Science and Technology Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty Policy

1. Scope of Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty Policy

The Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty (WWAP) policy applies to all enrolled students at the University of New England who wish to withdraw from a unit of study within the School of Science and Technology (hereinafter “The School”) due to valid reasons as specified below.

2. WWAP Criteria

Prior to the Census Date

If you withdraw prior to the relevant census date for that teaching period, you will not incur a financial or academic penalty.

After the Census Date

If the census date has passed and it is before the last date to withdraw without failure, a student is eligible to apply to WWAP from a unit of study under special circumstances IF they have been affected by circumstances beyond their control.

Once Exams have commenced

Please be aware that once exams have commenced, students will not be able to withdraw themselves from a unit. Depending on whether they have experienced special circumstances which have impacted your studies during the trimester, they may be able to:

For further information on tuition fees when withdrawing after the census date, please refer to the Deadlines and Withdrawals page on the Study Assist site.

2.1 What are Special Circumstances?

Special circumstances are circumstances that:

  • are beyond your control
  • unusual, uncommon or abnormal
  • did not make the full impact on your study until on or after the census date of the unit
  • make it impracticable for you to complete the unit, and
  • not due to any action or inaction by you, and are therefore not your responsibility.

Some examples of special circumstances are:

  • major illness or a worsening, or changing, medical condition
  • a family member dying
  • a family member having a serious medical condition
  • unavoidable changes to your employment
  • changes the University made by which you were disadvantaged
  • a natural disaster or other emergency that directly impacts you
  • any other compelling circumstances that the University is satisfied made it unreasonable to expect you to have completed the requirements for the unit.

In addition, special circumstances may apply to domestic students where financial difficulties experienced by you, or your family, prevents you from continuing your studies.

As a result of these events or circumstances, it must have been impractical/impossible for you to complete the program requirements, that is, you were unable to do any of the following:

  • Undertake the necessary private study required
  • Attend sufficient lectures, tutorials or meet other attendance requirements in order to meet your compulsory requirements
  • Complete the required assessable work
  • Sit the required examinations
  • Complete other course requirements because of your inability to meet the above

The School will not generally grant a student late discontinuation of a unit of study where the student has: (a) attempted all compulsory assessments; and (b) met all other mandatory unit of study requirements

3. Application Process

To apply for Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty, students should submit their request, along with appropriate supporting documentation, through AskUNE with the subject line: ‘Application for Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty’. The application must be submitted within six (6) months following the conclusion of the unit.

4. What is appropriate supporting documentation?

Appropriate Supporting Documentation is outlined in Appendix 1 of The School’s Late Assessment Policy.

On top of the requirements outlined in the School’s Late Assessment Policy, supporting documentation for a WWAP needs to:

  • Describe what happened in detail;
  • Demonstrate the impact of the circumstances on your unit of study and how they made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements of the affected unit;
  • Detail how the circumstances did not make their full impact on your study until on or after the relevant census date;
  • Demonstrate how these circumstances were out of your control;
  • Outline how the circumstances could not be addressed by:
  • other forms of special considerations;
  • adjustments provided by registering with Student Accessibility and Wellbeing (SAWO).
  • Include the period of time during which you were affected;
  • Be truthful and accurate;
  • Be in English, or translated.

If you have successfully completed (or remain enrolled in) other units of study in the same teaching period, you'll need to explain why only the affected unit or units were impacted.

Please note

  • The School will not process applications until supporting documentation is received.
  • If supporting documentation is required and not received within ten (10) working days, the application will be closed.
  • The School has the right to reject any supporting documentation that does not reasonably support your request.
  • The School has the right to verify all supporting documentation to confirm the integrity and legitimacy of the claims being made.
  • Submitting misleading or fraudulent information or documents is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct. Such breaches will be reported to the Academic Integrity Team and no extensions will be granted.

5. Notification of outcome of a WWAP

Students should not contact the School's Administrative Office unless they have not received notification from AskUNE or if there is no notification visible on the MyLearn page after ten (10) working days from the time they applied for the extension.

If a WWAP is approved by the Head of School or Delegate, students will still incur a financial penalty but will receive a withdrawn (W) grade for the unit/s.

If a WWAP is declined, and a student considers that there are grounds for contesting the decision they can submit an appeal. In The School, this appeal will be assessed by the Deputy Head of School, who serves as the School’s appointed WWAP Appeals Coordinator.

Appeals can be submitted online using the Appeals Against an Academic Assessment Form within ten (10) working days for domestic students and twenty (20) working days for international students of the release of the extension or specia