Current Students

Fee Refunds – Domestic Students 

General Information 

Student fee refunds for domestic students are administered under the legislative guidelines of the Higher Education Support Act and the University of Wollongong fees policy.

Your eligibility for a refund of subject charges is determined by whether you formally withdrew from study:

  • Before census date, or
  • After census date, or
  • After census because of special circumstances beyond your control.

Back to top

What is the census date? 

The census date is the date by which you must finalise your enrolment and fee payment arrangements with the university.

Each session of study has a census date and these are displayed on your SOLS record (Enrolment and Variations - Last date to withdraw without financial penalty for each session) in addition to being published on the Session & Key Dates - Current Students @ UOW website.

Back to top

Refunds when you withdraw BEFORE census date. 

When a student formally withdraws on or before the census date, no fees are charged for the affected subject(s). Withdrawal from study must be done online via SOLS.

Students who requested a HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan, do not incur a debt.

If you previously made up front payment to the university then the amount can either be refunded to you, or held as credit towards your future enrolment. Any credit still held on a student’s account in September will be refunded automatically by the university.

Should you wish to receive a refund of upfront payments immediately, simply send an email to askuow@uow.edu.au including your Student Number and brief details of your refund request.

Refunds are sent automatically by cheque to your mailing address, so check that your correct address is recorded on SOLS when requesting a refund.

Back to top

Refunds when you withdraw AFTER census date. 

If you formally withdraw after the census date, you will still be charged for the affected subject(s).

Withdrawal from study must be done online via SOLS or by submitting an Application for Late Withdrawal without Academic Penalty. The application form is available from the student forms website.

Students who requested a HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan, will incur a debt.

If you had to withdraw after census date because of special circumstances beyond your control, you can lodge an Application for Refund of Fees – Domestic in Special Circumstances.

See below for more information about special circumstances and the type of supporting documents you will need. The application form is available from the student forms website.

Back to top

What if I fail a subject? 

If you fail a subject(s), you will still be charged for the affected subject(s).

Students who requested a HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan, will incur a debt.

If you failed because of special circumstances which occurred after census date and were beyond your control, you can lodge an Application for Refund of Domestic Tuition fees in Special Circumstances. The application form is available from the student forms website.

See below for more information about special circumstances and the type of supporting documents you will need.

Back to top

What if I do not attend any classes? 

Regardless of whether you attend classes, if you do not ‘formally withdraw via SOLS’ before census date, you will still be charged for the affected subject(s).

Back to top

What are Special Circumstances? 

Special circumstances are generally considered to be unusual, beyond the student’s control and were either not known before the census date or significantly worsened after census date. 
You must be able to demonstrate with independent supporting documentation that your circumstances:

  • Were beyond your control – A situation that a reasonable person would consider is not due to your action or inaction, or which you were not responsible for. Please note that a lack of understanding or knowledge of university fees or census date deadlines is not considered to be beyond your control, AND
  • Did not occur, or their full impact was not known until after census date – the circumstances occur before the census date, but worsen after that day, or before the census date, but the full effect or magnitude does not become apparent until after the census date, AND
  • Because of the circumstances you were unable to complete your study requirements - You were unable to undertake the necessary private study required, attend sufficient lectures or tutorials, or meet other attendance requirements in order to meet your compulsory course requirements.

Special circumstances DO NOT include a lack of knowledge or understanding of census dates or the university’s enrolment and withdrawal processes.

See below for information about appropriate independent supporting documents you will need to provide.

Back to top

What Supporting Documentation is required? 

Each application is assessed primarily on the independent supporting documentation you provide to the university. Please note that a personal statement describing your special circumstances is not sufficient evidence to have your application approved. Supporting documentation needs to:

  • Be on official letterhead (if appropriate), signed and dated
  • Include medical provider number (if appropriate) and contact details of the person providing the document.
  • Include all relevant dates and indicate the severity of your circumstances.
  • Advise the date your circumstances first began.
  • State whether your circumstances changed after census date and if so, the date they changed and to what degree.
  • Comment on how your special circumstances affected your ability to meet study commitments.
  • Advise when it became apparent that you could not continue your study.

Depending on your special circumstances it may be appropriate to seek documentation from:

  • Your doctor
  • Employer
  • Psychologist or counsellor
  • An independent member of the community (such as a Justice of the Peace or Minister of Religion).
  • Your Faculty

Back to top

Contact us 

For further assistance or information contact Student Central.

Back to top

Last reviewed: 18 November, 2011