Major Changes

The major changes as a result of the National Code 2007 are listed below.

Full Time/Part Time Study Rules

International students are currently required to maintain a full time enrolment unless they are in their final session of study or are on a non student visa. The University currently accepts that full time enrolment is 18 to 24 credit points per session.

From 1 July 2007, International students will be required to complete their course within the timeframe set on their Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). This means that most International Students must be enrolled in 24 credit points per session to complete their course in the timeframe set on their COE. Students enrolled in a two year 72 credit point degree will still be able to complete 18 credit points per session. For more information on this, please click here.

The timeframe on a student's COE can be altered only under very restricted circumstances, with approval and evidence provided to the University. These circumstances are compassionate or compelling circumstances, implementation of a specified intervention strategy or if an approved deferment or suspension of study has been granted.

Current Students and Extension of COE Timeframe

Student’s who enrolled before 1 July 2007 would have received course advice which would have caused them to follow an enrolment pattern that will require an extension of their COE timeframe. If you enrolled before 1 July 2007 you will be able to apply for an extension of your COE timeframe based on compelling circumstances.

Please Note: All international students will need to enrol in 24 credit points per session 1 July 2007 unless they are enrolled in a two year 72 credit point Masters Program. For a list of exempt degrees please click here.

No Change of Provider in first 12 months/Letter of Release Rules

Currently students cannot change education providers for the first 12 months of their principle course. This is a requirement under condition 8206 on a student visa. This means that if you come here to do a Bachelor of Commerce, then you cannot change education providers until you have completed 12 months of your Bachelor of Commerce degree. You can apply for a letter of release from UOW or apply directly to Department Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) to remove the condition 8206 from your student visa. There are no guidelines set as to how an application for a letter of release is to be assessed.

From 1 July 2007 all international students will be able to change their provider after completing only 6 months of study at your principal provider. This is a reduction in the amount of time international students were previously required to stay at their original provider. The rules on when a student can be granted a letter of release have also changed. National Code 2007 specifies that the University must have a release policy and that the policy should fit within certain parameters. We are implementing this standard by writing Course Rules to deal with the release of international students and writing a comprehensive release procedure and guidelines.

Information about the details of this process will be made available shortly.

Course Progress Policies/Meeting Course Progress

The University currently has Minimum Rate of Progress (MRP) Rules that determines when a student’s progress within a course is satisfactory. Under Course Rules 8.53 – 8.63, a student will be placed on an appropriate MRP status if the student has failed 50% or more of credit points attempted in an academic progress period. Undergraduate students are first placed on referral, then on probation and they are excluded. Postgraduate students are initially placed on probation and then are excluded.

From 1 July 2007 institutions are required to proactively notify and counsel students who are at risk of failing to meet their course progress requirements. At a minimum institutions need to notify and counsel students if they have failed or are deemed not yet competent in 50% or more of the units attempted in any study period. The requirements to include students who have been “deemed not yet competent” in the assessment of satisfactory course progress, and to make assessments for each study period attempted, have major implications for UOW’s current course progress practices. The “not yet competent” definition would not include thesis subjects for PHDs and Doctorate programs, where an incomplete grade is declared as a normal practice for a student to progress through the degree.

The University is also required to allow students to be given 20 working days in which they can appeal their exclusion. This appeal timeframe has increased and it may have major implications for the timing of mid year exclusions.

A review of UOW’s Course Progress and procedures is currently taking place as a result of the new requirements set out in the National Code 2007. The current Minimum Rate of Progress website will be updated shortly.

Transitional Arrangements

As Autumn Session 2007 results are released after 1 July 2007, students enrolled for 2007 will be assessed according to a MRP transitional strategy.

Leave of Absence

Currently international students are only able to take a leave of absence or break from their studies for a very short period of time under very limited circumstances. These circumstances have been limited to bereavement and medical circumstances. International students are therefore restricted in when they can apply for leave and have their student visa remain valid.

From 1 July 2007, the circumstances under which the University can approve a leave of absence or deferment for an international student have been increased. Students can take a leave of absence by demonstrating compassionate or compelling circumstances. Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances are defined as circumstances that are beyond the control of a student and which have an impact upon the student’s course progress or wellbeing. These could include, but are not limited to:

• serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes
• bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where a death certificate should be provided)
• major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the student’s studies, or
• a traumatic experience, which has impacted the student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports), which could include an involvement in, or witnessing of an accident, or witnessing or being the victim of crime 
• where the registered provider was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit
• inability to begin studying on the course commencement date due to delay in receiving a student visa

Please note that the above are only some of examples of what may be considered compassionate or compelling circumstances. Each application for a leave of absence will be assessed individually based on the information provided and documentary evidence. Therefore students will need to provide appropriate evidence supporting their applications for leave however it is anticipated that more leave will be approved under these changes.

A new leave of absence form and procedure for international students will be created to support these new rules and to ensure that the flexibility available in this section of the National Code 2007 is implemented for the benefit of all international students.

Amendment of COE Timeframe

If a leave of absence is approved then the University is required to report the change in timeframe to DIAC. The University is also required to report the circumstances of the leave to DIAC. You will receive a new COE for your anticipated return date.

Have questions? Ask Us!

Visit us or contact us for further information

Student Central, Ground Floor, Building 17.
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.
Phone: 1 300 ASK UOW
Facsimile: (02) 4221 4322
Email: askuow@uow.edu.au or Click Here

Last reviewed: 4 July, 2007