Eligibility for Commonwealth Supported Places and HELP loans

If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place or in an Australian Full-Fee place and accessing a HELP loan, there are Australian Government eligibility criteria that you must meet to maintain this support. There are also limits to how much Commonwealth Supported study you can undertake.

The Australian Government’s Study Assist website outlines the eligibility criteria for:

Requirements introduced from 1 January 2022

Legislative changes made by the Australian Government mean that Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) and completion rate requirements apply from 1 January 2022.

What this means for you:

  • Students studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) will be entitled to undertake seven years (7 EFTSL) of full-time study or part-time equivalent of Commonwealth Supported study at any Higher Education Institution. This is referred to as your Student Learning Entitlement and is calculated from 1 January 2022. There are some instances when additional SLE can be accessed once the seven years has been exceeded. If you expend all available SLE, you will no longer be eligible for a CSP and may need to transfer to a Full-Fee paying place for the remainder of your study.
  • Students commencing their course from 2022 onwards must meet new completion rate requirements to continue to receive Commonwealth assistance. Students who are assessed to have a ‘low completion rate’ will no longer be eligible for a CSP or HELP loan for that course.

Refer below for more information.

The University is currently developing processes to support these legislative changes and will continue to update this page when more information becomes available.

Important: check your subject census dates in the Handbook

The subject’s census date is the last date you can withdraw from a subject without it being counted towards your SLE or completion rate.

Withdrawing before the subject's last date to withdraw without fail is not considered an exception to the Australian Government's eligibility requirements. This means, if you withdraw after the subject's census date and before its Last date to withdraw without fail, while you will receive a WD (ie. Withdrawn) grade on your academic record, it will still count as a fail towards your completion rate unless you have approved special circumstances.

Student Learning Entitlement

The SLE requirement applies to all students in a CSP who are undertaking subjects with a census date from 1 January 2022 onwards (subjects undertaken before this date don't count towards the SLE). It limits the amount of Commonwealth Supported study at a Higher Education Institution that a student can undertake to seven years of full-time study (7 Equivalent Full Time Student Load or EFTSL). In some instances, you may be eligible for additional SLE.

  • How the SLE requirement works
    • From 1 January 2022, students studying in a CSP will start with a SLE balance of 7 ordinary EFTSL for their undergraduate and graduate coursework studies. There are separate Commonwealth support provisions for graduate research studies (eg. Doctor of Philosophy, Master by Research).
    • Any subject (regardless of institution of study) with a census date from 1 January 2022 onwards that you are enrolled in past its census date will reduce your SLE balance. For example, if you're enrolled in four 12.5 point Semester 1, 2022 subjects after their census dates, your remaining SLE balance will be 6.5 EFTSL.
    • If you expend your initial allocation of 7 ordinary SLE, check if you are eligible for additional or lifelong SLE, see below.
    • If you expend all available SLE, you will no longer be eligible for a CSP and may need to transfer into a Full-Fee Paying Place for the remainder of your study, subject to meeting admission requirements, and the University's academic progress and maximum course duration requirements.
    • There may be some exceptions and instances when your SLE can be re-credited where special circumstances apply.
  • What if I need additional SLE?

    There are two forms of SLE that you may be eligible to access if you have exceeded your initial balance, Additional SLE’ and ‘Lifelong SLE’. These can help enable you to undertake Honours and graduate coursework courses for which CSP are available.

    Additional SLE

    Additional SLE is available to students:

    • Enrolled in long undergraduate courses (ie. where the normal course load is more than 6 EFTSL, 6 years of full-time study).
    • Undertaking an Honours course that is 1 EFTSL or less.
    • Undertaking graduate coursework courses, or graduate entry bachelor courses, for which CSPs are offered.

    The amount of ‘Additional SLE’ generally depends on the normal course load, and if you have already started to use previously allocated Additional SLE. Additional SLE can be used once your initial 7 ordinary EFTSL entitlement has been used.

    Lifelong SLE

    • Lifelong SLE’ of 3 EFTSL (3 years of full-time study or part-time equivalent) is available to students who need to retrain later in life (time limits apply).
    • A separate Lifelong SLE allocation is available if completing a course will take longer as it’s been restructured.
    • Lifelong SLE can be used once your initial 7 ordinary EFTSL entitlement and any Additional SLE has been used.
  • Where can I find more information about the SLE requirement?

