Compelling and Compassionate Circumstances
If you hold a student visa, you may need to make adjustments to your enrolment due to compelling and compassionate circumstances.
To confirm whether your situation is considered 'compelling and compassionate circumstances' for University purposes, please read through the below information.
Examples of compelling and compassionate circumstances include but are not limited to:
| Circumstances | Example supporting documentation |
| Severe medical conditions (physical and mental health) or injury | Medical certificate or GP letter clearly outlining the period you were affected by illness/injury (you do not need to go into detail about your illness/injury); completed Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment (MACA) forms. See below for further information about the information required in supporting documents for medical conditions. |
| Bereavement of close family members, such as parents or grandparents | Where possible, a death certificate should be provided. |
| Major political upheaval or natural disaster in your home country requiring emergency travel, which has impacted your studies | Copies of plane tickets for your flights home; letter from your Counsellor |
| Critical situations within your family | Documents relating to the critical situation; letter from your Counsellor |
| Victims of crime or domestic violence | Police reports, hospital reports; letter from your Counsellor |
| Military service in your home country | Military service notice from home country |
| Course structural reasons (e.g. a core course is not available in a study period) | Correspondence with Faculty Program Advisors; approved Study Plan. |
| Parental leave (6 months) | Medical certificate |
Examples of situations that are not considered compelling and compassionate circumstances:
- Making more time for a part-time job
- Failing a course that is not mandatory for your program
- Timetable clashes
- Wanting to under-enrol to improve your grades
- Wanting to under-enrol to save money
- Having trouble with English
- To undertake an internship
- Wanting additional time to finalise your thesis
Still unsure?
You can discuss your situation further with an International Student Advisor to determine whether it constitutes compelling and compassionate circumstances.
If you need a change to your enrolment due to a medical condition or other compassionate reasons, including family or personal circumstances, you will need to download the Health Assessment form below and bring it to a registered health care professional for them to complete. Once completed, please ensure that you attach it to your application form in the relevant section.
