Academic progress
Academic progression is how we ensure that you are on track and passing the units you need to graduate. Currently, to successfully progress through your course, you need to pass 50% or more of your units in each progression period (can be semester, trimester or other teaching periods).
Please note: Important changes are being made to academic progression in 2023.
How is progression changing in 2023?
From 1 January 2023, we will introduce a new academic progression model for all our students. This is being done to help you better understand your progress over the duration of your course and what actions you may need to ensure you keep progressing through your course requirements.
The diagram below gives an overview of the new process.
Figure 1 - New Academic Progression Process
Your academic progression will now be monitored over the duration of your course, starting from your 2022-unit enrolment, and the completion rate will be calculated based on your successfully completed units for all attempted units. Different statuses such as satisfactory, precautionary notification and progression intervention will be indicated by different colours and there will be associated actions to be taken to get back on track if you have or are approaching a low completion rate.
Status | Colour | Completion Rate | Actions to get back on track |
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Satisfactory | Green | Greater than 75% | No actions needed; you are doing well |
Precautionary Notification | Light Green | Between 62.6 and 74.9% | Information about suggested support services will be provided |
Progression Intervention | Amber | Between 50 and 62.5% | Interview with an Academic Chair and an Academic Performance Plan to follow |
Unsatisfactory | Red | Between 20 and 49.9% | Transfer to another suitable course or accept suspension for a semester or trimester depending on your course |
Not permitted to re-enrol | Purple | Less than 20% | Not able to re-enrol in the same course for 1 year. Need to re-apply for admission into same or another course. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) check to be performed again. |
Event | Strategy | Action |
---|---|---|
2 or more failed units in first 4 attempted units | Early Intervention | Notification to meet with a Student Success Advisor and information about support services |
One or more failed units in first 8 attempted units | Other Early Intervention | Notification about support services available and accessibility to Student Success Advisors |
The Progression Policy and Procedure have been updated with these changes. You can read the latest version here
Frequently asked questions
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Which students are impacted by these changes?
The new academic progression process will be introduced for ALL students. However, the consequences of not performing satisfactorily will be different for domestic and international students in certain cases.
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How does progression work with the Job Ready Graduates (JRG) requirements?
The new academic progression model includes the Job-Ready Graduates (JRG) requirements. If you are accessing a Commonwealth Supported Place and/or HELP loans, you are required to maintain a completion rate of 50% or more. If your completion rate drops below 50% you will no longer be able to access Commonwealth Support in your course.
Different intervention strategies and associated notifications have been introduced to help alert you early on if your completion rate starts to drop and could later impact your access to Commonwealth Support.
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How is the completion rate calculated?
Refer to the table below to see how the different grades and withdrawal outcomes count towards the calculation of the completion rate:
Grade Description Count as an attempted unit? Unsuccessfully completed? Successfully completed? W0 Withdrawal before census N N/a N/a WD Withdrawal after census date but before the ‘First date for withdrawal with fail recorded’ date Y Y N WD-Fail i.e., N Withdrawal after the ‘First date for withdrawal with fail recorded’ date Y Y N AW Approved Withdrawal.
Withdrawal after census but before the 'First date for withdrawal with fail recorded' date, OR successful grade review.* from 2023 onwardsY Y N AS Academic Safety Net fail grade Y Y N N, UF Fail, Ungraded Fail. Y Y N DNS Fail: Did not submit assessment Y Y N P, C, D, HD
ASC, ASD, ASP, UPPass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction, Academic Safety Net Distinction, Academic Safety Net Credit, Academic Safety Net Pass, Ungraded Pass Y N Y RPL Cross institutional or official Study Abroad/Exchange units used for credit in your course. Y N Y UW University Withdrawal.
University initiated withdrawal due to disciplinary proceedings, or failure to make a payment.*Y Y N G, NA, NS, Q, SA, SX, DX, GP, FCR Interim Grades N N/a N/a 1, 2A, 2B, 3, H, H1, H2A, H2B, H3 Honours classifications Y N Y Advanced Standing (Credit) Any advanced standing credit achieved from 2022 onwards, this includes General and Specified Electives registered as credited units. Y N Y *AW & UW grades where fee remission has been awarded do not count as an attempted unit for Academic Progression Completion Rate or Job Ready Graduate Completion Rate calculations.
Completion Rate = (Number of successfully completed units/Total number of units attempted) x 100Examples:
- Student A has 8 units attempted, out of which there are 6 units passed and 2 failed.
Completion rate = (6/8) x 100 = 75% - Student B has passed 3 units, withdrawn from 2 units after census and failed 4 units.
Completion rate = {3/ (3+2+4)} x 100 = 33.3% - Student C has passed 6 units, withdrawn from 3 before the census date and failed 4 units.
