Applying for removal of course

If special circumstances prevent you from completing or passing a course, you may be eligible to remove your academic penalty and/or financial liability.

If your application for removal of course is successful:

the course may not count towards your completion rate
you may have your SLE (Student Learning Entitlement) re-credited
your financial liability and/or academic penalty may be removed
your finalised grade may be changed.

Domestic students: please note it is not possible to remove a SA-HELP debt, even if your HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP debt are removed due to special circumstances.

Refer to the Removal of Courses Due to Special Circumstances Procedure for more information.

1. Before you apply

Before you apply for removal of course, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have made reasonable adjustments.

Check your eligibility

You may be eligible if you meet all the following criteria:

You were still enrolled in the course after Census date for any amount of time – before census date, it is still possible to withdraw from courses without academic penalty or financial liability.
You didn't pass the course – you either didn’t receive a grade in the course, or received a grade of X, 1, 2, 3, 3S, 3S-, 3S3, N, NSN, NS-, IP, W, K, or INC.
You are applying within 12 months of either the date of your withdrawal from the course, or the date you received your final grade.

Request academic adjustments

If you are still enrolled, make sure you have explored all other available options for adjustments before applying for a removal of course.

In many cases, it’s possible to complete a course with the help of academic adjustments such as:

You can also contact your faculty or school for further advice and adjustment options, such as rescheduling compulsory lab classes or extending the duration of a placement.

If you could have applied for adjustments but didn't, your request to remove the course is unlikely to be approved.

Seek advice

If you need further support or assistance preparing your application, there is help available.

contact Student Central for general advice about your options. If you've been experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or other problems, you can access confidential and free counselling both online and face-to-face.
Student Advocacy and Support can provide free advice and support to help you with your application or review request (appeal).
if you're an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit can help you prepare your application.

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