To be eligible for withdrawal without academic penalty, in your application you will need to demonstrate that you have been impacted by special circumstances that meet the three required conditions below:
1. The circumstances were beyond your control if a situation occurs which a reasonable person would consider is not due to your action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which you are not responsible. This situation must be unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
2. The circumstances made their full impact on you after the applicable penalty date if a situation occurs:
- before the academic penalty date, but worsens after that day,
- before the academic penalty date, but the full effect or magnitude does not become apparent until on or after that day; or
- on or after the academic penalty date.
3. The circumstances have made it impracticable for you to complete the requirements for your unit(s) of study if a situation occurs that results in you being incapable of completing the unit.
Special circumstances include:
- Medical: where your medical condition has changed to such an extent that you are unable to continue studying.
- Family/personal: death or severe medical problems within your family, or unforeseen family financial difficulties which can be substantiated, so that it is unreasonable to expect you to continue your studies.
- Employment-related: where your existing employment status or arrangements have changed so that you are unable to continue your studies, and this change is beyond your control.
Under normal circumstances, students are not eligible for Withdrawal Without Academic Penalty if they have sat the examination for that unit.
If you are applying on the grounds of mental health, please contact ECU’s counselling service on 6304 6706 or via email at counselling@ecu.edu.au. Psychological Counselling Support will provide you with advice and assistance in gathering the required documentation for your application.
For more information on applying for Withdrawal Without Penalty, please refer to How do I apply for Withdrawal Without Penalty?
