Student progress

Successfully progressing through your course is a basic requirement for studying at Victoria University (VU).

Your academic progress is regularly reviewed by the University. If your academic progress is unsatisfactory, you will be sent an official notification to your VU student email address. You may be excluded from your studies if you continue to make unsatisfactory progress in your course.

It is important that you read the notification email carefully, as the notification will provide specific instructions relevant to your enrolled campus and Academic Progress Level.

Academic Progress Levels

Level 1 – at risk of making unsatisfactory progress: Student fails any two or three units within their current course attempt, or fails the same unit twice.

Level 2 – failure to maintain satisfactory progress: Student fails any four or five units within their current course attempt.

Level 3 – unsatisfactory progress: Student fails any six or seven units within a course. Or fails the same unit three times.

It is possible to skip progression levels if you fail more than one unit in a progression period, because all unit fails in a course count towards progression.

The information in this section is for Melbourne-based VU students. If you are enrolled at a VU partner campus in Sydney, Brisbane, China, Sunway, VU Online, India or Sri Lanka, there is information about the progress requirements for your campus location further down this page.

Levels 1 & 2

If you have received an academic progress notification address advising that you are at level 1 or 2, you will need to meet with a Student Advisor to develop an Academic Action Plan. Your Student Advisor will review your needs and suggest support options that may help. Your Academic Action Plan will summarise the actions you have agreed to do to improve your studies. Your Academic Action Plan will be kept on your student file.

Some of the actions you may be asked to consider will include:

Seeking assistance with your study skills.
Reducing your working hours or other non-university commitments.
Seeking mental health and wellbeing support from VU Counselling.
Taking a break from your studies by taking a leave of absence.
Changing your major or applying for a 'better fit' course (we recommend consulting with our Careers team for advice).

When you commit to do something, make sure you really can complete it. For example, if you agree to reduce your working hours, make sure you are able to follow through.

Melbourne-based students:

Step 1: Book an appointment with a Student Advisor (call +61 3 9919 6100 if you need help making the appointment).

Step 2: Complete the self-reflection questions to prepare for your appointment with your Student Advisor.

Step 3: View support services available to you. Would any of these services help you improve your academic performance? For example, if you need to work on your study skills or need personal support, please book an appointment with the relevant service.

Level 3

If you have received an academic progress notification address advising that you are at level 3, this means that you have been excluded from your course because of your unsatisfactory academic progress.

You will be given an opportunity to ‘show cause’ – that is, to explain to a Show Cause Panel why you should not be excluded from your studies. You must carefully read the instructions and follow the link in your progress notification email to book a Show Cause hearing.

This is your opportunity to explain your circumstances and what you intend to do to improve your academic performance. To prepare for your Show Cause hearing, write down some dot points outlining the factors that have impacted on your course progress. Once you have stated the reasons why you have been making unsatisfactory progress you need to offer solutions for continuing in your course. This includes outlining how you plan to continue successfully, for example reducing working hours, seeking counselling or extra tutoring.

At the hearing you will be asked about the reasons for your unsatisfactory academic progress. You should:

Tell the truth, include all relevant information, and offer to provide evidence relating to your case.
Address all reasons for your unsatisfactory progress with solutions.
Demonstrate your commitment to complete your course.

If you require assistance to prepare for your Show Cause hearing, contact Student Advocacy. In certain cases, an Advocate may be able to accompany you to the hearing. You can also bring a friend or family member to the hearing with you as personal support if needed.

If you do not indicate that you intend to 'show cause' within five calendar days you will be deemed to have made unsatisfactory progress and will be excluded from your course.

The maximum number of times that you can ‘show cause’ is twice. However, if you fail 10 or more units you will be excluded from your course.

The video below will help you to understand what to expect at a Show Cause hearing and how to prepare.

VU Show Cause hearing

Receiving a notice about unsatisfactory academic progress and attending a Show Cause hearing can be overwhelming. This video will help you to understand what to expect and how to prepare.

Watch this video in your language

Vietnamese: VU Show Cause Panel - Vietnamese

Mandarin Chinese: VU Show Cause Panel - Mandarin Chinese

Nepali: VU Show Cause Panel - Nepali

Hindi: VU Show Cause Panel - Hindi

Progress requirements for students enrolled at VU partner institutions

If you are enrolled at a Victoria University partner institution and you have been notified that your progress is unsatisfactory, please refer to the specific advice relevant to your enrolled campus.

