Maximum course length
Understand how long you have to complete your course and what happens if you reach the limit.
About maximum course length
You must complete your course within a specified period from the date you begin your studies.
This may be described as your:
- Maximum course length
- Maximum time to complete
- Course duration
- Must complete by date.
Periods of leave of absence or other absence are included when calculating your maximum course length.
How maximum course length is calculated
Your maximum course length depends on whether your coursework course is available full time only or can also be completed part time.
- Full-time only: For courses that are only available on a full-time basis, n + 2 years, where n = normal full-time duration of the course; and
- Part-time or full-time basis: For courses that are available on either a full-time or part-time basis, 2n + 2 years, where n = normal full-time duration of the course
For example, if the normal full-time duration of a course is three years:
- A full-time-only course would normally have a maximum course length of five years
- A course available full time or part time would normally have a maximum course length of eight years.
Concurrent diplomas
If you complete a concurrent diploma , one additional year is added to the normal full-time duration of your bachelor degree.
Check your maximum course length
Check the University Handbook entry for your course to find:
- The normal full-time course duration
- Whether the course is available part time
- Any course-specific completion requirements.
Your individual must complete by date may also be shown in your student record.
What happens if you reach the limit
Reaching the maximum time allowed to complete your course is a trigger for unsatisfactory academic progress .
You may be invited to attend a Course Academic Progress Committee meeting .
The Course Academic Progress Committee may extend your maximum course length by up to one year if it determines that you are likely to complete your course within that period.
Review the maximum time to complete requirements in the Academic Progress Review Policy.
Need help with planning your course and subjects?
Submit an online enquiry or book an appointment with one of our course advisers, who can help you with course rules and structure, understanding subject pre-requisites, enrolling in to subjects, using the study plan, checking you're on track to graduate and more. Please add your My Course Planner link to any enquiry or appointment booking.