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Time allowed to complete a program

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From 2023, a new requirement has come into effect, with a maximum period to complete your program.

Maximum period to complete your program

The maximum period to complete a program is usually 10 years. Some programs have a shorter maximum completion period (for example, the maximum period to complete a 16-unit bachelor’s honours program is 2 years). Additionally, if a program is discontinued, the teach-out or transition arrangement may reduce the maximum period to complete the program.

You can view the semester in which the maximum period to complete your program ends in mySI-net (on your mySI-net home page, select the Enrolments tile and select Program Summary in the left-hand menu to see the semester displayed as Maximum duration ends).

The maximum period commences from your first semester of enrolment and includes all periods of study as well as periods in which you don’t study (regardless of whether you are on an approved interruption, suspension or have been refused enrolment/had your enrolment cancelled).

The maximum period to complete a program does not change if you enrol part-time.

For further details and other enrolment requirements, see Enrolment Procedure.

International students with a student visa have to complete their program by the end date on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). See Student visa requirements.

Applying for an extension

You may be able to apply to the Associate Dean (Academic) for an initial 12-month extension to the applicable maximum period, followed by a final extension of up to a further 12 months (for a maximum total period of 24 months).

Applications for extension of the maximum period to complete a program will only be approved if the Associate Dean (Academic) is satisfied that:

  1. granting an extension is consistent with the academic and other requirements of the program; and
  2. exceptional circumstances will prevent, or have prevented, you from completing the program within the applicable maximum period.

If you commenced more than ten years ago

If you commenced your program more than ten years ago, you must contact your faculty for advice as a matter of priority.

If you’re already enrolled for 2023

You’ve been given an extension to the end of 2023 under the transition arrangements, and you don’t need to request a further extension at this stage. However, carefully review your program requirements and plan your future enrolment. You must contact your faculty for advice.

If you are not yet enrolled for 2023 but were in 2021 or 2022

You can still enrol for an upcoming semester if your program record is active.

Log into mySI-net to check your program summary (on your mySI-net home page, select the Enrolments tile and then select Program Summary in the left-hand menu).

If your program is active

You can enrol in semester 2, 2023, and you will also be able to enrol in summer semester 2023 when enrolments for summer open at the end of May. Before enrolling, contact your faculty.

If your program is not active

Contact your faculty for advice. If you are not yet enrolled for 2023 and last enrolled before 2021, contact your faculty for advice.

If your program requirements include continuous enrolment and you were not approved for an interruption

You will need to submit a retrospective application for interruption of studies.