Defer
If you would like to postpone starting your course and haven't enrolled yet, then you can apply for a deferral. Deferring will hold your place at the university for up to two years for domestic students, or one year for international students (some course exceptions apply).
Find out the requirements and instructions to defer on the How to defer page.
Intermit
If you want to take a break from your course, but have already enrolled, then you can intermit instead. Intermission will let you suspend your studies for up to 12 months, while keeping your place.
Please note, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, intermission taken during the 2020 and 2021 academic years does not count toward this allowance. However, intermission taken from 2022 onward will again count toward the 12 months/three compulsory study periods allowed for Deakin students.
In the event you need to make an application in excess of this, refer to the ‘Further or extended intermission’ information below.
Find out more about intermission on the Intermit or discontinue webpage.