Completion rate = {6/ (6+4)} x 100 = 60%
Case scenarios on how completion rate changes over the course duration:
Scenario 1
Period Attempted Units Successfully completed units Unsuccessfully completed units JRG Completion Rate S1 Year 1 2 1 1 50 S2 Year 1 3 1 2 40 S1 Year 2 2 2 0 57 S2 Year 2 1 0 1 50 S1 Year 3 3 3 0 63 S2 Year 3 3 2 1 64 S1 Year 4 3 1 2 59 Scenario 2
Period Attempted Units Successfully completed units Unsuccessfully completed units JRG Completion Rate S1 Year 1 2 2 0 100 S2 Year 1 3 1 2 (Fail 1 Withdrawal after census 1) 60 S1 Year 2 2 0 2 (Withdrawal after census 2) 43 Student voluntarily transfers to another course S1 Year 1 1 1 0 100 S2 Year 1 3 2 1 75 S1 Year 2 4 2 2 63 S2 Year 2 3 1 2 55 Scenario 3
Period Attempted Units Successfully completed units Unsuccessfully completed units JRG Completion Rate S1 Year 1 3 2 1 67 S2 Year 1 2 0 2 (Withdrawal after census 2) 40 Summer School Year 2 2 2 0 57 S1 Year 2 1 1 0 63 S2 Year 2 3 3 0 73 S1 Year 3 2 1 1 69 S2 Year 3 3 2 1 69 - Student A has 8 units attempted, out of which there are 6 units passed and 2 failed.
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Do withdrawals after census count towards a student’s completion rate?
Yes, units where you withdraw after census (including withdrawals without academic penalty) count towards the completion rate calculation.
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Will Academic Safety Net protect my completion rate if I fail a unit?
Academic Safety Net protects you against fail grades only (N and DNS) and it will end at the end of 2022. While the fails are not counted towards your GPA, they are counted towards the calculation of the completion rate.
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How will I know that I am approaching a low completion rate?
When we receive your results at the end of each teaching period, your progression in your course will be monitored and your completion rate recalculated. We will contact you to provide advice and referral to support services if you are approaching a low completion rate. You should regularly check your student email, so you do not miss out on any important notifications.
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I am approaching a low completion rate. Where can I get help?
We do offer a range of support services to assist you in your studies. You can:
- Discuss your progress with a myMurdoch Advice Student Success Advisor, who can help identify strategies to improve outcomes.
- Contact your Academic Chair, you’ll find their details in the course structure of the handbook for study plan assistance and academic advice.
- See our learning and study resources or book an appointment with a myMurdoch Advice Student Success Advisor if you require support with academic literacy, numeracy or study skills.
- Contact the Murdoch University Health Counselling Service if you are experiencing difficult personal circumstances. This is a free, confidential service with professional counsellors.
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How frequently is the completion rate updated?
The completion rate will be regularly updated (mostly after important academic milestones such as the release of results, application of advanced standing and approved retrospective withdrawals).
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Where can I see my completion rate?
The completion rate will be published in the student portal under MyInfo in the future.
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I am a domestic Commonwealth Supported student / domestic student on a scholarship, how will this impact me if I have a low completion rate?
If you have a course commencement date of 01/01/2022 or after, and you have a completion rate of less than 50%, you lose your Commonwealth Assistance access. In that case, you can either:
- Continue the course by paying upfront after your suspension period.
- Transfer to a new course (for which you are academically suited) with Murdoch University or another provider
- Apply and demonstrate for special circumstances (retrospective withdrawal) for failed unit(s) to not be counted towards completion rate.
Once you increase your completion rate to more than 50%, you can gain access to Commonwealth Assistance again.
If you have been awarded a scholarship, your eligibility may be impacted.
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I am an international student on a student visa, how will this impact me if I have a low completion rate?
Not performing satisfactorily could have consequences on your enrolment and thus on your student visa conditions. If you have been awarded a scholarship, your eligibility may be impacted.
If you continue to not meet satisfactory progress after an academic performance plan has been implemented, Murdoch University may ultimately suspend, exclude and report you to Government. Please see Standard 8 of the National Code.
If you appeal this decision, you will be permitted to remain enrolled during the appeal period. However, if you choose not to appeal, or the appeal resolution is in favour of Murdoch’s decision, Murdoch is required to report you to the Department of Home Affairs for failing to make satisfactory academic progress.
If the appeal resolution is successful for you, you must be put on a mandatory academic performance plan. Your enrolment will then be reviewed at the end of the appropriate study period to monitor Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act compliance with satisfactory course progression.
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What is an Academic Performance Plan?
If you fall into the Progression Intervention category (Amber), you are required to meet with your Academic Chair. The Academic Performance Plan is a record of the discussion and action items agreed between you and the Academic Chair. You will be required to follow the recommendations in that document. You can access the APP form here. This form is designed to help you identify areas that are affecting your study, and develop a plan to get you back on track.
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I have started my course prior to 2022. How will this new progression process affect me?
Your completion rate will only be calculated for units which you have undertaken as from 1st Jan 2022. Your previous units will not be taken into consideration.
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How does this work if I transfer courses?
If you choose to transfer courses, this is considered a “new commencement” and any failed units from the previous course are not counted towards your completion rate for the new course. Your GPA will be reset. You can transfer a maximum of 2 times and you will be checked for GTE prior to course transfer.
Advanced Standing for any relevant units of study undertaken from 1st January 2022 onwards will also be counted towards your completion rate in your new course as a successfully completed unit.
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Will I still be able to attempt the same unit 3 or 4 times?
In 2023 a third attempt at the same unit can no longer be approved by their Academic Chair, instead the Head of College or delegate must approve the final attempt.
As of 01 Jan 2023, fourth attempt approvals will no longer be permitted. If you were approved for a third attempt before 01/01/2023 (signed form), you will have the opportunity to apply for a fourth attempt as a legacy student. Enrolments and Progress will be assessing each student’s eligibility to apply for a fourth attempt exception before being passed on to the Head of College.
If a final attempt at the same unit (third or fourth) is failed or denied you cannot remain in your course or any course which requires that unit.