Satisfactory academic progress – US financial aid
Monash University is required by US federal law (34CFR 668.16) to define and enforce standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to all students applying for or receiving US Federal Direct Loans.
We'll review your results at the end of each teaching period. Failure to meet the SAP standard can result in suspension of financial aid. To meet the minimum standards you must maintain:
- a full-time enrolment on campus
- a pass grade average for each teaching period (per the University’s standard grading schema).
For undergraduate students, the review will look at both your results and the maximum timeframe.
For graduate research students, you must achieve satisfactory progress as determined by your supervisor and advisory panel (e.g. successful completion of candidature milestones within the specified timeframe).
Maximum timeframe
If the first disbursement of Direct Subsidised loan is on or after 1 July 2021, there is no limit on how long you can receive a Subsidised loan (the '150% limitation' has been repealed and no longer applies).
For undergraduate first-time borrowers on or after 1 July 2013, and before 1 July 2021, there is a limit on the maximum period of time (measured in academic years) that they could receive Direct Subsidised Loans.
If this limit applies to you, you may only receive Direct Subsidised Loans for no more than 150% of the published length of the course in which you were enrolled at the time. This is known as the maximum eligibility period or maximum timeframe.
Examples of eligibility for aid in years:
- three-year degree: 4.5 years
- four-year degree: 6 years
- five-year degree: 7.5 years.
To achieve this, you’ll need to pass at least two-thirds of the standard full-time load for the teaching period in which you’re enrolled. A standard full-time load for coursework students is 24 credit points in each teaching period (February–June and July–November). This means passing at least 18 out of 24 credit points in a teaching period. For example, a three-year undergraduate degree consisting of 144 credit points must be completed without attempting more than 216 credit points or exceeding a 4.5–year duration.
If you've reached the maximum time allowed (based on 150% of the published duration of your course), your aid will cease in accordance with US federal law. This means we will not disburse, nor can you receive, any financial aid when you can no longer complete your course within the maximum timeframe. Pursuing a second degree will reset the maximum completion timeframe to the length of the new degree (taking into account any credits you achieve for prior learning).
All prior learning credits granted towards the course for which you’re receiving aid will be included in the maximum timeframe calculation. Non-credit, remedial subjects and incomplete subjects will not be counted. You’re required to achieve a grade on any deferred or supplementary assessment within six months.
To remain eligible for Federal Aid when you have an approved reduction in study load, you must complete the program requirements within 150% of the published duration of the program.
Federal law may allow you to continue receiving aid, however individual academic progress requirements and student visa restrictions may impact your ability to continue with your course.
If you've met academic progression requirements but fail a subject(s), withdraw from a subject(s) without academic penalty, or take a less than half-time enrolment, you’ll have the pace of completion re-assessed to ensure that you’ll still complete the program within the maximum timeframe. This will be calculated by either:
- Dividing the cumulative number of credits successfully completed by the cumulative number of credits you have attempted, or
- Determining the number of credits that you should have completed at the evaluation point to complete the program within the maximum timeframe.
Financial aid warning and probation
You’ll be notified in writing if your financial aid eligibility is affected by the SAP requirement. Monash University cannot waive the SAP requirement for any students.
If you don't meet the SAP standards, we’ll place you on financial aid warning for one teaching period, during which you may continue to receive aid. If you fail to meet the standards after the warning period, you’ll lose your aid eligibility.
You can appeal your eligibility if you have exceptional circumstances. If your appeal is successful, you'll be placed on financial aid probation for one teaching period, and we may reinstate your eligibility for this period. As long as you meet the SAP requirement at the end of probation, you'll be placed back into good standing and can continue to receive aid. Otherwise, you’ll remain ineligible until you achieve the SAP standard again.
Appeals
You can submit an appeal in writing if you can demonstrate one or more of the following exceptional circumstances:
- death of a family member (parent, spouse, sibling, dependent child, etc.)
- extended illness (defined as a documented, chronic or recurring medical or emotional illness that causes you to be absent from class at least 15 days or more)
- extended illness of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, dependent) that places you in hardship
- exceptional circumstances as determined by the Associate Director, Student Finance.
You must provide the reason for failure to meet the SAP requirement and why your financial aid should not be suspended. We must receive your appeal within 10 days from when you receive Notice of Suspension. You need to attach supporting documentation (e.g. medical or death certificate). You will not receive financial aid while an appeal is being processed.
Send your appeal to:
Senior Director
Student and Education Business Services
Monash University
49 Rainforest Walk
Clayton VIC 3800
Australia
We'll notify you of the Senior Director's decision, which is final.
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