Academic Progression Policy

  1. Purpose

The Academic Progression Policy (“policy”) provides a framework through which the Institution monitors, supports and manages students’ academic performance and progression. The Institution adopts a student-centred and supportive approach that promotes academic success and timely course completion. This policy ensures that students receive early identification, appropriate intervention and targeted learning support, while also providing for proportionate academic consequences where a student fails to maintain satisfactory academic progress following intervention.

  1. Scope

This policy applies to all students of the Institution with the exception of ELICOS students who are governed by the ELICOS Course Progression Policy. For Study Abroad students, academic progression requirements apply. However, study load requirements are governed by the approved Study Abroad course structures.

  1. Definitions

See Glossary of Terms.

  1. Policy Statements

4.1. The Institution recognises that maintaining satisfactory academic progression demonstrates that a student is achieving the learning outcomes required at each stage of their course and is on track to complete the course within the prescribed timeframe.

4.2 Students are responsible for actively engaging in their studies, monitoring their own academic performance and progression, and seeking support where difficulties arise.

Academic Progression Requirements

4.3 Academic progression requirements apply to each course at the Institution and include:

  • maximum time permitted for completion of the course;
  • minimum and maximum study load parameters; and
  • limits to the number of times a student may repeat a failed subject.

4.4 In certain circumstances, a student may be permitted to change their study load in accordance with the process outlined in the Change of Study Load Procedures.

Information and Feedback

4.5 The Institution ensures that students are provided with clear, accessible and timely information to enable them to evaluate their progress, including:

  • academic progression requirements before they commence in their course (e.g. at orientation, within policies and procedures, advisement in the student management system, etc); and
  • timely and constructive feedback on assessment tasks.

Monitoring and Identification of Risk

4.6. The Institution recognises that there are different levels of academic standing (see Table 1) and undertakes to identify students at risk of unsatisfactory progress as early as practicable.

4.7. Student progress is actively monitored through early engagement with the learning management system (Moodle), mid-study period, end-of-study period reviews and the Board of Examiners. The Institution uses available data and engagement indicators to identify students who may be at risk of unsatisfactory progress before formal progression thresholds are reached.

4.8. Students who do not maintain satisfactory academic progress are notified in writing, the reasons and any enrolment implications as soon as practicable after their academic standing has been determined by the Board of Examiners.

Outcomes, Support and Review

4.9. The Institution provides appropriate academic, learning and student support interventions proportionate to the student’s level of academic standing and individual circumstances.

4.10. Where a student fails to meet academic progression requirements, the Institution may impose conditions on enrolment, suspend enrolment or exclude the student from a course.

4.11. The Institution recognises that a student’s academic performance may be affected by extenuating circumstances. In this case, students may request a review of their assessment results in accordance with the Student Review of Assessment Results Procedures. Subsequently, students who are still not satisfied with an academic progression decision have the right to lodge a complaint in accordance with the Complaints and Appeals Policy.

4.12 Academic progression decisions are made in a consistent, evidence‑based and transparent manner, with records maintained to support quality assurance, review and continuous improvement.

4.13 Academic progression decisions affecting international students are managed in accordance with the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 requirements, including reporting obligations and complaint and appeal timelines.

4.14 The Institution is committed to equity and access and considers reasonable adjustments to progression arrangements for students with disability, including students with neurological conditions, in accordance with the Disability Policy.

4.15 Academic progression data, trends and outcomes are reviewed each trimester and annually inform course quality, curriculum design, student support strategies and policy effectiveness.

  1. Study Loads

5.1 All undergraduate subjects are equivalent to three credit points, with the exception of the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subjects which are equivalent to six credit points.

5.2 All postgraduate subjects are equivalent to four credit points, with the exception of the WIL subjects which are equivalent to eight credit points.

5.3 International students must complete their course within the course duration specified in their Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).

5.4 Study load requirements for Study Abroad students are governed by the approved Study Abroad course structures.

Normal Full-time Load (not on Work Integrated Learning)

5.5 Undergraduate:

  • No more than four subjects per study period (or 12 subjects/36 credit points per year)
  • No less than three subjects per study period (or nine subjects/27 credit points per year)

5.6 In accordance with paragraph 5.3, international students may need to enrol in more than the minimum number of subjects during certain study periods in order to finish their course within the timeframe outlined in their COE. It is the students’ responsibility to make sure they follow the required study plan to complete their course on time.

