Failing a subject

What happens if you've failed a subject and what next steps you should take.

About failing a subject

Failing a subject can be disheartening but it is a good opportunity to review whether you’re studying subjects that engage and motivate you, whether you need to improve your study techniques or whether you need to adjust your study load. It is important to reflect on why you failed a subject and come up with some strategies to improve your performance for the following semester.

For student visa holders who fail a subject, this may mean you are no longer able to complete your course by your visa end date. You will need to plan how to catch up in case your visa cannot be renewed.

If you have failed a subject, the credit points won’t count towards your degree, but it may affect your WAM. You will need to repeat the subject, in the case of a core or compulsory subject; or ‘replace’ the subject with a different subject.

How to know if you've failed a subject

You will only know if you have failed a subject once you see the final grade for a subject recorded in my.unimelb.

How it can affect your academic progress

The impact of failed subjects on your studies depends on how important the subject is in the progression of your course (ie whether it is a core, prerequisite, elective or breadth subject). Depending on what type of subject it is, you may decide to change direction in your course or change your major.

A failed subject may also extend the duration of your course, but it is often possible to catch up and graduate on time by enrolling in Summer and Winter Term and/or intensive subjects or overloading in future semesters.

  • If you fail a core or compulsory subject, you will not have met the academic progress requirements for your course and will receive an email with important information about your academic progress once results are finalised. If you’re “At Risk” of making unsatisfactory progress then you will be asked to complete a Return To Good Standing Plan. If your progress is deemed unsatisfactory, you may be invited via email to attend a meeting with the Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC).
    Find out more about unsatisfactory academic progress.

    You will also need to enrol in that subject again to meet your course requirements.

  • If you fail 50% or more of your enrolled subjects within a half-year period, you will not have met the academic progress requirements for your course and will receive an email with important information about your academic progress once results are finalised. You will be invited to an appointment to discuss your progress and receive advice and guidance about getting back on track. Find out more about unsatisfactory academic progress.

  • If you have failed a subject which is a prerequisite for a subject that you are currently enrolled in, you will be withdrawn from that subject as you will not have met the prerequisite requirement. You will be sent an email regarding the withdrawal.

    If this occurs, you will need to either:

    • Enrol in a new subject to replace the withdrawn subject:
      • Check which subject is missing on your study plan in my.unimelb
      • Check the Handbook to view your course requirements and choose your new subject
      • Enrol in the new subject in my.unimelb. For instructions on subject enrolment, visit Enrolling in subjects.
    • Request approval to remain enrolled in the withdrawn subject:

  • If you have recorded a close fail grade in a subject, and you are in your final year of study, you may be eligible for additional assessment under the final subject assessment rule. The final subject rule is not something you can apply for. You will be contacted if you are eligible. Find out more about final subject assessment.

    If you are planning to graduate this year, you will not be able to attend a graduation ceremony if your course completion has not been confirmed by the results release deadline.

    Visit the graduation eligibility FAQ for more information.

Don't miss important results notifications

If you have failed a subject, check your email at least twice per week after you have received all of your subject results, as you may receive an invitation to attend a meeting to discuss your academic progress.

It is important to attend this meeting as it is an opportunity to address what went wrong and discuss options to help you improve your performance in the future and get your academic progress back on track.

Planning your next steps

Once a final grade for a subject has been recorded in my.unimelb:

  1. Confirm if you would like to make any enrolment changes for future study periods and check your eligibility to do so. For example, change a subject, adjust your study load, withdraw from your course, or take a leave of absence. You usually need to complete 50 points at one level before moving on to the next level of your course - for more information see Course progression rules. The Handbook provides information about course requirements, subjects offered for your course, and subject key dates (e.g. last date to self-enrol, census date, last date to withdraw without fail).
  2. Update your study plan via my.unimelb. For instructions on how to enrol in subjects by adding them to your study plan in my.unimelb, visit Enrolling in subjects.
  3. Continue to check your University email account at least twice a week for updated advice about your enrolment and academic progress, and respond by the due date provided if you need to take action.

Failing a subject might also be an opportunity to review or change your course plan. Find out what options are available to make changes to your course.

For international students on a student visa, failing a subject could mean that you either need to study an intensive subject to allow you to complete your course by your current Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date or you may need an extension of your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). You can request a CoE extension on the 'renewing your student visa' website. If you are unsure of how to plan your course around a failed subject, please book a course planning appointment.

Assessing why you failed

It is important to consider why you have failed a subject as this will help you to improve your study approach next semester and consider the impact on your academic progress.

If you have considered the above reasons and believe that your grade is not a reflection of your efforts, you can also request a review of your results.

  • If you performed below expectations in an exam, it is important to review your exam performance. Some departments, schools and faculties offer students the opportunity to have an exam review session. These discussions can help you understand your overall result; they are not an opportunity to request that your exam paper be re-marked or that your mark be adjusted.

  • Failing a subject may also indicate a need to review your study techniques, exam preparation or time management skills. Academic skills appointments and information sessions are available to help you build your study skills to maximise your chance of success.

If you have considered the above reasons and believe that your grade is not a reflection of your efforts, you can request a review of your results.

There’s been a change to the results process for special assessments which you need to be aware of if you are granted Special consideration. Resolving the technological solution in 2024 has allowed alignment with the policy change approved by Academic Board in 2020. All information on this page has been updated to reflect this change which is now live for the 2025 academic year.

Last updated:  13 May 2026

Frequently asked questions

  • You will only know if you have failed a subject once you see the grade recorded in my.unimelb. See the results release schedule to know when your subject result will be available.

  • If entry into the quota subject is based on academic merit, you may need to enrol in another subject. Please refer to the Handbook for subject-specific quota information.

  • You will need to:

    1. Enrol in remaining subjects on your study plan via my.unimelb.
    2. Request a Confirmation of Enrolment extension.
    3. Renew your visa by applying for a new student visa. Learn more on how to renew a student visa.

  • Visit the subject withdrawal page to learn about the consequences of withdrawing from a subject, important subject key dates, and the support available to help you make a decision.

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