Policy: Student academic study load and progression

Purpose

This policy sets out the principles for student academic workload and progress across the University for coursework students.

Overview

This policy covers the eight key areas associated with student academic workload:

• full-time and part-time status
• concurrent studies
• overloading
• maximum degree completion time-limits
• course requisites
• non-enrolment in an academic year
• transfers
• academic progress

Scope

All coursework students.

All staff with education responsibilities.

Policy statement

1. ANU student academic workload activities:

1. align with the strategic educational directions of the University;
2. align with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards; and
3. are consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework and the Higher Education Standards Framework (threshold standards).

2. Study period 1: is 1 January to 30 June including Summer Session, First Semester and Autumn Session, and study period 2: is 1 July to 31 December, including Winter Session, Second Semester and Spring Session. Trimesters are excluded from study periods.

Full-time and part-time load – Semesters and non-standard sessions

3. ANU students studying 18 or more units (0.375 EFTSL or greater) in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time.
4. Students on an International Student Visa must complete their program within the expected duration specified in their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which normally equates to 24 units in a half-year.
5. Students on an International Student Visa are only able to undertake less than the student load defined in clause 4 in compassionate or compelling circumstances, or as part of an intervention strategy for students at risk of not meeting satisfactory academic progress.
6. ANU students studying less than 18 units (0.374 or less) over a six-month period (Jan – June, July – Dec) are considered part-time.
7. If a part-time load is unable to be undertaken as part of the degree requirements, this will be stated in the degree program orders.
8. Calculation of load is done on an overall basis, counting all programs undertaken during the study period.

Full-time and part-time load – trimesters

9. ANU students studying 12 or more units (0.25 EFTSL or greater) in a trimester are considered full-time.
10. ANU students studying less than 12 units (0.24 or less) in a trimester are considered part-time.
11. Calculation of load is done on an overall basis, counting all programs undertaken during the trimester.

Concurrent studies

12. The respective delegated authorities for each program may approve concurrent enrolment in two programs.
13. Any overloading as a result of concurrent studies adhere to the overload principles within this policy.

Overloading – Semesters and non-standard sessions

14. A standard study load is 24 units in a standard period.
15. Undergraduate students wishing to enrol in more than 24 units but not more than 30 units in a single study period at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 48 units;
2. successful completion of at least 24 units of courses in a single period;
3. an overall mark average of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
4. an average mark of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous study period.

16. Undergraduate students wishing to enrol in more than 30 units but not more than 36 units in a single study period at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 96 units;
2. successful completion of at least 30 units of courses in a single study period;
3. an overall mark average of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
4. an average mark of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous study period.

17. Graduate coursework students wishing to enrol in more than 24 units but not more than 30 units in a single study period at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 24 units of courses in a single study period;
2. an overall mark average of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
3. an average mark of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous study period.

18. Graduate coursework students wishing to enrol in more than 30 units but not more than 36 units in a single study period at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 48 units;
2. successful completion of at least 30 units of courses in a single study period;
3. an overall mark average of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
4. an average mark of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous study period.

19. Students who have only 30 units remaining to complete their award but do not satisfy the above criteria may apply to the Associate Dean (Education) of the relevant College(s) for permission to undertake the remaining 30 units in one study period to complete their degree. Approval is at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Education) and will not be granted for more than 30 units.
20. The average is calculated using the following formula: Σ (Mark x Units) / Σ Units
21. Students undertaking enrolment in non-standard teaching sessions that do not overlap with the standard semester are not considered to be overloading if they only undertake 24 units during the semester.
22. Students are not given permission to enrol in more than 36 units in a study period.
23. Courses undertaken at another institution on a cross-institutional basis are included in consideration of whether a student is overloading.

Overloading – Trimesters

24. A standard study load is 18 units in a trimester.
25. Students wishing to enrol in more than 18 units but not more than 24 units in a single trimester must at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 18 units of courses in a single trimester;
2. an overall mark average of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
3. an average mark of at least 60 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous trimester.

