This is to request that one of the following actions occur due to your inability to complete the identified course(s):

• FEE-HELP debt remitted and FEE-HELP balance re-credited
  The Department of Education and Training (DET) will be advised of this remission of your debt and re-credit to your FEE-HELP balance.
• HECS-HELP debt remitted
  The Department of Education and Training (DET) will be advised of this remission of your debt and you will receive confirmation on the annual statement issued by the Australian Taxation Office.
• Up-front student contributions/tuition fees re-credited or refunded
  The amount will be re-credited to your USC Student Account to cover future fee liability or will be refunded to allocated bank account provided in Application for Refund in Special Circumstances form in the event that you do not intend to re-enrol.

Note: The University does not refund SSAF payments or remit SA-HELP loans.

If you:

• withdrew from course(s) after week 9 and are given Withdrawn Fail (WF) final grade on your academic record
• are given Fail (FL) final grade on your academic record after Grade Release date
• are requesting your final grade on your academic record to be removed due to special circumstances

Note: In considering your application it may be determined that your final grade on your academic record be changed to Withdrawn without academic penalty (WN) for course(s). However, a change to WN does not automatically result in the removal of financial liability.

To be eligible to apply for removal of Financial Liability and/or Academic Penalty due to special circumstances, the following criteria must be met:

• you were unable to continue your study after the census date due to special circumstances
• you were unable to successfully complete the requirements of the course(s)
• the application is made within 12 months from your withdrawal date from the course(s), or if you have not withdrawn from your course(s), or have not given a notice of withdrawal from the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) within 12 months from the last day you were enrolled in the course(s).

Note: You are not eligible to apply if you withdrew from the course(s) prior to census date. You are also not eligible if you passed the course/s.

You must meet all the special circumstances criteria listed below:

1. The special circumstances were beyond your control

A situation occurs that a reasonable person would consider is not due to the person’s action or inaction, either direct or indirect, and for which the person is not responsible.

2. Those special circumstances did not make their full impact until after the census date

Your circumstances occurred:

i.) before the census date, but worsened after that day; or

ii.) before the census date, but the full effect or magnitude does not become apparent until on or after that day; or

iii.) on or after the census date

3. Due to special circumstances, you were unable to complete your course requirements

You were unable to:

i.) undertake the necessary private study required, attend sufficient lectures or tutorials, or meet other compulsory attendance requirements in order to meet your compulsory course requirements; or

ii.) complete the required assessible work; or

iii.) sit the required examinations; or

iv.) complete any other course requirements because of your inability to meet i), ii) or iii) above.

Note: Census dates for sessions and semesters.

Medical reasons

Example: A detailed medical certificate signed by a medical practitioner to substantiate your claims.

Family/personal reasons

Due to unforeseen family/personal reasons that occur or worsen after the census date and that are beyond your control, you are unable to continue with your studies.

Example 1: A member of your family suffers from a severe medical condition and, after the census date, you are required to provide full time care. As a result, you are unable to continue with your studies.

Example 2: A member of your family or close friend dies and you are affected to the extent that, after the census date, you realise that you are unable to continue with your studies.

Example 3: You or your family’s financial circumstances change unexpectedly after the census date to the extent that you are unable to continue with your studies.

Employment related reasons

After the census date, your employment status or arrangements change unexpectedly due to circumstances beyond your control, and you are unable to complete your studies. Choosing to increase your hours of work or undertake additional employment is not regarded as circumstances beyond your control.

Example 1: You are employed out of necessity and studying. After the census date, your employer unexpectedly increases your hours of employment in circumstances where you are unable to object. As a result, you are unable to continue with your studies or complete your course requirements.

Example 2: You are employed out of necessity and studying. After the census date, your employer directs that you be transferred to a different state. Your institution USC does not offer distance education and, as a result, you are unable to continue with your studies or complete your course requirements.

Course related reasons

USC changes the arrangements for your course and, as a result, you are disadvantaged to the extent that you are unable to complete the requirements of the course.

Example 1: USC cancels your course after the census date and, as a result, you are unable to complete the requirements of the course.

Example 2: You enrol in a course, having applied for credit towards the courses previously undertaken at another institution, and are not advised of the decision for credit by USC until after the census date.

• A lack of knowledge or understanding of withdrawal procedures and/or census dates.
• Forgetting that you are enrolled in a course(s) or to drop a course(s).
• A lack of knowledge or understanding of USC withdrawal procedures and/or census dates, or a lack of knowledge of other USC policies and procedures designed to support students with their study.