Unsatisfactory progress
Holders of a student visa must comply with a number of visa conditions. One of the more important visa conditions is 8202 - Meeting Course Requirements. If your enrolment in your course is terminated by the University as a result of unsatisfactory academic progress, you are in breach of this visa condition. Breaching this condition has serious implications for your student visa and will affect your possibilities for future study in Australia.
What is unsatisfactory academic progress?
The University of Melbourne has set standards for each to determine whether a student has made unsatisfactory progress. For information about policies and procedures related to your course, please visit the website of your faculty or school or seek advice from a course adviser.
In general, if you have failed subjects and you are identified as a student at risk of making unsatisfactory progress, your faculty or school will ask you to attend a meeting with a Course Adviser and/or academic staff member. During this meeting you have an opportunity to explain your circumstances and discuss strategies to assist you with achieving satisfactory results.
If you continue to make unsatisfactory progress, your faculty or school will invite you to make a written submission to or attend a meeting with an Unsatisfactory Progress Committee. These meetings are usually held after each examination period. It is important that you make every attempt to attend this meeting and provide all the relevant information as to why you did not pass, because at this meeting your faculty or school may recommend termination of your enrolment. A decision will be made even if you do not attend.
Recommendation to terminate your enrolment
Your faculty or school will notify you in writing if it decides to recommend termination of your enrolment. This letter will include information about appealing the faculty or school's recommendation and the University's obligation to report you to the Department of Education and the Department of Immigration of the Australian government if you have not made satisfactory academic progress. When you receive this letter, you have 20 working days to decide on one of the following options:
| Option 1: | You discontinue your enrolment within 20 working days of having received the letter; or |
| Option 2: | You appeal the faculty or school's decision to the Academic Board within 20 days of having received the letter |
If you do not respond, the Academic Board will make a decision on the faculty or school's recommendation in your absence. The Academic Board's decision is final and no further review is available from within the University.
Please note that you will need to consider the above-mentioned options, even if:
you are undertaking a double degree course, and your enrolment in one of the courses is recommended for termination; or you have an offer of place for or commenced another course (at another education provider).
Appeals processes
The University's Student Grievance Policy contains information about the University's appeals processes. If you choose to appeal the faculty's recommendation (Option 2), you will need to inform the Academic Board that you wish to make a written submission and/or attend a scheduled hearing with the Academic Board. Usually, the Academic Board will only consider information that you have not discussed with your faculty or school before.
Your enrolment will be terminated, if the Academic Board agrees with the faculty or school's recommendation. The Academic Board's decision is final and no further review is available from within the University.
If you believe that the University made an unfair decision you can make a complaints to the Ombudsman Victoria. The Ombudsman Victoria is independent and impartial, and provides a free service. You can request a review by the Victorian Ombudsman online or in writing.
If you choose to appeal the decision of the Academic Board to the Ombudsman Victoria, you will need to provide evidence of lodgement of the appeal to the Academic Board within 10 working days of the Academic Board decision. Your right to appeal to the Ombudsman Victoria is not limited to 10 working days. However the University must notify the Department of Education (DEEWR) and Department of Immigration (DIAC) that you have not achieved satisfactory academic progress after 10 working days if no evidence of an appeal is received.
Visa implications
If you discontinue your course after you have received the written notice from your faculty/school, the University will cancel your Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) and inform DEEWR and DIAC that you have ceased your studies. If you want to extend your stay in Australia for further study you will need to apply for a new student visa.
If you have chosen to access the University's appeals processes and you withdraw from the process or the process is completed in support of the University, the University must notify the DEEWR and DIAC that you have not achieved satisfactory academic progress. You will be sent a non-compliance notification with instructions to report to a DIAC office and information about the consequences of failing to do so. DIAC must cancel your student visa if you have breached visa condition 8202 relating to academic progress and the breach of the condition is not due to exceptional circumstances. In addition, you may not be granted another temporary visa for a period of three years.
Support and further information
The Student Union Advocacy Service and Graduate Student Association may be able to provide you with advice and support when preparing or attending meetings with Unsatisfactory Progress Committees or the Academic Board.
For more information about visa implications of unsatisfactory academic progress, speak with an International Student Adviser at the International Centre or email iss-visa@unimelb.edu.au.