UNSW exclusion appeal: deadline, steps and what next

Read your letter and lodge by its deadline

Start with the suspension or exclusion letter. The pages we read say you must lodge your appeal to the Re-Enrolment Appeal Committee by the deadline advised in that letter. They do not give one fixed number of days for every student. Late appeals are not accepted, and no extensions are granted. If you are waiting for a Special Consideration outcome, a supplementary exam, a Review of Results application or a conduct and integrity matter, the official page says you are strongly encouraged to lodge your appeal while you wait because late submissions will not be accepted.

This is your one opportunity to appeal to the Committee for re-admission to your program. Provide all relevant information and supporting documentation when you submit. If you are having difficulty gathering the information and documents you need by the deadline, email academic.progression@unsw.edu.au.

The official page we read also showed some UNSW Sydney and UNSW College appeal options marked as currently not accepting appeals at the time it was checked. That was a time-of-check page state, not a standing rule. The same page showed a domestic appeal route for UNSW Online and other Hexamester students. Check your own letter and the official page for the current position.

Put your statement and evidence in one PDF

Your appeal must not exceed one document. It should include your personal statement and relevant supporting documentation. Compile them into one PDF. The page we read gives this file-name format: LAST NAME, First Name, zID.

Your personal statement must address the reasons for your unsatisfactory academic progression and the steps you will take if re-enrolment is allowed. Reasons might include academic, course, employment, family or medical problems. The Committee is primarily concerned with what steps you will take, so explain the changes you plan and how they connect to your study. Keep any evidence true. The Committee's decision will be final, and there will be no further opportunity to update your appeal or have it reconsidered. Include all relevant information and supporting documents when you submit.

What happens while the Committee considers it

The Registrar and Director, Student Services will write to you within 10 working days of receiving your appeal. That letter records that the appeal has been received and will be considered by a Re-Enrolment Appeals Committee.

While the appeal is being considered, you may continue to study up to 12 UOC in the following term, or apply for program leave. You can choose to meet with the Re-Enrolment Appeals Committee and bring a support person.

If you have a supplementary exam for a failed course and then pass the course during the appeal, your academic standing will be recalculated. If your academic standing is no longer Suspension or Exclusion after that recalculation, UNSW will withdraw the appeal and you will be able to continue your study.

If the appeal fails or you want to return later

Exclusion from the University lasts two academic years. If you wish to continue your program at the end of the exclusion period, you must apply for re-admission. If you are excluded from one program, you cannot apply to study another program during the period of exclusion. Academic standing is determined at the career level, not the program level.

The Committee's decision is final. There is no further opportunity to update your appeal or have it reconsidered. If the result goes against you, read the decision and the official page for what applies to your situation. Arc Legal & Advocacy offers confidential and independent advice, free of charge, if you need help compiling your appeal.