Please note: The rules on this page apply from 2021 onwards (including Summer Term of 2021).
The rules for 2020 are available on the pre-2021 rules page.
This page explains academic standing for undergraduate students. Academic standing is the key mechanism by which a student’s progress in their program is monitored at the conclusion of each term or semester. There are 9 categories of academic standing for undergraduate students. Each category has an impact on progression (enrolment) in a program.
Your academic standing is determined using your academic standing at the end of the previous term/semester in which you were enrolled, together with your academic achievement for the current term/semester. Any results obtained in the Summer Term/Semester are included in the calculation of your academic standing for Term/Semester 1.
Please be aware that grades of AW (Academic Withdrawal) are treated as fail grades when calculating academic standing. You can see how grades of PW (Permitted Withdrawal) are treated here.
Quick reference guide
Below is a quick reference guide to the rules for undergraduate academic standing.
For more explanation of your academic standing level, as well as the implications involved, see this Guide to understanding your academic standing.
How is progress defined
| Nil Progress | more than 6 units of credit attempted, and no units of credit passed |
| Poor Progress | more than 0 units of credit attempted, and less than 50% passed |
| Satisfactory Progress | more than 0 units of credit attempted and 50% or more passed |
Academic Standing Rules effective from 2021 onwards (including Summer Term of 2021)
| Academic standing in previous term | Satisfactory progress | Poor progress | Nil progress |
| Good | Good | Academic Risk Level 1 | Academic Risk Level 2 |
| Academic Risk Level 1 (was Referral) | Good | Academic Risk Level 2 | Academic Risk Level 3 |
| Academic Risk Level 2 (was Probation) | Academic Risk Level 1 | Academic Risk Level 3 | Academic Risk Level 3 |
| Academic Risk Level 3 | Academic Risk Level 2 | Suspension** | Suspension** |
| Suspension* | Academic Risk Level 3 | Academic Risk Level 4 | Academic Risk Level 4 |
| Academic Risk Level 4 | Academic Risk Level 3 | Exclusion* | Exclusion* |
| Exclusion | Academic Risk Level 3 | Academic Risk Level 4 | Academic Risk Level 4 |
| Provisional Suspension | Academic Risk Level 2 | Suspension | Suspension |
| Provisional Exclusion | Academic Risk Level 3 | Exclusion* | Exclusion* |
*Once you have served a period of suspension, further poor performance will lead to Exclusion. You cannot be suspended twice.
**Where your current academic standing level is Academic Risk Level 3 and you make poor or nil progress, your academic standing will move downward to Academic Risk Level 4 (rather than Suspension) if you have previously been suspended. Further poor performance thereafter will lead to Exclusion.
For a more detailed description of your academic standing level, as well as the implications involved, see this Guide to understanding your academic standing.