Leave of Absence

Leaves of Absence (LOA)

If you are considering a Leave of Absence, please consult with the Director of US Financial Aid as soon as possible. The conditions and repercussions of any Leave of Absence are specific for US Financial Aid and differ from those related to a "university" leave of absence.

LOA is a temporary interruption in a student's degree. LOA refers to the specific time period during a degree when a student is not in attendance and will return to complete the degree. Students returning from LOA are not required to re-apply for admission but must re-enrol in their subjects.

International students studying in Australia on student visas are not normally eligible for Leave of Absence, other than in compassionate or compelling circumstances. In these instances, students should contact the US Financial Aid Director, regarding any requirement for Leave of Absence.

International students studying in Australia must obtain approval from the US Financial Aid Director for any period of absence greater than one week’s duration during the study period of enrolment. UTS International has an obligation in to advise the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) where an international student studying in Australia takes Leave of Absence.

UTS may grant a student Leave of Absence from his/her course that does not meet the conditions to be approved LOA for US Federal Loan purposes (for example, for academic reasons). However, any Leave of Absence is considered a withdrawal for US Federal Loan purposes, requiring the school to perform a Return Calculation. The student’s withdrawal date is the date the student begins the officially approved Leave of Absence.

Return from UTS Leave of Absence

In as much as leaves of absence are viewed as temporary interruptions in a student's attendance, and since the academic programs at the University of Technology, Sydney are considered term-based programs, where the payment period is the academic period; if a student returns from an approved UTS LOA for a semester in the same payment period, the student may be eligible to receive a second or subsequent disbursement.