    For more information refer to the Australian Government’s:

Completion rate requirement

Students who commenced their course from 2022 onwards must meet Australian Government completion rates to maintain a CSP and/or HELP loan. This includes students who deferred an offer in 2021 and are commencing from 2022 onwards.

  • What is the completion rate requirement?
    • Students who commenced their course from 2022 onwards must successfully complete at least 50 per cent of units of study (ie. subjects) and avoid a low completion rate in order to maintain Commonwealth assistance. This includes students who deferred an offer in 2021 and are commencing from 2022 onwards. The Australian Government defines a low completion rate as:
      • For bachelor level or higher course, a fail rate of more than 50 per cent of the subjects after you have attempted eight or more subjects.
      • For a higher education course lower than bachelor (such as a diploma, concurrent diploma, or enabling course), a fail rate of more than 50 per cent after you have attempted four or more subjects.
    • The completion rate requirements do not apply to the University's 25-point specialist and professional certificates, or non-award courses.
    • The completion rate requirement is different from the University's academic progress requirements.
    • Refer to the 'How is the completion rate calculated?' section below for further information about the calculation method.
  • When is the completion rate calculated?

    The completion rate is only calculated once students have undertaken toward their course:

    • Eight subjects, if enrolled in a bachelor or higher-level course
    • Four subjects, if enrolled in a sub-bachelor course.

    Once students have reached this point, their completion rate is calculated as their subject results are released. As a guide, for students enrolled in standard Semester 1 and Semester 2 2022 subjects, the first round of completion rate calculations will occur in the weeks beginning 1 July 2022 and 28 November 2022 respectively.

    For non-standard subjects (eg Winter or Summer intensive subjects), the completion rate is recalculated as results for these subjects become available, and once students have reached the 8 and 4 subject thresholds noted above.

    Completion rates are recalculated as:

    • More subject results become available (eg as results for special and supplementary assessment are finalised).
    • When 'special circumstance' applications are assessed.

    The University will promptly email you if you have not met the completion rate, or previously did not meet the completion rate but now do. Please regularly check your University email account for this advice as it will outline your options and the date by which you need to take action.

  • How is the completion rate calculated?

    The completion rate is based on the results students have obtained for all subjects they have undertaken toward their course. To meet the completion rate, students need to pass at least half of their subjects.

    The formula is as follows.

    A student′s completion rate = Total number of 'undertaken' subjects − number of 'unsuccessful' subjects divided by the Total number of undertaken subjects x 100

    Outputs of ≥ 50% mean the completion rate has been met.

    Outputs under 50% (49.99% or less) are defined as a low completion rate and mean that the completion rate has not been met for the course.

    For students enrolled in two courses at the same time (eg a B-ARTS and a concurrent Diploma in Computing) separate completion rates are calculated for each course.

    What subjects count towards the completion rate

    • Subjects in which you are enrolled at the subject census date. This is one of the reasons why checking and amending your enrolment before each subject census date is strongly recommended. You can find the census date for each subject in the Handbook.
    • 'Unsuccessful' subjects (ie you received a fail grade). If, however, you submit a 'special circumstances' application for the failed subject/s and it is approved, while the subject still counts toward your total number of 'undertaken' subjects, it won't count as an 'unsuccessful' subject.
    • Subjects for which you withdraw after the census date, or accepted a late withdrawal (ie WD) as a Special consideration outcome, also count as 'unsuccessful' subjects toward the completion rate. This includes subjects withdrawn after the census date and before the last day with withdraw without fail noted in the Handbook.

      If, however, you submit a 'special circumstances' application for the withdrawn subject and it is approved, while the subject still counts toward your total number of 'undertaken' subjects, it won't count as an 'unsuccessful' subject.

    • Advanced standing and credited subjects count as 'undertaken' and 'successful' subjects toward the completion rate when awarded for studies and/or professional experience attained from 2022 onwards. For example, if a student starts a B-ARTS in 2024, and receives credit subjects completed toward another course in 2021 and 2022, only the subjects undertaken in 2022 count toward their B-ARTS completion rate.

      If awarded block credit or advanced standing, this is divided by 12.5 to determine how it counts toward the completion rate (eg 50 points of unspecified credit counts as four subjects toward the completion rate). A devisor of 12.5 is used as most University of Melbourne subjects are 12.5 points.

