Master of Information Technology

Enrolment

Change of Enrolment

After enrolling, students may modify their program by withdrawing from a subject, enrolling in an additional subject, or changing the term in which they commence a subject. This can be done through the online student portal, or through Student Administration.

Students are advised to change their enrolment before the program administrative date in order to avoid being charged a fee for late changes to their enrolment.

Domestic Students

1. A student may enrol if they meet the admission criteria, have been provided with a Letter of Offer and accepted it by the deadline for acceptance.
2. Late enrolments for coursework students are permitted until:

• the end of week two, for study periods running for ten or more weeks, or
• the end of week one, for study periods with fewer than ten weeks.

3. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will not usually permit a student to enrol after the above deadlines unless it is with the permission of the Dean, and only in exceptional circumstances.

International students

1. A student may enrol if they meet the admission criteria and have been provided with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
2. Late enrolments for coursework students are permitted until:

• the end of week two, for study periods running for ten or more weeks, or
• the end of week one, for study periods with fewer than ten weeks.

3. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will not usually permit a student to enrol after the above deadlines unless it is with the permission of the Dean, and only in exceptional circumstances.
4. The Quality and Compliance Coordinator will monitor the enrolment status of each student at the beginning of each term or teaching period and before the census date to ensure that each student is correctly enrolled. Monitoring enrolment is a requirement to ensure the student is:

• able to complete the course/s within the duration specified in the student’s Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE); and
• not exceeding the allowable portion of online or distance learning.

Deferral of study

Domestic Students

1. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may permit an applicant to defer admission provided that the offer of admission has not lapsed or been withdrawn due to the applicant’s actions prior or subsequent to the offer being made.
2. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may grant deferred admission to domestic applicants for either one (1) year or one (1) term, from the time the offer is applicable. Where a course is not available for deferment, this will be clearly advised at the time of application for admission and on the offer letter.
3. The Dean may extend the period of deferral for an individual applicant to a maximum of two years.

International Students

1. International Students who have been issued an offer of enrolment to a program but have not yet accepted that offer (and thus no CoE has been raised), may request to defer commencement to a later study period.
2. International students who have accepted their offer and a CoE has been raised may not defer their commencement of study, except with the permission of the Dean as outlined in the Procedures for Monitoring Program Progress of International Students.
3. Procedures governing the application for deferral by eligible students are outlined in the Procedures for Monitoring Program Progress of International Students.

Rules for intermission or leave of absence

Domestic Students

1. A student may apply for intermission from their enrolment in a course:
2. on up to two separate occasions during their current course enrolment; and
3. for a maximum period of one year each
4. only after a student has completed at least one unit in their current course
5. the course in which they are seeking intermission must be available for admission
6. The intermission request must be approved or accepted by the Sydney Institute of Higher Education.
7. The Dean, may approve:
   1. a third or subsequent period of intermission for an undergraduate student; or
   2. an intermission of more than one year by any student.
8. At the end of the intermission period, the student must comply with any requirements notified by the Dean for completing the course, including potential course transfer where a course is in the process of being phased out. Those requirements apply to the student despite anything to the contrary in the course rules.

International Students

1. All provisions of this clause are subject to restrictions imposed on student visa holders by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and regulations made pursuant to it.
2. A student may apply for intermission from their enrolment in a course:
   (i) once during their current course enrolment; and
   (ii) for a maximum period of one year.
3. The intermission request must be approved or accepted by the Sydney Institute of Higher Education.
4. An international student may apply for intermission to their enrolment where that intermission does not delay the completion of their degree.
5. Where any intermission may delay the completion of the degree, the matter must be considered by the Dean. A leave of absence will be considered in accordance with Standard 8 and 9 of the National Code taking into consideration any extenuating circumstances provided by the student as well as student visa regulations.
6. An intermission may be considered where there are compassionate or compelling circumstances. Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally those beyond the control of the student, which have an impact upon the student’s course progress or wellbeing, including but not limited to:
   (i) Serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student is unable to attend classes;
   (ii) Bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided);
   (iii) Major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the student’s studies;
   (iv) A traumatic experience, which could include involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime and this has impacted on the student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports)
   (v) Where the Sydney Institute of Higher Education is unable to offer a pre-requisite unit;
   (vi) Inability to commence the course due to delay in receiving a student visa; or,
   (vii) Late application and assessment of credit and or recognition of prior learning which means a student has credit for units and it is too late to enrol into other units.
7. At the end of the intermission period, the student must comply with any requirements notified by the Dean for completing the program. Those requirements apply to the student despite anything to the contrary in the program rules
8. Further details are provided in the Monitoring Academic Progress Policy.

Rules for withdrawal of study

Students who wish to withdraw from a program at the Sydney Institute of Higher Education are strongly encouraged to speak with the Program Director and/or a relevant student support officer in order to discuss their reason for withdrawal and future plans.

Students may apply to Student Administration Coordinator to withdraw from their program.

Full details as to the circumstances when a student may withdraw from their course or unit are listed in the Enrolment Policy.

Students are not guaranteed a place in the program from which they have withdrawn. If they wish to be re-admitted in future, they must go through the program application and admissions process.

International Students

All procedures defined above are available to international students, however, international students must remain aware of their visa conditions and the effect that program modification may have on their enrolment and consequent visa requirements. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education must take into account the impact of an international student’s application on their visa when evaluating applications.

The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will only grant program deferrals and leaves of absence and impose temporary suspensions on serious grounds such as compelling or compassionate circumstances

The Sydney Institute of Higher Education recognises its obligation to report any changes to the enrolment details of an international student through the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS) system.

Full details are provided in the Enrolment Policy, Monitoring Academic Progress Policy and Procedures for Monitoring Program Progress of International Students.

