Permission to reduce study load

If you’re an international student on a student visa, you must maintain a full-time (usually 24 credit points) study load per half-year and complete your degree by the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date. If you wish to take less than a full-time study load in any half-year, you must make sure to complete your degree by your CoE end date or apply for permission to reduce your study load. 

 

Am I exempt from applying for a reduced study load?

You do not need to apply for permission to reduce your study load if any of the following apply:

  • You are in your final session of study;
  • You have been granted a non-student temporary visa and have notified the International Student Centre; or
  • You are enrolled in a course which requires you to enrol in less than 24 credit points in the relevant half-year. Refer to the UTS handbook for information about your course program.

The first half-year includes all sessions concluding between January and June, while the second half-year includes all sessions concluding between July and December. For example, if you study 6 credit points in the Summer session (concluding in February) and enrol in 18 credit points in the subsequent Autumn session, you do not need to apply for permission to reduce your study load for the first half-year.

Why do I need to apply for permission to reduce my study load?

To meet your student visa requirements, you need to be enrolled in a 100 per cent study load per half-year which is usually 24 credit points. Therefore, you need to have formal approval to reduce your study load in any half-year unless you qualify for an exemption.  

What happens if I do not apply for a reduced study load?

If you enrol in less than 24 credit points in any half-year without formal approval or an exemption, the university may not be able to issue a new CoE to extend your student visa to complete your course. 

Reasons for applying and supporting documentation required

Academic difficulties (Academic Caution and Early Intervention)

Who should apply? 

Important    
If you are in your first session it is not possible to reduce your study load on the basis of academic difficulties. Students must have attempted at least one session before applying for this reason.

What supporting documents are required?

  1. A personal statement, explaining the reasons for applying.
  2. Students on early intervention or academic caution should attach a copy of their early intervention or academic caution form signed by an Academic Advisor.

Compassionate grounds 

Who should apply? 

Students whose course progression has been impacted by:

  • Medical Health - Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes for a period of time 
  • Bereavement of a close family member 
  • Personal reason(s)
  • Other circumstances that were beyond your control

Important    
Circumstances that are not considered compassionate or compelling reasons beyond students control, include, but are not limited to:

- financial and employment reason 
- family obligations, such as a wedding of a relative or friend 
- minor medical illness 

What supporting documents are required?

  • Personal statement AND
  • Official supporting documentation
Personal statement

A personal statement explaining the reasons for applying.

Official supporting documentation

All official supporting documentation should include (but not limited to):

  • What the circumstances were
  • When they occurred
  • How long they lasted
  • The level of impact of the special circumstances, including the dates of impact and, if relevant, the period of impact as determined by the source of authority

Ensure all official supporting documentation are recently dated, and confirm circumstances are ongoing and relevant to the timeframe to be considered.

Any official supporting documentation in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English translation performed by a NAATI-accredited translator (opens an external site).

Official supporting documentation for compassionate or compelling circumstances must be from an independent source of authority, such as:

1.   A UTS Professional Authority form (PDF, 207KB) from a registered medical practitioner, psychologist, counsellor or other registered health practitioner

2.  A detailed statement (memorandum) from a counsellor from the University’s Counselling Service who has been involved in your assessment and/or treatment

3.  A detailed medical certificate from a physician or medical specialist. The medical certificate must:

  • Be issued on official letterhead
  • Include the address and contact details of the health practitioner or counsellor
  • Be dated within the last 3 months
  • Confirm that you are unable to maintain a full study load for the session and a duration of recommended time away from studies (if applicable)
  • Include a treatment plan (if relevant)
  • Include the signature of the health practitioner or counsellor
  • Note: The medical certificate will not be accepted if any of the relevant details listed above are missing

4.    Police statement

5.    A copy of a death certificate or death notice for a close family member

6.    A statutory declaration (for exceptional circumstances only, including situations where you cannot provide supporting documentation explaining the absence of sufficient documents).
 

Enrolment issues

Who should apply? 

Students who cannot enrol into a subject because:

  • There is no other relevant subject available in the session 
  • There is an unavoidable timetable clash between two core subjects
  • They have failed a pre-requisite subject 
  • Less than 100% load required to complete course
     

Important    
If there are other subjects available for you to enrol in for the session, such as elective subjects, you cannot apply based on this reason. This reason can only be used if there are no other subjects available to enrol in the session. Disliking available elective subjects cannot be used as a reason to reduce study load. 

What documents are required?

  • An explanation of the reasons behind your application, and the steps you have already taken to try to resolve your issue

How do I apply for a reduced study load?

Application period:  
Applications for the first half-year of 2025 is open from Monday 16 December 2024 to Friday 21 February 2025

You must apply by 21 February 2025. Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.

Important: A reduced study load application processing can take up to 2 weeks, so you need to submit your application as soon as possible. 

What do I need to apply for a reduced study load? 

  1. You must enrol in full time study load (where possible) until you receive a response to your application. 
  2. All applications must include supporting documentation, see documents required for each relevant category 
  3. Additional supporting documentation is required from the cohorts listed below: 

    Sponsored Students - confirmation from sponsor to support your request to reduce your study load. Sponsor to email approval to sponsored.student@uts.edu.au.

    Undergraduate Nursing students – approval and recommended enrolment plan from Course Director. Email ugnursingadmin@uts.edu.au for faculty approval.

    Master of Law students – Approval from the Director of Students.  Email

    Graduate School of Health Students - Approval from Faculty. Students are to email gshadmin@uts.edu.au. All applicants are required to provide proposed study plans for future sessions to make sure their course progressions are on track by the CoE end date. Submit your completed application via My Student Portal.  Maria.Abertos@uts.edu.au
  4. All applicants are required to provide proposed study plans for future sessions to make sure their course progression is on track by the CoE end date. Submit your completed application via My Student Portal.  
     

What additional support can UTS provide you?

UTS offers a range of services to assist you throughout your studies. 

You may contact any of the following support services depending on your situation. 

Apply to reduce study load (PDF, 2.5MB)

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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.