Academic Progress Reviews

Students who meet the criteria for an Arotakenga Akoranga | Academic Progress Review may receive one of the following:

• Warning: This may be given if a continuing student has not made sufficient academic progress. A Warning can also be issued with restrictions (restricted points), an enrolment condition or a request for the student to meet with the Associate Dean of their Faculty.
• Impending Exclusion from an award or Faculty: This may be given to a student who has not made sufficient academic progress after receiving a Warning. This is a notice to inform the student that they will need to meet with their relevant Dean to discuss their circumstances and develop a study plan. Failure to meet with the Dean will result in an exclusion and the student will be withdrawn from their studies.
• Exclusion from an award or Faculty: This may be given if a student has previously been given a warning and has not made sufficient academic progress in a subsequent round. These exclusions prevent the student from continuing to study in in the same qualification, any subjects in that qualification or in that Faculty.
• Exclusion from the University: This may be given if a student has previously been given an exclusion from an award or Faculty and has not made sufficient academic progress in a subsequent semester. This exclusion prevents the student from continuing to study at the University of Canterbury.

Students are notified of outcomes via email the week following the release of grades. Students who receive restrictions or exclusions and are able to request a review of a decision. It is important to check UCLive email to ensure the deadline to request a review is not missed.

Requesting an outcome review

Students will need to request a review of the decision within a specified timeframe. Only students who receive restrictions or exclusions will be eligible for reviews. The University will communicate a student’s exclusion via email and students should check their email regularly to ensure the due date to request a review does not pass. For assistance through this process, they should contact the UCSA Student Advocacy. For pastoral care or support for the following semester, students can contact Student Care, Māori Development Team or Pasifika Development Team.

Students should outline the exceptional circumstances that impaired their ability to successfully complete their course of study, or significantly impaired their ability to perform in an assessment.

Evidence should be provided (such as medical certificates, death notices, other relevant documents) to support the student’s application.

The student should then explain why the impairment is no longer likely to impact on their ability to successfully complete their studies, and how they will ensure their success going forward.

If the impairment is significant and can be verified, along with a strong study plan in place,  the restrictions or exclusion  may be removed and the student permitted to continue their study.

An exclusion means you are excluded from the named qualification or from the University for the future. During the exclusion period, you are not permitted to continue to study in the qualification, or at the University in the case of a University exclusion. The exclusion is valid for a period of no less than 12 months. The University would consider allowing the student readmission after:

• At least one year of successful study elsewhere (in another Faculty or at another tertiary institution) or at least one year of successful work experience in relevant employment.
• Evidence of the likelihood of success in future university studies. Applicants should provide information about how any circumstances that had previously impacted their studies have now been resolved. They should also provide a thorough study plan to demonstrate how they will be able to successfully complete their programme should they be permitted to return.

How to re-apply

• Applications for readmission to a course, subject, award or Faculty shall be made to the Faculty’sAcademic Dean, or nominee. (please see contact information below for each Faculty and who to contact to arrange the reapplication process) 
• Applications for readmission to the University shall be made to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). (please send all applications to academicprogress@canterbury.ac.nz)

For advocacy through these processes, students should contact the UCSA Student Advocate.

See charts below to better understand your options after a qualification exclusion or univeristy exclusion

Qualification Exclusion - Flow Chart

University Exclusion - Flow Chart

Domestic students

Students should visit the StudyLink website to ensure all information is accurate.

Actions taken by the University during the Arotakenga Akoranga | Academic Progress Review may impact on a student’s regular StudyLink payments. This refers to students who have had restrictions placed on the number of points they can take, and students excluded from a college or the University.

In some cases, students with restrictions placed on their study will experience an interruption in their StudyLink payments as their circumstances have changed. These students should check their eligibility for limited full-time study on the Studylink website and follow the process to apply as soon as possible.

There are other factors regarding StudyLink eligibility that are relevant to students affected by the Arotakenga Akoranga | Academic Progress Review.

The StudyLink website advises that a student needs to pass more than half of the courses that they are enrolled in to continue to be eligible for a Student Allowance. The same test is also applied to assess Student Loan eligibility once a student has completed 1.6 EFTS (usually about two years of study).

International students

An exclusion can have serious consequences for international students.

International students studying in New Zealand must have a student visa/permit which specifies the institution they are studying at and the qualification they are studying. This means that if they change their plan of study they are legally obliged to apply for a new student visa/permit.

International students who have been excluded need to decide whether to study in another qualification at UC (this is not an option if they have been excluded from the University), to study at another tertiary institution, to apply for an alternative temporary permit, or to return to their home country.

• For enquiries contact Enrolments or Student Support.

The Arotakenga Akoranga | Academic Progress Review process can be a wake-up call for students struggling with their studies who have not previously asked for help. 

The University recommends they take the opportunity to speak with friends, whanau and university staff to seek sound advice and be directed to the help that is available.

Students who struggle with time management, study skills, exam skills, problems with academic writing or English language difficulties can talk to Faculty student advisors and be directed to the help they need:

• Te Rāngai Toi Tangata | Faculty of Arts
• Te Kaupeka Ako | Faculty of Education
• Te Rāngai Pūkaha | Faculty of Engineering
• Te Kaupeka Oranga | Faculty of Health
• Pūataio | Faculty of Science
• Te Kura Ūmanga | UC Business School
• Kaupeka Ture | Faculty of Law

The University has several units offering assistance:

• Academic Skills Centre
• PALS (Peer Assisted Learning Sessions)- First Year Students
• Kaiurungi | Māori Development Advisors
• Pacific Development Advisors
• Kaitoko | First Year Student Advisors
• Kaitohutohu Akonga | Student Advisors for Continuing Students
• Student Care
• UC Health Centre
• UC Student Accessibility Service

For advocacy support or financial assistance:

• UCSA Advocacy & Welfare

All resources and supports can be found here: Wellbeing Hub

Other related documents can be found below: 

• Qualification Exclusion - Request for Review Form
• Qualification Exclusion - Checklist
• University Exclusion - Request for Review Form
• Warning with Restrictions - Request for Review Form
• Impending Exclusion - Meet with Associate Dean Form
• Warning - Meeting with Faculty Form

Please contact the following shared email address artsdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz

Sarah Petersen, Academic Services Manager, sarah.petersen@canterbury.ac.nz

Please contact the following shared email address engdegreeadvice@canterbury.ac.nz

Please contact the following shared email address studyhealth@canterbury.ac.nz

Bronwyn Frost, Personal Assistant to the Executive Dean of Law, bronwyn.frost@canterbury.ac.nz

Please contact the following shared email address science@canterbury.ac.nz

Jane Whiteside, Academic Administrator, UC Business School, jane.whiteside@canterbury.ac.nz