Lapse of enrolment (failure to engage)

Domestic students

1. If a coursework student is not enrolled in any unit of study by the census date for that term, or the student has enrolled and withdrawn their enrolment before census date, and the student has not discontinued from the course or taken intermission from their enrolment, the student’s current course enrolment will be lapsed after 12 months of non-engagement.
2. If a student’s current course enrolment has lapsed, then, despite any contrary provision in this policy, the procedures for the student to re-enrol in the course are to be determined by the Program Director or Dean (as appropriate).

International Students

1. If a student is not enrolled in any unit of study by the census date for that term, or the student has enrolled and withdrawn their enrolment before census date, and the student has not discontinued from the course or taken intermission from their enrolment, the student’s Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) will be cancelled for passive withdrawal from study.
2. If a student’s CoE is cancelled the student must apply for readmission.

Termination of enrolment or exclusion

1. If a student fails to study for a period of two years from their last enrolment, their current course enrolment will be terminated automatically.
2. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may exclude a student for a period of time under the Monitoring Academic Progress Policy and the Students at Risk and Unsatisfactory Progress Policy.
3. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may terminate the enrolment of a student who has not met the attendance requirements.
4. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may cancel the enrolment of a student who is found guilty of misconduct
5. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may cancel the enrolment of a student for non-payment of fees.
6. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will notify the student in writing of its intention to terminate a student’s enrolment.
7. Students may appeal this decision and no action on termination will be taken before the conclusion of any appeals periods or an appeal is submitted. Full details are provided in the Student Complaints and Appeals Policy. The termination of the enrolment may take effect, even during an appeal period if the student’s health or wellbeing, or the wellbeing of others is at risk.
8. For domestic students, the Sydney Institute of Higher Education will notify the Department of Human Services.
9. For international students, a student, whose enrolment has been cancelled by the Sydney Institute of Higher Education, may be in breach of the conditions of his or her student visa and the ESOS Act and will prevent the student from enrolling in any further units at the Sydney Institute of Higher Education. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will notify the Department of Home Affairs of the student’s cancellation, deferment or temporary suspension of enrolment.
10. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will advise an international student visa holder whose enrolment is a risk of termination to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to seek advice on any potential impacts on their visa, including the need to obtain a new visa.

Enrolment in more than 1 award course

1. A student may not enrol in more than one award course, without the prior written permission of the Dean.
2. Where a student has enrolled in multiple HE courses, the student is responsible for ensuring they have a reasonable study load each study period, and that they can complete the award course(s) within the maximum allowable time. Enrolment in multiple courses will not be grounds for an appeal against interventions or penalties imposed due to poor academic progression.
3. International students may enrol in more than one course at a time but both courses must have CRICOS registration and the student should ensure they request a CoE for the second course. International students who are seeking to undertake additional study must meet the requirements of their student visa including the need to remain enrolled in a registered course, achieve satisfactory course attendance, and progress in their principal course of study.

Enrolment restrictions

A student may not:

1. enrol in a unit of study that they have passed, without the permission of the Dean;
2. enrol or undertake any unit of study or unit for which credit has been granted;
3. enrol in units of study additional to award course requirements, except as a non-award student;
4. except with the permission of the Program Director enrol in units of study with a total credit point value exceeding 50 credit points in one term;
5. enrol in a unit requiring pre-requisite units to have been completed without first having completed the pre-requisite units. The Dean may waive prerequisite requirements in special circumstances;
6. enrol in a unit requiring co-requisite units to also be enrolled in without having enrolled in the co-requisite units. The Dean may waive corequisite requirements in special circumstances;
7. enrol in a precluded unit of study;
8. enrol into an Exit-Only Course. The Dean may waive prerequisite requirements in special circumstances;
9. enrol in a unit of study or units contrary to a recommendation under the Monitoring Academic Progress Policy;
10. enrol in a unit where it is known that the student does not meet the inherent requirements listed for enrolment in that unit;
11. enrol in a unit of study for the third time, regardless of which course the student is enrolled within, without obtaining the permission to do so from the Program Director. The Program Director may waive this requirement in special circumstances.

Maximum course duration

Domestic students

1. The maximum duration of a course is twice the maximum duration in years plus two years. This is calculated as follows: maximum course duration = (full-time duration in years x 2) + 2 years.
2. The Sydney Institute of Higher Education may establish lower limits depending on the course, with the approval of the Academic Board, but may only do so if no student is unfairly affected by the reduction.
3. The maximum completion date will be calculated from the date of the student’s initial commencement in the award course. Where a student changes course, the maximum completion date will be calculated from the student’s commencement of the changed course, and not the initial course.
4. Periods of intermission (leave of absence), periods of exclusion or intermission imposed through the Monitoring Academic Progress Policy and periods of exclusion imposed through the Misconduct By-law are included when calculating if a student has exceeded the maximum enrolment length.
5. The Dean may consider and decide on an extension beyond the maximum time limit on a case-by-case basis.

International students

The maximum duration of a course is the lesser time of either the length of the student visa, as stated on the student’s CoE, or the maximum course duration = (full-time duration in years x 2) + 2 years. Where the maximum length is the length of the student’s visa, as stated on the student’s CoE, the Sydney Institute of Higher Education may extend the student’s course duration if:

1. there are compassionate or compelling circumstances,
2. the student has been identified as at risk of not meeting the course progression requirements and the Sydney Institute of Higher Education has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, an intervention strategy,
3. the student’s leave of absence has been approved according to Leave of Absence and Standard 9 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.

The Sydney Institute of Higher Education will advise an international student visa holder whose study duration has been extended to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to seek advice on any potential impacts on their visa, including the need to obtain a new visa.

Please refer to our Enrolment Policy.