Discontine Not Fail (DC)

Late Discontinuation under Special Circumstances Grade (DC)

What is a DC grade?

• A DC grade is awarded when a student can substantiate they could not complete a unit or units because of special circumstances, which occurred after the census date.
• A DC grade does not carry academic or financial penalty. It does not impact your WAM and your fees for the unit/s are remitted.
• If awarded a DC, you will need to repeat the unit or make up the credit points. 

How do I apply for a DC grade?

There are three parts to the application:

1. Your written statement
2. Your supporting documentation
3. The online form does not explain the application requirements in detail. Please read the information below carefully as this outlines the criteria used to assess your application. Where the form asks for the reasons you are applying, write, “see attached statement”.

What are the criteria for a DC application?

It can be very difficult to obtain a DC grade. The criteria are very rigid and you will need supporting documentation from a doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist who is registered in Australia. Documentation from practitioners in other countries is unlikely to be accepted. Similarly, documentation from medical practitioners that only provide online services may not be accepted.

Both your written statement and your supporting documentation should specify the unit code/s of the affected unit/s and explain why your circumstances:

• were beyond your control;
• did not make their full impact after census date;
• made it impracticable for you to complete the affected unit/s;
• could not be addressed by special consideration or disability adjustments; and
• if you successfully completed other unit/s, explain why only the affected unit/s were impacted.

If your supporting documentation does not address each of these criteria, it is unlikely that your application will be successful.

For more information see:  

Late Discontinuation Under Special Circumstances Procedures (pdf, 199 KB).

What are special circumstances?

1. Your statement and supporting documentation need to establish that special circumstances occurred that made it impracticable for you to complete the unit/s. 

Special circumstances are:

• Beyond your control
• Significant and unforeseen
• Occurred after census date

For example, significant medical episodes, family and personal circumstances, and sometimes employment changes. Remember it is not about the event itself but the impact it has had on you and your capacity to complete your unit/s.

For more information see: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/discontinue-unit-of-study/dc.html

2. The Uni expects you will have utilised Special Consideration / Special Arrangements, if necessary, in your attempt to complete the unit/s.

• If you have not completed any assessments, and have not utilised Special Consideration, your supporting documentation must explain why.
• Even when supporting documentation explains why Special Consideration was not used, the University may check whether the student was able to submit assessments or complete other administrative processes during this time and reject the application. 

3. If you attempted all the assessments for a unit, it is extremely unlikely the University will grant you a DC grade, as the unit has been completed.

What happens after I submit my application?

1. Check your student email regularly! Sometimes the University will give you 10 working days to provide additional supporting documentation, if more information is required.
    
2. If your application is rejected, carefully consider the reasons they provide. You then have 20 working days to lodge a request to have your application reviewed. Your request for review must address the reasons your application was rejected. Remember you only have one chance to have your application reviewed, so contact an SRC caseworker for advice if you need it.
    
3. If your application for review is rejected, your only option is to ask for an external review of this decision. International students can contact the NSW Ombudsman, while domestic students can contact the Administrative Review Tribunal. They will only consider whether the University followed due process in assessing your application according to University policy. In other words, they will not determine whether the decision is right or wrong, only whether your application was processed correctly.