• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• International Students
• Unsatisfactory Progression Outcomes (Suspension, Exclusion, Conditional Enrolment)
• Transfer of Key Program
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Section 5 - Guidelines

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The University provides reasonable opportunity for students to reorient their undergraduate study program after entry into the University. The University facilitates internal course transfers for that purpose, while maintaining the academic integrity of the admissions process.

(2) This policy applies to all students transferring between eligible undergraduate courses of the University. It does not apply to bachelor honours transfers, graduate entry bachelor courses, postgraduate coursework or postgraduate research course transfers.

(3) This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies:

1. Admissions Policy
2. Advanced Standing Policy
3. Progression and Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Policy
4. Enrolment Policy

Section 2 - Definitions

(4) Advanced Standing - credit towards a course for learning previously achieved, expressed in the form of a specified number of credit points, and granted on the basis of previous, successfully completed studies or of previous, demonstrable, experiential learning.

(5) Conditional Enrolment for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance - one type of sanction for students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory. Placement on conditional enrolment limits the number of units in which a student may enrol.

(6) Department of Home Affairs.

(7) e_COE: Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment - Certificate provided by higher education providers to Department of Home Affairs as evidence of full-time study for student visa purposes.

(8) Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance - an excluded student's enrolment is cancelled and they are excluded from any enrolment in any course at the University during the period of exclusion, which will not exceed 24 months. School of Medicine students are excluded from the Medicine course only and may continue studying in another approved course.

(9) Internal Course Transfer - transferring from one undergraduate program at the University to another, through a process conducted within the University, as opposed to requiring a student to reapply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

(10) Key Program - an approved sequence of core, specified units that, for most undergraduate courses, is the core requirement for a student to take out a particular degree. Key Programs may be referred to as one of the following: Core, Major, Sequence, Sub-major, Specialisation. The title of the Key Program may, provided it has been approved by Academic Senate (Senate), form part of the degree title and appear on the testamur.

(11) University: Western Sydney University including University partner providers.

(12) Non-Current School Leaver – any applicant who is not currently sitting for their Year 12 qualification (e.g. the NSW Higher School Certificate).

(13) Suspension for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance - a sanction barring a student from attendance at the University for a specified period of time.

(14) UAC - the Universities Admissions Centre. UAC is the agency that processes applications for admission to most undergraduate courses at participating institutions in NSW and the ACT.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(15) A current undergraduate student at the University who wishes to transfer to another eligible course at the University, applies, in most cases, via an internal course transfer.

(16) A student may only transfer between equivalent levels of award (eg Bachelor degree to Bachelor degree, Diploma course to Diploma course).

(17) Courses that are eligible for the course transfer process are published on the relevant University webpage. If a student wishes to transfer into a course that is excepted from the internal course transfer process, he or she must reapply through UAC, or, if an international student, through Western Sydney International.

(18) Applications for transfer must be received by the applicable closing date for the upcoming teaching session. 

(19) Applicants for transfer will need to meet the non-current school leaver cut-off [for current year of admission] to be eligible for entry into the course they wish to study. They will also need to meet any additional selection criteria that have been specified for that course in the current year.

(20) Meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee entry into the course. Some courses have strict quotas in place that restrict the number of students who will be able to transfer into the program at any given intake.

(21) Where all conditions and constraints are met, the internal course transfer will be approved.

(22) The only avenue for appeal is for procedural irregularity as per the Academic Appeals Procedures.

(23) Applicants for transfer will be notified in writing of the result of their application.

(24) Due to differences in course structures and unit availability, some adjustment to the standard minimum time for completion of the transfer to course, may occur.

(25) Students who transfer courses may be able to apply for Advanced Standing for the units they have successfully completed in the previous course. The rules and procedures laid down in the Advanced Standing Policy apply.

International Students

(26) An international student wishing to transfer courses must meet the current international admission criteria that are set for the course into which he or she is applying to transfer.

(27) An international student wishing to transfer courses will be issued with a new e_CoE and where the period of study has been changed, the University will, as required by legislation, advise DIAC.

Unsatisfactory Progression Outcomes (Suspension, Exclusion, Conditional Enrolment)

(28) A student placed on conditional enrolment in a course will still be allowed to apply to transfer courses.

(29) A student who has been suspended from a course can apply to transfer to another course when the period of suspension is due to finish.

(30) A student who has received an internal transfer offer but is subsequently excluded, will not be permitted to enrol in the new course and will need to reapply to the University after their period of exclusion (refer to the Admissions Policy). 

Transfer of Key Program

(31) A change of Key Program is not considered a course transfer. Rules governing selection and changes to Key Programs are covered in the Enrolment Policy.

Section 4 - Procedures

(32) Instructions for local (domestic) students on how to apply for a course transfer are published on the following Course Transfer Webpage.

(33) Instructions for international students on how to apply for a course transfer are published on the following Course Transfer Webpage. 

Section 5 - Guidelines

(34) Courses eligible for the internal course transfer process are listed on the Course Transfer Webpage.