Withdrawing
If you decide to withdraw from study, you may incur an academic or financial penalty or both, depending on the date you submit your withdrawal request. To discuss the options available to you, contact an OUA Student Advisor, or your unit tutor for specific academic advice.
How to withdraw
All withdrawal requests must be submitted to OUA in writing using the Online Withdrawal Form in My OUA. OUA will inform the academic providers of your withdrawal.
Before submitting your withdrawal request, read the information specific to your unit type and contact an OUA Student Advisor if you are not sure which penalties may apply.
For more information on the penalties that apply to unit widthdrawals, please see.
- Undergraduate or postgraduate units
- TAFE units
- Enabling units (PREP)
- IELTS units
- UNILEARN foundation units
- Continuing Professional Education units (ACS)
To withdraw from units you have not yet paid for, contact a Student Advisor on 1300 363 652.
Withdrawing from a Commonwealth supported place
If you are a Commonwealth supported student, you will not incur a penalty from OUA if you decide to withdraw from a course or units. However, you may be subject to a financial and/or fail grade penalty from your provider instead. It is strongly advised that you check with your provider on their policies for withdrawals to avoid any fees.
If you withdraw from a course or unit after the census date, you will also be liable for your deferred Commonwealth assistance HECS-HELP loan. For the census date for each study period, please see Key Dates.
Where special circumstances are apparent after the census date, you may be eligible to have your withdrawal liability reduced or removed. For more information on withdrawals and special circumstances applications for Commonwealth supported students, please visit the Commonwealth supported students withdrawals and special circumstances page.
Continuing your studies
If you withdraw from a CSP unit, you may proceed with the rest of your course as a CSP student. If you withdraw from your course, you will be discontinuing the government loan program altogether.
However, some students that choose to withdraw from a CSP course may wish to continue their studies with OUA in future.
Although withdrawing from a CSP course means that you are withdrawing from the government loan program for that course, there are several other pathways to studying courses, or individual units, with OUA.These include:
- FEE-HELP, a Commonwealth Government loan scheme established to help eligible students defer paying fees for undergraduate and postgraduate units, which are then repaid through the taxation system;
- Scholarships; OUA offers three different scholarship programs, which cover some or all of the cost of your studies at OUA; and
- Upfront payment
Undergraduate and postgraduate units
Financial penalties
Depending on the date OUA receives your withdrawal request you may incur a financial penalty. Refer to the guide below for important dates for withdrawal:
- Before the Close of Enrolment date: No penalties apply.
- Between the Close of Enrolment and Census Date: Financial penalties apply (see table below) but you are eligible for a refund of your unit fees or you will not incur (have) a FEE-HELP debt*.
- After the Census Date: Any student discontinuing a course or unit enrolment after the Census Date is liable for the fees in full unless Special Circumstances are able to be demonstrated. Academic penalties may also apply (see below).
*If you are eligible for a refund of unit fees, your financial penalty will be deducted from your refund. If you paid by FEE-HELP, you will need to contact OUA to pay your financial penalty by credit card, cheque or money order, and you will not be able to re-enrol until this penalty is paid.
|
1 unit |
2 units |
3 units |
4 units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Close of Enrolment to the start of Study Period/Session |
$50 |
$100 |
$150 |
$200 |
|
Week 1 |
$75 |
$150 |
$225 |
$300 |
|
Week 2 |
$125 |
$250 |
$375 |
$500 |
|
Week 3 until Census Date |
$200 |
$400 |
$600 |
$800 |
|
Note: If a financial penalty is not paid, you will not be able to enrol for following Study Periods/Sessions. | ||||
*After the Census Date, you will not be eligible for a refund of your unit fee, and academic penalties may apply.
Academic penalties
An academic penalty is when a student is given a failing grade for a unit.
The final date for withdrawal without getting a fail grade is the Sunday at the end of Week 6 with the exception of RMIT postgraduate units (Session Census Date).
TAFE units
Withdrawal penalties for TAFE units depend on whether you are enrolled in a continuous unit or a unit offered in Study Periods.
Financial penalties for TAFE Study Period Units
Depending on the date OUA receives your withdrawal request you may incur a financial penalty. Refer to the guide below for important dates for withdrawal:
- Before the Close of Enrolment date: No penalties apply.
- Between the Close of Enrolment and Census Date: Financial penalties apply (see table below) but you are eligible for a refund of your unit.
- After the Census Date: Any student discontinuing a course or unit enrolment after the Census Date is liable for the fees in full unless Special Circumstances are able to be demonstrated. Academic penalties may also apply (see below).
*If you are eligible for a refund of unit fees, your financial penalty will be deducted from your refund.
|
1 unit |
2 units |
3 units |
4 units | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Close of Enrolment to the start of Study Period/Session |
$50 |
$100 |
$150 |
$200 |
|
Week 1 |
$50 |
$100 |
$150 |
$200 |
|
Week 2 |
$75 |
$150 |
$225 |
$300 |
|
Week 3 until Census Date |
$100 |
$200 |
$300 |
$400 |
*After the Census Date, you will not be eligible for a refund of your unit fee, and academic penalties may apply.
Academic penalties
An academic penalty is when a student is given a failing grade for a unit.
The final date for withdrawal without getting a fail grade is the Sunday at the end of Week 6.
Financial penalties for TAFE Continuous Units
Continuous TAFE units are those which are not offered in Study Periods, and can be commenced at any time of year. Only some TAFE providers offer continuous units. You can withdraw from continuous TAFE units within 14 days of enrolling and receive a refund of up to 75% of the unit fee. Financial penalties will depend on the unit from which you want to withdraw.
Continuing Professional Education units
Continuing Professional Education units run in Sessions and are subject to the same Close of Enrolment dates and financial penalties as postgraduate units (see table above).
