Received a Low Completion Rate letter?

From 2022, all Commonwealth supported students commencing a new course of study will need to pass at least 50% of their units to stay in their Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and to access a HELP loan if eligible.

 

What are the pass rate requirements?

If the student begins their enrolment with QUT on or after 1 January 2022 and apply for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP), HECS-HELP or FEE HELP, the 50 per cent pass rate will apply.

This means that once the students have undertaken 4 or more units in a sub-bachelor level course, or 8 or more units in bachelor and above level courses, they must have passed at least 50 per cent of their total attempted units in order to remain eligible for a CSP, HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

For example, if you are enrolled in a diploma course, use FEE-HELP to pay for your Trimester 1 fees, and in Trimester 1 you undertake 4 units and fail 3, you will not be eligible to access FEE-HELP in Trimester 2. You would have needed to pass at least 2 units.
Then if in Trimester 2, having paid for your units upfront you undertook another 4 units (8 units in total), you would need to pass 3 of those in order to re-establish your FEE-HELP eligibility in Trimester 3 (i.e. 8 units attempted and 4 passed.)

 

What does this mean for students?

Students need to ensure that they pass at least 50 per cent of their total attempted units across their course of study. Otherwise, they will have to pay the tuition fees upfront until they improve their pass rate.

If the student chooses to change courses or providers, their completion rate does not follow them, allowing them to re-set the clock on the 50 per cent pass rate. Students may choose to pay for units up-front in their course to allow them to increase their success rate and regain eligibility for Commonwealth assistance.

If students have a low completion rate and they can demonstrate 'special circumstances' have adversely affected their academic performance, QUT can allow consideration for these impacts.

 

Withdrawing due to special circumstances after census

In order to withdraw after the census date due to special circumstances, students need to show that what affected them:

  • was beyond their control;
  • did not make the full impact on them until on or after the census date(s) of the unit(s); and
  • made it not practicable for them to complete the unit(s).

They apply for special circumstances with QUT and they will ask the student to provide supporting documentation.

If the student didn't officially withdraw, then the application must be made within 12 months after the period which they undertook (or were to undertake) that unit.

 

Important points to remember for students
  • The 50% pass-rate rule will apply to students commencing studies at universities from 1 January 2022.
  • You will need to pass at least 50% of total attempted subjects to remain eligible for FEE-HELP.
  • The pass-rate is on the basis of units, not credit points.
  • Your pass rate will be recalculated after your results are finalised each semester.
  • If you do not meet the 50% pass-rate requirements after a semester, you will not be eligible to access FEE-HELP in the following semester and will be required to pay your fees upfront.
  • If you lose access to FEE-HELP, you can regain access again once you meet the 50% pass-rate

Completion rate requirements - Student - QUT Portal