Study load (overload and underload)
To complete a course, you need to pass enough units to meet a set number of credit points. We measure your enrolment load in credit points per academic year.
The standard undergraduate study load per year is 48 credit points (24 credit points per semester).
Changing your study load can have repercussions so it’s always best to first request course advice.
Full-time and part-time
An Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL) is 48 credit points. Most units run for a semester and have a value of six credit points (0.125 EFTSL).
For an academic year:
- a full-time study load is between 36 and 48 credit points (generally between six and eight units) per year
- a part-time study load is less than 36 credit points (less than 0.75 EFTSL).
Some courses have both a full-time and part-time option. To change your study load:
- Log into the Web Enrolment System (WES).
- Click Enrolment/Re-Enrolment.
- Click Study Load.
- Click Change Now.
If you change to part-time, you’ll be able to enrol into 18 credit points or fewer, instead of 24. Keep in mind that you’ll still need to discontinue any units you want to remove.
If however you’re an international student, you need to complete your course in the time stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Time limits to complete a course
You must complete your course within a set time limit. Your course duration is in your course entry in the Handbook. Look for the Course duration notes in the blue section on the right.
Varying your course duration
You can take approved intermission or reduce your intended study load as long as you still complete your course within the maximum time limit. If you’re not sure, request a course progression check using our course advice form.
Domestic students (and international students not on a student visa) can submit an intermission request through Monash Connect to take parental or primary carer's leave. If approved, this leave won't count towards the maximum time limit to complete a coursework course.
Domestic students (and international students not on a student visa) can apply to their managing faculty to take parental or primary carer's leave. If approved, this leave won't count towards the maximum time limit to complete a coursework course. This is not the correct process to request leave under parental/carer's reasons; These requests should come submit an intermission request through Monash Connect as an intermission request (as detailed in Coursework Enrolment Procedure 6.15) and not via the managing faculty
Changing your study load
Domestic students
If you’re a domestic student, you can usually choose to study part-time. Just keep in mind, if you change your intended study load below 18 credit points per semester, you may not be eligible for government payments such as Youth Allowance, Austudy or public transport concessions.
When to underload
To avoid academic and financial penalties, make sure you underload (by withdrawing from units) before 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date for the relevant teaching period.
How to underload
You can reduce the number of enrolled units by changing your study load from full-time to part-time in the Web Enrolment System (WES). WES won't automatically withdraw you from units, so you'll still need to select the units you want to withdraw.
WES may force you to enrol for the entire year, and in more credit points than you plan to study. If this happens, and you think this requirement doesn't apply to you, submit an Enrolment Amendment Form.
International students
If you're on a student visa, you must complete your course in the time stated on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To do this, you need to enrol in a full-time study load (24 credit points per semester).
The Web Enrolment System (WES) won’t allow you to submit your enrolment unless you enrol in enough units to meet your approved study load requirement, so you’ll need to apply for approval from your faculty before you can reduce your study load.
If your application is approved, you may need a new CoE with an updated course completion date. See extending your visa for more information.
Reasons for underloading
You can apply for approval to underload due to compassionate or compelling circumstances.
Compassionate or compelling circumstances
Compassionate or compelling circumstances are personal circumstances that:
- are involuntary and outside your control (such as medical, family, wellbeing, or enrolment circumstances), and
- present you with limited or no choice but to underload your study.
Examples include:
- serious illness or exceptional personal circumstances
- course structure, progression rules or unit availability that prevents a standard enrolment load.
When you don't need approval
You won’t need to apply for approval to underload if you:
- are in your final year and will complete your course within the time stated on your CoE
- are enrolled in a combination of standard semester and summer or winter units that total 24 credit points per semester
- are required to reduce your study load by your faculty’s Academic Progress Committee.
When to apply
Submit your application by 11.59pm (Melbourne time) on the census date for that teaching period to avoid penalties.
How to apply
To apply for approval, submit an application with your supporting documents.
Supporting documents
You’ll need to provide supporting documents that clearly show:
- the compassionate or compelling circumstances
- when they occurred how long they lasted
- the level of impact.
All documents must be both:
- from an independent source or authority
- recently dated and/or confirm that the circumstances are ongoing and relevant to the timeframe to be considered.
Examples of supporting documents View
Overloading is to enrol in more than the standard number of units in each year. You can request to overload your enrolment if you meet both criteria below within the last 12 months:
- completed 48 credit points, and
- achieved a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 60 or higher.
Exceptions may apply to high-achieving students in approved programs.
Some courses may not allow acceleration – this may be due to professional accreditation and/or clinical requirements.
How to apply
Australian campuses
Submit a request to overload. We’ll email you with the outcome of your application within five working days.
Overload Request form (Australian campuses)
Malaysia campus
If you're studying at the Malaysia campus, use the Malaysia campus overload request form.
When to apply
You must submit your request at least five University working days before the start of the teaching period in which you want to overload.
If you apply too late, your timetable may be affected and you might not be able to enrol in the units you’ve chosen.
You also need to get your results from the previous teaching period before you can apply.
Part-time to full-time
If you’re enrolled part-time, and your course has a full-time study option, you can change to full-time study in WES.
For deadlines to change your enrolment load, see add or withdraw from units.
Related links
Got a question? Monash can help
We're making some changes...
Soon all online enquiries will be made through our virtual assistant. You can get in early and try our virtual assistant right now.
You may have a question our virtual assistant can answer immediately.
If you're following up on an enquiry you submitted earlier, you can also do this in our virtual assistant.
If you want to send an attachment, you’ll need to make your enquiry using our virtual assistant.