Reducing your study load
Find out how you can apply for a reduced study load as an international student and how it could affect your visa.
Find out how you can apply for a reduced study load as an international student and how it could affect your visa.
If you’re an international student and want to reduce your study load, you can apply to do so under certain circumstances. Find out how you can apply for a reduced study load, and how it could affect your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and visa.
As an international student on a student visa, you’re required to undertake a full-time study load and complete your program by the end date of your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). For most students, this means you need to be enrolled in 48 units of credit (UOC) in a year, and at least 12 UOC a term.
If there are reasons you can’t study 48 UOC in a year or 12 UOC a term, you’ll need to apply to reduce your study load for that term. The application form opens the day after the release of results in the previous term, until the last day to drop a course in the current term without academic penalty. If you want to withdraw without facing any financial liability, you need to apply to reduce your study load at least 4 days before the .
It’s important to know there can be serious consequences to your CoE and student visa if you reduce your study load. Your CoE and student visa will only be extended in limited circumstances for reasons that must be documented and approved.
For more information about your student visa conditions, visit .
It may be a better option to apply for program leave instead of applying to reduce your study load. Learn more about taking program leave.
You’ll need to apply to reduce your study load if:
You don’t need to apply for a reduced study load if you are:
When you apply for a reduced study load, your CoE and student visa will only be extended in limited circumstances for specific reasons and circumstances. These include:
Compassionate and compelling circumstances
These are circumstances beyond your control and affect your ability to attend classes and study. These include:
You’ll need to supply the following documentation with your application to reduce your study load for compassionate or compelling circumstances:
Academic Intervention Strategy
If your academic standing is below Good Standing, you may be advised by your academic advisor or faculty to reduce your study load as part of an academic intervention strategy.
You’ll need to supply supporting documentation with your application to reduce your study load for an Academic Intervention Strategy:
At risk of failing a course
If you have failed assessments or are at risk of failing a course, your academic advisor may recommend withdrawing from the course.
You’ll need to supply the following documentation with your application to reduce your study load for an academic intervention strategy:
Other academic reasons
There are some other academic reasons when you could apply to reduce your study load. These are:
Your application to reduce your study load won’t be approved if it’s for the following reasons:
What you can do if these things are affecting you
If any of the above circumstances are affecting your ability to handle your study load, you can access support from your faculty, , or other services on campus. You could also apply for program leave.
If you think you’re at risk of failing the course, then your academic record could support your application to reduce your study load.
It’s important to understand how a reduced study load could affect your student visa.
requires international student visa holders to complete their program within the time specified on their CoE.
Reducing your study load may lengthen the time it takes for you to complete your program, which means you wouldn’t be able to complete your program within the duration of your CoE and student visa.
There will be additional costs associated with extending your student visa, like administration fee, overseas student health cover, and medical assessment.
Please note, if you have reduced your study load without approval or supporting documents and require a new CoE, UNSW may refuse to issue you with a new CoE. This will prevent you from completing your program.
If you’ve decided to apply for a reduced study load, you’ll need to take the following steps:
A decision will be made within 10 working days of making your application. This will be sent to your UNSW student email within 10 working days. If your application is approved, you can then drop the course/s on myUNSW.
A is a record of the courses you’re currently enrolled in, and what you need to study in future to complete your degree. You must include your study plan with your application to reduce your study load.
It’s important you complete your study plan using the for the year you started your degree to make sure it’s correct.
How to complete a study plan for your reduced course load application:
If you don’t know a course code or name, simply enter “Elective”, “Core Course” or General Education”.
If your study plan is incomplete or incorrect, your program authority won’t approve it, and this may delay the outcome of your application.
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