5. Enrolment
- 5.1 Program enrolment
- 5.2 Addition of units
- 5.3 Withdrawal
- 5.4 Credit for previous study or learning
- 5.5 Maximum time limit
- 5.6 Substitution
- 5.7 Interruption of studies
- 5.8 Applicable program rules
5.1 Program enrolment
5.1.1 Requirements for enrolment and re-enrolment
In order to become an enrolled or re-enrolled student, a person who has been offered a place in a program must, by the prescribed date:
- complete the required enrolment or re-enrolment procedures;
- be enrolled in at least one unit; and
- pay all relevant University and government fees and charges.
5.1.2 Fee for late re-enrolment or variation
A person who fails to complete process for re-enrolment or variation of enrolment by the due date will be required to pay a late fee in order to be an enrolled student.
5.1.3 Constraints on enrolment
5.1.3.1 The University may limit the number of enrolments in any unit in any study period and may make any unit available only to students in a nominated cohort(s) or program(s).
5.1.3.2 A student may not normally enrol concurrently in more than one program at ACU. This provision may be waived in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the Academic Registrar. This constraint is not applicable to students enrolled in double degrees who are enrolled in one program of study, but two courses
5.1.4 Cross-institutional enrolment
With the prior written approval of the Course Coordinator a student may be enrolled concurrently at ACU and another tertiary institution in a unit or units which, if successfully completed, will be credited to the student’s program at ACU.
5.1.5 Non-acceptance of enrolment or variation of enrolment after prescribed date
Enrolment in a program or unit, or variation of enrolment, will not be accepted after the relevant date prescribed by the University.
5.2 Addition of units
5.2.1 Period for adding units
A student may add a unit to an existing enrolment, provided that such changes are actioned:
- within the first two weeks in a standard study period; or
- within the first week of a non-standard study period.
5.2.2 Late addition of units
A student may add a unit to an existing enrolment after the periods noted in Regulation 5.2.1 above only if authorised by the Lecturer in Charge and approved by the Course Coordinator by the census date; any such late change may incur liability for additional fees and charges.
5.2.3 Credit point limit in a semester
A student may not enrol in more units than a standard full-time program load in any semester without the approval of the Course Coordinator. The student's previous academic record will be taken into account in determining the application.
5.2.4 Repeating a unit
Students who wish to re-enrol in a previously completed unit, may do so on a fee paying basis. Each attempt will be recorded on the transcript and will contribute to the calculation of the GPA.
5.3 Withdrawal
5.3.1 Withdrawal from units or program of study
Students are responsible for seeking advice from the Course Coordinator before withdrawing from units or their program of study. Completing the formal withdrawal process and the consequences of the withdrawal are also the responsibility of the student.
5.3.2 Non-effective enrolments
If a student withdraws from units or their program of study up to the census date in the relevant study period, or prior to commencement in the case of a professional experience or community engagement placement, the enrolment for that study period will be regarded as non-effective and will not be recorded on the student's transcript.
If a commencing student withdraws from their program of study to the census date in their first study period, the enrolment will be regarded as non-effective and they will be deemed not to have accepted their offer of enrolment.
5.3.3 Withdrawal without academic or financial penalty
5.3.3.1. A student may withdraw from a unit without academic penalty up to the following dates:
- in a standard study period, the relevant census date;
- in a non-standard study period, the relevant census date; or
- in a professional experience unit or unit containing professional experience: normally one week after commencement of the professional experience or community engagement placement if the withdrawal occurs before the relevant census date.
5.3.3.2 Special circumstances
Underspecial circumstances (in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act) a student may apply to be withdrawn from a unit without academic or financial penalty.
- The Head of School, or equivalent, may approve an application from a student to be withdrawn from a unit without academic penalty after the dates specified in section 5.3.3.1. and prior to the commencement of the central examination period in a standard study period or the end of classes in a non-standard study period.
- In the case of a professional experience or unit containing professional experience, such approval may be considered, provided that the student can produce evidence that they have completed no more than one-third of the placement. Where the Course Coordinator verifies that a student did not complete the requirements for the unit and the student has been granted a refund of fees due to special circumstances, the student will be withdrawn from the relevant unit without academic penalty.
5.3.3.3 The assessment of applications for withdrawal without financial penalty after census date can only be made by the Enrolments, Fees and Scholarships section of Student Administration.
