RMIT exclusion appeal: deadline, grounds and what to do

Start with the notice and the date

The deadline for an appeal against exclusion is 20 working days from the date you received the notification to exclude. The form must be lodged so it is delivered to the University Appeals Committee (UAC) secretariat by that deadline. The submission requirements refer to the date of the Academic Registrar email, so check your RMIT student email and keep the message.

For an HDR termination, the pages we read give 20 working days from the date you received the notification to terminate. Use the form named for that decision: Appeal against termination of a higher degree by research (HDR) candidature form.

The pages we read do not state how long the University Appeals Committee takes to decide an appeal. Confirm any processing or delivery question with the UAC secretariat, and read your notice for the exact instructions that apply to you.

Check whether you can appeal

Before you write anything, check the submission requirements. To appeal an exclusion, you must be currently enrolled or on an approved leave of absence in the relevant program. You must also have received an “URGENT: You will be excluded from your program for unsatisfactory academic progress” notification from the Academic Registrar via your RMIT student email account. Lodge the appeal to the UAC secretariat by the deadline above.

The pages we read say appeal applications that do not meet all of these submission requirements cannot be accepted and will be deemed automatically ineligible for consideration. If your enrolment status or the notification you received does not fit these requirements, talk to RUSU Student Rights Service, the free student advocate listed under Free help, before you rely on the appeal form.

Use a listed ground and true evidence

Your appeal must satisfy at least one listed ground. The grounds in the form are: evidence that the exclusion decision was made on the basis of personal bias or ill-will; evidence of a breach of a relevant rule or University policy in the handling of the exclusion process that had a significant impact on the exclusion decision; significant new, relevant evidence applicable to the period or periods of unacceptable academic performance that was not available when you were required to show cause; or evidence that the penalty of exclusion is unreasonable, excessive or inappropriate, including evidence of compassionate or compelling circumstances.

Build the appeal around the ground you can support with evidence you already have. Do not invent or exaggerate a reason, backdate or alter a document, or obtain a certificate for an illness you did not have. If evidence comes up, it must be true evidence. Keep copies of everything you submit.

Lodge the form in the accepted format

Use the Appeal against exclusion form for an exclusion due to unsatisfactory academic progress. The completed appeal form and documentary evidence will only be accepted by email in PDF and JPG formats. If you believe your circumstances require another format, contact the UAC secretariat for advice. An appeal that does not meet the submission requirements cannot be accepted.

A practical order is:

1. Read your notification and note the date you received it.
2. Confirm that you meet the enrolment and notification requirements.
3. Choose the ground that fits the evidence you actually have.
4. Complete the correct form and prepare true supporting documents.
5. Lodge the form and evidence with the UAC secretariat in PDF or JPG by email before the deadline.
6. Keep a copy of the email, the form and the evidence you sent.

The pages we read do not state how long the UAC secretariat takes to confirm receipt. If you are unsure whether your material was received, check with the UAC secretariat. Do not assume a submission has been accepted without confirmation.

If the appeal does not go your way

Exclusion from the program is for one full academic year. You may apply for re-admission 12 months after exclusion. Re-admission is not automatic, and you must apply through the normal application process. If you cancel your enrolment, the pages we read say you will still need to wait 12 months before applying for re-admission.

Cancelling your enrolment will not stop the exclusion process. If you want to cancel your program, you must formally cancel your enrolment before the census date or relevant withdrawal date to avoid financial or academic penalties.

If you need help understanding the form, the grounds or what your notice means, talk to RUSU Student Rights Service, the free student advocate listed under Free help. Keep the university's page and your own letter open as you work through the steps, and confirm anything the pages we read do not cover with the UAC secretariat.