Reducing your study load

You’ll need to apply to reduce your study load if:

• You took program leave in Term 1 OR Term 2 and enrolled in less than 36 units of credit (UOC) across the other two terms. You must enrol in 36 UOC for the other 2 terms to make up 48 UOC for the year.
• You took program leave in Term 1 AND Term 2 and enrolled in less than 18 UOC for Term 3. You must enrol in 18 UOC for Term 3 to allow for the 18+12=30 UOC of leave and bring you up to 48 UOC.

You don’t need to apply for a reduced study load if you are:

• in your final term of study and can complete your program by your CoE end date
• ahead in your program, enrolled in at least 2 courses a term, and can complete your program by CoE end date
• enrolled in 48 UOC / 8 courses in the year over three terms
• dropping a course with Financial and Academic Liability (AW grade) after the census dates, however, we strongly recommend you see a Student Student Advisor.

When you apply for a reduced study load, your CoE and student visa will only be extended in limited circumstances for specific reasons and circumstances. These include:

Compassionate and compelling circumstances

These are circumstances beyond your control and affect your ability to attend classes and study. These include:

• Serious medical illness or injury to you or a close family member
• Death of a family member such as a parent or grandparent
• A major political upheaval or natural disaster in your home country, which requires emergency travel or disruption to your studies
• A traumatic experience, such as an accident or a crime
• Delay in receiving your student visa

You’ll need to supply the following documentation with your application to reduce your study load for compassionate or compelling circumstances:  

• A Professional Authority Form, completed by your medical or health professional
• A Study Plan

Academic Intervention Strategy

If your academic standing is below Good Standing, you may be advised by your academic advisor or faculty to reduce your study load as part of an academic intervention strategy.

You’ll need to supply supporting documentation with your application to reduce your study load for an Academic Intervention Strategy:

• A copy of the action plan or interview record from your meeting with the academic advisor or faculty
• A Study Plan

At risk of failing a course  

If you have failed assessments or are at risk of failing a course, your academic advisor may recommend withdrawing from the course.

You’ll need to supply the following documentation with your application to reduce your study load for an academic intervention strategy:  

• Proof of failed grades or consultation trail with course coordinator, such as emails
• A Study Plan

Other academic reasons 

There are some other academic reasons when you could apply to reduce your study load. These are:

• Core course/s not available: Courses you require for your program or major are not offered and no other courses (General Education, electives) are available to maintain a full enrollment of 48 UOC.
• Don’t meet prerequisite requirements or program rules: The University is unable to offer a pre-requisite course, or you have failed a prerequisite course/s, and you are therefore unable to progress with your study plan.
• Granted Credit Transfer: You have been granted credit transfer and are ahead in your degree program.

Your application to reduce your study load won’t be approved if it’s for the following reasons:

• The course is difficult or isn’t what you expected.
• You’re having financial problems.
• You want to improve your Weighted Average Mark (WAM) by studying less.
• You want to change your major or program in the future.
• You’re having difficulty adjusting to living in Australia or academic life.
• You failed to enrol in your course by the enrolment date.
• You failed to understand or seek clarification of key dates or withdrawal procedures.
• Your accommodation is too far from the UNSW Campus.
• You want to move to another education provider.
• You have work commitments that interfere with your studies.

What you can do if these things are affecting you

If any of the above circumstances are affecting your ability to handle your study load, you can access support from your faculty, Student Support Advisors, or other services on campus. You could also apply for program leave.

If you think you’re at risk of failing the course, then your academic record could support your application to reduce your study load.

It’s important to understand how a reduced study load could affect your student visa.

The National Code 2018 (Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000) requires international student visa holders to complete their program within the time specified on their CoE. 

Reducing your study load may lengthen the time it takes for you to complete your program, which means you wouldn’t be able to complete your program within the duration of your CoE and student visa.

There will be additional costs associated with extending your student visa, like administration fee, overseas student health cover, and medical assessment. 

Please note, if you have reduced your study load without approval or supporting documents and require a new CoE, UNSW may refuse to issue you with a new CoE. This will prevent you from completing your program.

If you’ve decided to apply for a reduced study load, you’ll need to take the following steps:

1. Check your CoE and student visa end date.
2. Prepare your study plan (See the ‘What is a study plan?’ section below for more information.)
3. Prepare the supporting documents relevant to your application:
   1. A Professional Authority Form if you have compassionate and compelling reasons
   2. Action plan or interview record from your academic advisor if you’re below Good Standing
   3. Proof of failed grades or consultation trail with course coordinator, such as emails if you’re at risk of failing
   4. Letter of support from a sponsor if you’re a scholarship or sponsored student
   5. Parent Authority Form if you’re under 18 years of age
4. Once you have your study plan supporting documentation, you can submit a Reduce Study Load application. The application form is open from release of results for the previous term prior until the last day to drop a course without academic penalty. Remember, If you want to apply to reduce your study load without facing any financial liability, you should submit your application at least 4 days before the census date. 
   

A decision will be made within 10 working days of making your application. This will be sent to your UNSW student email within 10 working days. If your application is approved, you can then drop the course/s on myUNSW.

A study plan is a record of the courses you’re currently enrolled in, and what you need to study in future to complete your degree. You must include your study plan with your application to reduce your study load.

It’s important you complete your study plan using the UNSW handbook for the year you started your degree to make sure it’s correct.

How to complete a study plan for your reduced course load application: 

1. Use the study plan template and upload it to your application, or 
2. Build your study plan in the application.

If you don’t know a course code or name, simply enter “Elective”, “Core Course” or General Education”.

If your study plan is incomplete or incorrect, your program authority won’t approve it, and this may delay the outcome of your application.