Understanding your academic results
Find everything you need to know about accessing and understanding your academic results here at Swinburne.
What your grades mean
Grades are used to give an indication of your progress through your course. However, they are only one part of measuring your overall academic progress at Swinburne.
For certain courses, Swinburne can now measure performance with the widely used Grade Point Average (GPA) system.
If you're having difficulty understanding your grades, always talk to your unit convenor first or learn more about past results and what they mean.
How to access your results
You can access your results online by logging into My Results. You can also email yourself an unofficial transcript.
If you can't see your results:
- the results release date may not have passed (see below)
- results may not have been approved and finalised
- you may have a sanction preventing your results from being released (e.g. outstanding fees or library fines).
My Results: How to view your results online
The release dates for your Swinburne results depend on your level and mode of study, such as:
- Higher education
- Vocational education
- Foundation Year and UniLink
- Open University Australia (OUA)
- Hawthorn online
- NICA
Higher education students
| Teaching period | Results release date |
|---|---|
| Summer Term | 2 March 2021 |
| Block 1 | 4 May 2021 |
| Semester-January | 4 May 2021 |
| Term 1 | 18 May 2021 |
| Block 2 | 1 June 2021 |
| Term 2 | 6 July 2021 |
| Semester 1 | 6 July 2021 |
| Semester 1 – special assessment period | Approximately 2 weeks after last assessment |
| Semester 1 – last to complete | Approximately 2 weeks after last assessment |
| HE Block 3 | 20 July 2021 |
| Winter Term | 17 August 2021 |
| HE Block 4 | 17 August 2021 |
| Semester-May | 1 September 2021 |
| HE Block 5 | 28 September 2021 |
| Term 3 | 12 October 2021 |
| HE Block 6 | 2 November 2021 |
| Term 4 | 7 December 2021 |
| Semester 2 | 7 December 2021 |
| Semester 2 – special assessment period | Approximately 2 weeks after last assessment |
| Semester 2 – last to complete | Approximately 2 weeks after last assessment |
| Block 7 and 8 | 21 December 2021 |
| Semester-September | 21 December 2021 |
Vocational education students
If you're a vocational education (VE) student, once the census date has passed for the study period, your results are released on a weekly basis. They will be available within two weeks of the end of the teaching block through My results.
Foundation Year and UniLink students
| Teaching period | Results release date |
|---|---|
| Teaching Period 3 (2020) | 10 February 2021 |
| Teaching Period 1 | 9 June 2021 |
| Teaching Period 2 | 6 October 2021 |
| Teaching Period 3 | 7 February 2022 |
Open Universities Australia students
If you're an Open University Australia (OUA) student studying Swinburne units, your results will be released on the following dates:
- Study Period 4 (2020) – 30 March 2021
- Study Period 1 – 29 June 2021
- Study Period 2 – 28 September 2021
- Study Period 3 – 21 December 2021
Hawthorn Online students
If you're Hawthorn Online (HOL) student, your results will be released on the following dates:
- Study Period 4 (2020) – 30 March 2021
- Study Period 1 – 29 June 2021
- Study Period 2 – 28 September 2021
- Study Period 3 – 21 December 2021
NICA students
If you're a NICA student, your results will be released on the following dates:
- Semester 1 – 6 July 2021
- Semester 2 – 7 December 2021
Academic transcripts
An academic transcript is an official document signed by the University Registrar which states your course, subjects and results, completion date and conferral date. A digital copy of your academic transcript will be provided soon after you complete your award. Once your award is completed it will be put forward for University Conferral and your digital documents will be issued.
If you’re continuing your enrolled course and require a digital academic transcript to track your progression, you can order and pay for a digital transcript online anytime. Digital transcripts ordered online are available within 24 hours through My eQuals.
Before you order, please check My Results and result release dates. Official transcripts only display results that have been officially released at the time of ordering.
If you’re an international student and need confirmation that your course has been completed, your digital documents can be used as evidence of completion. Alternatively, if you require a letter of completion, submit a letter of completion request.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
What is a GPA?
