Withdrawing, failing, non-completion

How to formally withdraw from a unit of study
Withdraw on or before the census date
Withdraw after the census date
Failing a unit or non-completion
Changes in your study load and income support

How to formally withdraw from a unit of study

You are responsible for following the correct procedures set by your provider for a formal withdrawal from a unit of study. You should check the procedures and requirements from your provider’s central student administration.

You should keep a copy of your withdrawal form as confirmation that you advised your provider of your withdrawal on or before the census date.

See also: Important dates - census dates

You should not confuse the census date with the academic withdrawal date. The academic withdrawal date is the date set by your provider as the final day that you can withdraw from a unit without incurring academic penalty or a recorded fail grade. Your provider will be able to inform you of the academic withdrawal date if you are unaware of it.

• consume any of your Student Learning Entitlement (SLE), or 
• incur a HECS-HELP debt for the unit of study.

• consume your SLE for the unit
• be liable to pay your student contribution amount for the unit
• incur a HECS-HELP debt for the unit, if you requested a loan.

If, however, after the census date, you become seriously ill or other special circumstances occur and you are unable to continue your studies, you can apply to your provider to have your SLE re-credited and your HECS-HELP debt removed.

Note: There are time limits for applying to have your SLE re-credited.

See also: Re-crediting of Student Learning Entitlement

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Failing a unit or non-completion

If you fail a unit or do not complete the requirements for a unit, you will:

• have consumed SLE for the unit
• still be liable to pay your student contribution for the unit
• still have a HECS-HELP debt for the unit, if you requested a loan.

See also: Loan repayments

It does not matter whether or not you attend any classes. However, if you were unable to complete the requirements for a unit due to special circumstances that made it impracticable to study then you may be able to have your SLE re-credited and debt removed.

See also: Re-crediting of Student Learning Entitlement

You can obtain further information about Youth Allowance, Austudy payment, ABSTUDY and Pensioner Education Supplement:

• from the Centrelink website
• by visiting your local Centrelink Customer Service Centre, or 
• contacting the Centrelink Call Centre on 131 021