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Thinking About Changing Your Course?

For a variety of reasons, many students

  • Change courses
  • Withdraw from certain subjects
  • Defer their subjects or
  • Withdraw from their course altogether

There are five steps that Swinburne Careers and Employment recommend you follow before taking action:

  • Step 1 - Understand your situation and take a close look at yourself
  • Step 2 - Talk to others
  • Step 3 - What are my options
  • Step 4 - Following through on your decision
  • Step 5 - Finding the right course/career for you

Step One - Understand your situation and take a close look at yourself

It is important when considering a course or career change that you think about:

  • Your goals...what do you hope to achieve in your life?
  • Your values...what is important to you in your life and in a job?
  • Your interests...what do you enjoy doing?
  • Your skills...what are the things you do really well or what do you find easy to do, which others may find more difficult?

Step Two - Talk to others

Once you have identified the reason/s for change it is essential that you talk through your decision with several people.

Academic Concerns
Your first point of contact should be within your faculty and could include:

  • Your tutor
  • The course coordinator of the subject
  • Your Faculty/Department coordinator

Study Skill Concerns
Study Support offer FREE mathematics, language and study skills assistance to Swinburne students studying in TAFE and Higher Education. More specifically, they can offer advice on your assignments and help you achieve success in your course.

Specific Course Selection and Career Concerns
Careers Consultants from Careers and Employment are available to talk through your issues and to provide information to help you make an informed decision about what action (if any) to take.

Step Three - What are my options?

  • Reducing your workload You may decide to reduce your workload to part-time by withdrawing from one or two units of study.
  • Changing faculties This is sometimes possible within the university or TAFE. It is also important to remember that your current academic record will play a large part in whether or not you are accepted.
  • Taking leave of absence from study This means that you take time out from your course, but you keep your place with the option of returning at a later date. This period of leave is usually limited to one year.
  • Discontinuing your course Withdrawing from your course means that you will give up your place in that course altogether.
  • Re-enrolling in your course at a later date If you choose to return to the same course after some time out, then you will need to re-apply through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

To check whether the above options are available to you, you will need to liaise with your Faculty or Department. You will also need to be aware of how this decision will affect your CSP, HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, Austudy, Abstudy and Youth Allowance arrangements. The advisors within Student Finance will be able to help you understand what these implications may be.

Step Four - Following through on your decision

If you have made the decision to leave your course, either temporarily or permanently, make sure you have covered the following:

  • Thought the decision through and discussed it with someone in your Faculty and/or a Careers Consultant
  • Visited your Faculty or Department Office to complete and submit a discontinuation or leave from studies form
  • Obtained a copy of all of your results to date
  • Asked about fee refunds and CSP, HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP implications
  • Ensured the university has your current address
  • Notified Centrelink (if relevant) of your decision
  • Paid all outstanding debts and library fines
  • Have a copy of the course outline or VTAC guide (if relevant)

Step Five - Finding the right course/career for you

When choosing a career or course, chances are that there will be more than one choice which is right for you, but unless you look at the full range of options, you may discover down the track that there was an area that you were better suited to and therefore experience regret.

You need to have a good think about what you enjoy (it is often useful to ask yourself, if I were to choose the perfect job, it would like this...).

It is important that you undertake some research into potential areas of interest.

Key Dates/Application Transfer

For Higher Education and TAFE programs you have certain time periods to withdraw from your course without financial or academic penalty. Check with the Student Administration Office for relevant dates.

A leave of absence may be possible but will be dependent on your head of department. An approved 'Leave of Absence' permits re-entry to the program at a later date. Students may obtain forms from their school/department office.

If you are an international student you need to contact Swinburne International for information on how to apply, transfer or withdraw from courses.

What next?

After you have made your decision you may be feeling a range of emotions both positive and perhaps negative. These are normal and understandable reactions to what can be a stressful time. If you are taking some time out from study, then it might be a good idea to set some goals for the next 6-12 months. No matter what it is that you choose to do, Careers and Employment wish you the best of luck!