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Vocational Education and Training Student Guide 2009

Changing your enrolment

What constitutes a change of enrolment?

A change of enrolment can include one or more of the following actions:

  • Add and/or substitute a unit
  • Complete cancellation of a course
  • Course transfer (students must complete a new enrolment form for the new course, and a VET102 Change of Enrolment/Complete Cancellation form for the current course they are enrolled in)
  • Application for credit transfer for recognition of previous studies, and/or
  • Withdrawal from units.

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How do I change my enrolment?

Make all changes to your enrolment in writing. The change should be submitted on the relevant form available from the Student forms and guides webpage. Where it is not convenient to obtain the relevant form, you may submit your change in writing either by letter, fax or email to the relevant team. If you choose to email the team, you need to provide at least three identifiers that show you as the person sending the email request. Identifiers could include: student identification number, date of birth, and postal address. You should direct your written change to any Information Centre, Charles Darwin University (CDU) centre or team. To hasten the process please state:

  • Your student number
  • Full name
  • Course code and name, and
  • Any other details about the change, such as unit code and unit name.

Ensure you provide your most current postal address, phone number and email address, so the university can contact you if there are any questions. Also ensure that you date all correspondence and keep a copy for your own records. An Enrolment and Fees Advice - Invoice confirming your amended enrolment will be sent to you once a change to your enrolment has been processed.

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

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How do I add and/or withdraw from a unit?

To amend your enrolment by adding and/or withdrawing a unit, complete a VET102 Change of Enrolment/Complete Cancellation form, have it authorised by the relevant team leader/delegate and submit it to the relevant team immediately. Ensure you have ticked the box on your form to indicate that you are changing your enrolment.

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

Note: Ensure that you submit your Change of Enrolment/Complete Cancellation form within 14 days from the start of the units you are withdrawing from to avoid financial penalty. Fees will apply if you choose to withdraw more than 14 days after the unit begins. Applications for withdrawal from a unit received after the following date will not be processed:

  • 12 June 2009, for units you are enrolled in for teaching periods 1 and 2
  • 20 November 2009, for units you are enrolled in for teaching periods 3 and 4.

You cannot withdraw from units once you have been assessed and found to be competent or not competent in the unit. Students cannot add units to a completed award.

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Complete cancellation (withdrawal from a course)

If you want to cancel your course of study completely, you may benefit from discussing your situation with your team leader/delegate or a student facilitator. Often an alternative solution other than complete cancellation can be found. To cancel your course completely, complete a VET102 Change of Enrolment/Complete Cancellation form and submit it to the relevant team before the final assessment. Ensure you have ticked the box on your form to indicate that you are completely cancelling your course.

All changes to your enrolment are effective from the date your written notification is received and date-stamped by CDU. It is not sufficient just to tell your lecturer that you are withdrawing from a course. Non-attendance at classes does not automatically cancel your enrolment, nor does it cancel your student debt.

Note: To avoid financial penalty, you should submit your Change of Enrolment/Complete Cancellation form (ensuring you have ticked the complete cancellation box) within 14 days of the start of the course. A customer service officer will notify you in writing when your request has been processed.

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

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Course transfer

Students wishing to transfer to another course should consult the relevant customer service officer. To transfer you must complete:

Your transfer must be authorised by the team leader/delegate of the new course that you are transferring to. If you have completed any units that may be relevant to your new course, you will need to apply formally for credit for these units towards your new course by completing a VET110 Application for Exemption/Recognition of Previous Studies form. A credit transfer is not an automatic transaction and it is your responsibility to ensure that your record is correct. While you are enrolled in more than one course, you cannot seek credit transfer for units that have not been completed successfully in one course towards another course.

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

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Skills recognition - Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

RPL is the acknowledgement of a person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a subject regardless of how and where they were attained, including overseas. This can include skills from:

  • Previous study excluding courses at another VET/TAFE institution, but including courses at school or college
  • Through adult education classes or training programs at work
  • Work experience (including both paid and unpaid work)
  • Life experience (for example, leisure pursuits or voluntary work).

RPL is a form of assessment. It is used to determine if a person has gained, through formal or informal learning, the skills and experience consistent with the stated competency standards that make up a qualification. RPL is not linked to time, so there are no limits on how or when the skills were acquired. However, the skills that have been acquired through life experience, for example, must be current and must match the elements and performance criteria contained in the individual unit. Students seeking RPL should indicate this on their enrolment form when enrolling. View further information about the RPL application process >>

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

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Credit transfer or recognition of previous study

CDU, as a registered training organisation, recognises Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statement of Attainments issued by any other Australian registered training organisation. Students are encouraged to submit any requests for credit from previous studies when enrolling to ensure that they are not enrolling in units they may not need to undertake. To apply for exemption/credit transfer from units completed at another training organisation, complete a VET110 Application for Exemption/Recognition of Previous Studies form.

Your completed Application for Exemption/Recognition of Previous Studies form, together with attached documentary evidence (certified copy of qualification/statement of attainment) to support your request for exemption/credit transfer, should be submitted directly to the university either in person or by mail. Requests without documentary evidence will not be processed and will be returned to students. There are no fees attached to credit transfers.

For any questions, please contact your customer services officer.

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