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Students who were previously enrolled on a Non-Award basis are not required to obtain a signature, as they are not in their first half-year of enrolment at Macquarie University.

In seeking a signature from a Dean of Division (or nominee), the student should discuss the reasons for the change to their unit selection. The Dean of Division (or nominee) should provide academic advice relating to the student’s request.

In the case of total discontinuance of all units for the year no approval is required.

Timeframe for Adding Units
Academic Senate has determined the timeframe for adding units (resolution 06/142):

Timeframe for Discontinuing a Unit of Study
The Bachelor Degree Rule 12 provides that the effective date of discontinuance of a unit shall normally be the date of receipt by the Registrar's Office of written notification from the student. Whether or not the Registrar's Office was notified before or after the due or census date, affects student’s internal and external status and Student Contribution/Fee liability.

Except for vacation and fieldwork units, the following census dates apply:

Relevant dates for vacation and fieldwork units are set out in Part One - Student Information, 'Change of Program of Study' ('Change of Unit Enrolment' after 2006), section of the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies.

There are following exceptions to the rule which states that the date of notification is used as the date of discontinuance:

Students will only be regarded as not effectively enrolled for the relevant half-year if it is evident beyond any reasonable doubt that they abandoned studies before the due date and the Registrar’s Office was notified before the return of enrolment information to the DEST.

Bachelor Degree Rule 12 (2) provides that, if a student has discontinued all the units in the course, he or she is not permitted to enrol again except with the permission of the Academic Senate.

Early Withdrawn in a Unit of Study
Students who withdraw from a unit of study before the census date are considered 'Early Withdrawn' or 'not effectively enrolled'. Commonwealth Supported students will, therefore, not be liable for the Student Contribution associated with the unit nor use any of their Student Learning Entitlement. Fee-paying students will not be liable for tuition fees.

Withdrawn (W) from a Unit of Study
Students will be withdrawn from the unit and receive a 'Withdrawn' grade (W) if they discontinue no later than four (4) weeks after the census date. Students who are regarded as 'withdrawn' from a unit of study are liable for the Student Contribution and will consume Student Learning Entitlement. A student whose record in a unit has been endorsed with the letter 'W' may re-enrol in the same unit in a later year except for students who are excluded from further enrolment (see chapter: EXCLUSION). The student will not incur any academic penalty for units with a 'W' grade.

Fail Withdrawn (FW) from a Unit
Students who withdraw from a unit of study more than four (4) weeks after the unit census date will be regarded as failed withdrawn 'FW'. Commonwealth Supported students will be liable for the Student Contribution and consume Student Learning Entitlement for the unit; tuition fee-paying students will continue to be liable for tuition fees.

There is a difference between 'Failed' (F) and 'Failed Withdrawn' (FW). An F grade indicates that the student attempted the unit, but failed to meet the required academic standard; an FW indicates that the student withdrew from the unit more than four weeks after the census date. Note that in both cases only a grade of F will appear on external transcripts for students, even if the student has received an FW grade. A grade of FW, however, will appear on both the Internal and Advising Transcript.

A student whose record in a unit is endorsed with the grade 'F' may re-enrol in the unit in a later semester, except if they have two or more fails recorded for the unit. In these cases, the student must request permission to enrol in the unit for a third or more time. Note that Third Time Permission is not required for units offered by the Division of Information and Communication Sciences.

Withdrawal (W) from a Unit due to Unavoidable Disruption
In cases where a student discontinues a unit due to unavoidable disruption, the Academic Senate has set down the following guidelines for Deans:

The Handbook of Undergraduate Studies defines circumstances that could be routinely encountered by students and would not normally be accepted as unavoidable disruption to studies. Such matters include:

Any claim based on these categories would need to show clearly, with appropriate documentation, that the student’s circumstances were so extreme that they should be taken into consideration.

CHANGE OF UNIT ENROLMENT FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSEWORK STUDENTS

General Information
Continuing students in semester-based programs can change their unit selection via eStudent.

Students in their first semester of enrolment in a new course must seek academic approval for any change to their unit selection. Once they have obtained the required approval, they must attend an on-campus Change of Unit Enrolment session.

Withdrawing from a Unit
Continuing students can withdraw from a unit via eStudent.

Students in their first semester of a new course must seek academic approval, have the PG Change of Unit Enrolment form signed by the Dean of Division (or nominee) and then attend a Change of Unit Enrolment session.

Adding a Unit
Continuing students can add units via eStudent.

Students in their first semester of a new course must seek academic approval, have the PG Change of Unit Enrolment form signed by the Dean of Division (or nominee) and then attend a Change of Unit Enrolment session.

It is not possible to add an external unit after the first week of semester; it is not possible to add an internal after the second week of semester.

External Students (Fully Enrolled in External Units)
Continuing students can add and withdraw from units via eStudent.

