Refunds and Withdrawals
After you have completed your enrolment your circumstances may change which means you may have to withdraw.
To withdraw from your course, you must complete a
Refund and Withdrawal Form.
When you have completed the form and attached any supporting documentation it will be processed.
Please note that processing of your withdrawal, and any fee refund you may be due can take up to 4 weeks.
Defer or suspend your studies
Your enrolment can be deferred or temporarily suspended for compassionate grounds or exceptional circumstances, such as:
- severe medical illness to you or a member of your family;
- death in your family;
- medical condition while undertaking you studies including pregnancy;
- a natural disaster which affects you or your family.
Prior to lodging your application to defer it is recommended you
contact the Department of Home Affairs to discuss how this may impact your visa. Should you decide to proceed you must complete the
Application to Defer.
Your application must detail your reason(s) for requesting to defer or temporarily suspend your studies and include evidence to support your request.
If you are under 18 years of age you must provide written support from your parent or legal guardian to support your application.
When a deferral or temporary suspension is approved, you will be advised in writing of the deferral period and your new commencement date. Home Affairs will be informed of the change relating to your course of study, that may affect your visa status.
Please note - deferral of your enrolment may result in an increase in tuition, resource and material fees. If you defer your enrolment, you will be required to pay the fees that apply at your new commencement date. Confirmation of enrolments (CoEs) for the revised period will not be issued until all additional fees and charges are paid in full. If the deferral or temporary suspension is refused, you will be advised in writing and will have 20 working days to lodge an appeal.
Please refer to the
Complaints and Appeals Policy for more information.
Late Arrival
Students must ensure that they arrive on or before the commencement date indicated on their letter of offer.
Late starts will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, where evidence can be provided.
Approval for a late start must be obtained and granted prior to your course commencement date. Students who cannot arrive on time may be required to defer their enrolment to the next available intake.
Changing Course and/or western australian tafe campus
If you decide you would like to change the course you are studying, or attend classes at a different TAFE Western Australian campus, you should contact the
International Centre at your TAFE college to discuss whether this is possible and how this may affect your visa.
Please note the
Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) level of your principal course. Once you have received your student visa, and want to change your main course of study to a lower AQF level course you will generally need a new student visa. For more information please refer to
www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Stud/More/Changing-courses.
Students wishing to change their course and/or course location must complete a TIWA
Change of course/campus application form at least two weeks prior to the upcoming semester. A change of course and/or campus cannot occur during the semester.
Change of course
Students wishing to change course will have their application approved by TIWA, dependent upon intakes and available places. If you are currently on an intervention strategy, consultation between TIWA and the TAFE college will occur, prior to the change being approved. TIWA will consider the impact of your change request in line with your expected enrolment completion course level and date. You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 working days.
Change of campus – Same course
Students wishing to change course location in the same course must have their application approved by the receiving TAFE college. Previously completed units will be considered to ensure a suitable enrolment program and transition can be managed which allows students to complete the course within the expected duration. You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 working days.
If you choose to proceed with a change of course or TAFE campus you will need to complete a
Change of course/campus application form. You will be contacted by TIWA via email during this process and advised in writing of the outcome.
Release requests – Students transferring to another education provider
If you decide that you would like to transfer to another provider, then you must apply for a Release. If you have not completed six months of study in your principal course* with TIWA and wish to transfer to another provider must complete a
Release request form.
Once the form is completed it can be forwarded to admissions.tiwa@dtwd.wa.gov.au. You will be informed in writing of the outcome within 10 days. Releases will only be granted in compassionate and compelling circumstances relating to the welfare of the student.
Compassionate and/or compelling circumstances are defined as a sudden change of circumstances beyond the student's control that impact plans for on-campus study in Australia. Such circumstances must be supported by documentary evidence. Your application must detail the reason(s) for early release, full details of the new college and course you will be enrolling into, and a valid offer of enrolment from the new college.
The following circumstances will not generally be considered compassionate or compelling circumstances:
- Lack of understanding of TIWA's
Student transfer and release policy and/or
Withdrawal and Refund Policy.
- Distance of your residential address from the campus at which you study.
- A desire to change to a new course with lower fees.
- If your CoE has already been cancelled for non-commencement or for an inactive enrolment status.
- A desire to move to another training provider to be with friends.
- Matters not related to your study with TIWA (such as accommodation issues, personal matters not affecting your study).
- Student fees are outstanding.
* The principal course is defined as the highest qualification in a package of courses.
If you are under 18 years of age you must provide a letter from your parent/guardian to support your application for release.
If your release is approved you will be issued a release letter. You must then contact the
Department of Home Affairs to notify them that you have changed provider, as this may affect your visa.
If your release is refused you will receive a written reply outlining the reasons for refusal. You will have 20 days to appeal the decision.
Course Progress
As an International Student, if you do not achieve satisfactory course progress you may not be able to continue your studies.
To show that you are making every effort to achieve satisfactory course progress, it is very important that you attend all scheduled classes.
If you are unable to attend class, you should contact your lecturer and the International Centre at your college.
If you do not attend classes and do not notify the International Centre, then your continuing enrolment and visa may be at risk.
If you have not been attending classes and/or not completing assessments, then your lecturers are required to notify the International Centre that you are at risk of unsatisfactory course progress.
A member of the International Centre staff will then contact you to discuss your progress and work with you to put in place a plan to help you to get your studies back on track.
If you have made unsatisfactory progress, that is, achieved less than 50% of the course requirements in two consecutive study periods i.e. two consecutive terms; then your enrolment may be cancelled and a report sent to Immigration which may affect your visa.
Attendance requirements– ELICOS Students
If you are enrolled in an
English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) program, you must attend a minimum of 80% of all timetabled classes.
If you do not attend, are more than 20 minutes late to class or you leave class before the scheduled finish time; then you will be marked absent. If you cannot attend for two or more days you must obtain a medical certificate and provide a copy to the International Centre at your college.
If you attend less than 80% of your classes, you will be notified in writing by a member of the International Centre staff and you will be required to attend a meeting to discuss your unsatisfactory attendance. You may bring a support person with you to this meeting.
If you have unsatisfactory attendance that is, attended less than 80% of all timetabled classes; your enrolment may be cancelled and a report sent to Immigration which may affect your visa.
Intention to Report
A notice of Intention to Report is issued to a student who has breached their visa condition in relation to course progress or attendance requirements.
If you receive a notice of Intention to Report you have 20 working days to lodge an appeal in writing to the Manager Student Services and Compliance TIWA.
If you lodge an appeal you may be required to attend an interview to discuss your situation. You can bring a support person with you at any stage of this process.
While your appeal is being considered, you must continue to attend classes.
You will be advised in writing of the outcome of your appeal and if you are not satisfied with the decision, you will have 10 working days to lodge an external appeal with the
Western Australian Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will consider whether TIWA has followed its own policies and procedures and whether the handling of your appeal has been fair and reasonable.
Continuing students
If you wish to extend your studies at TAFE, please complete the
Continuing Students Application Form.
Once the form has been completed, TAFE International Western Australia's Student Services team will assess your application and if approved, email a new offer letter.
If you wish to apply to University please contact the International Centre at your preferred University.
Please note, you may also need to renew your student visa. For information about how to apply for a new student visa, visit
Department of Home Affairs website.
Submitting forms
If you have difficulties completing a form
you can talk to a
Student Advisor who will assist you to complete the form.
When you have completed all details in the form and attached all required documentation, please submit to TIWA's Admissions Team via
post or email.
TIWA Admissions, Locked Bag 16, Osborne Park DC, WA 6916.