Academic progress

An overview of what happens if you don't meet academic progress requirements for your course.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

If you've received an email or notification on my.unimelb about your academic progress, don't panic. These processes are designed to help you understand your options, access support and get back on track with your studies.

It’s important to know that many students who have received notifications of unsatisfactory progress go on to successfully complete their studies.

First half-year 2026 notifications in progress

"At risk" and "show cause" notifications are currently being sent to eligible students for the first half-year 2026.

Students may receive notifications at different times depending on when their results are finalised. Refer to the key dates below for notification and meeting schedules.

What notification did you receive?

Unsatisfactory Progress (USP) sanction

A USP sanction temporarily restricts changes to your enrolment while your academic progress is being reviewed.

What you need to do:

  • Check your student email for instructions
  • Wait for your academic progress outcome
  • Follow any actions outlined in your notification.

"At risk" notification

You've been identified as being at risk of making unsatisfactory academic progress. You'll be asked to reflect on your circumstances and create a plan to support your future success.

What you need to do:

  • Complete your Return to Good Standing Plan
  • Consider booking an At Risk appointment for additional support
  • Access support services if you need assistance.

"Show cause" notification

Your academic progress is considered unsatisfactory and will be reviewed by the Course Academic Progress Committee.

What you need to do:

  • Read your email carefully
  • Complete your written submission
  • Attend a review meeting if invited
  • Await your outcome notification.

Graduate researchers

Academic progress processes for graduate researchers are different. Visit the Graduate Research Hub to learn more:

Unsatisfactory Progress (USP) sanction

What is a USP sanction?

A USP sanction may be applied if you've made unsatisfactory academic progress. It is not a disciplinary action. Its purpose is to ensure you complete the required academic progress process before making further enrolment changes.

If a USP sanction is applied:

  • Your study plan will be temporarily locked
  • You won't be able to enrol or change your enrolment
  • You'll receive instructions through your student email.

When will the sanction be removed?

If you are identified as "at risk"

Your sanction will usually be removed within 24 hours after your outcome is confirmed.

If you receive a "show cause" notification

Your sanction will remain until your CAPC outcome has been finalised.

Re-enrolling after a USP sanction

If you receive a USP sanction during re-enrolment, wait until your outcome has been finalised before updating your enrolment. Once the sanction has been removed, complete your re-enrolment as soon as possible.

"At risk" notification

What does "at risk" mean?

An "at risk" notification means the University is concerned about your academic progress and wants to help you improve your future study performance.

You may be considered "at risk" if you:

  • Fail 50% or more of your enrolled subjects in a review period
  • Fail the same elective subject twice
  • Fail a compulsory or core subject
  • Withdraw from all subjects after the census date.

The University offers the following resources to help students get back on track.

Step 1: Complete a Return to Good Standing Plan (required)

The Return to Good Standing Plan is a self-guided reflection tool that helps you:

  • Understand what affected your studies
  • Identify strategies for improvement
  • Connect with relevant support services
  • Create an action plan for future success.

A link to your Return to Good Standing Plan will be sent to your student email after the final results release date.

To remove your USP sanction, you must complete the plan by the deadline specified in your student email. If you do not complete the plan by this date, this will be recorded on your student record.

Step 2: Attend an "at risk" appointment (optional)

If you'd like additional support, you can book an "at risk" appointment with a Course Planning adviser. We recommend you bring your Return to Good Standing Plan to your appointment. Appointments are held online via Zoom and are scheduled in Melbourne, Australia time (AEST/AEDT). You will receive an email with information with an appointment booking link.

During the appointment you can:

  • Discuss the challenges that affected your studies
  • Review your Return to Good Standing Plan
  • Explore study strategies and course options
  • Learn about support services available to you.

The adviser will give you advice about support, resources and strategies you can use in the future. This can include:

  • Adjusting your studies after failing a subject
  • Potential impacts to your course completion date
  • Your study load
  • Other support services.

There is high demand during peak periods, and new appointments are released regularly. If no appointments are available, check back again later.

"At risk" frequently asked questions

  • We understand that you may have already discussed reasons for your late withdrawal and taken action (such as linking in with support services either in or outside of the University).

    According to the Academic Progress Review Policy (MPF1291), students who withdraw from all subjects for any one progress review period are still considered to be at risk of unsatisfactory academic progress.

    This includes students who withdraw after the census date but before the last date to withdraw. This also includes students who withdraw at any time after the census date with special consideration.

  • Most importantly, you should focus on doing your best in your upcoming exam. What to do next depends on your supplementary exam result.

    If you fail your supplementary exam, complete the Return to Good Standing Plan.

    If you pass your supplementary exam, please send an email to academic-progress@unimelb.edu.au so your at risk academic status can be reviewed.

