Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements for Direct Loan Students

University of New South Wales is required by US Federal law (34CFR 668.16) to define and enforce standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) on students who wish to access US federal funds. The guidelines have been established to encourage students to progress and complete successfully the academic program for which aid is received.

If you receive Stafford loan funds you will be evaluated at the end of each semester. This evaluation process will consider the students progress under the following criteria:

  1. Academic Standing
  2. Maximum Timeframe

In order to receive US Federal funds, students must meet minimum standards for both the above mentioned components, whilst simultaneously adhering to academic progress rules and to Australia Immigration legislation.

Academic Standing

Students undertaking Undergraduate & Postgraduate studies:
(i) Students must maintain a cumulative Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65% or higher in order to be eligible for Federal Aid.

For the purposes of US Federal Aid

UP (a cross institutional assessment) will be viewed in terms of the alphanumerical grade awarded by the institution that undertook the assessment
UP (practicum based assessment) will be viewed as a (C) grade
W Will be assessed individually to ascertain whether there are any exceptional issues behind the withdrawal, and will include the timing of the withdrawal (including drop periods, university protocols) and whether the student is attempting to maintain the required WAM by withdrawal from courses

Maximum Timeframe

An undergraduate student is entitled to receive aid for 150% of the allocated course time frame:

(i)   3 year degree - eligibility for aid 4.5 years
(ii)  4 year degree - eligibility for aid 6 years
(iii) 5 year degree - eligibility for aid 7.5 year.

Students should be advised that whilst US federal eligibility may allow them to continue - individual academic progress rules and Australian student visa restrictions may impact on the students' ability to continue within the program.

Remedial, Non-Credit Courses and Incompletes

Non-credit courses will not be counted in assessing full-time hours. A student is required to achieve a grade on any deferred or supplementary assessment within 6 months of completing a class

Undergraduates and Post-graduates by Coursework

Students in receipt of Stafford aid are entitled to modify their enrolment within the first two weeks of each semester and retain eligibility for aid, provided they maintain a full-time enrolment whilst on-shore and do not drop below half-time whilst they are off-shore. Students who drop below a half time load are not eligible for Stafford funding

Postgraduate by Research

Students undertaking postgraduate study via research mode are also bound by the same criteria in relation to time in which they are able to access aid and successful progression towards completion of their research. For students studying in this mode, you will need to achieve the 'good standing' criteria awarded by the research office to students.

MBA Students

MBA students are required to achieve a minimum academic Performance equivalent to a WAM of 55% every semester.
Students from these programs performing below 55% WAM each session will be placed on SAP probation for one semester.

Students must then achieve above 55% WAM the subsequent semester to continue to receive funding. Students who are on probation and achieve a semester WAM under 55% again (i.e. achieve a under 55% for two consecutive semesters) will be ineligible for further funding until their WAM is again over this minimum requirement.

Notification

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be assessed for each student at the end of each academic period, to determine your eligibility for continued award or disbursement of aid. You will be notified in writing (by both email and hard copy) if you are placed on Financial Aid warning or if your Financial Aid eligibility has been suspended.

Financial Aid Probation and Suspension

Students who fail to achieve the required WAM level commensurate with the longevity of their degree program, and their academic level within that degree structure, will be placed on Financial Aid probation for six months.

Students who have been placed on probation and subsequently meet the WAM requirements in the next semester will be placed back into good Financial Aid (SAP) standing.

Student who have been placed on probation and do not meet the requirements applicable to degree and level will be suspended and ineligible to receive aid until such time as they achieve the required WAM.

Students who transfer into a new academic program will also transfer with any SAP warning or sanction, and will still need to meet the specified criteria in the new program before re-establishing eligibility to receive aid.

Financial Aid Appeals

A SAP Appeal for verifiable extenuating or unforeseen circumstances is available, if you believe that you meet the appeal criteria. University of New South Wales cannot automatically waive the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirement for any student to receive financial aid.
Students who have their eligibility for US Federal Aid suspended may appeal the suspension if one or more of the following circumstances exist:

  • a) Death of a family member (parent, spouse, sibling, dependant child etc)
  • b) The extended illness of the student - extended illness as defined as a documented chronic or recurring medical or emotional illness that causes the student to be absent from class at least 15 days or more
  • c) The extended illness of a family member that places hardship on the student. Immediate family member includes parent, spouse, sibling, and dependant.
  • d) Mitigating circumstances as determined by the Financial Aid Appeals committee.

All appeals must be received within 30 days of receipt of the Notice of Suspension.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals Form    (101K)

Students must submit all documentation to:

UNSW FA Appeal (FA Office)
UNSW International
Level 3, East Wing, Red Centre Building
University of New South Wales
NSW 2052
Australia

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Students who have been denied access to aid as a result of their failure to maintain the appropriate level, are required to monitor their individual academic progress, and when the student believes they have regained eligibility are required to submit the UNSW FA Application along with all supporting documentation to the FAA. Students who are re-instated will automatically be placed on FAA probation.