To avoid paying fees on a topic you withdraw from, you need to withdraw on, or prior to, the census date. This is generally at the end of March for Semester 1 topics and the end of August for year long or Semester 2 topics. Take particular note of the dates related to Summer Schools and Intensives as special dates apply to them.
If you withdraw after these dates you will use up your Student Learning Entitlement (for Commonwealth Supported students) or you will incur tuition fees (for fee-paying students) even though the topics will not count towards your degree.
Visit the Fees and charges webpage for more information.
For assistance please send a request to Ask Flinders.
Special circumstances
If there are special circumstances that result in you withdrawing from one or more topics you will need supporting documentation and the application must be submitted within 12 months of the date you withdrew. Further information can be found about application forms for remission or refund of fees due to special circumstances on the Refunds and Remissions page.
Centrelink
You must notify Centrelink of any changes to your enrolment as you may lose your entitlements if you fall below 13.5 units per semester. If you do not notify them you may be overpaid and have to pay back that amount later. Generally, you do not have to pay back any entitlements that you received for the period you were enrolled in the study, just the period from the date you withdrew.
You should also be aware that Centrelink will only provide benefits for students for the equivalent of the length of their course, plus 1 semester (some additional concessions may apply).
If you withdrew from your course, the time you were enrolled may be discounted from any subsequent support you may receive, regardless of whether you received assistance from Centrelink or not. As the regulations are complex, it is useful to check with Centrelink. Flinders Student Association (FUSA) can also offer objective advice through Student Assist.
Your academic record
Flinders has critical dates that you must withdraw by so the topic(s) do not appear as a "fail" (F), or "withdraw - fail" (WF) on your academic transcript.
If you withdraw before the deadline, the topic is listed as "withdrawn" (WN) on your transcript. If you withdraw prior to the last day to withdraw, but after the census date, then you will still have to pay fees for the topic. If you withdraw prior to the topic census date, the topic does not appear on the transcript and you will not incur a debt for that topic.
What happens if you fail a topic?
An 'F' or 'WF' grade lowers your Grade Point Average (GPA) which can impact on your future options. It may affect you being accepted into other courses or universities - both Australian and overseas. If your GPA falls below a certain level, or you fail the same topic twice, you may need to show cause to the University why you should be allowed to continue with your enrolment.
Scholarships and overseas scholarships
If you are receiving a scholarship and you withdraw, your scholarship may be cancelled. Check with the Scholarships Office.
International students
If you are an international student you should speak to the International Student Services (ISS) prior to withdrawing. If you withdraw from your course, your visa will be cancelled and you will need to return home within 28 days. Your visa may also be affected if you reduce your enrolment. Also, note that you must be enrolled as a full-time student as per the Department of Immigration and citizenship requirements.
Your career
If you withdraw from university, you will need to explore what career options are available. You may wish to take some time off, under-take a different area of study later, enrol at TAFE, or find a job. The Careers and Employability Service can discuss this with you further.
Personal
Withdrawing from some or all of your topics may help give you some space to think, look at options and have some time to sort out any issues.
