Application Deferrals

Deferrals can only be considered if you are:

• fully accepted, AND
• scheduled to begin your program on a future date.

Compelling circumstances must be validated with official documentation and are outside the student’s control. Examples include:

• personal medical conditions (see Personal Medical Document Requirements)
• family medical conditions (see Family Medical Document Requirements)
• court appearances
• bereavement
• significant extenuating personal circumstances.

Financial constraints and changes in personal plans are not considered extenuating circumstances. Deferrals can only be approved for programs not closed or waitlisted for your chosen future term.

Please complete the online admission deferral request form if you wish to pursue a deferral.

Request an admission deferral

You can only defer your application once. If your deferral request is approved, we will cancel your current application and create a new one for the deferred program and term – your tuition deposit will be moved to the deferred term automatically. This will be noted as Waived on your admission portal status page.

If you cancel your deferred application, your deposit will be forfeited.

If your admission deferral is declined and you decide to cancel your current application, your tuition deposit will be forfeited. Review refunds for our full policy.

If a deferral isn't the right choice for you, consider a one-time tuition deposit transfer.

Here's what you need to know:

• You can only transfer your deposit once to any future intake that's open at the time of your request.
• You must have a second active application for the deposit to be transferred to.
• Your request must be received before the Domestic Deferral Deadline of your originally accepted term.
• Your deposit cannot be transferred once it's been forfeited. This happens if:
  • You're conditionally accepted and can't meet all admission requirements by the Transcript Deadline.
  • You cancel your accepted seat before the program starts.
  • You miss your Tuition Fee Deadline.
  • You don't register for classes or attend classes.

Domestic applicants can request a tuition deposit transfer by completing the Domestic Deposit Transfer Request form.

Request a deposit transfer

Reasons you may want to request a deferral include but are not limited to:

• Study permit delays or refusal
• Require more time to meet admission requirements
• Illness or other personal circumstances. 

You are not eligible for a tuition deposit transfer if:

• You have already transferred/deferred your deposit once before.
• You have missed the tuition payment and course registration deadlines.

You can only “Request for deferral” if:

• Your application is on Unconditional/Conditional - Confirmed or Registered status.
• You have not received a tuition deposit transfer or deferral already.
• You are requesting it on or before the deadline for the applicable admission term.

Follow these steps to submit your request:

• Go to the international admissions system
• Open the application you wish to transfer,
• Click the “Request for deferral” button.
• Select “change” under the current academic program, and then click on Save.
• Select the future intake you would like to transfer your tuition deposit to. You can only defer to an intake that is currently open for applications.
• Please note the deferral button will only appear if the applicant is eligible.

Deferral approved

If your request is approved, you will receive an email with your intake/program changes. You will also see the changes within your application in the admissions system. You can use the “Change Requests” tab (at the bottom of your application) to view the status of your request. 

A confirmed seat is contingent on meeting all admission requirements for the program of choice.

• If your program of choice is full and you are placed on a waitlist, you can request a waitlist transfer to a different program that is open for applications. See options for waitlisted applicants.
• If you remain on a waitlist after a deferral, once the intake starts, the deferral is revoked and the deposit is forfeited.
• If you do not meet the admission requirements for your requested program, you can submit a new application for a different program. Once a seat is offered, we will transfer your deposit.
• Cancelling your application after the deferral is approved, regardless of the status, will result in the deposit being forfeited.

Deferral declined

If your request is declined, you will receive a message from the Admissions team on VAS. You are still expected to start your initial intake and meet the course registration and tuition payment deadline, or you can request to drop your current intake to avoid unnecessary charges. 

You can only transfer your tuition deposit once. If you want to start in a different intake, you must submit a new application and pay an additional non-refundable tuition deposit.

By cancelling your application, the deposit will be forfeited. Please review SAIT’s refund policy. 

No request can be submitted after the deadline.

If extenuating circumstances outside of your control affect your ability to begin classes in the registered intake, contact the International Centre.

Compelling circumstances must be validated with official documentation and require approval from the International Centre. Examples include:

• illness
• court appearances
• bereavement
• significant extenuating personal circumstances.

Waiting for a decision on your study permit application does not qualify for a deposit refund. This includes delays due to requiring additional medical exams, waiting to receive a passport, and any other processing related to a study permit decision.