5.3.4 Withdrawal of a student with academic and financial penalty
A student will be recorded as having withdrawn with academic penalty (WN) if the student withdraws from the unit after the date for withdrawal without academic penalty but prior to:
- the central examination period for a standard study period; or
- the end of classes in a non-standard study period;
A student will be liable for fees relating to a unit if the student withdraws after the census date for the relevant study period.
5.3.5 Withdrawal from professional experience unit or unit containing professional experience for unsatisfactory performance.
5.3.5.1 On the advice of the relevant Course Coordinator or Clinical Coordinator, a student may be withdrawn from a professional experience or community engagement placement by the Head of School, or equivalent if the student:
- has not satisfactorily completed a course of studies or administrative requirement which constitute prerequisites for such a placement; or
- is consistently unable, after due instruction and guidance, to perform the skills required at an appropriate standard attainable through supervision by University staff or on-site supervisory staff; or
- is considered by the supervising organisation or the Lecturer in Charge to be performing significantly below a pass standard and/or to be disrupting the conduct of the business or undertaking of the supervising organisation.
5.3.5.2 In any such case, after investigation of the matter, the Head of School or equivalent, will advise the student in writing of:
- the reasons for the withdrawal; and
- the Regulations pertaining to unsatisfactory progress at Section 10.
5.3.6 Withdrawal from professional experience unit or unit containing professional experience for other reasons
On the advice of the relevant Course Coordinator or Clinical Coordinator, a student may also be withdrawn from a professional experience or community engagement placement by:
- the Executive Dean under the Student Conduct and Discipline Policy if the student is alleged to have committed an act of misconduct including a breach of the professional conduct expectations or placement guidelines of the supervising organisation, or the published Faculty or School policy, procedures, protocols and/or guidelines relating to such placements; or
- the Associate Vice-Chancellor or Campus Dean under the Policy on Serious Health Conditions if the student is in a state of health, whether mental or physical, which makes the student unfit to undertake the placement at that time.
5.3.7 A student who has been withdrawn from a professional experience unit or unit containing professional experience will be awarded a Fail (NN) grade for that unit and will be subject to the requirements under Regulation 10.2.1. The exception is that a student who has been withdrawn under Regulation 5.3.6(b) will be withdrawn without academic or financial penalty (WW) and will be required to gain approval from the Head of School, or equivalent, for readmission to the unit in any subsequent placement period.
5.3.8 Reversion of a withdrawal
5.3.8.1 Where a student has withdrawn from a professional experience or unit containing professional experience in accordance with Regulation 5.3.5 or 5.3.6, the Head of School, or equivalent on the advice of the relevant Course Coordinator or Clinical Coordinator and after investigation of the matter, may convert a withdrawal without academic penalty (WW) or a withdrawal with academic penalty (WN) to a Fail (NN) grade. Such a decision will be made based on Regulation 5.3.5.1(a), 5.3.5.1(b), 5.3.5.1(c), or 5.3.6(a).
5.3.8.2 In any such case the Head of School, or equivalent, will advise the student in writing of:
- the reason for the change of grade;
- the regulations pertaining to unsatisfactory performance at Section 10.
5.4 Credit for previous study or learning
5.4.1 Credit may be granted towards an ACU program for formal, non-formal or informal learning in accordance with the Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning.
5.4.2 Types of credit
Credit may be in the form of any one or more of the following:
- Specified Credit: credit granted for one or more units of the program. Specified Credit will only be granted if the student has previously passed units substantially the same as the unit/s for which Specified Credit is sought.
- Block Credit: credit granted for complete sections of a program in an articulation process, equivalent to at least one semester. Block credit will be applied automatically to students with the agreed completed qualification in an articulation pathway but must be granted against a combination of specified and unspecified (elective) units of programs.
- Unspecified Credit: credit granted for elective components of programs where previous study does not correspond precisely with components of the program. It cannot be granted in programs which do not contain electives.
5.4.3 Credit applications
Applications for credit and/or recognised prior learning should be made in accordance with the Policy on Recognition of Prior Learning.
A student who has failed a unit may not subsequently seek credit for that unit unless the application is based on tertiary studies successfully completed after the student had failed the unit.
