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- What does it mean to defer admissions?
- What is a deferred application? Why do colleges defer applications?
- Why do students defer admissions?
- How long can you defer your admission?
- Fee for deferring admissions
- Factors to consider
Getting accepted by a prestigious institution abroad is a matter of great pride. It is a reward for your hard work and a sign of your merit. However, there may be circumstances where you cannot join the institution as planned. In such cases, if your institution allows you to defer your admission, you may choose to do so.
What does it mean to defer admissions?
By deferring admission, you can delay your start date and join the institution during a later admission cycle. Deferring refers to postponing your enrolment at the university for a semester or year. There could be several reasons for deferring admissions, such as family priorities, health reasons, or other unexpected situations beyond your control.
What is a deferred application? Why do colleges defer applications?
Deferring an application is different from deferring an admission. When an institution defers a student’s application, they want to take more time to decide on that candidate. It might be because the institution wants more information about the applicant or wants to understand their level of interest in joining the programme.
If your application is deferred, it is moved to the larger pool of applications for further review. This can understandably result in more stress and disappointment. However, you are now free to explore opportunities in other institutions.
Why do students defer admissions?
You must have a valid reason to be considered eligible for a deferred admission. Some of the acceptable reasons include:
- Illness
- Visa-delays
- Unforeseen circumstances, such as the pandemic
- Academic reasons
You should be able to provide a satisfactory explanation and submit relevant documents to support your deferment request. This is carefully examined by the university admissions team.
- Once you decide to defer your admission, verify with the university admissions team about the procedures to follow and the documents needed for deferred admission. The policies governing deferral requests vary across different institutions.
- In most cases, a deferral request would require you to submit a letter to the institution or your department stating the reason for the request.
- Ensure your application is complete and reaches the university admissions office on time. The deadline is usually three to five weeks before the class start date. Requests for deferred admissions may not be granted for late submissions.
- Institutions in the USA have more stringent rules concerning deferred admissions, and the number of institutions offering this option to international students is limited. In countries like the UK and New Zealand, the process is easier and more streamlined. By providing a valid reason, students can secure deferred admission with relative ease.
- Please note that deferral requests might not be accepted for some subjects, such as medicine.
How long can you defer your admission?
Most institutions offer deferment by one admission intake. For example, if you can't join the classes in August/September, you can request a deferment to classes starting in January of the following year. Please note that the allowed duration for deferment varies from one institution to another.
Deferring your admission to a significantly later date is at the discretion of the institution. Some universities, like Cambridge University in the UK, allow deferral only if a later start date is available within the same academic year.
Fees for deferring admissions
Some institutions accept deferral requests without charging any additional fees. However, some charge a minimal fee for deferral. For example, Northwest Missouri State University in the USA charges USD 50 (approximately INR 4200).
In some institutions, the admission deferment guarantees admission into the university only and not necessarily to a particular major or programme of study. Students will be asked to submit an enrolment deposit of between US$ 150 and US$250 (approximately INR 12,200 to 20,500).
Impact of deferring admissions on scholarships
Offering scholarships to students with deferred admission is at the discretion of the university and the scholarship awarding body. So, make sure you check with them before requesting a deferral. In some cases, scholarships may be deferred along with the enrolment.
The source of scholarship funding is also crucial because the funding authority may not have funds available for the next semester or year. Hence, it is best to check with the concerned authorities for better clarity.
Factors to consider
The validity of your test scores: Test scores are an important factor to consider when requesting deferred admission. Language tests like the IELTS and TOEFL are valid for two years. Most competitive exams have a test score validity of two to four years. If you have asked for a deferred admission that fits within the validity period of your test scores, then you do not have to worry.
The impact on your career goals: If you had signed up for an internship programme, deferring admission could interfere with this plan.
Scholarships: You must check with the scholarship granting authority and the university to understand whether you will continue to be eligible for the scholarship even after deferral.
Impact of deferral on your course choice: Some institutions allow deferring admissions, but do not guarantee admission into the same course. Therefore, it is best to contact the institution to clarify these aspects.
Benefits of deferred admissions
If your deferral request is approved, you will have the time to peacefully deal with whatever the reason for deferral was.
With the available time, you can think about what more you want to explore. You can build your soft skills or participate in volunteering activities.
You will feel more ready to face academic challenges.
What is a deferred MBA programme?
With a deferred MBA, accepted candidates can take one to four years to gain work experience before starting their classes. However, universities offering deferred MBAs will be interested in knowing how you spent the gap year. Stanford University suggests that you do something productive:
“If you choose to defer enrollment, we expect you to be productively engaged (such as in full-time work or full-time study) during the deferral period. Pursue opportunities that enable you to build expertise, enhance your skills and knowledge, expand your perspective, and develop professional judgement and self-confidence. We will ask you in the application what your plans are for the period between graduation and your enrollment at Stanford”.
To conclude, here are the important points:
- Rules for deferred admissions vary across destinations and institutions.
- Not all institutions offer the option to defer admissions.
- Granting you a deferred admission is at the discretion of the institution.
- You cannot request a deferral at one institution and apply for admission at another institution.
For more information: You can find student perspectives on university applications and other aspects of studying abroad in our collection of international Student Stories.
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