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Academic standing for undergraduates

How we help you track your academic progress and what it means for you as an undergraduate student

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How does academic standing work?

Your academic standing is updated at the end of each term or semester based on your performance in the courses you complete.

Academic standing is the key mechanism by which we help you track your progress in your program. This allows us to alert you and your program authority of potential problems that may negatively impact your academic progression.

There are 9 levels of academic standing for undergraduate students. Each level has an impact on progression (enrolment) in a program.

ℹ️ Guide to academic progress

Your academic progress is based on the units of credit (UOC) you attempted vs passed in the latest term or semester*.

There are three categories of academic progress you can make each term or semester:

  • Nil Progress – attempted more than 6 UOC & passed no UOC
  • Poor Progress – attempted more than 0 UOC & passed less than 50% of UOC
  • Satisfactory Progress – attempted more than 0 UOC & passed 50% or more UOC.

AW (Academic Withdrawal) grades are treated as fail grades when calculating academic standing.

* Your Summer Term or Semester results will be included in the calculation of your Term/Semester 1 academic standing.

See also

Academic standing levels

Your latest undergraduate academic standing is determined using:

  • Your academic standing from the end of your previously enrolled term
  • Your academic progress for the latest term – the number of units of credit (UOC) you attempted vs passed.

See how your academic progress for the current term will affect your academic standing below, based on your current academic standing level.

  • You are making good progress based on your previous term's performance. The university has no concerns about your academic progression.

    What happens at the end of the current term?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Good
    Satisfactory
    		 Good
    Poor
    		 Academic Risk Level 1
    Nil
    		 Academic Risk Level 2
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will remain Good.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 1.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 2.

  • 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 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

  • The university is concerned about your academic progress.

    We encourage you to see the faculty-specific next steps for support and advice on improving your academic performance.

    What happens at the end of the current term?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Academic Risk Level 1
    Satisfactory
    		 Good
    Poor
    		 Academic Risk Level 2
    Nil
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Good.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 2.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.

  • The university is very concerned about your academic progress and it is important that you seek assistance to help you get back on track.
    📋 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.
    What happens at the end of the current term?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Academic Risk Level 2
    Satisfactory
    		 Academic Risk Level 1
    Poor
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    Nil
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 1.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.

  • 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.
    What happens at the end of the current term?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Academic Risk Level 3
    Satisfactory
    		 Academic Risk Level 2
    Poor
    		 Suspension *
    Nil
    		 Suspension *


    * If you have been suspended before and make poor or nil progress while at Academic Risk Level 3, your academic standing will move downward to Academic Risk Level 4 (rather than Suspension). You cannot be suspended twice.
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 2.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Suspension.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Suspension.

  • The University is extremely concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your academic progress, you risk being suspended at the end of the current term.

    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.

    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.
    What happens at the end of the current term?

    Provisional Suspension is treated similarly to Academic Risk Level 3 when calculating standing for future terms.
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Provisional Suspension

    		 Satisfactory Academic Risk Level 2
    Poor Suspension *
    Nil Suspension *

    * If you have been suspended before and make poor or nil progress while at Academic Risk Level 3, your academic standing will move downward to Academic Risk Level 4 (rather than Suspension). You cannot be suspended twice.

    Please note: If you believe you had valid, resolvable reasons for unsatisfactory academic progression, you can appeal your suspension or exclusion.
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 2.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Suspension.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Suspension.

  • The University is extremely concerned about your progress and believes that you require a break in your studies to deal with the issues affecting your academic progress.

    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 at the end of the first term after returning from suspension?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Suspension
    Satisfactory
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    Poor
    		 Academic Risk Level 4
    Nil
    		 Academic Risk Level 4
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 4.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 4.
    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.

  • The University is extremely concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your progress, you risk being excluded from UNSW.

    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.
    What happens at the end of the current term?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Academic Risk Level 4
    Satisfactory
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    Poor
    		 Exclusion *
    Nil
    		 Exclusion *
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Exclusion.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Exclusion.

  • The University is extremely concerned about your progress. Unless you address the issues that are affecting your academic progress, you risk being excluded at the end of the current term.

    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.

    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.
    What happens at the end of the current term?

    Provisional Exclusion is treated similarly to Academic Risk Level 4 when calculating standing for future terms.
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Provisional Exclusion

    		 Satisfactory Academic Risk Level 3
    Poor Exclusion*
    Nil Exclusion*

    * If you have been suspended before and make poor or nil progress while at Provisional Exclusion, you will be excluded. You cannot be suspended twice.
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Exclusion.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Exclusion.

  • The University has serious concerns about your ability to complete your program. You have previously been assigned an academic standing level of Suspension which is why your academic standing level is now Exclusion.

    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 believe you have genuine reasons that affected your academic progress, you can appeal your suspension or exclusion.
    What happens at the end of the first term after returning from exclusion?
    Academic standing from previous term
    Academic progress in current term
    New academic standing

    Exclusion
    Satisfactory
    		 Academic Risk Level 3
    Poor
    		 Academic Risk Level 4
    Nil
    		 Academic Risk Level 4
    💡 What does this mean for me?
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass 50% or more of your attempted load (Satisfactory progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 3.
    • If you enrol in the next term and pass less than 50% of your attempted load (Poor progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 4.
    • If you enrol in more than 6 UOC in the next term and do not pass any of the attempted load (Nil progress), your academic standing will become Academic Risk 4.
    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?

Yes. If you have genuine reasons that affected your academic progress, you can apply for a review of your academic standing.
Appeal your suspension or exclusion

Looking to get back on track?

Academic standing: Next steps

See the advice tailored to your academic standing level, designed specifically with your faculty in mind.

Academic skills support & resources

Get individual guidance from an Academic Learning Facilitator, check out upcoming events and explore our extensive study skills toolkit.

Progression plans & myPlan

Check the recommended progression for your program and plan out your study journey using the myPlan tool.

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