    • Subjects undertaken from 1 January 2022 (i) as part of an overseas study programs (eg. exchange, study abroad), or (ii) at another Australian university (eg as a cross-institutional student).
    • 'Continuing subjects', which are typically research projects undertaken across several study periods, count toward the completion rate once the student has enrolled in all Parts that comprise the subject.  For example, if a continuing subject comprises three Parts, students enrol in Research Project Part A , Part B and Part C, and this counts as one subject toward the completion rate once the student has enrolled in Part C. If a student withdraws from one of the earlier Parts after its census date, or receives a failed grade against one of the earlier enrolments (eg against Part B), it will count toward the completion rate at that point.
    • Subjects for which you have:
      • Interim results (eg S that indicates special or supplementary assessment has been awarded).
      • A pending application for Special consideration or 'special circumstances'.

      count toward your completion rate, but are not regarded as an 'unsuccessful' subject. Completion rates are recalculated as interim results are finalised, and as applications for Special consideration and 'special circumstances' are resolved.

  • I am enrolled in a graduate research course. Do the completion rate requirements apply to me?

    The completion rate requirements will only apply if:

    • You are receiving FEE-HELP for your graduate research studies (eg for any coursework subjects in which you might be enrolled), and
    • You’re enrolled in a graduate research course that entails undertaking eight or more coursework subjects.
  • Do study overseas programs count towards the completion rate?

    Subjects undertaken from 2022 onwards as part of a study overseas program (eg semester based and short term, exchange and fee paying study abroad) will count toward your completion rate once the University of Melbourne has finalised the credit for your overseas studies.

    This applies regardless of the method of payment (ie your fees are paid to the University of Melbourne, or to your host institution).

    How the completion rate applies to study overseas programs

    Placeholder subjects:

    • Placeholders are usually used to reflect your enrolment in a study overseas program because subjects taught at another institution are not available to select in the my.unimelb Study Plan.
    • Placeholder subjects counts as an ‘undertaken’ subject/s toward your completion rate once credit has been awarded for your study overseas.
    • The placeholder subject’s points value is divided by 12.5points to translate it to a number of University of Melbourne subjects.  For example, if your placeholder subject is worth 50 credit points, this counts as four subjects toward your completion rate.
    • Placeholders have census dates. Always carefully review your placeholder and the study overseas subjects you are undertaking before the placeholder subject’s census date.

    Results and credit for your study overseas:

    • You will only receive credit for subjects that had been pre-approved by the University of Melbourne, and that you passed.
    • The credit you receive counts as passed subjects toward your completion rate. As the credit is usually awarded as a ‘block’, a divisor of 12.5 is used to translate the credit to a number of subjects.
    • Subjects that you failed, or were not pre-approved, count as fails toward the completion rate.

      For example:

      Your placeholder subject was worth 50 points. You received credit of 37.5 points towards your University of Melbourne course for your study overseas. For your completion rate calculation, this would translate to:
      • Four subjects undertaken (50 point placeholder subject divided by 12.5)
      • Three of which were passed (37.5 points credit divided by 12.5), and one failed.
    • If you are advised that you don’t meet the completion rate, and you think this is due to how placeholder subject has been calculated, please promptly respond to the email and we will review your completion rate.
  • Where can I find more information about the completion rate requirement?

    For more information, visit the Study Assist website and refer to the Australian Government's HELP booklets for students.

What happens if you do not meet the completion rate requirement

If you are identified as having a low completion rate, you will be ineligible for ongoing CSP or HELP loans for that course and the University will contact you by email to advise your options.

If you're advised that you don't meet the completion rate requirement, please carefully read the email and respond by the date provided. A fast response will be required in order to determine if you're eligible to continue to receive Commonwealth Assistance before your next census date. If you do not respond by the due date, we will cancel your enrolment in your course. If this occurs, you can apply for reinstatement of enrolment (fees and time limits apply).

Your options are:

