Current students

false

  • Discontinue a unit of study false false
  • Student visa holders true true

50%

Discontinuing a unit of study as a student visa holder

As a student visa holder, your options for dropping a unit depend on your study load and when you want to drop the unit.

m-hero--simple

false

Study load requirement

It’s a requirement of your student visa that you are enrolled in a full-time study load (24 credit points).

If you remain in 24 credit points, you can drop a unit before the unit's census date without penalty. After the census date, there may be financial and/or academic penalties.

You can apply to drop below 24 credit points if you have valid reasons.

How to drop a unit in a full-time study load

  1. Log in to Sydney Student.
  2. Go to My studies > Units of study > Change your units of study.
  3. Now that you’re on the unit of study selection screen, select the rubbish bin next to the unit you want to remove.
  4. To remain in a full-time study load, you may need to add additional units.
  5. Click Continue then Confirm on the confirmation screen to finalise your changes.

If you can’t see the rubbish bin symbol, find out why

What happens if I drop the unit?

  • The unit is fully removed from your academic transcript and statements.
  • You're not liable to pay the unit fee.
  • You can still re-enrol yourself in the unit, or a different unit, up until the last day to add.

  1. You’ll need to submit a request using the unit of study selection issues form, as you won’t be able to make the changes yourself.
  2. Include in your request that you want to drop a unit after the last day to add deadline.
  3. Select the unit you want to drop.
  4. So that you remain in a full-time load, you may need to select a new unit for us to enrol you in. You can only select a unit that is offered in a session where the last day to add has not yet passed.

What happens if I drop the unit?

  • The unit is fully removed from your academic transcript and statements.
  • You're not liable to pay the unit fee.
  • You can still enrol yourself in units held during intensive sessions, provided it’s before the individual session’s last day to add.

  1. You’ll need to submit a request through the unit of study selection issues form, as you won’t be able to make the changes yourself.
  2. Include in your request that you want to discontinue a unit after the census date.
  3. Select the unit you want to drop.
  4. So that you remain in a full-time load, you may need to select a new unit for us to enrol you in. You can only select a unit that is offered in a session where the last day to add has not yet passed.

What happens if I discontinue the unit?

  • A 'DF' (i.e. 'Discontinue fail’) will be recorded on your academic transcript.
  • This counts as a fail on your transcript but does not affect your Weighted Average Mark (WAM).
  • A DF grade can also be a trigger for academic progression, so you may receive a warning that you haven’t made satisfactory progress in your degree.
  • You cannot re-enrol in the unit for that study period.
  • You remain liable for the unit fees.
  • If you request a DF and have been impacted by circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from completing the unit, you can still apply to discontinue the unit 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.

After the last day of teaching, you can only discontinue a unit if you’ve been impacted by circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from completing the unit.

If you can’t demonstrate special circumstances:

  • a grade/mark will be recorded on your academic transcript based on the assessment you have completed
  • you remain liable for the unit fees.

How to drop below 24 credit points 

If you want to drop below 24 credit points, you’ll need to follow the process to apply for a reduced study load instead. Note that you'll need valid reasons to apply.

If your application is not approved, you’ll need to remain enrolled in 24 credit points.

If you want to drop below 24 credit points, you’ll need to follow the process to apply for a reduced study load instead. Note that you'll need valid reasons to apply.

If your application is not approved, you’ll need to remain enrolled in 24 credit points.

After census, you can only drop below 24 points if you’ve been impacted by circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from completing the unit. You’ll need to apply to discontinue the unit under special circumstances.

If you can’t demonstrate special circumstances:

  • a grade/mark will be recorded on your academic transcript based on the assessment you have completed
  • you remain liable for the unit fees.

After the last day of teaching, you can only drop below 24 points if you’ve been impacted by circumstances beyond your control that prevent you from completing the unit. You’ll need to apply to discontinue the unit under special circumstances.

If you can’t demonstrate special circumstances:

  • a grade/mark will be recorded on your academic transcript based on the assessment you have completed
  • you remain liable for the unit fees.
See contact information
_self
If you would like to discontinue from a coursework unit of study as a Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student, you’ll need to contact Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC).

HDR students follow a different process

h3

cmp-callout--informational-blue

Withdrawing from all your units

If you intend to withdraw from all your units of study and it's before census, find out how to suspend your studies.

Last updated: 02 June 2026

Website feedback

Tell us if you’ve spotted a typo or something else wrong with this page. If you have an enquiry or need help with something else such as your enrolment, course etc you can contact the Student Centre.

Tell us if you’ve spotted a typo or something else wrong with this page. For any other enquiries please contact the Student Centre.

Cancel
Thankyou message: Your feedback has been sent. Failure message: Sorry there was a problem sending your feedback. Please try again