The census date is your key enrolment, HELP loan and VET Student Loan deadline. Every class has its own census date.
Census date is important, because if you miss the census date you might have to pay for study that you don’t want or need to do.
When is my census date?
To see your census dates:
- Log in to Enrolment Online.
- Click Enrol.
- Select your semester and choose the Continue button.
You’ll now see the census date listed for each class you’re enrolled in for that semester or study period.
You can also find census dates listed in your important dates.
ELICOS students: Contact RMIT English Worldwide (REW) for information about your census dates.
What do I need to do by census date?
Select your cohort from the tabs below to find out what you must do by census date, and the penalties if you miss it.
Higher education and Associate degree – actions to complete by census
| Action | Census date deadline | Penalty (if not done by the deadline) |
|---|---|---|
| Change or drop a course – if eligible, you can do this online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any courses you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending them |
| Apply for credit | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any courses you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending them |
| Apply for leave of absence – if eligible, you can apply online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any study you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending classes |
| Cancel your program enrolment – if eligible, you can do this online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any study you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending classes* |
| Finalise your HECS-HELP loan (if eligible) by providing your tax file number (TFN) | 11.59pm on census date via the government’s eCAF portal. Note: you need to contact Student Connect at least 2 business days before the census date, so your eCAF can be revised for you to add your TFN |
Your enrolment will be cancelled for the semester (unless you have paid your student contribution in full by the census date – see below) |
Pay your student contribution in full (students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place) You need to do this if you're not eligible to defer your fees to HECS-HELP or you do not have an approved HECS-HELP loan |
11.59pm on census date | Your enrolment will be cancelled for the semester |
| Apply for FEE-HELP | 11.59pm on census date via the government’s eCAF portal | You'll need to pay your tuition fees up-front and in full |
| Apply for SA-HELP | 11.59pm on census date via the government’s eCAF portal | You'll need to pay SSAF |
*If you're a commencing international student and have enrolled in the first semester of a program, financial penalties may apply for cancelling your enrolment before or after the census date. Refer to Refunds for international students.
Vocational education – actions to complete by census
| Action | Census date deadline | Penalty (if not done by the deadline) |
|---|---|---|
| Change or drop a course – if eligible, you can do this online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any courses you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending them |
| Apply for credit/recognition of prior learning (RPL) | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any courses you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending them |
| Apply for leave of absence – if eligible, you can do this online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any study you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending classes |
| Cancel your program enrolment – if eligible, you can do this online | 11.59pm on census date | You’ll have to pay for any study you’re enrolled in, even if you’re no longer attending classes* |
| Apply for a VET Student Loan – if eligible, apply online to defer your tuition fees | 11.59pm on census date via the government’s eCAF portal. | You’ll have to pay your tuition fees up-front and in full without access to a VET Student Loan. |
*If you're a commencing international student and have enrolled in the first semester of a program, financial penalties may apply for cancelling your enrolment before or after the census date. Refer to Refunds for international students.
Contacts and help
- For all key academic dates, go to Important dates.
- For information about student loans, go to HELP loans and VET Student Loans.
- For information about paying your fees, go to How to pay your fees.
- For other questions, contact Student Connect.
