Special circumstances
When can I claim special circumstances?
Special circumstances apply differently, depending on the situation.
If you think special circumstances might apply to you, make sure you check the information for your situation.
You might be able to claim special circumstances when:
Special consideration for your QTAC application
If you've experienced a situation that has affected your school or academic results, you may be able to apply for special consideration of educational disadvantage when you apply through QTAC.
What can I claim special circumstances for?
When making a claim, you must provide independent supporting documents with your application to demonstrate special circumstances. You'll need to provide different types of documents, depending on what your special circumstances are.
Medical circumstances
You may be able to claim special circumstances if you have a medical condition that has arisen or changed to such an extent that you're unable to continue studying.
Documents you must supply
You must provide evidence from a medical practitioner.
The medical practitioner should confirm that the medical condition was serious enough to affect your studies. It would not be sufficient for the medical practitioner to state for example that 'has asked me to state that his/her present medical condition prevents him/her from commencing or continuing studies'.
The supporting documentation should be:
- signed
- dated
- relevant to the teaching period specified
- on appropriate letterhead.
Family or personal circumstances
You may be able to claim special circumstances if family or personal circumstances beyond your control have arisen or become apparent, and make it unreasonable to expect you to continue studying.
Family or personal circumstances may include:
- death of a family member
- severe medical problems within your family
- collapse of a family business which is severe enough to require your personal attention or unreasonable to expect you to commence or continue studies.
Documents you must supply
A decision based on family or personal circumstances is more subjective than those which would apply in cases of medical reasons.
You must therefore provide clear supporting evidence from independent members of the community, such as:
- medical practitioners
- counselling services
- lawyers
- accountants.
Employment-related circumstances
You may be able to claim special circumstances if your employment status or arrangements:
- are beyond your control
- have changed to make it unreasonable to expect you to continue studying.
Employment-related circumstances may include:
- transfer to another city or country
- promotion, and increase in responsibility and work hours.
International students on student visas can't claim employment-related special circumstances.
Documents you must supply
A signed and dated statement from your employer on official company letterhead stating:
- the date your employment began or conditions of employment changed
- how this affects your study.
Course-related circumstances
You may be able to claim special circumstances if a unit has been changed and therefore you'll be disadvantaged by:
- not being able to complete the unit
- not being given credit towards other units or courses.
Documents you must supply
A statement from the provider (such as the faculty or administrative services) supporting that unit changes made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements of the unit.
Youth Allowance
You can only claim special circumstances based on Youth Allowance requirements if you're applying to extend the deferment of your QTAC offer.
If you completed Year 12 immediately before your initial year of deferment, you can apply to extend your deferment for another 12 months, to help you meet the independence criteria for Youth Allowance.
Documents you must supply
You don't need to supply any supporting documents.
When you apply for your deferment extension, state your reason as 'needing to meet the independence criteria for Youth Allowance'.
