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

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) The University provides reasonable opportunity for students to reorient their undergraduate or postgraduate study course after entry into the University. The University facilitates 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 or postgraduate courses of the University. It does not apply to Foundation Studies Certificates, Bachelor Honours transfers, Graduate Entry Bachelor courses, Postgraduate Research courses or Pathway Articulation 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) For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions apply:

1. Advanced Standing means 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 previous, demonstrable, experiential learning.
2. Conditional Enrolment for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance means a type of progression outcome for students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory. Placement on Conditional Enrolment limits the number of units in which a student may enrol.
3. Course Variation means the process of making an administrative change to a student’s course, where a course transfer is not required, such as:
   1. changing home campus (after completion of first session);
   2. moving from a double degree to a constituent single degree;
   3. moving in or out of an Advanced course (within the existing course);
   4. changing a course for graduation purposes;
   5. change of mode of study.
4. Department of Home Affairs means the Australian Government department responsible for the issuing of student visas to international students.
5. eCOE means Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment, which is the document provided by higher education providers to international students to verify their enrolment in a specified course. 
6. Domestic student means a student who is:
   1. an Australian Citizen;
   2. a New Zealand Citizen;
   3. the holder of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa; or
   4. the holder of a Humanitarian Visa.
7. Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance means 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. A student excluded from the Professional Entry Medical Program is excluded from the medicine course only and may continue studying in another approved course with academic approval.
8. Internal Course Transfer means transferring from one eligible program at the University to another at the same level, through a process conducted within the University, as opposed to requiring a student to reapply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
9. International student means a student who is not:
   1. an Australian Citizen;
   2. a New Zealand Citizen;
   3. the holder of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa; or
   4. the holder of a Humanitarian Visa.
10. Specialisation means the units that a student can select to make up a designated and distinctive component of their course structure. The most common specialisations are Key Programs, Majors and Sub-majors.
11. University means Western Sydney University, including Western Sydney University - The College (The College) and University partner providers.
12. Suspension for Unsatisfactory Academic Performance means a sanction barring a student from attendance and enrolment at the University for a specified period of time.
13. UAC means the Universities Admissions Centre. UAC is the agency that processes applications for admission to most undergraduate and postgraduate courses at participating institutions in NSW and the ACT.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(5) A current undergraduate or postgraduate student at the University who wishes to transfer to another eligible course at the University, applies, in most cases, via the published course transfer process.

(6) A current undergraduate student at the University who wishes to change from a combined degree to a component single degree, applies for a Course Variation.

(7) A student may only transfer between equivalent levels of award (e.g. Bachelor degree to Bachelor degree, Diploma course to Diploma course).

(8) Courses that are excluded from the course transfer process are published on the relevant Transferring to a New Course webpage. If a student wishes to transfer into a course that is not available through the course transfer process, they must reapply through UAC, or, if an international student, through Western Sydney International.

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

(10) Applicants for transfer will need to meet the current entry requirements for admission into the course they wish to study. They will also need to meet any additional selection criteria that have been specified for that course.

(11) The full academic history of applicants will be considered, including current and previous study attempts. Students should provide their full academic history from the University on their application for course transfer so that it can be considered when their request is assessed.

(12) 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.

(13) Students are permitted to study concurrently. If a student is approved to transfer to a different course and no longer wishes to continue to study in the course in which they are currently enrolled, they are responsible for discontinuing and finalising their enrolment in the first course. Rules and procedures for discontinuing study and associated liability for fees are outlined in the Enrolment Policy and Student Fees Policy. 

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

Advanced Standing

(15) Students who transfer courses may be able to apply for advanced standing for the units they have successfully completed in the previous course. Refer to the Advanced Standing Policy for the rules and procedures that apply.

(16) 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.

International Students

(17) An international student wishing to transfer courses must meet the current international admission criteria that are set for the course into which they are applying to transfer.

(18) An international student wishing to transfer courses applies via the application process published on the Transferring to a new course webpage.

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

Unsatisfactory Progression Outcomes (Suspension, Exclusion, Conditional Enrolment)

(20) A student placed on Conditional Enrolment in a course will still be allowed to apply to transfer courses.

(21) 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.

(22) A student who has received a course 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 and the Progression and Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Policy. 

Transfer of Specialisation

(23) A change of Specialisation is not considered a course transfer. Rules governing selection and changes to Specialisations are covered in the Enrolment Policy.

Section 4 - Procedures

(24) Instructions for domestic students and international students on the different processes for how to apply for a course transfer are published on the Transferring to a New Course webpage.

Section 5 - Guidelines

(25) Courses eligible for the course transfer process are listed on the Transferring to a New Course webpage.

(26) Students at The College wishing to apply for a course transfer should speak with their First Year Experience Coordinator prior to applying to transfer.

(27) Students applying for a course transfer compete with all other applicants for a place in the course, and places go to the most competitive applicants. An applicant’s full academic history is considered in the assessment process, not only current results.