Online study limitations

All our undergraduate degrees and most graduate coursework degrees are campus-based, requiring you to attend classes in person and face-to-face. If you’re studying on a student visa, there is a limit to how many online subjects you can take that you must not exceed.

What are the online study limitations?

From 1 July 2023:

  • Online study can only make up one third of your total course. This means two thirds of the subjects you take must be campus-based. Refer to the calculation below to see how many online subjects you can take for your course
  • You must be enrolled in at least one on campus subject for each half-year study period. If you only need to enrol in one final subject (of any point value) before completing your course and have sufficient online study allowance to undertake the credit points online, you will be exempt from this requirement
  • Online subjects completed prior to 1 July 2023 do not count towards your limit.

What counts as online study?

Online study

  • Online subjects that are taught entirely online with no campus-based activities
  • Dual-delivery subjects where you choose online classes (tutorials, lectures, seminars, etc) with no campus-based activities using MyTimetable.

Campus-based study

  • On campus subjects that have essential, required activities that can only be taught in person, on campus or in another physical location
  • Dual-delivery subjects where you choose in person campus-based classes, at least for your tutorials, using MyTimetable.

How is on campus class attendance counted?

We don't keep track of your attendance for each subject. It's your responsibility to enrol in the required number of on campus subjects, schedule them using MyTimetable and attend them. You must be in Australia to attend classes on campus. If you don't, your student visa might be canceled.

Do study periods affect my online limit?

To meet your student visa requirements, you must enrol in at least one campus-based subject during each half-year study period. Half-year periods are defined as:

  • First half-year: January to June
  • Second half-year: July to December.

Any on campus, dual-delivery or online subjects you enrol in during the standard and non-standard study periods will count towards your requirement.

How to calculate my limit

  1. Check your course credit points requirements in the Handbook.
    • A standard undergraduate course has 300 credit points
    • Graduate courses vary from 50 to 400 credit points.
  2. If you have been granted advanced standing (credit for prior study), your limit is based on your reduced course duration.
    • For example, if you are in a 200 credit-point course with 50 credit points of advanced standing, calculate your limit on your remaining 150 course credit points.
  3. Refer to the table below to see the online study limitations for your course:

Course credit points

Maximum online study (for your course)

50 points

One standard subject, 12.5 credit points

100 points

Two standard subjects, 25 credit points

150 points

Four standard subjects, 50 credit points

200 points

Five standard subjects, 62.5 credit points

250 points

Six standard subjects, 75 credit points

300 points

Eight standard subjects, 100 credit points

350 points

Nine standard subjects, 112.5 credit points

400 points

Ten standard subjects, 125 credit points

How to calculate my limit balance

Your online limit balance is your maximum online study credit points minus any online credit points completed, unless taken prior to 1 July 2023.

Example:

Scenario: Your course has 200 credit points and you have completed two 12.5 credit point subjects online.

Calculation:

Balance = 62.5 online credit points (1/3 of 200)

– 25 online credit points (2 x 12.5 credit point subjects)

= 37.5 online credit points (your remaining online limit balance).

What happens if I exceed the limitations?

If you exceed your limit, or do not maintain enrolment in on campus subjects, you will be withdrawn from your course and your Confirmation of Enrolment will be ended for non-compliance. This may have implications for your student visa.

The University runs regular checks leading up to the semester census dates to ensure that online study limitations are met. We will email you if you are at risk of exceeding your limit and an Online Study Limitation (OSL) sanction will be applied to your student record.

If you don’t take the appropriate steps to correct your enrolment using MyTimetable, your course will be withdrawn, and you’ll receive a Termination of Enrolment (TEO) sanction. After receiving a TEO sanction, you’ll be given 20 days to appeal before your Confirmation of Enrolment is cancelled.

How do the limitations apply if I am on an approved reduced study load?

Online study limitations are the same if you are studying an approved reduced study load. However, you are still required to complete one on campus subject per half-year study period.

Examples:

Scenario: Approved to study 25 credit points per half-year period for a 100-credit point course.

Online study limit: Two subjects (25 credit points)

In a compulsory study period, you can take:

  • At least one on campus subject (12.5 credit points)
  • A maximum of one online subject (12.5 credit points)

Scenario: You are approved to study 37.5 points in a half-year period for a 300-credit point course.

Online study limit: Eight standard subjects (100 credit points)

In a compulsory study period, you can take:

  • At least one on campus subject (12.5 credit points)
  • A maximum of two online subjects (25 credit points).

If you have enrolled part time and do not have an approved reduced study load, the full-time requirements apply to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • I have only one subject left. Can I study this online?

    If you only need to enrol in one final subject (of any point value) before completing your course and have sufficient online study allowance to undertake the credit points online, you can study it online.

  • Can I change to part-time study or take a leave due to online study limitations?

    Online study limitations are not:

  • What is the deadline for taking action to meet online study limitations?

    We encourage you to finalise your subjects before each subject’s last self-enrol date. However, the deadline for compliance is the semester census date.

  • I have an Online Study Limitation (OSL) sanction on my student record. What should I do?

    Change your enrolment to meet the online study limitations. Check your student email for information about how to lift your sanction. If you need assistance, please submit an enquiry or book a Course Planning appointment.

    Once you have changed your enrolment and met the limitations, your OSL sanction will be lifted from your record.

  • I do not plan to return to Australia and am nearing the end of my course. Can I complete from overseas?

    There are limited allowances for this to be considered, and you must ensure that if you are not returning to Australia you meet all the following criteria:

    • You are in your final half-year period of study
    • Your course has online or dual-delivery subject offerings for the subjects you need to enrol in to complete your course
    • If you hold a student visa you accept that we will end your CoE and mark you as an offshore student, which may impact your visa conditions
    • That you are responsible for ensuring you meet any local government regulations for online delivery and degree recognition*.

    *The Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) decree that international academic qualifications must be completed in-person and on campus from February 2023.

  • If I’m taking Summer or Winter intensives, do I need to enrol in on campus subjects?

    Summer and Winter intensives can be taken online as long you meet your requirements to enrol in one subject per half-year study period and you still have online study allowance.

    Any online subjects you enrol in during the standard and non-standard study periods, including Summer or Winter intensives, will count towards your online study limit.

  • I have been studying online prior to 30 June 2023. Will these subjects count towards my limit balance?

    No, only subjects enrolled from 1 July 2023 onwards are counted.

  • I have a points restriction from my Academic Progress review, do online study limitations still apply?

    Yes, having received a points restriction does not exempt you from the online study limit.

Need help?

Book a Course Planning appointment for assistance with planning your studies to meet your online study limit.

More information