Su sp en sio n s

13.4. Su sp en sio n s

13.4.1. A scholarship may be suspended for a maximum of 12 months if deemed necessary (e.g. for health reasons, or family reasons).

13.4.2. Suspension variations are requested by the institution in OASIS and

approved by the Program Area.

13.4.3. If an awardee has already been granted an extension of their scholarship, a suspension will not be granted if it will result in additional cost.

13.4.4. If a suspension is approved, no contribution to living expenses or other fees or entitlements will be paid for the period of suspension. The OSHC must be

suspended for this period as well.

13.4.5. Awardees are allowed to use their reunion airfare entitlement in advance to fund their return home trip. In the absence of a reunion entitlement DFAT will fund the awardee ’s return trip airfare. The awardee is responsible for their dependants’ airfares.

13.4.6. Where a suspension results in an awardee having to repeat subjects for which fees have already been incurred, the request will be handled as a 13.4.6. Where a suspension results in an awardee having to repeat subjects for which fees have already been incurred, the request will be handled as a

13.4.7. If a suspension of the scholarship is approved, the awardee must:

i. return to their home country (with their family if accompanied) for the period of the suspension

ii. remain in contact with the Program Area in-Country during the period of the suspension

iii. seek the prior approval of DFAT and the institution before returning to Australia at the end of the suspension period

iv. contact the institution at least two months before they intend returning to Australia, to agree upon their scholarship recommencement date

v. contact the Department of Immigration and Border Protection for information about visa requirements.

13.4.8. If a suspension is granted on medical grounds, the awardee will be required to undergo a medical examination to see if they are fit to travel and to resume full-time study in Australia. This examination will be at the awardee’s expense.

13.4.9. Awardees may be required to provide documentary evidence of their fitness to study to DFAT and the institution before approval will be given for their return to Australia

and before a return flight will be booked on their behalf.

13.4.10. Program Areas are to assess suspension requests in line with this policy,

and seek approval from partner governments where applicable.

13.4.11. If a suspension is granted on medical grounds, the Program Areas may be required to assist the awardee in-Country during the period of suspension (see Sections 15.5 and

13.4.12. The institution should assess a suspension request giving consideration to

the remaining duration of the scholarship and the likely effects of the suspension (especially the break from study) on satisfactory completion of the course.

13.4.13. Requests for suspension are to be lodged by the institution as early as possible in OASIS and are to include the revised scholarship completion date and any additional

costs, including the cost of return airfares for the suspension in the absence of the reunion entitlement.

13.4.14. The institution should organise suspension travel to the awardee’s closest home airport and expense DFAT for the cost. Suspension travel should be organised as soon as possible after the suspension has been approved by DFAT.

13.4.15. The institution must suspend the awardee’s Overseas Student Health Cover for the suspension period.

13.4.16. If the awardee: 13.4.16. If the awardee:

return from suspension. Where the awardee has not returned home because they were unfit to travel, the institution must help organise this assessment

ii. is deemed fit to return to their studies, the institution must assist the awardee to obtain a new DFAT (subclass 576) visa.