Supporting Students' Fitness to Study
During placements, and in other areas of your study, you must meet appropriate standards of performance, compliance and health.
While enrolled at UQ there are standards of behaviour and conduct you are required to meet. These standards, and your inherent program requirements, may be used to determine your ‘fitness to study’.
We understand challenges can arise which impact your fitness to study. The policy, procedure and guideline for Supporting Students’ Fitness to Study provide a framework for UQ to identify these challenges and help you manage them through tailored support and interventions.
- Supporting Students' Fitness to Study Policy
- Supporting Students' Fitness to Study Procedure
- Supporting Students' Fitness to Study Guidelines.
If you’re enrolled in a placement course or participating in other work-related learning, you'll also need to meet the requirements of the Work Integrated Learning and Work Experience Policy.
Fitness to study concerns
Concerns about your fitness to study may be raised and reported to UQ for investigation if you:
- demonstrate performance that is not consistent with established standards.
- show disregard for, or an inability to comply with the rules, regulations or standards of UQ, or for completing professional practice with a provider.
- display a disability or health condition that can’t be reasonably accommodated and impairs your ability to study or practise as required.
You can find examples of different concerns and how they might be categorised in the Supporting Students’ Fitness to Study Guideline.
Other concerns
Not all issues and concerns fall under the scope of Fitness to Study.
Depending on your situation, you may be encouraged to apply for accommodations for a disability or medical condition through the Reasonable Adjustments – Students Policy.
Academic misconduct or general misconduct matters will be investigated according to the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy
If your Academic Standing isn’t at the level it should be, you'll be issued a Progression Alert or Progression Intervention Notice / Progression Improvement Plan (PIP) through the Academic Progression Procedure.
Investigation and outcomes
If a fitness to study case is identified, you’ll receive an email advising you of the concerns raised. You’ll be given the option to respond in writing or via a face-to-face meeting with the investigating officer.
To identify the most appropriate outcomes the investigating officer will consider:
- the type of issue (performance, compliance or health)
- how long it has been a concern (duration)
- if it is a one-time or ongoing issue (frequency)
- the risk and/or impact to other people, the placement organisation and UQ
- whether it was an accident or a deliberate act (intent)
- your program requirements and experience.
Once the investigation is complete, you’ll receive an email explaining the outcome/s and the reasons for this decision.
We'll outline steps to support you in continuing your studies, and any formal interventions required. This might include:
- receiving mentorship for a placement activity
- attending workshops offered through Student Central
- developing a learning plan
- completing an additional period of supervised placement.
For more information on fitness to study outcomes, see the Supporting Students' Fitness to Study Procedure.
Help and advice
There are several sources of help, advice and support you can access during an investigation:
- Student Advocacy and Support can help you to understand your rights and obligations.
- Student Central offer confidential and free counselling online and face-to-face.
You can bring a support person with you if you need to attend a meeting about a fitness to study concern. See the Supporting Students’ Fitness to Study Policy for details.