Leave and discontinuation
Current students who wish to suspend or discontinue their studies must do so by specific dates and by completing relevant paperwork.
Suspension of candidature
Suspension of candidature for a specific period may be granted by the faculty to students in special circumstances. Suspension of candidature is normally granted for one or two semesters but, in exceptional circumstances, up to two years leave may be granted.
Suspension of candidature prior to the census date in the first semester of enrolment will only be considered if there has been an extreme and unpredictable change in the student's circumstances. Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Suspension of candidature will not normally be granted to allow students to undertake studies at another institution.
Students applying for suspension of candidature must complete a suspension of candidature application also available from Student Central. Once completed it should be returned to Student Central.
Students are required to discuss the intended leave with the Course Director and to seek approval prior to lodging the application. The application must detail the reasons why such leave is sought and documentary evidence in support of the application must be attached.
Unless applications are lodged before 31 March (in first semester) or 31 August (in second semester), the student will incur a Higher Education Contribution or course fees liability for the semester.
Students wishing to return from suspension of candidature must apply to the faculty to resume studies, and, if approved, will re-enrol in all incomplete required units, or their nearest equivalent.
Special leave
Special leave may be granted by the Course Director for a period of time (usually not exceeding two months) during the current year of a student's course. Such leave will be granted only if all studies/assessments can be completed in the current year to the satisfaction of the appropriate academic unit, otherwise the student should apply for a suspension of candidature.
Students seeking special leave must apply in writing to their Course Director. Students who are granted special leave will be regarded as continuing in their currently enrolled units.
Discontinuation of studies
Discontinuation of studies refers to the formal abandonment of a course of study after enrolment. Unless applications are lodged before 31 March (in first semester) or 31 August (in second semester), the student will incur a Higher Education Contribution or course fees liability for the semester and will expend a portion of their Student Learning Entitlement.
Students applying to discontinue their studies must complete a discontinuation of candidature application also available from Student Central.
If a student discontinues after the prescribed dates and produces appropriate evidence with the application to verify that discontinuation was due to serious illness or misadventure, the faculty may approve all units to be endorsed DNF 'discontinued - not to count as failure'.
Note: students will only be permitted to withdraw up until the end of the last week of teaching (Week 13) each semester.
Students who abandon their course after enrolment and neglect to formally discontinue (that is, 'dropping-out') will be deemed to have failed all units in which they are enrolled and will be ineligible for any refund of fees.
Students who discontinue or abandon a course lose their status as registered students of the University. Any subsequent application for re-admission to the course from which they discontinued must be lodged by the advertised closing date, in accordance with the usual procedures for the course. Such an application will be considered with all other applications received that year for that course.
Course transfers
Students who wish to transfer to another undergraduate course in the University must apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), in accordance with the instructions set out in the UAC Guide, or at www.uac.edu.au. These applications will be considered along with all other applications in the current year for the chosen course.
No preference will be given to students already enrolled at the University. If the student has completed one full-time year of study their application will be considered on the basis of their tertiary and secondary record and any other course-specific criteria. If a student commences a course of study at the University of Sydney (or elsewhere), but does not complete one full-time year, they will be selected on the basis of their ATAR.
Postgraduate students wishing to articulate to a higher award or exit with a lower award within the same discipline are advised to contact the Course Director before lodging a course variation form with Student Central.