Withdrawals and refunds

If you’re considering withdrawing from your course, speak with your teacher or head teacher first. They may be able to help you continue your course.

If you decide you can’t continue right now, you can defer some of our courses for up to 12 months.

At TAFE NSW, we regularly review student progress. If you can’t attend or participate, it’s important to tell us as soon as possible.

Defer from your course

Deferring lets you pause your course and return later. You can defer our Smart and Skilled courses or higher education courses for up to 12 months.

If you wish to defer a Smart and Skilled course, you must start the course and then request a deferral. For higher education courses, deferring means you delay the start of your course. You do this before you begin studying.

Withdraw from your course

Withdrawing means you end your course before completing your training. It also applies if you don’t return after the agreed deferral period.

Census dates

The census date is the last date you can make changes to your enrolment. If you want to defer or withdraw, you must tell us before the census date for your study period. If you miss the census date, you will need to pay the fees.

VET Student Loans

You can find census dates on the VET Student Loans page. See the question ‘How and when are my course fees charged?’

FEE-HELP loans

TAFE NSW does not automatically approve deferrals, so it’s important you speak to your teacher first and explain why you need to defer.

After speaking with your teacher, complete the relevant form:

• Higher education withdrawal and deferral form

• VET deferral form

• VET Student Loans withdrawal and deferral form

You can return the form to your campus or attach it to an online enquiry form.

Smart and Skilled

If you return within 12 months, your Smart and Skilled fee will stay the same. If you don’t return within 12 months, your record will show you have withdrawn or discontinued.

Skilling for Recovery Job Trainer

You may request a deferral under the Skilling for Recovery Job Trainer initiative with a medical certificate. The deferral can be up to 6 months only. You must have started your training before requesting a deferral.

If you decide to withdraw from your studies, read the withdrawal and refund fact sheet for students to understand the impact on your fees.

You should then notify your campus in writing using the correct withdrawal application form.

Online Campus

If you’re an Online Campus student, speak with your teacher or contact Student Services on 131 601. You may not need to submit a withdrawal form.

Student loans

If you have a student loan, special rules apply to withdrawals, deferrals and refunds. You may need to complete one of the following forms:

• VET Student Loans withdrawal and deferral application form

• FEE-HELP withdrawal and interruption application form

For more details, visit the VET Student Loan page or the FEE-HELP page.

Government-subsidised courses

If you’re enrolled in Smart and Skilled, you can defer or withdraw depending your circumstances.

International students

If you’re an international student, contact your International Customer Experience Coordinator.

TVET students

Speak to your school’s careers advisor or your TVET coordinator if you wish to withdraw.

Full refunds

At TAFE NSW, we provide a full refund if you’re enrolled and:

• TAFE NSW cancels your course
• you overpay your fees
• you pay a Smart and Skilled fee and later receive a backdated fee exemption.

You can also apply for a full refund if you: 

• withdraw after enrolling and notify your campus in writing before the course start date
• enrol in a course that runs for less than one week and withdraw at least 5 business days before it starts.

Partial refunds

You may get a partial refund or a fee adjustment if you:

• prepay future instalments and withdraw at the start of your course
• pay the full Smart and Skilled fee and start receiving Youth Allowance or Austudy within 2 weeks
• pay the full Smart and Skilled fee and receive recognition of prior learning (RPL) or credit transfer after you start your course.

If you pay the full Smart and Skilled fee, we adjust your fee and future instalments.

Fee-for-service course refunds

If you start an approved apprenticeship or traineeship, show your training contract when you enrol to get the correct fee. NSW apprentices and trainees do not pay fees under Smart and Skilled until 30 June 2027. You won’t need to make future payments.

If your training contract is from another state or territory, you may have to pay a student contribution fee. If you don’t show your training contract, you must pay the Smart and Skilled fee for the qualification.

Got a question? Our Customer Service Centre can help with your study journey at TAFE NSW. Call 131 601 or send an enquiry.