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Your Course and Results - Frequently Asked Questions

Please note that the Swin-eCounselling service is primarily for assistance and advice on issues that may be affecting your studies or personal well-being, we are unable to advise you about your marks or enrolment.

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Q. I’m a first year student and I’m really not enjoying my course at all. I was wondering what my options are in relation to transferring to another course at either the hawthorn campus or at another campus, and also how much will I have to pay in terms of fees for the semester of uni I have attended already?

A. Dear Student,
First of all I would like to commend you on recognising that your course may not be the one for you and that you are seeking assistance for this early on. It is not uncommon for students, particularly young students, to be unsure about their choice of courses or career, and many can feel pressured into choosing a career before they have really had a chance to explore their interests. It shows maturity that you are able to recognise that there may be a more suitable study path for you and have contacted us for assistance, before you loose motivation or fall behind in your studies. The Careers Counsellors at Swinburne are available to help you explore your career and study choices so it may be worth contacting them for an appointment.

With regards to your concerns about what fees you will owe for your attendance this semester, you can contact the Student Information Centre for advice.

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Q. I received my results today and received an N for one subject. I would like to query this as I was certain that I had passed. I received good marks for my assignments and I am confident I answered all questions correctly in the exam. How would I go about getting a copy of the marked exam and looking at why I received an N?

A. Dear Student,
It sounds like you were quite surprised by your result, particularly since you did so well on your assignments. The first thing you should do is talk with the course coordinator (this needs to be done as soon as possible as there is a time limit on this grievance process). The course coordinator will be able to tell you the actual mark for the exam and the policy in regards to whether you may view the exam. The course coordinator could also inform you about any procedures for querying the mark you were given.

If you are not satisfied following this process, you can then contact an Academic Advisor at the SSAA.

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Q. I had a dream that I have failed in one of my subject. What does it mean?

A. Dear Student,
What you have described in regards to having a dream about failing a subject is a very common dream for students.  It is likely that you are feeling some anxiety about getting your results and this is coming out when you are asleep. It can often help to talk to a trusted friend or family member about your concerns so that you can talk through how likely it is that you have failed, and what this would mean for you. It can be reassuring to talk things through and often we are pleasantly surprised that there was no real reason to be worried at all. Waiting for your results can be a very stressful time, however, so if you don't get some relief from by talking to your friends about your concerns, you may wish to speak to one of the counsellors at Swinburne Student Counselling Service. 

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Q. I am not satisfied with my results, what can I do?

A. Dear Student,
I am sorry to hear that your results were not as you had expected. Please note that the Swin-eCounselling service is primarily for assistance and advice on issues that may be affecting your studies or personal well-being, we are unable to advise you about your marks or enrolment.

If you believe your results are incorrect, or wish to appeal your marks, the first thing you should do is contact your faculty office or make an informal appointment with your course convenor to discuss your assessment further. Please note that you must do this within 10 working days of the date your results were released. If you are currently interstate or overseas, you may need to phone your convenor to see if you can discuss this over the phone - contact details can be found on most Faculty/School pages within the Swinburne website.

For all other queries, such as what your marks mean and how they will affect your enrolment, please consult one of the following:
1. Your Faculty office;
2. The Student Information Centre or Ask George; or
3. If you are an International Student, contact Swinburne International

If you would like assistance in developing strategies to help improve your results in the future or help in managing stress or anxiety with your studies, however, the Student Development and Counselling service may be able to assist you, either through personal counselling or our Academic Success Program workshops.

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