If you are an international student enrolled at Monash Malaysia and holding a Malaysian student pass, please read the following information carefully before applying for intermission or to reduce your study load.
Time limits to complete a course
If you're on a student pass, you must complete your course within the full-time course duration with a maximum allowance for intermission of up to two semesters or one year.
Student pass renewals beyond the full-time course duration is subject to the discretion of Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Underload
In an academic year, a full-time study load per year is 48 credit points (usually 24 credit points per semester). Most units run for a semester and have a value of six credit points.
You may apply to reduce your study load to take no less than 18 credit points per semester for the following circumstances only:
- Reducing your study load has been imposed as a condition of enrolment by the Academic Progress Committee (APC).
- Due to course structure, progression rules or unit unavailability where enrolment in units with a value of 24 credit points is not possible.
- If you are experiencing medical or exceptional personal circumstances.
- If you are in the final semester/year and require less than 48 credit points to complete your course.
If you decide to enrol in less than 18 credit points per semester, you will need to apply for intermission.
Applications to underload must be supported with documents/evidence.
When you do not need approval to underload
For underload applications, you won’t need to apply for approval if you are:
- In your final year and will complete your course within the full-time course duration.
- In your final semester and are completing your remaining units/credit points.
- Enrolled in a combination of standard semester and summer or winter units that total 24 credit points per semester or 48 credit points in an academic year.
Intermission
If you have commenced your course and wish to take one or more teaching periods away from study, you must apply for intermission. You can apply to take a break of up to two semesters or one year during your course. This can be taken over consecutive teaching periods, or at different times.
If you are approved for intermission due to medical-related circumstances, you may choose to remain in Malaysia during this time but must ensure that your Student Pass remains valid during this period. You must submit evidence of your medical circumstances from a registered medical practitioner in your intermission application.
Should you be on intermission for any other circumstances, you must cancel your Student Pass and exit Malaysia during this period.
Applications for intermission must be supported with documents/evidence.
Returning from intermission
If you have cancelled your Student Pass, you will need to re-apply for a new eVisa Approval Letter (eVAL) before returning to Malaysia from your intermission. Apply for your eVAL as early as 4 months but no later than 2 months before the semester commencement date.
As you will have lodged an application for a student pass previously, your eVAL application must be submitted through the International Student Pass office only. Application details are available here (refer to Non-Direct Student Pass Application). We will contact and advice you on the eVAL application fee after you have submitted your application.