  1. Promptly advise the University if your studies were impacted by special circumstances if you have not done so already.
  2. Continue your course by paying the Australian Full Fee cost upfront.
    • If you are in a CSP, submit a request to change an Australian Full Fee place.
    • If you are already in an Australian Full Fee place, no action is required.
    • You will need to pay your fees upfront as FEE-HELP will not be available. Learn more about your fees and view the fee amounts.
    • If you pay upfront and increase your completion rate to 50 per cent or higher, you will be eligible for Commonwealth assistance (including FEE-HELP) for your course again.
    • This option is subject to meeting the University's course academic progress requirements and being permitted to continue with your studies.
  3. Apply for Leave of Absence from your course. Note that:
    • There are limits on how much leave can be taken, and when you return from leave you will be enrolled on an Australian Full Fee basis and ineligible for HELP Loans until you re-meet the completion rate.
    • This option is subject to meeting the University's course academic progress requirements and being permitted to continue with your studies.
  4. Transfer to a new course at the University of Melbourne or another tertiary institution. If you start a new course, your previous completion rate will not carry over and you will be able to access Commonwealth Assistance for your new course. If you transfer, remember to withdraw from your current course.
  5. Withdraw from your course. If you decide to re-apply for admission to this course, note that:
    • Application fees apply and re-selection is not guaranteed.
    • If you are re-admitted to the course, your current completion rate will carry over to your new enrolment in the course.
  • I was enrolled in a CSP but needed to change to an Australian Full Fee enrolment as I didn’t meet the completion rate. Do I need to apply for my fees to be changed back to a CSP when I re-meet the completion rate?

    The University will automatically change your enrolment to a CSP once you re-meet the completion rate.

If you are affected by special circumstances after your subject census date

If you withdrew from a subject after its census date, or failed a subject, and this was due to special circumstances, you can apply for that subject to not count toward your completion rate as a fail, and have your SLE re-credited. Documentation supporting the special circumstances and their impact will be required.

Special circumstances are circumstances that:

  • Are beyond your control in that the circumstances were not due to your action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which you were not responsible, and
  • Do not make the full impact on you until on or after the subject’s census date, and
  • Make it impracticable for you to complete the subject.

Your circumstances must have impacted you to the extent that you were unable to complete the subject requirements and must have occurred or worsened on or after the census date.

All of the above criteria must be met in order for failed and withdrawn subjects to not count as a fail toward your completion rate.

Examples of circumstances that may make it impractical for you to complete a subject for completion rate purposes include:

  • Medical reasons (eg your medical condition changed to such an extent that you were unable to continue studying).
  • Family/personal circumstances (eg death or severe medical problems within your family or unforeseen family financial difficulties).
  • Employment-related circumstances (eg your employment status or arrangements changed and you’re unable to continue your studies, and this change was beyond your control).
  • Course-related circumstances (eg the University changed arrangements to your subject or course, and it was impossible for you to undertake alternative subjects or courses).

How to advise the University of your special circumstances

  • If you withdrew or failed the subject due to special circumstances as defined above, apply for fee remission in special circumstances as soon as possible after withdrawing from the subject or receiving a fail grade.
  • If your fee remission in special circumstances application is approved, the fees for the approved subject/s will be remitted and the subject/s won’t count as a fail toward your completion rate calculation, or toward your Student Learning Entitlement.
  • The University will also contact you by email if you don’t meet the completion rate requirements.  This will let you know the next steps, including how to advise the University about any other subjects that you failed or withdrew from due to special circumstances. It will also include the date by which you need to respond in order for the University to determine if you are eligible to continue receiving Commonwealth Assistance before your next census date.  You will need to respond promptly and by the date specified.

Strategies to improve your completion rate

If you’re not on track to meet the completion rate, or don't meet the completion rate, some strategies you may wish to consider include:

  • If your studies are adversely impacted by special circumstances, submit a timely special circumstances application.
  • Refine your study skills to increase your academic performance to pass more subjects.
  • Regularly review and adjust your enrolment, and do this as you receive assessment feedback and before key dates such as the subject census date as outlined in the Handbook.
  • Reduce your study load. This should free up time to strengthen your academic skills, focus on your other subjects and may also delay the point at which you need to meet the completion rate. The completion rate only applies once students have undertaken eight subjects toward bachelor and higher-level courses, or four subjects for sub-bachelor courses.
  • Enrol in subjects you're more likely to pass.
  • Consider enrolling in an intensive subject.
  • Take a break (ie Leave of Absence) from your studies.
  • If you are contacted about course academic progress (including students 'at risk'), engage fully with the opportunity. Course academic progress processes aim to understand students' individual situation and to help them improve their academic performance (which in turn should also help improve your completion rate).
  • Promptly access support services to perform your best and succeed in your studies. See the support services section below for details.

Case studies for completion rate strategies

The following examples provide more detail about how some of the strategies can be applied to increase your completion rate if you are at risk of not meeting or need to re-meet the requirement.

  • Withdraw from subject after the census date

    Sometimes situations arise after the census date that mean withdrawing after the census date can still be a good strategy.

    Scenario

    A student is enrolled full-time in their first semester of their bachelor or higher course. They are also working and involved in extra-curricular activities. They are struggling with their academic performance after their subject census dates.