26. Students wishing to enrol in more than 24 units but not more than 30 units in a single trimester must at a minimum meet all of the following criteria in their current ANU program:

1. successful completion of at least 48 units;
2. successful completion of at least 24 units of courses in a single trimester;
3. an overall mark average of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation); and
4. an average mark of at least 70 per cent (NCN and WN counting as zero per cent in this calculation) in the previous semester.

27. Students who have only 24 units remaining to complete their award but do not satisfy the criteria for overload may apply to the Associate Dean (Education) of the relevant College(s) for permission to undertake the remaining 24 units in one trimester to complete their degree. Approval is at the discretion of the Associate Dean (Education) and will not be granted for more than 24 units.
28. The average is calculated using the following formula: Σ (Mark x Units) / Σ Units
29. Students are not given permission to enrol in more than 30 units in a trimester.

Maximum degree completion time-limits

30. The time-limits specified in the Coursework Awards Rule apply across a career and do not reset if students transfer between awards.
31. Part-time load or taking official periods of leave whether voluntary or enforced do not increase the time-limits specified in the Coursework Awards Rule.
32. Upon completion of the entirety of their award, single, or double degree, a student has their time-limit reset if they are admitted to a new award, even if it is in the same career.

Course requisites

33. Students who do not have the requisites for a course obtain approval from the Course Convener if they wish to enrol in the course.
34. Students who are enrolled in a course on the assumption that they will pass the requisite course before commencement but then fail the requisite have the enrolment course dropped and are required to:

1. add an alternate course where they satisfy the requisite, or
2. apply to the Course Convener for approval as per clause 24.

Non-enrolment in an academic year

35. If a student does not have an active enrolment in at least one course in two calendar years and has not formally notified the University that they have deferred or are on program leave, their program will be discontinued. To re-enrol, a student must re-apply to the University.
36. However, a student enrolled in a plus one Honours plan is enrolled in courses or on a period of leave formally approved by the delegated authority. A student enrolled in a plus one honours plan who is not enrolled in courses or on leave formally approved by the delegated authority is discontinued.

Transfers

37. A student may not transfer between awards or nested awards at different career levels. Movement across careers will require a new application.

Academic progress

38. The University monitors student academic progress cumulatively across a student's program or programs every study period.
39. Students who fail one or more courses in their program or programs, excluding medical programs, are monitored as part of early intervention strategies.
40. Students (excluding medical students in a medical program) are placed on academic probation if:

1. They fail four or more courses in their undergraduate program or programs;
2. They fail three or more courses in their postgraduate program or programs;
3. They fail a coursework course in any award program for a second time.

41. Students (excluding medical students in a medical program) have failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress if:

1. They fail eight or more courses in their undergraduate program or programs;
2. They fail five or more courses in their postgraduate program or programs;
3. They fail a coursework course in any award program for a third time.

42. Medical students are placed on academic probation if they fail a course in their medical program, excluding the final year of their medical program.
43. Medical students fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress in their medical program if they:

1. fail a professional practice course;
2. fail a course in the final year of their medical program; or
3. fail a second or subsequent time any course in the medical program .

44. Students on academic probation are eligible for restoration of good standing, except in programs that require a student to maintain results at an established level to remain in the program or a medical program.
45. Students who fail to maintain results at an established level, as outlined in the program orders for their program, have failed to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
46. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress and are excluded from their academic career have their program discontinued. To re-enrol, the student reapplies for admission to the University for an admit term after their period of exclusion.
47. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress in their medical program and are excluded from medical programs have their program discontinued. To re-enrol in a medical program, the student reapplies for admission to the University for an admit term after their period of exclusion.
48. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress under clause 45 may be notified of their transfer to an alternative program of study.
49. Students who fail to maintain satisfactory academic progress are offered an opportunity to appeal to the Academic Progress Committee against exclusion under Show Cause.

Appeals

50. Students may appeal to the Associate Dean (Education) of the relevant college if any of the above principles have been incorrectly applied.
51. Where the Associate Dean (Education) was involved in the original decision, the appeal must be considered by the Dean of the relevant college.
52. A person may appeal to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on procedural grounds only against an appeal outcome decision made under the above two.