Gap year resources
Process_
Defer your offer
Received an offer, but not ready to dive into study?
Depending on your course, you may have the option to defer your offer for up to one year. This means we’ll hold a place for you to enrol in your course the following semester or year.
Deferment is open to most students: Coursework or research, domestic or international students are able to request to defer, though not all courses can be deferred. International students on a student visa can only defer subject to conditions outlined in the National Code.
All applications for deferral are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How to apply to defer
You can request a deferral through Sydney Student if you haven't accepted your offer.
- If your deferral request is approved, a new offer will be issued.
- If your deferral request is not approved, you can still accept your current offer.
- If you wish to delay the start of your course for longer than a year, you will need to submit a new application to the University.
If you're a domestic student, and you have accepted your offer but have not yet enrolled, you will need to contact our admissions team with your request at admissions.mail@sydney.edu.au.
If you're an international student, and you have already accepted your offer and paid your tuition fees, you can still apply to defer. Contact our admissions team with your request at admissions.mail@sydney.edu.au. A new electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE) will be issued when you accept the offer to the future intake.
If you are a USFP/CET packaged student, who has received USFP/CET results that met the entry requirements and now wish to defer the principal course to the next available intake, you will need to submit a Break of Package Request Form (pdf, 238KB) to the Compliance Team at ESOS.Compliance@sydney.edu.au.
As a postgraduate research student, you should be aware that funds to support your project may only be available for a limited amount of time, and deferment may impact your access to funding. Before requesting to defer we suggest that you confirm with the address on your scholarship offer letter that you will be eligible to receive the scholarship in the next research period.
Already started your course?
You still have options.
While it’s too late to defer your offer once you’ve commenced your course, you can apply to suspend your studies. See our information on suspending your studies.
International students on a student visa can only defer their enrolment on the grounds of compassionate or compelling circumstances. For further details, please refer to the National Code 2018, Standard 9 - Deferring, suspending or cancelling the overseas student's enrolment.
Four reasons to consider deferring:
1. Start uni refreshed
Taking time off to travel, work or volunteer abroad may come as a welcome break after the rigours of your HSC. Some time out will give you the opportunity to think about where you really want to go in life.
2. See more of the world
Taking a gap year to explore other cultures can make a big difference to your personal development and future employment prospects. Travelling or working abroad will introduce you to people from all walks of life, teach you new skills and develop your confidence.
3. Boost your grades
A study by the Sydney School of Education and Social Work in 2013 showed that students who took a gap year achieved higher marks at university than students who entered straight after school.
4. Earn some cash
Taking a year to work full time and build up your savings account is a great way to ensure financial stress won’t impact your studies once you get here.
International student visa holders should note that there are specific conditions relating to deferment and all of the above reasons may not be applicable.