Special circumstances

Sometimes students are forced to withdraw from their studies due to circumstances beyond their control. If this occurs after close of enrolment students usually have to pay a financial penalty. After Census Date they may forfeit their full fee and may receive a 'Fail' grade. However, if Special Circumstances can be demonstrated, financial or academic penalties may be reduced or removed.

Withdrawal and special circumstances for Commonwealth supported place students:

Please see the withdrawal and special circumstances for Commonwealth supported place students for details on applications.

Special circumstances can permit a:

• Refund of unit fees - where you paid for your unit(s) up front then had to stop studying after the Census Date;
• Re-credit of your FEE-HELP/HECS-HELP debt - where you used FEE-HELP/HECS-HELP to cover the cost of your unit(s), then had to stop studying after the Census Date;
• Approval of withdrawal without academic penalty – where you had to withdraw after to the final date allowed by the university.

You must make your application for Special Circumstances within 12 months of your withdrawal or 12 months from the last day of the Study Period in which you were enrolled (whichever date is earliest).

You must separately have applied for approval to withdraw - see Withdrawing from a unit for information and instructions. You cannot withdraw using the Special Circumstances Application Form.

How your application is assessed

Every Special Circumstances application is formally investigated by Open Universities Australia and/or the provider universities depending on the nature of your application.

OUA will assess Special Circumstances applications for refund of unit fees and re-credit of FEE-HELP. Most application outcomes will be issued within 28 working days. However, please be aware that some cases may take longer to resolve.

If you are applying for an approval of withdrawal without academic penalty, we will forward your documentation to the provider university. The provider university will determine the result and advise yourself and OUA of the outcome of your application in accordance with the university's policy.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of our internal review, you can appeal in writing (with supporting documentation) within 28 days of receiving OUA's written advice. An OUA senior officer will review the case afresh and provide advice within 14 days.

If you are unsuccessful, disputes relating to re-credit of FEE-HELP may be taken to the Federal Administrative Appeals Tribunal, while disputes relating to refund of unit fees can be reviewed by an External Review Officer (i.e., person independent of OUA) on request.

Further information, including contact details, on these avenues is available on request should you wish to have your application reviewed.

Please submit your request for Special Circumstances to:

For further information please contact a Student Advisor.

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