Special circumstances
Update on the unit pass rate requirement
As of 1 January 2024, the 50 per cent pass rate rule has been removed.
If you’ve lost your CSP and/or HELP loan
Your Commonwealth supported place (CSP) and/or HELP loan will be reinstated for your next teaching period if:
- the census date for any units in your next period fall after 1 January 2024, and
- you meet the existing eligibility requirements for a CSP and/or HECS-HELP loan or FEE-HELP loan.
Due to legislation, Monash is unable to refund any full fees paid in teaching periods with a census date before 1 January 2024, or apply outstanding fees to a HELP loan.
You’ll receive an email if you’re affected by the change. If you have questions in the meantime, reach out to Monash Connect.
If you failed a unit, or withdrew from a unit after the census date because of special circumstances, you can apply to have:
- your HELP-loan debt removed for the failed/withdrawn units
- the fees you paid up front credited to the next teaching period, or
- the fees you paid up front refunded.
Withdrawn Incomplete (WI) grade
If you experienced extreme circumstances during the teaching period (a different criteria to special circumstances) that prevented you from completing a unit assessment, see how to apply for a Withdrawn Incomplete (WI) grade.
Deadlines
You'll need to apply for special circumstances within 12 months of withdrawing from the unit. If you failed the unit, you'll need to submit your application within 12 months of the last day of the teaching period.
Late applications
We may accept a late application if we’re satisfied that it was not possible for you to submit it by deadline (you’ll need to provide evidence to support this). However, if your late application is accepted, you’ll still need to pay the full-fee amount up front for your current and previous teaching periods.
Eligibility
You can only apply if you meet all four conditions:
- special circumstances exist (defined below)
- you failed the unit or you withdrew from the unit after the census date
- the unit forms part of your course of study
- your application is made within the deadlines.
Special circumstances
To be eligible, you’ll need to show that your circumstances:
- were beyond your control, and
- did not make their full impact on you until the census date or after, and
- made it impracticable for you to complete the unit requirements of the unit during the teaching period.
Beyond your control
Circumstances are beyond your control if a situation occurs, which:
- is not due to your action or inaction (either direct or indirect), and
- you were not responsible for, and
- is unusual, uncommon or abnormal.
Did not make their full impact until on or after the census date
Circumstances did not make their full impact until on or after the census date if the circumstances occur:
- before the census date, but worsen after that day
- before the census date, but the full effect or magnitude is not apparent until on or after that day, or
- on or after the census date.
Made it impracticable for you to complete the unit requirements
Circumstances that make it impossible for you to complete the requirements of the unit may include:
- Medical circumstances. For example, your medical condition has changed to such an extent that you’re unable to continue studying
- Family/personal circumstances. For example, death or severe medical problems within your family or unforeseen family financial difficulties, that make it unreasonable to expect you to continue your studies
- Employment-related circumstances. For example, your employment status or arrangements have changed so you’re unable to continue your studies, and this change is beyond your control
- Course-related circumstances. For example, Monash has changed the unit offered and you’re disadvantaged by either not being able to complete the unit, or not given credit towards other units or your course.
- Other special circumstances, such as a natural disaster or other emergency in Australia.
You’ll also satisfy this requirement if you’re unable to:
- complete the necessary private study required, attend sufficient lectures or tutorials, or meet other compulsory attendance requirements to meet your course requirements
- complete the required assessable work
- sit the required exams, or
- complete any other course requirements because of your inability to meet the three requirements above.
We may refuse your application if it was already not practicable for you to meet the requirements of the unit when your special circumstances emerged.
How to apply
Apply for special circumstances
Supporting documents
You need to attach documents (original or certified copy) to support your application. This can be from a doctor, counsellor, employer, etc., but not from your family or friends. Privacy laws prevent us from getting this information for you.
Supporting documents should clearly explain:
- the circumstances
- how they were beyond your control
- when they occurred
- why you were prevented from completing unit requirements.
Notification of outcome
We’ll assess your application and email you with the outcome. Due to high volumes, it might take longer than the usual 20-working-day turnaround time to provide you with an outcome, but we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
If you're no longer a current student, reply to the email with your postal address.
If your application for special circumstances is approved, we'll advise you how to submit a refund request.
Academic grades
Applying for special circumstances (remission of debt or fee credit) won’t change your grade for that unit. If you have experienced extreme circumstances (a different criteria to special circumstances), you may be eligible for a:
- Withdrawn (WD) grade (if you apply before the Withdrawn Fail period starts), or
- Withdrawn Incomplete (WI) grade (if you apply during the Withdrawn Fail period).
If you’ve applied and been granted a Withdrawn (WD) or Withdrawn Incomplete (WI) grade, it won’t count towards your GPA or WAM. See our failed, withheld and invalid units page for all the details.
Appeals
If we don't approve your application, you can request a review. See complaints and review procedures.
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.