    They decide to try the following strategies:

    StrategyBenefit

    Withdraw from a subject before its last date to withdraw without fail.

    More time to focus on their remaining enrolled subjects, increasing their chance of passing other subjects with higher marks.

    While the withdrawn subject will count as a fail toward their completion rate (unless there are approved 'special circumstances'), it doesn't count toward their weighted average mark (WAM).

    Reduce their work hours and extra-curricular activities to allow more time for study.

    Even when the subject content becomes increasingly challenging, the student has time to seek assistance from the teaching staff and devote more hours to their studies and be well placed to pass their subjects.

    Seeking Academic Skills support to improve study techniques.

    Improvements to overall academic performance.

    Example

    At the end of their first semester of study in 2022, a student has passed two of the four subjects undertaken toward their course. They are confident they can improve their performance in Semester 2, 2022 by changing study techniques and reducing their paid employment and extra-curricular activities. The student therefore enrols in four Semester 2, 2022 subjects.

    After their subject's census date, the content for one subject becomes increasingly difficult to grasp. While they promptly sought assistance from the teaching staff, they are aware they’ll need to devote considerably more hours to this subject in order to be well placed to pass it, which they fear might compromise their performance in their other subjects.  

    The student checks the Handbook and establishes that this subject isn’t a requisite for any of the subjects in their intended major.

    They also check the 'special circumstance' provisions, but are ineligible to apply, which means that the withdrawn subject will count as a fail toward their completion rate.

    They decide to withdraw by the last date to withdraw without fail noted in the subject's entry in the Handbook.

    While this withdrawn subject will count as a fail toward their completion rate, by the end of 2022:

    • They are on track to pass five of the eight subjects undertaken (a completion rate of 62.5%, which is above the 50% required to maintain eligibility for Commonwealth Support)
    • Their WAM had improved as the withdrawn subject doesn't count toward the WAM, and by reducing their study load they were better placed to achieve higher marks in their other subjects.
  • Enrol in subjects you're more likely to pass

    The content and structure of some subjects may be more compatible with your interests and learning preferences.

    Scenario

    A student has failed a subject but is excelling at others.

    They decide to try the following strategies:

    StrategyBenefit

    Reviewing and adjusting their enrolment before the teaching period.

    Enrols in subjects they are more likely to excel in before the subject census date.

    Responding to assessment feedback.

    Identifies areas to improve their academic performance and maximise their strengths.

    Not repeating the subject they've failed as it isn't required for the major and/or other subjects they plan to pursue.

    More time to focus on the subjects they excel at and are required for their further studies. Avoids the possibility of failing a subject they are repeating  (which happens for many students).

    Example

    A student is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science course. After their first semester, they've achieved strong results for two of their three subjects, but failed the third despite being actively engaged in this subject throughout the semester and assessment period. As their intended major does not require the failed subject, they choose not to repeat it. Instead, they enrol in a subject from a different discipline that's more strongly aligned to their strengths and interests, and should help them boost their overall academic performance.

  • Enrol in an intensive subject

    Undertaking intensive (eg Summer or Winter Term) subjects may help improve your completion rate and how you’re tracking overall with your studies, though as shown in the examples below this depends on your individual circumstances.

    Scenario

    A student has failed some subjects in their first semester.

    They decide to try the following strategies:

    StrategyBenefit

    Reduce their study load in their second semester and enrol in an intensive subject at a later point (eg the next Summer Term).

    Allows more time to devote to each subject, increasing their chance of passing more subjects and meeting the completion rate.

    Enables them to continue undertaking subjects toward their course.

    May delay the point at which the completion rate applies (students in bachelor and higher-level courses only need to meet the completion rate once they've undertaken 8 subjects toward their course, or four subjects for other courses).

    Enrol in an intensive subject in order to improve their completion rate ahead of the next main study period (ie Semester 1 or Semester 2).

    Passing an intensive subject may boost their completion rate to above 50% , which means they'll regain eligibility for Commonwealth Support before  Semester 1 or 2.

    Example one

    At the end of Semester 1 2022 a student has passed two of the four subjects undertaken toward their bachelor or higher course. While their completion rate is currently 50%, they are concerned their academic performance may not greatly improve if they continue with their four enrolled Semester 2 2022 subjects. They are also keen to improve their results.

