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Student Requirements

1. Completion within expected duration

  • International students must complete their studies within the expected duration specified on their Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). The duration of the course as specified on the student’s CoE will never exceed that registered on the CRICOS register.

  • Australian College of Studies monitors student progress to ensure that students to complete their studies within the expected duration specified on their Confirmation of Enrolment.

2. Study Periods

  • Students who do not meet course progress requirements within each Study Period are at risk of having their visas cancelled.
  • Study periods may also be known as ‘terms’ and are described Training and Assessment Strategies and course outlines. They are designed to ensure the academic integrity of the course is upheld.
  • Each study period is divided in half, forming a monitoring point at mid and end points at which students are assessed for satisfactory course progress. A student must be identified as at risk prior to being reported as having not met satisfactory course progress requirements.

3. Determining if a student has met course progress requirements

  • Students must have demonstrated satisfactory course progress requirements by the end each study period. To do so, they must have successfully completed (achieved satisfactory outcome on) all assessment tasks they were required to submit in the ending study period.
    • A schedule for when assessment tasks will be due is outlined in the Training & Assessment Strategy and communicated to students at the commencement of each new study period.

4. Determining at risk students

  • Students will be deemed at risk of not meeting course progression requirements if they:

    • do not participate in a summative assessment task.

    • do not submit an assessment task within 2 weeks of the due date.

    • have received an assessment outcome of Not Satisfactory for one or more assessment tasks.

5. Progress Monitoring

  • All students progress will be monitored using the Course Progress and Attendance Monitoring Tool.
  • At the end of each monitoring period
    • The monitoring report is updated by the Director of Studies including a status of progressing, at risk or not progressing for all overseas students on each reporting date. This is based on current evidence located in student files and other academic records.
    • The Director of Studies will consult with academic staff if there is any uncertainty or more evidence needed to confirm or deny a student’s course progress status.

  • The monitoring report will also record commencement and review dates for all Intervention Strategies.

6. Intervention Strategy

  • Australian College of Studies ensures that it identifies, notifies and assist students where there is evidence that the student is at risk of not meeting course progress requirements.
  • For students at risk of not meeting course progress requirements, an individual intervention plan will be developed that documents the support that will be provided. This may include:
    • English language support;
    • reviewing learning materials with the student and providing information to students and in a context that they can understand;
    • providing extra time to complete tasks;
    • providing access to supplementary or modified materials;
    • providing supplementary exercises to assist understanding;
    • attending academic skills programs;
    • attending tutorial or study groups;
    • attending study clubs;
    • attending counselling;
    • receiving assistance with personal issues which are influencing progress;
    • receiving mentoring;
    • referral to external organisations where Australian College of Studies is unable to address the identified learning or academic issues:
    • being placed in a suitable alternative subject within a course or a suitable alternative course; or
    • a combination of the above and a reduction in course load.

7. Extension to an expected coursed duration

  • Extensions to the course duration specified on the CoE are only allowed where:
    • A student is complying with an intervention strategy implemented for students identified at risk of not making satisfactory course progress, or
    • An approved deferral or suspension of studies has been granted in accordance with Australian College of Studies' Deferral, Suspension and Cancellation Policy and Procedures.
    • Compassionate or compelling circumstances apply (suitable evidence must be provided), which may include but is not limited to:
      • serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes;

      • bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents; 

      • major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the student’s studies; 

      • a traumatic experience which has impacted on the student and which could include involvement in or witnessing of a serious accident; and witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime.  These cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports); or

      • where Australian College of Studies is unable to offer a pre-requisite unit.

      • where the student is unable to begin studying on the course commencement date due to delay in receiving a student visa.

  • When the student can only account for the variation/s by extending his or her expected duration of study, this will be reported to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) via PRISMS.

  • All variations in the student’s study load, including the reasons for the variation will be recorded on the student’s file.

  • Where the duration of the student's enrolment is extended, Australian College of Studies will advise the student to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to seek advice on any potential impacts on their visa, including the need to obtain a new visa.

8. Online or distance learning enrolment

  • Australian College of Studies will not deliver a course exclusively by online or distance to an international student.

9. Reporting Students

  • Where a student has demonstrated unsatisfactory course progress despite interventions implemented, Australian College of Studies will be required to report the student to DHA via PRISMS and the student will receive a written notice informing them of the intention to report for non-satisfactory course progress and the reasons for the intention to report.  Student will have received first and second warning letters before the notice of intention to report is issued.
  • Students have the rights to appeal against decision to report as per Australian College of Studies Complaints and Appeals Policy & Procedures.  If the student chooses to access this process, the student will not be reported until this process is complete.
  • Australian College of Studies will only report unsatisfactory course progress in PRISMS if:
    • the internal and external complaints processes have been completed and the decision or recommendation supports the registered provider; or
    • the overseas student has chosen not to access the internal complaints and appeals process within the 20 working day period; or
    • the student has chosen not to access the external complaints and appeals process: or  
    •  the overseas student withdraws from the internal or external appeals processes by notifying the registered provider in writing.
  • All records will be kept on the student’s file including warning letters and the notice of intention to report.

10. Misconduct

  • Australian College of Studies may suspend or cancel a student’s enrolment including, but not limited to, on the basis of:
    • misbehaviour by the student (including plagiarism, collusion and cheating)
    • the student’s failure to pay an amount he or she was required to pay the registered provider to undertake or continue the course as stated in the written agreement
    •  a breach of course progress or attendance requirements by the overseas student, which will occur in accordance with Standard 8 (Overseas student VISA requirements) and as specified in Australian College of Studies Course Progress Policy & Procedures.
  • Standards of behaviour required are outlined in the Student Handbook.

11. Publication

  • This policy and procedure will be published in the Student Handbook. to ensure that course progress requirements are clearly communicated to students before they commence their course.
  • This policy will also be covered during orientation for overseas students and induction for all academic staff.