Academic Standing

Every student is assigned a certain level of academic standing, which is a measure of the level of satisfactory progress in their studies.

Academic Standing is determined every semester, based on results in that and the previous semester. Most students have Good Standing, because they have made satisfactory progress in their studies. Satisfactory progress is defined as passing at least half the load attempted each semester.

What Happens if an Undergraduate Student Doesn’t Progress Satisfactorily?
If a student in an undergraduate program fails more than half of their enrolled load, they move down one level.

The first level down from good Standing is called Referral. The student will be asked to talk to an advisor from their School who will provide advice and assistance in getting them back to satisfactory progress.

The next level down is Probation 1. The student must talk to their academic advisor, who must approve their enrolment for the following session.

The next level down is Probation 2. Once again, students at this level must talk to their academic advisor, who must approve their enrolment for the following session.

After Probation 2, students who continue to drop a level by failing more than half their load are Suspended. Students on Suspension are not permitted to enrol for two sessions, and then are automatically readmitted.

If, after returning from Suspension, the student passes at least half their load they return to Probation 1. If they don’t make satisfactory progress they go onto Probation 3.

Continued poor progress leads to exclusion from the UNSW for two years. Readmission is only possible after an application through the UAC.

It should be noted that if a student passes nothing in a semester, they will move down two levels at a time.

What Happens if I Do Progress Satisfactorily after having problems?
If, after going down a level of Academic Standing, you begin to progress satisfactorily by passing at least half your load, you return to Good Standing, as long as you haven’t been Suspended or are at Probation 3.

Table of Movement in Academic Standing

What Happens if a Postgraduate Coursework Student Doesn’t Progress Satisfactorily?
For postgraduate coursework students any failures in a session move them onto lower levels of academic standing that indicate that progress is currently unsatisfactory. Students who continue to accumulate failures at an unacceptable rate move to levels that may result in suspension from the University for one year, or exclusion for two years without automatic re-admission.