If your withdrawal is as a result of exceptional circumstances you may be eligible to apply for a remission of student contribution amounts or tuition fees:
Academic grievances cannot form the basis of a remission or refund, unless a change to the course has occurred after the census date. Academic grievances should be raised within your College in the first place as per Student Review and Appeal Policy and Students Complaints policy.
Student services and amenities fees will not be refunded if you withdraw after the census date, regardless of the circumstances.
A remission will be approved where it can be established that you had special circumstances that:
- were beyond your control; and
- did not make their full impact on you until on or after the census date of the topic(s); and
- made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements of the topic(s) in the semester that you undertook them.
Applications must be lodged within 12 months of the date you withdrew from the topic(s), or 12 months of the end of the semester, if you did not withdraw. Applications lodged outside of this timeframe will only be assessed where it can be demonstrated that you were unable to lodge within this timeframe.
Circumstances for remission may include, but are not limited to, medical, family/personal, employment or course related.
All applications, regardless of the circumstances, must have independent documentation confirming the dates when the circumstances occurred, changed or worsened as well as how the circumstances impacted your ability to complete your studies. The University has no obligation to follow up with you for additional documentation.
It is a student responsibility to ensure that you read the below information and submit all relevant supporting documentation.
| Medical reasons |
You have a medical condition that either occurred or was first diagnosed after the census date, or existed prior to the census date but worsened after this date.
This condition impacted on your ability to successfully complete your topic(s).
Evidence required
A letter or professional statement from a medical practitioner or counsellor confirming dates of appointments; the date which your medical condition became known or worsened during the applicable period; the severity and duration of your condition; how your medical condition impacted on your ability to study. We strongly recommend that you have your medical practitioner complete the Professional Statement Form as the template asks for the details we specifically need to assess your remission application. |
| Family/personal reasons |
Unforeseen family/personal reasons that have occurred or worsened after the census date, are beyond your control and mean that you are unable to continue or successfully complete your studies. You would need to substantiate how the circumstances impacted you personally and made it impracticable for you to complete your studies.
Examples:
- Domestic violence
- Care responsibilities for a child/children changes
- Death or serious illness of a close family member or friend
- Severe disruption to living arrangements
- Family or relationship breakdown
- Being a victim of a crime or accident
Evidence required
Documentation must confirm how the circumstances impacted you directly and your ability to complete your studies. Depending on your circumstances, there are many options for the suitable type of documentation. This could include a letter or professional statement from a medical practitioner, counsellor, police statement, social worker, death certificate/funeral notices, or some sort of independent corroboration of your circumstances and the date in which they occurred, changed or worsened.
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| Employment related reasons |
After the census date your employment status or arrangements change unexpectedly, due to circumstances beyond your control; and you are unable to continue to study the topic(s). For example your employer unexpectedly increases your hours of employment after the census date. As a result you are unable to continue with your studies or complete your course requirements.
Note: choosing to increase your hours of work or undertake additional employment are not regarded as circumstances beyond your control. If this is the case, your debt will not be remitted or refunded.
Evidence required
Any impacts to your studies caused by a change in your employment/service commitments must be confirmed by your employment supervisor or the service organisation in a statement or letter. Your supervisor would need to confirm why the change in your employment was required, what the change was, what date you were advised of the change, and when the change came into effect.
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| Course related reasons |
The University changes the arrangements for your topic or course and, as a result, you are disadvantaged to the extent that you are unable to complete the topic or course requirements. For example your topic or course is cancelled after the census date and you are unable to complete the requirements of the topic or course.
Remissions will not be approved if you are withdrawn from a placement due to unsatisfactory performance or unsafe, negligent or unprofessional practice.
Note: misleading or incorrect information relating to your course is considered as a general academic grievance, and should be directed to your Course Coordinator initially as per Section 4 of the Student complaints procedure.
Evidence required
Confirmation of the course changes and their impact on your ability to complete the topic(s) from a Topic Coordinator or relevant academic staff member. |
Please note that a lack of knowledge or understanding of the HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP loan schemes, or the Flinders University Student Related Policies and Procedures, is not considered to be beyond your control.
