UniMelb show cause: what to do next and appeal
Rule checked against The University of Melbourne's own pages on .
Read your show cause notification email carefully first. The pages we read do not state a time limit for the written submission or for booking a show cause meeting, so check your notification email and confirm it with the university if it is not clear. If you later appeal the original decision, the appeal must be lodged within 20 University business days from the date of the original decision, using the online student appeals form.
- What triggers it
- A show cause notification means your academic progress is considered unsatisfactory and will be reviewed by the Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC).[1]
- What to submit
- Your written submission should explain what affected your academic progress, outline any supporting evidence, describe what has changed or will change, and demonstrate your capacity to continue your studies.[1]
- Possible outcomes
- The CAPC may recommend strategies, apply conditions to your enrolment, suspend your enrolment, or terminate your enrolment.[1]
- Time limit to appeal
- An appeal must be lodged within 20 University business days from the date of the original decision, using the online student appeals form.[2]
Read your notification email first
A show cause notification means your academic progress is considered unsatisfactory and will be reviewed by the Course Academic Progress Committee (CAPC). Read your email carefully before you do anything else. It will ask you to complete a written submission and, in some cases, attend a meeting with academic staff from your faculty or school. Follow the instructions in that email.
The pages we read do not state a time limit for the written submission or for booking a show cause meeting. Check your notification email for the deadline and confirm it with the university if it is not clear. If you are a graduate researcher, the academic progress process is different; check the Graduate Research Hub.
Steps:
- Read the notification email and note what it asks you to do.
- Complete your written submission.
- If you are invited to a meeting, book it by the deadline and submit documentation before the meeting.
- Attend the review meeting if invited.
- Await your outcome notification.
Keep copies of what you submit and of messages about dates. You can talk to the UMSU Advocacy Service, listed under Free help, about the process. Ask for clarification in writing if an instruction is unclear. Do not alter documents or provide evidence that is not true.
What your written submission needs
Your written submission should explain what affected your academic progress. Outline any supporting evidence. Describe what has changed, or will change, moving forward. Demonstrate your capacity to continue your studies successfully. Use true evidence only. Keep a copy of the submission and attachments.
The CAPC will make a decision about your enrolment even if you do not provide a written submission or attend a CAPC meeting if invited. That is why the written submission and any meeting are part of the process you need to understand.
If you are invited to a meeting
Book your meeting by the deadline. Submit documentation before the meeting. Be prepared to discuss your circumstances and study plans. The meeting is with academic staff from your faculty or school, according to the notification process. You can ask the UMSU Advocacy Service about how to prepare.
If you attend, keep to the instructions in your notification email. Take copies of the documents you have submitted. Ask questions if a step is unclear.
Outcomes and appeal
The CAPC may recommend strategies to support your success, apply conditions to your enrolment, suspend your enrolment, or terminate your enrolment. You will normally receive your outcome by email within three business days of your meeting.
If the outcome goes against you, read your outcome notification and the university's appeal information. An appeal must be lodged within 20 University business days from the date of the original decision, using the online student appeals form. You can submit an appeal once you have established that the matter is an appealable decision, completed any required review or complaint steps, and have sufficient evidence to support your ground(s) of appeal.
The notice of appeal must describe the decision being appealed, clearly state the ground or grounds for appeal, summarise the basis for each ground or grounds, attach the notice of the original decision, and include any relevant material on which you wish to rely. Talk to the UMSU Advocacy Service, listed under Free help, if you need help understanding the process.
Free help at UniMelb
Common questions
What happens if I do not submit or attend the CAPC meeting?
The CAPC will make a decision about your enrolment even if you do not provide a written submission or attend a CAPC meeting if invited.
How long do I have to appeal a UniMelb show cause decision?
An appeal must be lodged within 20 University business days from the date of the original decision, using the online student appeals form.
What can the CAPC decide?
The CAPC may recommend strategies to support your success, apply conditions to your enrolment, suspend your enrolment, or terminate your enrolment.
What should I put in my written submission?
Explain what affected your academic progress, outline any supporting evidence, describe what has changed or will change, and demonstrate your capacity to continue your studies successfully.
Sources
- Academic progress | Current Students | The University of Melbourne, The University of Melbourne. Checked 3 November 2026.
- Student appeals, The University of Melbourne. Checked 3 November 2026.