We expect students to make steady progress through their courses. This page explains the different levels of Academic Standing. 

For study completed from Summer Semester 2021/22

The revised Academic Progression Procedure has been in effect since Summer Semester 2021/22.

What is a 'Study Review Period'?

Your academic progression will be reviewed for the purpose of determining Academic Standing at the end of each Study Review Period.

There are 2 Study Review Periods in a calendar year:

  • One ending when grades are finalised for Semester 1 (based on an aggregation of all enrolled units during Summer Semester, Semester 1 and Trimester 1), and
  • One ending when grades are finalised for Semester 2 (based on an aggregation of all enrolled units during Semester 2, Trimester 2 and Trimester 3).

This means the first Study Review Period under the revised Academic Progression Procedure will include results from Summer Semester, 2021/22, Semester 1, 2022 and Trimester 1, 2022.

Academic Standing for this first Study Review Period will be calculated immediately following Semester 1 finalisation of grades on 30 June 2022.

Results obtained in Summer Semester from 2021/22 onwards will contribute to the calculation of your Academic Standing at the end of the first Study Review Period.

What is Academic Standing? 

Academic Standing describes the state of your academic progress in your studies. Each student will have their academic progress reviewed and Academic Standing determined at the end of each Study Review Period.

At Semester 1, 2022 grade release (end of Study Review Period), your Academic Standing will have the following equivalency in respect of previous Academic Standing levels:

Previous Academic Standing level

New Academic Standing level

None

None

Good

Satisfactory

Warning

Progression Alert

Show Cause

Progression Intervention

Satisfactory Progress following Show Cause

Improved Progress

When will my Academic Standing level change?

An Academic Standing level of either Progression Alert or Progression Intervention will be assigned at the end of a Study Review Period if you have:

  • Failed at least 50% of the total unit value in courses for which you received a final grade (not including grades of W, withdrawal without academic penalty), or

  • Received a failing grade for one or more courses in the current Study Review Period, that you have previously failed in the current or any prior Study Review Period(s) within the same or different program of study.

What is a progression alert?

You will be issued a progression alert if your previous Academic Standing was None or Satisfactory and in the current Study Review Period, you have:

  • Failed at least 50% of the total unit value in courses for which you received a final grade (not including grades of W, withdrawal without academic penalty), or

  • Received a failing grade for one or more courses in the current Study Review Period, that you have previously failed in the current or any prior Study Review Period(s) within the same or different program of study.

If you are notified by the Academic Registrar or the Associate Dean (Academic) that a progression alert has been issued for a specific Study Review Period, you must take steps to improve your academic progress. This may include seeking academic advice from your faculty (including counselling on your suitability for the program of study), learning assistance, and/or medical or other personal support.

Progression alert notices will be sent to your student email account.

The purpose of a progression alert is to encourage you to seek assistance early, to avoid receiving a progression intervention notice in a future Study Review Period where you will need to demonstrate why you should be permitted to remain enrolled.

To assist you with achieving your academic potential, you will be enrolled in the Back on Track Blackboard site. Back on Track encourages you to identify what may have impacted your academic performance in the previous Study Review Period and to put steps in place to improve your performance. If you decide to take a break from your studies after receiving a progression alert, you will be required to complete the Back on Track activities before you recommence your studies.

Please note the Associate Dean (Academic) of your faculty may request for you to attend an interview and/or negotiate an agreed learning plan.

You may also seek academic advice from your faculty or learning assistance from Student Services.

What is a progression intervention notice?

You will be issued a progression intervention notice if your previous Academic Standing was progression alert, progression intervention or improved progress and in the current Study Review Period, you have:

  • Failed at least 50% of the total unit value in courses for which you received a final grade (not including grades of W, withdrawal without academic penalty), or

  • Received a failing grade for one or more courses in the current Study Review Period, that you have previously failed in the current or any prior Study Review Period(s) within the same or different program of study

If you have received a progression intervention notice, you will need to submit a progression improvement plan. If you decide to take an interruption, submit by 5 January to re-enrol in Semester 1, or 30 June to re-enrol in Semester 2. Notices will be sent to your student email account.

