Academic standing for postgraduates
A guide to how we track your progress in your postgraduate program and where to find support if needed
Academic standing is the key mechanism by which we help you monitor your progress in your program.
Your academic standing is updated at the end of each term, semester or hexamester based on your performance in the coursework you complete. Academic standing is calculated differently for postgraduate coursework students and undergraduate students.
How is postgraduate academic standing calculated?
Academic standing is calculated based on the number of cumulative fails across all of your postgraduate studies at UNSW (not just your current program).
Because postgraduate students are already experienced in university study and postgraduate coursework programs are also normally shorter than undergraduate programs, the university expects postgraduate students to complete program requirements with very few failures.
There are 7 levels of academic standing for postgraduate students. Each level has an impact on progression (enrolment) in a program.
Important notes
- From 2021, if you attempted postgraduate study in a different program at UNSW more than 2 years prior to the start of your current program, then any failed courses from your previous (different) postgraduate program will not be counted towards your academic standing for your current postgraduate program.
- Summer Term/Semester results will be included in the calculation of your Term/Semester 1 academic standing.
- AW (Academic Withdrawal) grades are treated as fail grades when calculating academic standing.
See also
Your academic standing for the current term, semester or hexamester is determined as follows:
- If you pass all units of credit (UOC) attempted in the current term, semester or hexamester, you are assigned an academic standing level of Good.
- If you don't pass all UOC, your academic standing is calculated on the basis of the total number of UOC failed across your postgraduate career, up to and including the current term, semester or hexamester.
See how your academic progress for the current term will affect your academic standing below, based on your current academic standing level.
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You have failed fewer than 12 units of credit during your postgraduate studies at UNSW.
UNSW is not concerned about your progress.
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An academic standing of Pending means that your academic standing cannot be calculated because of late or withheld results.
Academic standing is re-calculated on a regular basis. Your academic standing will be adjusted accordingly shortly after your results are finalised.
If you still have unfinalised grades (WD, WC or LE) on the date when academic standing is finalised, these grades will be converted to NC (Not Completed) and treated as failures when your academic standing is finalised for the term.
Deadlines for finalising withheld results
UNSW Sydney
- Summer Term 2025: 7 March 2025
- Term 1 2025: 20 June 2025
- Term 2 2025: 3 October 2025
UNSW Canberra:
- Summer Semester 2025: 14 March 2025
- Semester 1 2025: 1 August 2025
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You have failed between 12 and 18 units of credit during your postgraduate studies at UNSW.
The university is very concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your progress, you risk facing suspension.
Your enrolment next term is subject to the approval of your academic advisor; you must not finalise your enrolment without contacting them.
What do I need to do?
You must make an appointment to see an academic advisor to discuss your future enrolment. Your advisor will help you identify and overcome any problems that may be impacting your ability to successfully complete your studies and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
To make an appointment with an academic advisor, check the instructions in your academic standing letter.
We also strongly encourage you to see the faculty-specific next steps for support and advice on improving your academic performance.
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You have failed between 19 and 35 units of credit during postgraduate studies at UNSW.
If you achieve marks which would put you on an academic standing level of Suspension, but those marks are released late or are withheld beyond the official release of results, you will be assigned Provisional Suspension instead.
Since Provisional Suspension is treated similarly to Postgraduate Academic Risk, the University is very concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your progress, you risk facing suspension.
Your enrolment next term is subject to the approval of your academic advisor; you must not finalise your enrolment without contacting them.
What do I need to do?
You must make an appointment to see an academic advisor to discuss your future enrolment. Your advisor will help you identify and overcome any problems that may be impacting your ability to successfully complete your studies and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
To make an appointment with an academic advisor, check the instructions in your academic standing letter.
We also strongly encourage you to see the faculty-specific next steps for support and advice on improving your academic performance.
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You have failed between 19 and 35 units of credit during postgraduate studies at UNSW.
You are suspended for one academic year with automatic right of readmission to your program of study following your period of suspension.
If you have genuine reasons that affected your academic progress, you can appeal your suspension or exclusion.
What happens after returning from suspension?
Following your return and enrolment in your first term, semester or hexamester after the suspension period:
- If you pass all attempted units of credit, your academic standing level will become Good.
- If you fail some of the attempted units of credit, giving you a total between 19 and 35 failed units of credit, then your academic standing level will become Postgraduate Exclusion Risk.
- If you fail some of the attempted courses, giving you a total of 36 or more failed units of credit, then your academic standing level will move to Exclusion.
Can I study a different program if suspended?
No, academic standing is determined at the career level ( i.e. undergraduate or postgraduate) rather than at the program level. As a result, if you are suspended from one program you cannot apply to study another program during the period of suspension.
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Following a period of suspension, you have failed a further course and in total between 19 and 35 units of credit during your postgraduate studies at UNSW.
The University is extremely concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your progress, you risk facing exclusion from UNSW and being unable to complete your program for two years.
Your enrolment next term is subject to the approval of your academic advisor; you must not finalise your enrolment without contacting them.
What do I need to do?
You must make an appointment to see an academic advisor to discuss your future enrolment. Your advisor will help you identify and overcome any problems that may be impacting your ability to successfully complete your studies and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
To make an appointment with an academic advisor, check the instructions in your academic standing letter.
We also strongly encourage you to see the faculty-specific next steps for support and advice on improving your academic performance.
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Following a period of academic suspension, you have failed 36 units of credit or more units of credit during your postgraduate studies at UNSW.
If you achieve marks which would put you on an academic standing level of Exclusion, but those marks are released late or are withheld beyond the official release of results, you will be assigned Provisional Exclusion instead.
Since Provisional Exclusion is treated similarly to Postgraduate Exclusion Risk, the University is extremely concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your progress, you risk facing exclusion.
Your enrolment next term is subject to the approval of your academic advisor; you must not finalise your enrolment without contacting them.
What do I need to do?
You must make an appointment to see an academic advisor to discuss your future enrolment. Your advisor will help you identify and overcome any problems that may be impacting your ability to successfully complete your studies and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
To make an appointment with an academic advisor, check the instructions in your academic standing letter.
We also strongly encourage you to see the faculty-specific next steps for support and advice on improving your academic performance.
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Following a period of suspension, you have failed 36 units of credit or more during your postgraduate studies at UNSW.
You are excluded from the University for two academic years. If you wish to continue your program at the end of the exclusion period, you must apply for re-admission.
If you have genuine reasons that affected your academic progress, you can appeal your suspension or exclusion.
Can I study a different program if excluded?
No, academic standing is determined at the career level ( i.e. undergraduate or postgraduate) rather than at the program level. As a result, if you are excluded from one program you cannot apply to study another program during the period of exclusion.
Can I appeal my academic standing?
If you have genuine reasons that affected your academic progress, you can appeal your suspension or exclusion.
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