Deferring your QTAC offer

For many undergraduate courses, you can choose to take a year off before you start university by deferring your QTAC offer.

International students

If you've been offered a place in a course, but haven't started, you can apply to postpone the start of your studies by emailing International Admissions.

Can I defer my offer?

You may be able to defer your offer if you've applied through QTAC and been offered a place in one of our undergraduate courses.

Check your course information to find out if deferring is an option for your course.

You normally won't be able to defer if your course has entry requirements other than your OP or rank, like auditions, interviews, portfolios or questionnaires.

You can't hold a deferred place and study a course at QUT at the same time.

Will deferring affect my scholarship?

Deferring may mean that you won't be able to hold a scholarship you've applied for.

Make sure you check the conditions of your scholarship.

Scholarships

How do I defer my offer?

You defer your offer through QTAC's online services.

When you receive your QTAC offer, it will tell you when you have to respond by and how to respond.

If your deferment is approved, we'll email you to let you know in:

  • late February, for Semester 1 offers
  • late August, for Semester 2 offers.

Late requests for deferment

You can request deferment after your offer response date by calling QTAC on 1300 GO QTAC (1300 467 822).

We'll consider late requests for deferment until the census date of the semester.

Check the census date for your semester or teaching period

If you've enrolled in any units, you'll have to withdraw from them. This may affect your grades or fees.

Withdrawing from units

How long can I defer for?

Usually, you can defer for a year.

Can I defer for longer than a year?

Mid-way through your deferment year, we'll ask you if you want to request an extension of another 12 months.

You can request an extension if you can demonstrate special circumstances that:

  • are beyond your control
  • had their full impact on or after your initial deferment period
  • make it impracticable for you to start your studies after your first 12-month deferment.

How to request an extension

Email your request and proof of your special circumstances to our Client Service Coordinator (Undergraduate Admissions and QTAC).

Documents you must provide to demonstrate special circumstances

Can I defer for less than a year?

You can request to start your course after just six months of deferment.

How to request a change to your return semester/year

Email your change request to our Client Service Coordinator (Undergraduate Admissions and QTAC):

  • 30 September to start your course in Semester 1 the next year
  • 30 May to start your course in Semester 2.

You can only start studying in Semester 2 if your course is offered mid-year. Check your course information to see if your course has a July entry date.

While you're on deferment

Tell us if your contact details change, by emailing our Client Service Coordinator (Undergraduate Admissions and QTAC).

We'll email you at least once each semester to keep you up to date with QUT events.

As part of regular course development and quality assurance, we may:

  • cancel your course
  • change your course
  • move your course to a different campus.

Check course information for up to date information.

Starting your course after deferment

We'll email you several months before orientation and start of classes and invite you to take up your deferred offer.

You must enrol according to the details in this offer.