  • Sometimes grades are delayed when being reviewed or changed. Your at risk academic status is determined based on current results and will remain until your grades are reviewed/changed.

    Your at risk academic status will be reviewed once your results have been finalised. In the meantime, you are required to respond to your at risk notification by completing the Return to Good Standing Plan, as per the Academic Progress Review Policy (MPF1291).

  • We still recommend completing a Return to Good Standing Plan as an eligible special consideration application outcome is not guaranteed. This will provide support for you and can assist you to identify strategies you can implement for future success.

    If you have applied to sit a supplementary exam and do not yet know the outcome, you should focus on doing your best for your potential upcoming exam and can attend an at risk appointment after you have received your final results.

    Your at risk academic status will be reviewed once your results are finalised.

"Show cause" notification

What does "show cause" mean?

A "show cause" notification means your academic progress is considered unsatisfactory and the Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC) will assess your situation.

The CAPC's role is not to punish you. The Committee considers your circumstances, reviews your academic record and determines what support or enrolment conditions may be appropriate.

Your notification email will ask you to complete a written submission and, in some cases, attend a meeting with academic staff from your faculty or school.

Follow the instructions below carefully. This gives you the best chance to fully explain your situation.

Step 1: Prepare your submission

Your written submission should:

  • Explain what affected your academic progress
  • Outline any supporting evidence
  • Describe what has changed, or will change, moving forward
  • Demonstrate your capacity to continue your studies successfully.

Step 2: Attend a CAPC meeting (if invited)

If you are invited to attend a meeting:

  • Book your meeting by the deadline
  • Submit documentation before the meeting
  • Be prepared to discuss your circumstances and study plans.

Step 3: Receive your outcome

The CAPC may:

  • Recommend strategies to support your success
  • Apply conditions to your enrolment
  • Suspend your enrolment
  • Terminate your enrolment.

The CAPC will make a decision about your enrolment even if you don't provide a written submission or attend a CAPC meeting (if invited). You'll normally receive your outcome by email within three business days of your meeting.

"Show cause" frequently asked questions

  • Prepare a detailed written submission, including the questionnaire and personal statement:

    • If attending a meeting, lodge your submission at least two working days before it
    • If not attending, lodge your submission one day before the meetings begin.

    In your submission, explain what has affected your progress and what has changed, or will change, to support your success.

    The Committee may consider personal difficulties, health issues, financial pressure, employment load, bereavement, study skills, or other serious problems.

    The Committee will look for evidence, or a commitment from you, that your difficulties have been or will be resolved.

    The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) offers a Word Doc template to assist students with writing their submission.

  • If invited to meet with the CAPC, you need book an appointment within the timeframes in your email. Call the number provided within the email to make your booking.

  • At the CAPC meeting, the Committee will:

    • Review your academic record and written submission
    • Discuss what has affected your performance and what strategies you plan to use
    • Discuss your continued enrolment, where relevant
    • Assess whether you have the capacity to complete your course

    The Committee's role is not to punish you. It's to assess whether you can finish your course and to help you with strategies for improvement.

  • The CAPC will make a decision about your enrolment even if you don't submit or attend. You'll receive the outcome at your student email within three business days of the meeting.

    After reviewing your circumstances, the CAPC may:

    • Recommend actions to improve your academic success
    • Apply restrictions or conditions to your enrolment or subject selection
    • Suspend your enrolment for a set period
    • Terminate your enrolment

  • If your enrolment was terminated by the Academic Board and you wish to return to study, you must demonstrate academic rehabilitation. This means you need to prove that the circumstances affecting your study at the time of termination no longer apply.

    To demonstrate academic rehabilitation you must successfully complete between two (for a course of 100 credit points) and four tertiary level subjects (for a course 200 points or more) in a related discipline to that of the course being studied. The subjects can be completed at any tertiary-level institution.

    The subjects must:

    • be completed in one calendar year; and
    • achieve an average result of at least 70% with no fails.

    When Community Access Program (CAP) is used for the purpose of academic rehabilitation the subjects cannot be credited towards the degree which the student is intending to resume.

    Students applying for readmission are subject to the usual competitive process and must have the permission of the Faculty Dean to return to study. Students work with the relevant admissions area on securing Faculty Dean approval after they submit their application, but before their offer is made

Appeals

Can I appeal a CAPC outcome?

You may be able to appeal an academic progress outcome if:

  • A procedural irregularity occurred, including not receiving a fair hearing
  • New information has become available that was not reasonably available at the time of the original decision and may have affected the outcome
  • The decision was manifestly wrong
  • The penalty imposed was unreasonable.

Not reading or responding to University communications is not grounds for appeal.

How to appeal an outcome

You can lodge an appeal with the Academic Secretary.

You must lodge your appeal within 20 business days of receiving your outcome.

