Many issues always arise in the university that makes students undertake deferment of admission. It is not out of place however, for a student to defer his/her admission. The choice to defer admission is often necessitated by financial pressure, pregnancy, lack of time, concurrent activities, programmes running side by side with one’s academics. These challenges may make many students think it is preferable to defer their admission.
What Is Deferment of Admission
Deferment of admission in a university refers to the process of shifting an academic responsibility to to next academic session. It is a process whereby a student apply to a school management seeking for his/her academic engagements for a current session to be moved to the next session. In so doing, no academic record(s) is created for the student in question for that session. Deferment of studies is a tool for pausing one’s academics with the intent to continue later. All academic engagement for the current session is paused pending when the requested session is completed and the next session commenced fully.
Note that during the period of deferment, a student is not expected or under obligation to attend any class, sit for any examination nor engage in any other academic activities. Unless such is done at will which may not even be recorded in his academic profile.
Again, in normal circumstances, a student deferring admission is not supposed to pay school fees as no service was/will be rendered during such academic session. This was confirmed by the Vice Chancellor, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State in his NDU Radio 98.1FM broadcast. He was addressing students who failed to pay their fees on or before stipulated deadline. According to the Vice Chancellor, “…that year that he has suspended his studies, he will not pay his fees. Because no services was rendered and so that person will not pay. But the new session that he/she has come into, that he wants to continue, you now pay that one.”
Who Initiate Deferment of Admission
Unlike in suspension cases where a university management initiate the process, deferment of admission is initiated or applied for by the student. The student may have seen that there is no way at all to continue his/her studies hence, the need to pause and start later. Deferment of studies is different from dropping out of school. While the former have the intention to continue, the later nurture the mindset to absolutely quit.
Causes of Deferment of Admission
There are various factors that necessitate students to seek for deferment of admission. The totality of factors causing deferment of studies are inexhaustible because it depends on individualized problems. Nevertheless, the following is list of causes of deferment of admission:
1. Lack of finance
This is at least one of the major reason why many students defer their admissions. The number of students who defer their admission yearly are mainly freshers (100 level students) who came to the university and begin to see various expenses, activities and engagements that they did not earlier plan for. Unable to meet up, some opt for deferment to enable them regain small themselves.
2. Lack of Time/Too Many Engagements
Many students as at the time of their admission already have too many engagements. Some were already workers before they gained admission hence, coping with work and class cannot be possible for them. Not being sure of having the same admission the next year, they opt for deferment rather than forfeiture of admission. Many believe that within a space of one year, they must have settled down to meet the challenges ahead.
3. Loss of Sponsor
This is also like lack of finance. Many students started school on a very good financial slate. However, as they progress, some lost their major sponsor. Unable to meet up and adjust to the new situation, it would be only reasonable to defer, get settled and start school again.
4. Health
School comes with a lot of challenges. Stress is one of those challenges. Chronic stress comes along with various minor and major health problems. This is in addition to students original health status. These put together makes health challenges in school a normal occurrence. When health issues arise and a student cannot cope, it is only necessary for a student to opt for deferment of studies.
5. Change of location
Many students who got admission in Nigeria have in the course of their studies gained opportunities to travel abroad. When the opportunity is seen as rare, students may decide to pause their studies, travel and return to continue their academics.
6. Loss of interest
There has been a handful of students who just decide to leave their studies as a result of “no longer feeling what they are doing”. When this happens, community effort is needed to help reshape the thinking process of the student. If available hands on ground are strong enough, the student may rethink education and come back. Although one session may have been lost.
7. Pregnancy
A lot of female students often get married during their academic life. When this happens, some are unable to continue their studies. Consequently, many may apply for deferment. It is very expedient you understand your health and behave accordingly. If your situation cannot carry the academic stress, it is very okay to apply for deferment of studies as a result of your pregnancy.
Deferment Process
How To Defer Admission
There are few steps in the admission deferment process. However, before you can defer an admission, many universities would want you to pay up your fees for that session. But where fees is the major problem for the deferment, then an appeal can be made to ensure the process is completed without the payment of tuition fees. Below are the few steps in the university admission deferment process.
1. Application
Here, you write to the office of the Head of Department, Dean, the Vice Chancellor or any other office so designated by your university management to accept such letter. Note that this type of letter is academically classified, hence it cannot go to the registrar. Only Vice Chancellors handles all academic needs. The letter should be titled “Application For Deferment of Studies” or any caption that conveys the message better. If in the case of a medical problem, there would be a need to attach your medical report or any other revealing document for swift approval.
2. Approval
Once your application fell through, many university would give the student an approval letter and the student is expected to bring this letter along when resuming. This process may differ according to institutions.
3. Resumption
This is the final part of the admission deferment process. As the new session commenced/is about to commence, the student return to the office where he/she applied initially to present a copy of the approval letter. Any other formality(ies) takes on from there.
Special Note: The above process may differ according to institutions. What is obtained in institution A may not be same with institution B. Nevertheless, the process is similar across boards. Therefore, readers’ discretion is advised.
For How Long Can A Student Defer Admission?
Situation may arise where a student may want to defer his/her admission for more than one year. May institutions only allow for one year after which you forfeit your admission. Other institutions may allow for more than one year but you must apply for deferment again for the next year.
Also See: How to Defer Your Admission
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