Exclusion

Use the buttons to expand or collapse the section.

• Failure to meet the minimum rate of progress (EAP sanction)

  Undergraduate students

  As an undergraduate student, you may be excluded from the university and have your enrolment discontinued if you do not meet the minimum rate of progress.

  To satisfy the minimum rate of progress, undergraduate students must gain no less than 50% of the credit points for the subjects in which they have enrolled in since the commencement of their course.

  Postgraduate coursework students

  As a postgraduate coursework student, you may be excluded from the university if you fail to meet the minimum rate of progress as specified by your Faculty Board:

  Faculty	Schools
  UTS Business School
  Faculty of Design and Society	School of Architecture, School of Architecture and School of Built Environment School of Communication School of International Studies and Education
  Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
  Faculty of Law
  Faculty of Health	School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Public Health and School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Graduate School of Health
  Faculty of Science
  Transdisciplinary School

• Failure to complete course requirements within the prescribed time (EET sanction)

  You may be excluded from a course and have your enrolment discontinued if you fail to complete course requirements within the maximum time prescribed.

  The maximum time to complete a course shall not be greater than 50% more than the normal completion time (unless otherwise stated). Periods of approved leave of absence or suspension from the course are not counted and will be in addition to the specified completion time. Where credit recognition has been granted, the maximum time may be reduced.

  The Responsible Academic Officer determines the maximum time for students with recognition of prior learning.

• Unable to complete course requirements (E2F and X2F sanction)

  Faculty Board specify subjects where re-enrolment is not permitted after two failures in the subject. Students who fail these specified subjects twice (or equivalent/substantially similar subjects), are liable for this sanction. Where a student is unable to complete a course as a result of being refused permission to enrol in a subject, the student will receive an X2F (Exclusion - Re enrolment refused) sanction.

  Where a student is unable to complete a course as a result of being refused permission to enrol in a subject, the student will be excluded from further study for a period of at least one academic year and may not apply for or enrol in any subjects or courses of study at UTS during the period of exclusion.

• Permission to re-enrol refused (E3F and X3F sanction)

  Students who fail a subject for the third time are liable for this sanction. It prevents further enrolment in the subject.

  If your request for permission to re-enrol is refused, you may receive an X3F (Exclusion - Re enrolment refused) sanction.

  Where a student is unable to complete a course as a result of being refused permission to enrol in a subject, the student will be excluded from further study for a period of at least one academic year and may not apply for or enrol in any subjects or courses of study at UTS during the period of exclusion.

Use the buttons to expand or collapse the section.

• What to include in my appeal?

  Appeal Cover Page

  A letter to the Director, Student Administration

  Your appeal letter should:

  • Explain the circumstances that were beyond your control and demonstrate how these circumstances impacted your academic progress.
  • Outline the steps you will take to improve your academic performance, including any strategies, support services, or changes you plan to implement.
  • Show that you are able and prepared to meet academic requirements if permitted to continue in your course.

  Supporting documentation

• Example of a statement of appeal against exclusion

  Your name
  Student Number
  Date

  To the Director, Student Administration Unit
  

  I wish to appeal against my exclusion from the course ______ on the following grounds.

  Mitigating Circumstances

  Outline what affected your performance. Describe what effects these circumstances had on your performance. Be specific. You need to show that the cause of your academic difficulties is your personal circumstances and not your ability. If you feel embarrassed about mentioning personal details, you may seek help from a University counsellor or other professional authority to help you in providing documentation.

  Change in circumstances

  Show how your situation has changed or how you intend to improve your circumstances, so that your future study will be successful, for example lowering workload, moving back or away from home, a better paying job, working less hours etc.

  Yours sincerely,
  Signature

• What supporting documentation can I submit?

  You can submit any documentation which will demonstrate the circumstances you described in your statement. This may include things like:

  • Medical certificates or letters from a health practitioner
  • Documents relating to hospital admissions, legal matters or court documents, or police reports
  • Emails between yourself and subject coordinators or other UTS staff who provided you with advice during your studies.

• Where can I get help with my appeal?

  If you require assistance with your appeal against exclusion, you should contact the UTS Students' Association. The Students' Association may refer you to counselling & support services if necessary.

• Where can I get more support?

  There are several support services available for UTS students who need a helping hand:

  • UTS Counselling Service is available for confidential counselling to help with a wide range of personal, psychological, study-related and administrative difficulties.
  • The UTS Accessibility Service is available to discuss health/disability related access requirements.
  • The UTS Student Centre can provide initial advice and assistance with most administrative matters in person, over the phone or via Ask UTS.
  • Academic concerns can be discussed with your course adviser, subject coordinator or faculty Academic Liaison Officer.

• What happens if I submit the appeal late?

  Late applications may only be considered where you can provide satisfactory evidence of exceptional circumstances that were beyond your control and that prevented you from submitting your appeal by the deadline.