A simple numerical index summarising your academic performance in a course in:
- a single teaching period or
- over a year or
- for the duration of your enrolment in a course.
It’s based on the relative size of units, measured by:
- student contact hours (for vocational education students, diploma and above)
- credit points (for higher education students).
GPA is not used in units with competency-based grading or grades that do not have marks.
What is a GPA used for?
A GPA can be among criteria for a study offer, for identifying candidates for academic prizes or as a measure when applying for a job or another university place.
The two main GPA scales are the 4-point and 7-point scale, which differ by the grade points allocated but share the same calculation method.
Swinburne has used the 4-point scale since 2014. If you have one, your GPA is displayed with your results and also appears on your academic transcript.
How is your GPA calculated?
For higher education, the GPA is calculated using the following formula:
Total grade points divided by the total credit points = Grade Point Average.
GPA = 175/100 = 1.75 (4 point scale)
| Unit |
Credit points (CP) |
Result |
GPA value (4-point scale) |
Grade points (CP x GPA value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA001 | 12.5 | HD | 4 | 50 |
| ABC201 | 12.5 | D | 3 | 37.5 |
| BBB105 | 25 | P | 1 | 25 |
| CCC415 | 12.5 | P | 1 | 12.5 |
| XXX501 | 12.5 | N | 0 | 0 |
| DDD110 | 25 | C | 2 | 50 |
| TOTAL | 100 | – | – | 175 |
Total grade points divided by the total student contact hours = Grade Point Average
GPA = 625/245 = 2.55 (4-point scale)
| Unit | Student contact hours (SCH) |
Result | GPA value (4-point scale) |
Grade points (SCH x GPA value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAA001 | 20 | N | 0 | 0 |
| ABC201 | 40 | D | 3 | 120 |
| BBB105 | 25 | P | 1 | 25 |
| CCC415 | 80 | HD | 4 | 320 |
| DDD110 | 80 | C | 2 | 160 |
| TOTAL | 245 | – | – | 625 |
Grades systems can change over time.
The current schema has been in place since 2014, also the year Swinburne adopted the use of the four-point Grade Point Average (GPA) system for both higher education and vocational education (VE; diploma and above).
Below is a summary of current and previously used Swinburne result categories. It includes categories of institutions now merged with Swinburne University.
Results categories by year and Swinburne study area
| Swinburne area | Current | Before 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| Higher education | 2014 to present | 1992 to 2013 |
| Unilink, Foundation and ELICOS | Present | |
| Vocational education (VE; formerly TAFE) | 1992 to present | 1976 to 2013 |
What is a conceded pass?
If you're an undergraduate and achieve a mark of between 45 and 49 in a unit and meet all of the following criteria, you may be granted a conceded pass if:
- The unit does not satisfy a prerequisite requirement
- You are not enrolled in a single unit only
- You have never previously been granted a conceded pass (you can only be granted a conceded pass once).
If your course is for professional accreditation, you may not be eligible for a conceded pass.
Normally, you don’t have to apply for a conceded pass — it is awarded as part of the results process if you meet all eligibility criteria.
However, if you feel you do meet all the criteria but have not been granted a conceded pass (or would like to have a conceded pass removed from your results) you can complete and submit a conceded pass application.
You’ll find out the result of this application via your Swinburne student email account. Check your Swinburne email regularly or redirect it to an email you check frequently. You’ll need to respond promptly to requests for action or information supporting your application.
Finishing your course
If you’ve completed all of the requirements for your course, congratulations! If you’re not sure if you've finished your course or haven’t received a graduation notice, contact studentHQ.
We can’t release your results or let you graduate until you've paid any outstanding fees and fines. After you've finished your course there are lots of options:
- Find out about graduation
- Explore options for further study
- Check out the great resources and events of our alumni network
- Get ready for the workforce with help from Careers and Employability
- Attend a Completion of studies seminar if you're an international student.
Check your results
Log in with your student ID and password and view your results.