What is a progression improvement plan? 

Find out more about progression improvement plans.

How will the new Academic Progression Procedure impact my results from Semester 1, 2021 or Semester 2, 2021?

The new Academic Progression Procedure applies to study completed from Summer Semester 2021/22.

If you are a continuing student meaning you have completed study prior to Summer Semester 2021/22, your academic standing will be calculated based on:

  • your previous Academic Standing
  • your academic performance in all courses (including year-long courses) for which you received a finalised grade or withdrew (without academic penalty) after the census date during both the current Study Review Period and in the most recent prior Study Review Period in which you were enrolled.

 

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For study completed before Summer Semester 2021/22

For study completed before Summer Semester 2021/22, the previous Academic Progression Procedure will continue to apply.

The below sections explain the different levels of Academic Standing for study completed before Summer Semester 2021/22.

Academic standing 

After the release of final grades each semester, a grade point average (GPA) is calculated for every student.

Under the Academic Progression Procedure in effect for study completed before Summer Semester 2021/22, there are four levels of academic standing:

  • good standing
  • academic warning
  • show cause, and
  • satisfactory progression following show cause.

You may receive an academic progression warning or show cause notice if you do not meet the required levels of academic progress in a given semester prior to Study Review Period 1, 2022.

You will not meet the required levels of academic progress if:

  • your GPA falls below 3.5, or
  • you fail 50 per cent or more of your enrolled units. A fail is any grade less than 4.

Returning to good standing after showing cause

If you have been issued a show cause notice for a study period prior to summer Semester 2021/22, you will return to good standing when you meet the required levels of academic progress for 2 consecutive semesters or Study Review Periods.

For example, your progress after showing cause may go like this:

  • Show cause. [Semester 1, Year X]
  • Satisfactory academic progress after showing cause. [Semester 2, Year X]
  • Satisfactory academic progress after showing cause. [Semester 1, Year Y].
  • Good standing. [From the end of Semester 1, Year Y]

If you do not meet the required levels of academic progress in either of the 2 semesters or Study Review Periods after you are required to show cause, you will be issued with another show cause or progression intervention notice.

From Study Review Period 1, 2022, the revised Academic Progression Procedure will apply.

Academic warning

If you are in good standing, you will receive an academic warning if:

  • your GPA falls below 3.5 for a given semester, or
  • you fail 50 per cent or more of your enrolled units for a given semester. A fail is any grade less than 4.

The Academic Registrar is responsible for informing students of academic warnings. Students are notified via their student email account.

If you receive an academic warning, you will be required to seek academic advice from your faculty or learning assistance from Student Services.

If you do not meet the required levels of academic progress in 2 successive semesters or Study Review Periods, you will be required to show cause by submitting a progression improvement plan.

Showing cause

If you are required to show cause from a semester prior to Study Review Period 1, 2022, this means you must submit a progression improvement plan.

A show cause notice for study prior to Study Review Period 1, 2022, was issued if:

1. You received an academic warning in your previous semester and:

  • your GPA falls below 3.5 in the latest semester of study, or
  • you fail 50 per cent or more of your enrolled units in the latest semester of study. A fail is any grade less than 4.

2. You received a show cause notice in one of the two most recent semesters of study and:

  • your GPA falls below 3.5 in the latest semester of study, or
  • you fail 50 per cent or more of your enrolled units in the latest semester of study. A fail is any grade less than 4.

Students who are required to show cause are notified via their student email account.

Students who continue to study will transition to the revised Academic Progression Procedure.

Impact on your visa

Meeting the required levels of academic progress is a condition of holding an Australian student visa.

Failing to remain in good standing can have serious consequences for your current student visa and your future study options in Australia.

Please contact your faculty, or Student Services if you need further advice.

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More information

For more information, view the Academic Progression Procedure.

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