Understanding Study Load Before Census Date

As a student, you might not always realise how the changes you make to your enrolment before the census date can impact your finances—especially when it comes to Centrelink payments. That’s why it’s important to check in with an Advocate before making any adjustments to your course load.

What is study load and what considerations need to be made?

Study load refers to the number of units studied in an any given study period. Depending on the number of units studied, students are classified as part-time or full-time.

• Full-time students – If you are studying full-time, you will typically enrol in 8 units per year. Typically, full-time students will study four units per trimester over just two trimesters each year.  For Centrelink purposes, full-time study is 6 units per year.
• Part-time students – In part-time study, you can choose to study just one or two units each trimester.

Before enrolling in units and determining a study load, you should carefully consider several factors that may impact your ability to study. Some common ones include:

• Work commitments– does work get busy during your study period?
• Family commitments– are you responsible for caring for a family member?
• Personal commitments- are you planning to move, go on a trip etc during the study period?

Being conscious of these impacts and managing your study load accordingly sets you up for success, ensuring that you protect your GPA and avoid penalties down the track.

What is Census Date and why is it important?

The Census Date for Trimester 1 is Monday the 24^th of March 2025. The census date is a key date in the academic calendar for UNE students. This point marks where enrolments are finalised for the trimester.  Census date is the day on which your fees are charged for units you are enrolled in.  It is therefore the last date to  drop a unit so that you don’t incur the fees.  Additionally, it is also the final day you can apply for Commonwealth Support such as a HECS-HELP Loan.

What are the types of penalties associated with late unit withdrawal?

Withdrawing from units after census date has the potential to incur 2 types of penalties:

• Financial penalty– you will be charged for your participation in that unit even if you have dropped out. This will increase your HECS debt.
• Academic penalty– you risk receiving a fail grade which in-turn may lower your GPA and affect your eligibility to continue your course.

After Census Date, withdrawals will incur fees and may incur academic penalties depending on the timing. The last day to withdraw from a unit without academic penalty in Trimester 1 is April 28. This and other key dates can be found in the UNE Principal Calendar.

How might enrolment changes impact Centrelink payments?

Your enrolment status is also a key factor for Centrelink. If your study load drops below a certain threshold, your eligibility for payments may be affected. This is especially important for students who rely on Youth Allowance or Austudy. A drop in course load could mean your payments are reduced or even stopped, leaving you financially stretched when you least expect it.

Here are some steps  you can take to make sure you’re not blindsided on Census Date:

1. Check your enrolment early- make a note of each trimester’s Census Date and check in with yourself beforehand. If you’re struggling with your current load, it would be wise to consider making changes to your enrolment.
2. Speak with an Advocate– if you’re considering dropping units, book an appointment with one of our advocates so they can provide advice.
3. Speak with the Current Students Team– another option to speak with if you’re thinking of dropping units.
4. Take the next steps– based on the advice you receive, it’s over to you to take the next steps. This might involve withdrawing from units or reaching out to relevant contacts, such as Centrelink, to ensure your trimester is structured exactly the way you need. And remember, we’re still here to support you throughout this process!

Our advocates are here to support you. If you’re unsure about how your course load  might affect your financial situation, get in touch with us. We’ll guide you through your options and help you make an informed decision.

Call us on (02) 6773 3116, email us at advocacy@une.edu.au or visit our website to book an appointment today.