Academic progress

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.

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.

Refer to the table below to see how the different grades and withdrawal outcomes count towards the calculation of the completion rate:

*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 100

Examples:

1. Student A has 8 units attempted, out of which there are 6 units passed and 2 failed.
   Completion rate = (6/8) x 100 = 75%
2. Student B has passed 3 units, withdrawn from 2 units after census and failed 4 units.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%
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 Student C has passed 6 units, withdrawn from 3 before the census date and failed 4 units.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

Scenario 2

Scenario 3

Yes, units where you withdraw after census (including withdrawals without academic penalty) count towards the completion rate calculation.

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.

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.

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.

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).

The completion rate will be published in the student portal under MyInfo in the future.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.