Before lodging an appeal, read the Academic Board's information on student appeals.

Support with your appeal

The University of Melbourne Student Union (UMSU) Advocacy Service can help you prepare for the CAPC process and appeals. Visit the UMSU Academic Progress page for:

  • Advice about your appeal options
  • Help preparing a written submission
  • Templates and resources to support your case.

If your appeal is unsuccessful

If your appeal to the Academic Secretary is unsuccessful, you can also request an external review from the Victorian Ombudsman. This free and independent service acts as a referee between individuals and public organisations.

Your right to appeal to the Victorian Ombudsman is not limited by the University's appeal timeframe.

If you're an international student (visa holder), additional appeal requirements and lodgement deadlines apply. Learn more in the 'Important information by study cohort' section below.

Important information by study cohort

  • Student visa holders must comply with visa condition 8202, which requires satisfactory academic progress in their course.

    If you're an international student (visa holder), the University may be required by law to notify the Department of Home Affairs about your academic progress.

    The University will notify the Department of Home Affairs if:

    • You do not appeal to the Academic Secretary within 20 business days of receiving your outcome
    • Your appeal to the Academic Secretary is unsuccessful, and you don't notify the University with evidence that you've lodged an appeal with the Victorian Ombudsman or National Student Ombudsman within 10 business days of receiving the Academic Board decision.
    • All appeal options have been exhausted, and the original decision is upheld.

    The University won't notify the Department of Home Affairs if you appeal within the required timeframes.

    Continued unsatisfactory academic progress may result in:

    • Conditions being applied to your enrolment
    • Suspension of enrolment
    • Termination of enrolment.

    Where required by legislation, the University must notify the Department of Home Affairs of suspension or termination outcomes.

    Suspension of enrolment

    You will usually be permitted to remain in Australia during your suspension; however, you may need to renew your student visa to ensure it will still be valid for the duration of your course.

    Termination of enrolment

    The Department of Home Affairs may cancel your student visa, and you may not be granted another temporary visa for a period of three years.

  • If you are studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Australian Full Fee place and access a HELP loan, you must continue to meet Australian Government eligibility requirements to maintain your entitlement, including Student Learning Entitlement requirements.

  • If your enrolment is suspended or terminated while you're in the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program, you must continue your approved accommodation and welfare arrangements to retain your Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW).

    These arrangments must be maintained until you get approval for alternative arrangements or you leave Australia.

    For more information, visit the Under 18 International Student Supervision Program page.

Key dates

Notifications and meetings regarding unsatisfactory academic progress generally happen twice a year. Depending on the study period for your subjects, you may be asked to meet either in the first or second half of the year.

  • First half-year meetings are held between July to August and will include the following study periods where you have been identified as having unsatisfactory academic progress:

    • Summer Term
    • Semester 1
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • Term 1
    • Term 4
    • November and December from the previous year.

    Second half-year meetings are held between December to January and will include the following study periods where you have been identified as having unsatisfactory academic progress:

    • Winter Term
    • Semester 2
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • Term 2
    • Term 3
    • Year Long subjects.

  • First half-year 2026 at risk notification and meeting dates

    There are three rounds of email notifications depending on when all of your results are finalised:

    Round Notification date Meeting dates
    Round 1
    For students whose results are all finalised by the results release date     		Friday 10 July 2026 Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email
    Round 2
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date     		Friday 21 August 2026 Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email
    Round 3
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date     		Friday 4 September 2026 Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email

    Second half-year 2026 at risk notification and meeting dates

    There are two rounds of email notifications depending on when all of your results are finalised:

    Round Notification date Meeting dates
    Round 1
    For students whose results are all finalised by the results release date     		Friday 4 December 2026 Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email
    Round 2
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date     		Friday 15 January 2027 Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email
    Round 3
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date     		Friday 12 March 2027 (To be confirmed) Book an "at risk" appointment via the link in your notification email

  • First Half-Year 2026 notification and meeting dates

    There are two rounds of email notifications depending on when all of your results are finalised:

    Round Email notification date Meeting dates

    Round 1
    For students whose results are all finalised by the results release date.

    Thursday 9 July 2026

    Friday 17 July – Friday 24 July 2026

    Round 2
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date.

    Friday 7 August 2026

    Monday 17 August – Friday 21 August 2026

    Second Half-Year 2026 notification and meeting dates

    There are two rounds of email notifications depending on when all of your results are finalised:

    Round Email notification date Meeting dates

    Round 1
    For students whose results are all finalised by the results release date.

    Thursday 3 December 2026

    Friday 11 December – Monday 21 December 2026

    Round 2
    For students who were awarded special assessment or whose results were not finalised by the results release date.

    Friday 15 January 20

Support available to you

To assist you with your studies, explore our services and resources that students have found useful to get back on track.

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