• What happens if I don't appeal?

  if your exclusion is due to	Outcome
  Failure to meet the minimum rate of progress (MRP); or Unable to complete course requirements - E2F (2 Subjects Failed) sanction; or Permission to re-enrol refused - E3F (3 Subjects Failed) sanction	You will be withdrawn from all admitted course(s) and excluded from further studies at UTS for one academic year, calculated from the date of your original exclusion notice. After this time, you may apply for readmission to UTS. Standard application procedures will apply. Readmission is not automatic and you should seek guidance from your faculty about work or study programs that you can undertake to improve your chances of readmission to UTS.
  Failure to complete course requirements within the approved maximum time limit.	You will be withdrawn and excluded permanently from your sanctioned course(s). Note: This sanction does not prevent you from applying for other courses at UTS. If you are concurrently enrolled in another course at UTS, this sanction does not impact your enrolment in your other course.

• What happens if my grade is being reviewed or was changed?

  Sometimes grades are delayed when being reviewed or changed. Your minimum rate of progress is determined based on current results and will remain until your grades are reviewed/changed.

  Your minimum rate of progress will be reviewed once your results have been finalised. In the meantime, you still need to submit your appeal by the deadline.

Use the buttons to expand or collapse the section.

• I submitted my appeal. What happens next?

  You will receive an acknowledgement email once your appeal is accepted for review.

  The appeal will then be referred to your faculty for consideration. Faculty will commence assessment within 15 working days, however it can take up to 6 weeks to receive the final outcome.

  It is the student’s responsibility to regularly check their University student email account, read all official University correspondence, and respond promptly when required. 

  Note that you will not be able to make any changes to your enrolment (course/subject withdrawal, subject enrolment, acceptance of offer/admission to new course) while your exclusion sanction(s) are active.

  After submitting your appeal, you can maintain provisional enrolment until an outcome is reached. This includes paying all fees and charges, attending required learning activities, and undertaking all assessment.

• Appeal decision

  You will receive notice of your appeal outcome to your UTS email address and to your external email address, if you have provided one under Contact Details in My Student Admin.

  If your appeal is successful, your exclusion sanction(s) will be lifted and you will be able to continue with your studies at UTS. Students who’s exclusion was due to not meeting the minimum rate of progress will be placed on academic caution for the next half year of study.

  To help you get back on track, Faculty may provide advice or conditions for your ongoing enrolment, for example a reduced study load. Please read this information carefully, as not following Faculty advice may be taken into account if future decisions about your academic progress need to be made.

  If your appeal is unsuccessful:

  and your exclusion is due to	outcome
  Failure to meet the minimum rate of progress (MRP); or Unable to complete course requirements - E2F (2 Subjects Failed) sanction; or Permission to re-enrol refused - E3F (3 Subjects Failed) sanction	You will be withdrawn from all admitted course(s) and excluded from further studies at UTS for one academic year, calculated from the date of your original exclusion notice. After this time, you may apply for readmission to UTS. Standard application procedures will apply. Readmission is not automatic and you should seek guidance from your faculty about work or study programs that you can undertake to improve your chances of readmission to UTS.
  Failure to complete course requirements in the prescribed time	You will be withdrawn and excluded permanently from your sanctioned course(s). Note: This sanction does not prevent you from applying for other courses at UTS. If you are concurrently enrolled in another course at UTS, this sanction does not impact your enrolment in your other course.

• I'm an international student. How will exclusion affect my visa?

  If you’re an international student and you do not appeal or your appeal is unsuccessful, the University must report this to the Department of Home Affairs. Once reported, the Department may cancel your student visa, and you may not be eligible for another temporary visa for up to three years.

  If you have any questions about the reporting process, contact UTS International.

  For more information on visa cancellation, contact the (opens external site). 

• What can I do if my appeal is unsuccessful?

  Domestic students:
  You can lodge a complaint with the Student Complaints Resolution Office (SCRO). 

  International students:
  If your appeal is dismissed, you can choose to submit a further appeal to the National Student Ombudsman within 10 days.

• I did not appeal or my appeal was unsuccessful. When should I apply to be re-admitted?

  reason for exclusion	when to apply
  Failure to meet the minimum rate of progress (MRP); or Unable to complete course requirements - E2F (2 Subjects Failed) sanction; or Permission to re-enrol refused - E3F (3 Subjects Failed) sanction	You must complete your full year of exclusion from the date of your original exclusion notice, before applying to any course at UTS. Standard application procedures will apply. Readmission is not automatic and you should seek guidance from your faculty about work or study programs that you can undertake to improve your chances of readmission to UTS.
  Failure to complete course requirements in the prescribed time	You may apply for a different course at UTS while you have an active prescribed course time exclusion. Exclusion from your sanctioned course(s) is permanent, and you may not apply for readmission to those course(s) at any point.