5.4.3.1 Credit will not be granted for segments of a unit.
5.4.4 Maximum allowable credit
The maximum credit that may be granted (other than a designated suite of courses) for recognised prior learning is:
- Non-award course, a maximum of one-half of the course;
- Sub-Bachelor programs, a maximum of one-half of the course;
- Bachelor Degree of 3 years standard length, a maximum of two-thirds of the course;
- Bachelor Degree of 4 years standard length, a maximum of three quarters of the course;
- Double Bachelor Degree, a maximum of one-half of the each course comprising the double degree;
- Bachelor Honours Degree, in addition to the maximums applied according to (b) and (c) above, a maximum of one-half of the Honours units, excluding theses, dissertation or research projects;
- Postgraduate coursework degrees, a maximum of one-half of the course excluding theses, dissertations or research projects.
5.4.5 Minimum level of studies required for an award of ACU
Normally a student must complete at least one-quarter of the units required for a program, and at least one-quarter of the units required for a major, double major or specialisation:
- by studies undertaken at ACU; and
- in units not credited towards another completed award.
If a student has been granted the maximum available credit, in accordance with Regulation 5.4.4, for studies undertaken at another institution or for recognised prior learning, approval will not normally be granted for other units to be undertaken elsewhere on a cross-institutional basis.
5.4.6 Time limit on credit for recognised prior learning
Credit for formal or non-formal learning will only be granted only for study completed within the last 10 years.
5.4.7 Credit once only
Credit for prior study or learning or on the basis of any completed award may only be granted once towards an award at ACU.
5.4.8 Level of prior studies for which credit may be granted
5.4.8.1 Credit for externally accredited degrees can only be granted on the basis of equivalent (or higher level) of formal study consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
5.4.8.2 In a postgraduate course, credit may be granted on the basis of prior successful postgraduate studies only.
5.4.9 Study undertaken during period of termination, suspension or exclusion
A student may not be granted credit towards any program for any study or learning undertaken elsewhere during any period of termination of enrolment, suspension or exclusion from this or another University or other educational institution.
5.5 Maximum time limit
Unless the program rules otherwise specify, or the Head of School, or equivalent, otherwise approves, a student must complete the requirements of the program within a maximum time limit calculated from the first undertaking of any units counted or credited towards the program requirements, and not including any period of interruption authorised under Regulation 5.7.
The time limits are:
- Sub-Bachelor, Bachelor Degree, Double Bachelor Degree and Bachelor Honours Degree according to the formula full time equivalent course length multiplied by two plus one (2n+1);
or - Graduate Certificate – 2 years; or
- Graduate Diploma – 4 years; or
- Masters Degree – 6 years.
5.6 Substitution
In special circumstances the Course Coordinator may approve a student's substituting an equivalent unit from this or another university for a required unit in a program. Where a substitute unit was undertaken at ACU, that unit will be recorded on the student's academic transcript. Where the unit was undertaken at another university, it will be handled as cross-institutional study.
5.7 Interruption of studies
5.7.1 A student who has completed and achieved final results for at least one semester of their program may interrupt their studies by following the prescribed process.
5.7.2 Returning from interruption of studies
A student may subsequently resume their studies, subject to any other relevant provisions of these Regulations, for example in relation to liability for termination of enrolment, time limit on enrolment, applicable program rules and any other relevant provisions.
5.7.2.1 A student who has interrupted their studies for two or more standard-study periods must:
- Obtain the approval of the Course Coordinator before enrolling in any professional experience unit or unit containing professional experience. The Course Coordinator may require the student to demonstrate professional competence and/or to complete remedial study or other requirements before undertaking any such unit.
- Consult the Course Coordinator regarding the requirements for completion of the program. Such a student will normally be required to complete the program in accordance with the conditions and program rules in force at the time of the return.
5.7.2.2 A student returning after interruption of studies of four or more standard study periods must consult the Course Coordinator regarding the requirements for completion of the program. Such a student may need to undertake additional requirements to ensure currency of knowledge sufficient to enable the student to complete the program under the rules in force at the time of the student’s return to study.
5.8 Applicable program rules
5.8.1 If the program rules change during the currency of a student's enrolment for the program, the student should follow the approved transition program.
5.8.2 In exceptional circumstances, where the student has pursued the program without interruption and pursuit of the transitional program would substantially disadvantage the student, the Course Coordinator may permit them to complete the program under the rules applicable at the time of initial enrolment, within a timeframe approved by the Course Coordinator. The maximum period during which a student would be permitted to complete a program under these circumstances would be four standard study periods beyond the minimum time for course completion.
Page last updated: 2017-06-28
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/749936
Page last updated: 2017-06-28
Short url: https://handbook.acu.edu.au/749936