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Refunds and withdrawing from study



How to apply for a fee refund

If you would like to request a tuition fee refund, or Worldcare Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you need to lodge this request in writing to Macquarie International as follows:

  1. Review the Macquarie International Refund Policy carefully
  2. Complete the Request for Refund of Fees form
  3. Complete any additional forms or actions as necessary:
    • New and current students who have been at Macquarie for less than six months need to apply for a Release Letter (pdf 51Kb)
    • Current students who plan to study at another institution in Australia OR who plan to return to their home country need to complete a Leaving Education Provider (pdf 65Kb) form
    • Current students should also withdraw from all their units via eStudent.
  4. Submit the completed forms and any other documentation requested on the relevant forms to:

    Finance, Macquarie International, Building E3A, Level 1
    Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Or email: mi_refund@io.mq.edu.au

    Also, click here for more information on withdrawing from units, including information about any academic implications of withdrawing from units




    Census date

    In order to withdraw from units, or your course, without academic or financial penalty, you need to withdraw before the 'census date' for that unit. This date is different depending on the unit/s from which you would like to withdraw. To check the census date for the unit/s that you would like to withdraw from, please check:




    Starting date

    Refund calculations are also made in reference to the 'starting date' of your course. To check the starting date for the course in which you are enrolled, please check the 'Academic Year Plans' available at:




    Refund of commencement fee

    The commencement fee is a portion of your tuition fee that you need to pay when you accept your offer to study at Macquarie University. Any refund of the commencement fee will be subject to a deduction, depending on when you withdraw from your course. The deduction will depend on the date that Macquarie International receives the Withdrawal from Study form:

    Withdrawal Date Deduction (non-refundable component)

    Four or more weeks prior to commencement dateAU$2000
    Less than four weeks prior to commencement dateAU$5000
    After commencement date but before census dateAU$5000
    After census date of the commencing study periodNo refund



    Refund of tuition fees (for full degree students)

    For subsequent study periods, you are expected to make payment for tuition fees prior to the commencement date of that study period. A student may withdraw from their program at any time, however any refund of tuition fees other than the commencement fee may be subject to a deduction (the commencement fee is also subject to a deduction). The deduction will depend on the date that Macquarie International receives the Notice of Leaving Education Provider form:

    Withdrawal Date Deduction (non-refundable component)

    Before the first day of the relevant study periodFull refund
    After the first day of the relevant study period but before the census date of that study periodAU$2000
    After census date of the relevant study periodNo refund



    Refund of Study Abroad fee

    A student who participates in the inbound Study Abroad program and who pays fees to Macquarie University may be subject to a deduction if they withdraw. The deduction will depend on the date that the student submits their withdrawal form:

    Withdrawal Date Deduction (non-refundable component)

    Four or more weeks prior to commencement dateAU$500
    Less than four weeks prior to commencement dateAU$2000
    After commencement date but before census dateAU$2000
    After census date of the relevant study periodNo refund



    Payment of refunds

    Payment of refunds will usually be made within four weeks of receiving a correct and completeRequest for Refund of Fees form and additional forms as instructed. Payment will be in Australian dollars (AU$). Please note that any delays caused by incomplete forms, or by delays from financial institutions, may extend this process to eight weeks.

    The usual method of payment is to the student, to an account in their country of permanent residence. Payment will be made by electronic funds transfer (EFT) or by Macquarie University cheque to a recipient within Australia and by telegraphic transfer (TT) or by international bank draft to a recipient overseas.

    For more details on payment of refunds, and exemptions to these details above, please refer to the Macquarie International Refund Policy .




    International students granted Australian permanent residency

    If you are granted Australian permanent residency, you need to inform Macquarie University of this change, by contacting the Student Enquiry Service on campus. All fee adjustments and calculations will be made from the date you notify Macquarie University (not the date that permanent residency is granted).

    > Permanent residency is granted before you start at Macquarie University

    A student who obtains permanent resident status in Australia before commencing their studies should apply for admission through the Undergraduate Studies Section or the Postgraduate Studies Section as appropriate to the level of their program.

    > Permanent residency is granted after you have started at Macquarie University

    A student who is granted permanent residency needs to notify Macquarie University of this change before the census date in the relevant study period.

    If Macquarie is not notified before the census date, you will be considered an international student for fee calculation purposes and will be liable to pay the tuition fees applying to international students for that study period.

    If you will be continuing to study at Macquarie University, then any credit in your account will remain in you account in full to be allocated towards tuition fees in subsequent study periods (when you will be considered a local student for fee purposes).

    If you decide not to continue to study at Macquarie University, then a deduction of AU$2000 will be made from your commencement fee, and the balance will be processed for tuition fees other than the commencement fee.




    Appeals and further information

    If a student is not satisfied by the decision made on a refund of fees, they may submit a written appeal to Macquarie International. This appeal must be addressed to the Executive Director, International Programs, and all previous correspondence between the student and Macquarie International must be attached. The appeal will be considered by the Executive Director or their nominee, and the student will be informed of the result of the appeal within 14 days of the receipt of the appeal. All appeals should be sent to:

    Macquarie International, Building E3A, Level 1
    Macquarie University, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Or email: mifeedback@io.mq.edu.au