Subject withdrawal

Understand the consequences of withdrawing from a subject, the importance of subject key dates and the support available to help you manage your studies.

Before withdrawing from a subject, consider your options carefully. Read through the advice below and seek support as required.

Subject key dates and withdrawal penalties

Depending on when you withdraw from your subject, there may be financial and/or academic penalties.  Check the subject entry in the Handbook for the specific dates related to each subject, as they vary by subject.

TimingOutcome
Before the subject's census date
  • Subject is fully removed from your academic transcript and statements
  • You are not liable to pay the subject fee
  • You can still re-enrol yourself up until the subject's last self-enrol date. In limited circumstances you can get assistance to enrol after the self-enrol date and before the census date.
  • Commonwealth supported students - The subject does not count toward Student Learning Entitlements or completion rate requirements.
  • If you withdraw from all your subjects before the census date, you need to apply for leave or deferral. See further information on withdrawing from all your subjects below.
After the subject's census date and before the subject's Last Date to Withdraw Without Fail
  • 'WD' (i.e. 'Withdrawn') will be recorded on your academic transcript and statements
  • You cannot re-enrol for that study period (either by yourself or via an Enrolment Assistance Form) after withdrawing
  • You remain liable for the subject fees
  • Withdrawing from all subjects in a half year period will affect your academic progress and you may be required to attend an At Risk or Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC) meeting
  • Commonwealth Supported students - Subject may count towards your Student Learning Entitlement and completion rate. See below for more information.
After the subject's Last Date to Withdraw Without Fail
  • Withdrawal is no longer permitted
  • A grade/mark will be recorded on your academic transcript and statements based on the assessment you have completed
  • You remain liable for the subject fees
  • Commonwealth Supported students - Subject may count towards your Student Learning Entitlement and completion rate. See below for more information.

How to withdraw from subjects

Withdraw

You can withdraw from subjects online via my.unimelb:

  1. Go to the Subject Withdrawal page in my.unimelb.
  2. Select the tick box next to the subject that you plan to withdraw from.
  3. Click Withdraw.
  4. You will be taken to a Potential Withdrawal List confirmation screen. Check that your planned subject withdrawals are correct.
  5. Click Confirm.
  6. You will be taken to the Withdrawal Confirmation screen. Click Close to complete the process, or View to see the details of your withdrawal.

Study load and course planning

Before withdrawing from subjects:

  • Check the Handbook for your course requirements, subject requisite requirements, and when the subject will next be offered.
  • Determine an appropriate study load. Students need to complete their course within the maximum allowable duration, and for some students (eg student-visa holders) there are minimum study load requirements.

Requirements for student visa holders

If you withdraw from a subject before its census date and are no longer on track to complete your course by your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date, you must apply for a Reduced Study Load. Only students with an approved reason to reduce their study load can receive an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) in order to renew their student visa.

Requirements for Commonwealth Supported students

If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place or in an Australian Full-fee place and are accessing a HELP loan, there are Australian Government eligibility criteria that you must meet to maintain Commonwealth support. This includes the Student Learning Entitlement and academic progress. These apply to subjects you are enrolled in after their census date.

Find out more

Withdrawing from all your subjects

Before census date

If you withdraw from all your subjects or have no study load for a half-year period before the census date and wish to remain enrolled at the University, you need to apply for leave or deferral depending on when you started your course:

Failure to do so will result in being cancelled from your course for incomplete enrolment. If you are a student visa holder, this will result in your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) being cancelled.

If you don’t intend to continue your course, apply to withdraw from your course.

After census date

If you withdraw from all your subjects after their census dates:

  • You do not need to apply for a Leave of Absence. Once the census date has passed for a subject, it is counted as part of your study load. Therefore, even after withdrawing from all your subjects, you will still be recorded as having study load for that half-year period, and so do not require a Leave of Absence. However, you will be liable for the subject fees.
  • Book an appointment with a course adviser if you’re experiencing difficulties that are impacting on your studies, and to map out your remaining subjects. Student visor holders: As you will no longer be on track to complete by your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date, you will need to catch up by enrolling in intensive Summer or Winter Term subjects.

Your academic progress will be affected:

  • If this is the first time you have withdrawn from all your subjects after the census date, you will be contacted by the University about your progress being ‘At Risk’ and may be invited to attend an appointment.
  • If your progress has been previously identified as ‘At Risk’, you will be contacted by the University and asked to provide information to a Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC), either via written submission and/or in person.
  • You may be eligible for subject fee remission in special circumstances.

How withdrawing affects your fees

If you withdraw from a subject before the census date for that subject, your fee liability for that subject will be cancelled. The amount you paid for the withdrawn subject will appear as a credit on your Fee Account Statement. This credit will be used to cover owing tuition fees for any other enrolled subjects.

If you have no other fees due at the time of withdrawing from a subject, you can either apply to have the money refunded to your personal bank account, or you can leave the credit in your student account to pay future tuition fees. You can check the amount of credit you may have by using the Fee Account Statement.

Fee remission in special circumstances

If you did not successfully complete a subject due to special circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for Fee Remission.

Student visa holders approved for late withdrawal of two or more subjects as an outcome of Fee Remission or Special consideration will receive an updated Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with a new end date to allow time to re-take the subjects.

If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place or in an Australian Full-fee place and accessing a HELP loan, when you apply for fee remission we will also assess if your subject can be excluded from your Student Learning Entitlement calculations.

Need help?

Withdrawing from a subject can be a big decision, as it may have financial or academic consequences.

Use the interactive subject withdrawal options tool to find out what options and services are available depending on your situation.

Find out your subject withdrawal options

If you’re considering withdrawing from a subject because you are finding the academic content challenging, or your personal or financial circumstances are impacting your studies, know that there is a range of support services available. Contact Stop 1 to discuss your circumstances and connect with the service that’s right for you or book an appointment with a course adviser if you need advice about enrolment changes or course planning.