5.7 Postgraduate:

  • no more than four subjects per study period (for Masters’ courses this means 12 subjects/48 credit points per year)
  • no less than three subjects per study period (for Masters’ courses this means nine subjects/36 credit points per year)

Normal Full-time Load on Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

5.8 Students undertaking WIL may enrol in WIL alone or together with additional subjects, up to the following limits:

  • Undergraduate: WIL plus one additional subject per study period
  • Postgraduate: WIL plus one additional subject per study period

Increased Study Load

5.9 A student may be approved to undertake one additional subject per study period subject to good academic standing. Increased load approvals are managed in accordance with the Change of Study Load Procedures.

5.10 Normally, maximum limits are:

  • Undergraduate (non‑WIL): five subjects per study period
  • Undergraduate (WIL): WIL plus two additional subjects per study period
  • Postgraduate (non‑WIL): five subjects per study period
  • Postgraduate (WIL): WIL plus two additional subjects per study period

Reduced Study Load – Domestic Students

5.11 Domestic students may reduce their study load below the minimum normal full-time load, provided their course allows part-time enrolment, by withdrawing from subjects in accordance with the Withdrawal Procedures. Subjects dropped prior to the census date (typically Friday at 5pm of week 3) incur no academic or financial penalties, while Subjects dropped after the census date are subject to financial penalties. Refer to the Withdrawal Procedures for more information.

5.12 The Board of Examiners may impose a reduced study load as an intervention strategy for students at risk.

Reduced Study Load – International Students

5.13 International students on a student visa must maintain a full-time study load to ensure completion of their course within the duration specified in their COE.

5.14 International students may apply to reduce their study load below the minimum normal full-time study load on the basis of compassionate or compelling reasons only, as outlined in the Change of Study Load Procedures.

5.15 The Board of Examiners may impose a reduced study load as an intervention strategy for students at risk.

5.16 International students studying onshore must enrol in at least one subject in person (i.e. not online) per study period, unless enrolling in the final subject of their course.

  1. Roles and Responsibilities

6.1 The Academic Board is responsible for:

  • approving and overseeing progression requirements for each course as part of course accreditation and review processes, including:
    • maximum time for course completion;
    • minimum and maximum study loads;
    • limits to the number of times a student may repeat a failed subject;
  • approving the criteria used to determine levels of academic standing as outlined in the Academic Progression Procedures;
  • reviewing academic progression data, trends and outcomes.

6.2 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) is responsible for recommending eligible students who are deemed to have met equivalent course requirements and subject learning outcomes to graduate to the Board of Examiners.

6.3 The Board of Examiners is responsible for:

  • monitoring student academic progression outcomes;
  • identifying students who have not maintained satisfactory academic progress;
  • approving academic standing outcomes and interventions;
  • monitoring students on probation who have returned to studies after a period of suspension for unsatisfactory academic progress or confirmed academic misconduct; and
  • reporting to the Academic Board.

6.4 Student Services, in consultation with the Registrar, are responsible for:

  • communicating academic progression outcomes and interventions to students;
  • administering extensions to course durations in accordance with the Extension of Course Duration Procedures; and
  • maintaining records in relation to the implementation of this policy.
  1. Related documents

Academic Progression Procedures

Admissions Policy

Assessment Policy

Change of Study Load Procedures

Complaints and Appeals Policy

Complaints and Appeals Procedures

Grading Policy

Student Review of Assessment Results Procedures

  1. Version history
Summary of changes Approval date Approved by
Created 18 May 2019 Academic Board
  5 April 2019 Academic Board
 19 November 2021 Academic Board
   2 September 2022 Academic Board
  24 January 2025 Course and Subject Committee
  • Moving study load limits from the procedures into the policy;
  • updated normal full-time study load limits for both undergraduate and postgraduate – students can do no more than four subjects and no less than three subjects per study period;
  • removed the “accelerated” study load limits;
  • changed “overload” terminology to “increased load”;
  • reiterated reduced study load requirements;
  • various revisions to improve clarity
  • for Study Abroad students, academic progression requirements apply. However, study load requirements are governed by the approved course structures, meaning that these students can continue to do eight subjects a year rather than nine.
  31 July 2026 Academic Board