: Levels 1 or 2
Book an appointment with your Learning Support Advisor (call +61 7 3210 7402 or email your Learning Support Advisor directly). They will review your needs and suggest other support options that may help.
Please complete the self-evaluation questions to prepare for your appointment with your Learning Support Advisor.
Academic action plan (Brisbane) (DOCX, 68.29 KB)
Level 3
If you are going to be excluded from your course you need to carefully read the instructions and follow the link in your unsatisfactory academic progress notification to book a Show Cause hearing.
: Please book an appointment with the Partner Program Manager at your campus by the specified deadline. If you are unable to book an appointment because campus is closed (such as during summer break), you must email your campus contact to confirm that you have received the letter and you will make an appointment according to the schedule determined by the Partner Program Manager when the campus reopens.
CUFE Campus contact
Ms Yilun Qin (Joyce)
Email: joyce1066@qq.com
Phone: +86 10 62288206
Liaoning Campus contacts
Dr Helen Zhao
Email: sakuraconanzxw@126.com
Henan Campus contacts
Ms Shuhong Zhao (Sunny)
Email: shuhongzhao@126.com
: If you have received an unsatisfactory academic progress notification, please contact:
Dr Vivek Srivastava - Dean Teaching and Learning VU India
Email: vivek.srivastava@vu.edu.au
Nisha Rana - Deputy Registrar, VU India
Email: nisha.rana@delhi.vu.edu.au
: Level 1 or 2: Complete sections 1 and 2 of the Academic Action Plan and make an appointment to discuss your situation (see contact information below).
Academic Action Plan (PDF, 172.97 KB)
Level 3: If you are going to be excluded from your course – and would like to attend a Show Cause hearing to explain your circumstances – you have five working days from the date of the email to make an appointment to discuss your situation and show cause.
If you are in Johor Bahru, book an appointment with (and submit your Academic Action Plan or your request to show cause):
Ms Vera Lim, Assistant Manager
Email: siewfengl@sunway.edu.my
Phone: +607 – 3596 880 (extension 210)
If you are in Kuala Lumpur, and an undergraduate student, book an appointment with (and submit your Academic Action Plan or your request to show cause):
Ms Sharmila Subramaniam, Executive Administration
Email: sharmilasu@sunway.edu.my
Phone: 03-7491 8622 (extension 3165)
If you are in Kuala Lumpur, and a postgraduate student, book an appointment with (and submit your Academic Action Plan or your request to show cause) one of the following:
Dr Hendry Ng Han Swee ( hendryng@sunway.edu.my)
Kavitha Ambigabadi ( kavithaa@sunway.edu.my)
Wan Ilyani Wan Zakaria ( ilyaniz@sunway.edu.my).
: If you have received an unsatisfactory academic progress notification, please contact:
Ms Kalni Peiris, Lecturer & Country Coordinator – Australian Partnerships
Email: kalni.h@nsbm.ac.lk
: Levels 1 or 2
Book an appointment with your Learning Support Advisor (call +61 2 8265 3222 or email your Learning Support Advisor directly). They will review your needs and suggest other support options that may help.
Please complete the self-evaluation questions to prepare for your appointment with your Learning Support Advisor.
Academic action plan (Sydney) (DOCX, 69.65 KB)
Level 3
If you are going to be excluded from your course you need to carefully read the instructions and follow the link in your unsatisfactory academic progress notification to book a Show Cause hearing.
: If you received an unsatisfactory academic progress notification, please contact:
Kiều Quang Linh (Liam)
Email: linhkq@hsb.edu.vn
: Level 1 or 2
1. Book an appointment with a VU Student Success Advisor
If you’re studying postgraduate courses in business, financial planning, nursing, mental health, public health and primary teaching:
phone: 1300 043 531
email: studentsupport@online.vu.edu.au
If you're studying postgraduate secondary education, undergraduate business or undergraduate primary education:
phone: 1300 986 111
email: vuonline.ssa@vu.edu.au
Your Student Success Advisor will assess your needs and recommend additional support services that may be helpful.
2. Complete the self-reflection questions in the academic action plan
Prepare for your appointment with your Student Success Advisor by completing the questions outlined in the 'Academic action plan':
Academic action plan – VU Online (PDF, 225.92 KB)
Level 3
If you are going to be excluded from your course you need to carefully read the instructions and follow the link in your unsatisfactory academic progress notification to book a show cause hearing.

Progress requirements for onshore international students

If you are an onshore international student, you are expected to complete your course within the time stated on your CoE. Failure to do so will put you at risk of having your CoE cancelled and student visa revoked.

Victoria University monitors all student attendance, as required by Australian law under the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 and the University Procedure for Monitoring International Student Attendance. If you are an ELICOS student, you are required to attend at least 80% of classes each study period. You need to contact your program coordinator immediately or take a leave of absence if you are away for more than five consecutive days.

If you do not respond to your academic progress notifications or you fail to comply with you Academic Action Plan, Victoria University will inform you of its intention to report information about the breach of your student visa to the Department of Home Affairs.

By law (under the ESOS Act), the University is required to report you to the Department of Home Affairs if you breach the conditions of your student visa.