently provide evidence that you were an apprentice or a trainee at the time you enrolled, you will have your student fee amended and future instalment payments recalculated to reflect the difference between the qualification fee and the subsidised apprenticeship or traineeship fee.