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Discontinue a unit of study
Understand the consequences of withdrawing from a unit, the importance of the census date and the support available to help you manage your studies.
- Drop a unit of study
- Late discontinuation under special circumstances
Drop a unit of study
Depending on when you withdraw from your subject, and the type of student you are, there may be financial and/or academic penalties.
Domestic students
| Timing | Outcome | How to apply |
|---|---|---|
| Before the unit's census date |
|
You withdraw from a unit by selecting the rubbish bin on the unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, ‘Units of study’, then ‘Change your units of study’). You'll need to select 'Continue' and then 'Confirm' on the confirmation screen to finalise your change. |
| HDR students If you would like to withdraw from a coursework unit of study, you wil need to contact Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). |
||
| After the unit’s census date and before the last day of teaching (last date to discontinue fail - DF) |
|
Log in to Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, ‘Units of study’, ‘Other options’, then ‘Discontinue from a unit of study’). |
| HDR students If you would like to discontinue from a coursework unit of study, you wil need to contact Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). |
||
| After the unit’s last date to discontinue fail (DF) |
|
You can no longer discontinue from the unit. Your mark will be recorded. |
Student visa holders
It is a requirement of your student visa that you are enrolled in a full-time study load (24 credit points). When you’re selecting your units during enrolment you’ll be able to remove units to add others, but after last day to add and once the semester has started, you’ll need to make sure you’re enrolled in a full study load.
Before census
You can withdraw from a unit by selecting the rubbish bin next to a unit on the unit of study selection screen, (go to ‘My studies’, ‘Units of study’, then ‘Change your units of study’). You'll need to select 'Continue' and then 'Confirm' on the confirmation screen to finalise your change.
After last day to add for the main semester you won't see the rubbish bin symbol next to the unit so you can’t remove a unit yourself. This applies even if you’re enrolled in a late intensive with its own last day to add deadline. If you're dropping a unit but will still maintain a full-time study load, you'll need to submit a request through the unit of study selection issues form. You will just need to include in your request that you want to remove a unit after the last day to add deadline.
Reduced study load
If at any point before census, you’re looking to drop a unit and study less than a full time study load, you will need to apply for a reduced study load. To be eligible to study a reduced load you will need to outline compassionate and compelling reasons and provide sufficient supporting documents.After census
If the census date has passed, you will only be able to discontinue from a unit and reduce your study load if you have been impacted by circumstances beyond your control. In this instance you can apply for late discontinuation from a unit of study under special circumstances.
If your application is approved, you will receive a DC grade which does not count as a fail on your transcript and fees associated with your unit of study will be remitted.
Dropping to a full time study load
If after dropping a unit you are maintaining a full time load, you have the option to request to discontinue from a unit and receive a grade of Discontinue fail (DF). You will remain financially liable for the unit and the DF grade will be recorded on your transcript. This counts as a fail on your transcript but does not affect your Weighted Average Mark (WAM). A DF grade can be a trigger for academic progression, so you may receive a warning that you haven’t made satisfactory progress in your degree. You will need to submit this request before the the last day of teaching (last date to discontinue fail deadline).
If you choose to go with this option, you will need to request this by submitting the unit of study selection issues form.
If you request a DF, you can still apply for a late discontinuation under special circumstances if you have experienced compassionate or compelling reasons. If your application is approved, your DF will be updated to a DC.
Having difficulty with a unit
Withdrawing from a subject can be a big decision, as it may have financial or academic consequences.
Access support first
If you’re considering withdrawing from a subject because you are finding the academic content challenging, or your personal or financial circumstances are impacting your studies, know that there is a range of support services available.
If you’re worried about your results and academic progress, we recommend first talking to an academic advisor in your faculty or school.
Work out your options for dropping a unit
You can use our tool to understand what options are available to you depending on your scenario.
Late discontinuation from a unit under special circumstances
If the census date has passed, but you have been impacted by circumstances beyond your control you can apply to discontinue from a unit of study under special circumstances. If your application is approved, you will receive a DC grade which does not count as a fail on your transcript and fees associated with your unit of study will be remitted. Find out more about how this process works.
Withdrawing from all your units
If you intend to withdraw from all your units of study and it's before census, you should look at suspending your studies.
Last updated: 24 May 2023
