All international students are required to undertake a full-time study load. If you cannot study the full-time load requirements, you must apply for a Reduced Study Load (RSL) and include relevant documentation to support your claims. Applications for RSL can be submitted one month before the semester starts and until the census date of each semester.
Applications for RSL are assessed per the National Code requirements and can only be approved in certain circumstances. These are:
| Compassionate or Compelling circumstances | Please refer to the information on Compassionate or Compelling circumstances to see what is included under this criteria. |
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| Academic progress |
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| Course structure requirements |
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Please note that applications for reduced study load are not approved in all circumstances. When applying for a RSL you’ll need to provide documentation to support your claim. Please provide a copy of your most recent study plan to show your current situation and to help verify your claims.
Each application for RSL is assessed on a case-by-case basis by International Student Support and we aim to have an outcome available to you within ten (10) working days. Please note that if you do not supply a study plan your outcome may be delayed.
Higher Education
All international students are required to undertake a full-time study load of 80 credit points per academic year. This is usually done by completing 40 credit points in each of the two compulsory study periods - Semester 1 and Semester 2, unless otherwise instructed by your study plan or approved by the Retention and Progression team or the International Compliance team.
You do not need permission to reduce your study load for Summer Semester as it is an optional study period, unless it is your first semester. Your first semester is a compulsory study period no matter when you commence.
If you are studying in your last semester, you do not need to obtain permission to reduce your study load.
TAFE
TAFE courses will be considered for a Reduced Study Load on a case-by-case basis. Please discuss this with your Course Coordinator.