    They decide to undertake three Semester 2 subjects as they believe they are more likely to pass these as they'll have more time to devote to each subject. The Handbook shows Summer Term subjects are usually offered for their course.

    The student passes all three Semester 2 subjects. At the end of 2022, they have passed five of the seven subjects undertaken, which is a completion rate of 71%. Though as they have not yet undertaken eight subjects, the student is not required to meet the completion rate of ≥50% to receive Commonwealth Support for Summer Term 2023 subjects.

    The student enrols in and passes one Summer Term 2023 subject. At the end of Summer Term, they have:

    • Undertaken eight subjects, so now must meet the completion rate.
    • Passed six of the eight subjects undertaken, so their completion rate is 75%.
    • Met the completion rate requirement to receive Commonwealth Support for their Semester 1 2023 subjects.

    Example two

    A student starts their Bachelor of Commerce in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in 2022. They are aware that once they have undertaken eight subjects they must meet the completion rate of ≥50% to continue to receive Commonwealth Assistance.

    At the end of Semester 1 2022 the student doesn’t carefully review their academic performance or enrolment and remains enrolled in four Semester 2 subjects.

    At the end of Semester 2 2022:

    • The student has undertaken eight subjects, which means they need to meet the completion rate to receive Commonwealth Support for their future B-COM studies.
    • They've passed three and failed five subjects, so they don't meet the completion rate requirements of passing at least half their subjects.

    The student's preference is to continue their B-COM in Semester 1 2023 on a CSP, however to do this they first need to achieve a completion rate of at least 50%. Continued enrolment is also subject to the University’s course academic progress committee restrictions (eg. termination or suspension of enrolment, points restrictions).

    The student finds several subjects in the Handbook that they could undertake across Summer Term 2023 on an Australian full-fee basis (paid upfront) while they are ineligible to receive Commonwealth Support.

    The student runs some scenarios to see how enrolling in these subjects would impact their completion rate.

    If they undertake:

    • One of the 2023 Summer Term subjects and pass it, they will have passed four of the nine subjects undertaken (so a completion rate of 44%, and less than the 50% required).
    • Two Summer Term subjects, and passes both, they will have passed five of the 10 subjects undertaken (so a completion rate of 50%, which meets the completion rate).

    The Summer Term subjects are intensive and the Handbook shows that their teaching and assessment periods largely overlap. The student realises they are not confident that they could undertake and pass both subjects concurrently.

    The student decides to distribute the study load and cost by enrolling on a full-fee basis in one subject in the 2023 Summer Term and Semester 1 2023, with the intention of passing both subjects and re-meeting the completion rate before Semester 2 2023. They think this approach will enable them to achieve better subject results by distributing their study load over a longer period, and enable them to re-meet the completion rate sooner.

  • Take a break from studying (Leave of Absence)

    If you've not met the completion rate, or feel you're unlikely to meet the completion rate, taking a break from your studies may be a good option.

    Note that:

    • Taking Leave is dependent on meeting the University's course academic progress requirements and being permitted to continue with your course.
    • There are limits to how much Leave can be taken.
    • Students cannot undertake study at another institution while on Leave of Absence.

    Scenario

    A student has not met the completion rate after their first year of study. They decide to try the following strategy:

    StrategyBenefit

    Take Leave of Absence for a study period.

    Retains place in course, enabling them to return to their studies after a break (noting that they'll be ineligible for Commonwealth Support, including FEE-HELP, until they re-meet the completion rate).

    Provides time to consider their situation and explore options, and/or to improve their health, and financial situation.

    Example

    At the end of their first year enrolled in the Bachelor of Science course in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), a student has failed five of their eight subjects. They don't therefore meet the completion rate of passing at least 50% of their subjects once eight subjects have been undertaken.

    Across the year they encountered several personal and study challenges, however they didn't meet the 'special circumstances' eligibility criteria. While their situation is getting better, and they plan to continue to use the strategies that have helped improve their health and studies, they're unsure if they're well placed to continue with their studies next year.

    They are also aware that they will be unable to receive Commonwealth Support for their B-SCI until they re-meet the completion rate, and they don't currently have sufficient funds to pay their tuition fees upfront.

    After reflecting on their situation and speaking with a course adviser, they decide to take Leave of Absence. They feel this will enable them to explore options in more depth, and further improve their health and financial situation.

Support services

There are a range of services available to support you to perform your best and succeed in your studies.

If your ability to undertake an assessment is affected by illness, bereavement or trauma, you may be eligible for support via special consideration.

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