Students in their first semester of a new course must:

In all cases, students in their first semester of a new course must have their requested change approved by an Academic Advisor.

Withdrawal from a Course or Units
A postgraduate student in half-year units is regarded as Early Withdrawn if withdrawal is completed by the census date for the half year (ie 31 March for First Half-Year, 30 April for Full Year, or 31 August for Second Half-Year).

Different dates apply to students in Macquarie Graduate School of Management programs, Applied Finance programs, Master of Accounting and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting programs. Students should check with the relevant Department to ensure that they complete changes to their unit selection by the census date for their units.

Students who withdraw from a unit or units after the relevant Census Date will incur financial liability for the unit(s). A withdrawal grade (W) will be recorded on their academic transcript.

RE-CREDITING AND REMISSION

In terms of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 with effect from 1 January 2005, the University may:
• re-credit a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE); and
• remit a HECS-HELP debt; or
• refund upfront student contributions;
• re-credit a FEE-HELP balance; and
• remit a FEE-HELP debt
for a unit(s) of study from which a student withdrew after the census date.

A student must apply in writing to the Registrar and Vice Principal for a re-credit, remission or refund:

• an undergraduate or postgraduate student who is Commonwealth supported should complete the Application for Re-Crediting of Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) and Remission/Refund of HECS-HELP form;
• a postgraduate or Higher Degree Research student who has taken up FEE-HELP assistance must complete the Application for Re-Crediting of FEE-HELP Balance and Remission of FEE-HELP form.

An application must be lodged within 12 months of the date of withdrawal, or if a student has not withdrawn, within 12 months of the end of the semester in which the unit(s) was, or was to be undertaken.

If an application for re-crediting and remission is unsuccessful, a student can appeal to the Deputy Registrar.

International students who withdraw from a unit or units may either apply for fee reversal or fee refund, which are treated separately. In case of reversal of fee a student will get the credit back into his or her account. Refunds occur when students want to retrieve any funds that remain credited in their account. Request forms for fee reversals or fee refunds can be obtained from Macquarie International. More information about international student fees refund policy can be found at: http://www.international.mq.edu.au/pdfs/Fees_Policy.pdf.

INTERNAL TRANSFER BETWEEN BACHELOR DEGREE COURSES

Any student wishing to change his or her degree to another degree must meet the requirements set out in the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies and complete a Request to Transfer Degree Course form (available from the Student Enquiry Service, Lincoln Building or online - COURSE/DEGREE TRANSFER website). Please refer to the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies Part One – Student Information or the COURSE/DEGREE TRANSFER website to have a complete list of requisites for internal transfer procedures.

If the proposed transfer is not listed in the Handbook, the student will need to apply direct to the Universities Admissions Centre.

OUA Transfer Policy
Macquarie has provision for articulation from OUA study to an award place in an on-campus or distance education Bachelor of Arts degree. It is not possible to articulate directly to other degrees in areas such as Commerce, Information Technology or Psychology.

The OUA students who wish to apply for an undergraduate (HECS) place at Macquarie University need to:

1. Complete a minimum of 4 Macquarie BA (OUA) units of study, and have a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (credit average).
2. Apply through the NSW Universities Admission Centre (UAC).

International students must apply to the International Office at Macquarie University.

Students transferring to a HECS place at Macquarie University may be granted credit for previous OUA studies. OUA units are given credit for the equivalent Macquarie units eg HST330 equivalent to AHST333 (4 credit points). If the OUA unit is not equivalent to a Macquarie unit, credit will be assessed in the normal manner.

CHANGE OF PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR HIGHER DEGREE RESEARCH CANDIDATES

General Information
Higher degree research candidates should discuss all changes to their program with their supervisor or Divisional/Departmental research director or coordinator. All changes must be notified to the Higher Degree Research Unit.

The form entitled Change of Program Request for Higher Degree Research Candidates is required for the following changes:

Separate forms for the following requests for changes to candidature are required:

For more information please refer to the Higher Degree Research Guide for Supervisors and Candidates.

Withdrawal
According to the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies, the date of the withdrawal from a higher degree research program is the date of receipt of the notification form by the Higher Degree Research Unit. If the notification about withdrawal is received on or before the census dates below, the candidate will be refunded Student Activity Fees (students will not be required to pay student activity fees from second semester 2006 onward). International students will be liable for pro rata fees for the period of enrolment in first or second half-year.

Census dates for continuing higher degree research students:

7 February – for first half-year
7 August – for second half-year

If a higher degree research candidate discontinues a postgraduate coursework unit after the coursework census date (31 March – first half-year, 31 August – second half-year), the candidate’s academic records will record a 'W' for the unit (please refer to the Change of Unit Enrolment for Postgraduate Coursework Students section of this chapter).