How to correctly withdraw from a unit of study
Withdraw on or before the census date
Withdraw after the census date
Changes in your study load
How to correctly withdraw from a unit of study
You are responsible for following the correct procedures set by your provider for a formal withdrawal from a unit of study. You should check the procedures and requirements with your provider’s central student administration.
See also: Student support services
Open Universities Australia 
(formerly OLA) students should follow the withdrawal procedures set by Open Universities Australia.
You should keep a copy of your withdrawal form as confirmation that you advised your provider of your withdrawal on or before the census date.
You should not confuse the census date with the academic withdrawal date. The academic withdrawal date is the date set by your provider as the final day that you can withdraw from a unit without incurring academic penalty (i.e. recorded fail grade). Your provider will be able to inform you of the census date if you are unaware of it. Open Universities Australia students need to contact both Open Universities Australia and their academic provider.
If you do not correctly withdraw from a unit on or before its census date and your Request for FEE-HELP assistance form covers the unit, you will incur a FEE-HELP debt with the Commonwealth. That debt cannot be transferred or deferred to another unit of study.
Withdraw on or before the census date
If you correctly withdraw from your unit of study on or before the census date, you will not incur a FEE-HELP debt for that unit. You should check with your provider for specific arrangements for withdrawal.
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Withdraw after the census date
If you have requested a FEE-HELP loan for your units of study, you have not paid the tuition fee for those units and you withdraw after the census date, you will have incurred a FEE-HELP debt for those units of study.
If, after the census date, you become seriously ill or other special circumstances occur and you are unable to continue your studies, you can apply to your provider to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited and your FEE-HELP debt removed.
Note: There are time limits for applying to have your debt removed.
See also: Recrediting of FEE-HELP balance
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Changes in your study load
If you change your study load, you will need to notify Centrelink immediately and they will assess whether you remain eligible for income support.
You can obtain further information about Youth Allowance, Austudy payments, ABSTUDY and Pensioner Education Supplement:
- from the Centrelink website
- by visiting your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre, or
- by contacting the Centrelink Call Centre on 13 24 90
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