How To and Forms
This page contains information on how to make various changes to your current Faculty of Arts degree, enrolment or candidature, and outlines the procedures you would need to follow in order to make those changes.
- Variations of Enrolment
- Exceeding the credit point limit of your degree
- Waiving entry requirements
- Applying for Credit
- Outbound Cross-Institutional Study
- Applying for a DNF after the semester deadline
- Special Consideration
- Applying for a Suspension
- Applying to Re-enrol After an Absence or Suspension
- Applying for Honours
- Graduation
If you want to vary your enrolment but are having difficulties accessing the form online, you can fill out a variation on paper in the Faculty Office. To fill out this form properly you will need to know the course code(s) and name(s) of the unit(s) of study you are currently enrolled in, and the course code(s), name(s) and semester offered for the unit(s) of study you wish to be enrolled in. On completion of the form your enrolment can be altered immediately. Please make sure you have your student card with you.
If you need to exceed any credit point limit in your degree, you may write a letter to the Faculty or attend in person and complete a form. The letter or form must state only the relevant information: your name, degree and student number, the unit of study (course code, name and semester offered) you wish to enrol in that will exceed your credit point limit, and the reason you are seeking permission to do this unit of study. This reason might be, for example, to complete a major. Once the submission has been considered you will be sent a letter to notify you of the outcome.
- Pre-requisite Waiver (pdf)
If you wish to enrol in a unit(s) of study for which you have not completed the pre-requisite(s), you may seek permission to have the pre-requisite requirements waived. To do this you must obtain a ‘Permission to Waive Entry Requirements’ form from the Faculty Office and receive written permission from the department offering the unit(s) of study. The form must clearly show the unit(s) of study you wish to be enrolled in and be signed by an academic from the relevant department. Once the permission is approved your enrolment will be altered immediately.
- Application for Credit (pdf); Departmental Recommendation (pdf) - for credit from another university
- Internal Credit Application (pdf) - for credit from a previous degree at The University of Sydney
If you have completed units of study at another university, you can apply to transfer credit to your current University of Sydney degree. You can be granted a maximum of 96 credit points for an incomplete degree, and a maximum of 48 credit points for a completed degree. To apply for credit from another university, you must submit an Application for Credit and departmental recommendations for each department in which credit is sought. For example, if you are applying for credit for French and History, you will submit one credit application form, one departmental credit recommendation signed by the French department at this university, and one departmental recommendation signed by the History department at this university.
If you are applying to transfer credit from another degree at The University of Sydney to your current degree in the Faculty of Arts, complete the Internal Credit Application above and submit it at the Faculty of Arts Office.
If you are interested in taking a unit/s from another Australian university as part of your degree, you can apply to the Faculty of Arts to study on a cross-institutional basis. You must complete and submit the application form above, and provide all documentation requested. You must also contact the university that offers the unit/s well in advance of your intended semester of study for information on application procedures and deadlines.
- Application for DNF (pdf)
There is a period of time after the HECS census date in any given semester when you can discontinue a unit and receive a grade of Discontinue Not Fail (DNF). This grade has no academic penalty. In this case, you would simply complete a variation of enrolment in the Faculty Office. For relevant dates see: http://www.usyd.edu.au/handbooks/university_information/dates.shtml
If you are not able to complete a unit/s due to serious illness or misadventure, you may apply for a grade of DNF for the unit/s in question after the published last day to DNF, using the Application for DNF form above. Supporting documentation from a registered medical practitioner or counsellor (or other as applicable) is required for this application.
See the special consideration page for detailed information.
- Application to Suspend (pdf)
You can suspend your candidature for up to 4 semesters in total throughout the course of your degree. You must complete degree requirements within 10 calendar years from commencement, including any semester/s of suspension. Once you have submitted your application to suspend, you will receive a response via email which will include instructions on how to re-enrol at the end of your suspension.
When you have been granted an approved suspension, or you have taken some time away from your degree (up to a maximum of 4 semesters), you will need to submit an application to re-enrol at the Faculty of Arts before the semester in which you intend to return to study. This application is not an enrolment form.
Applications to re-enrol for Semester 1 2009 are now open. Download an Application to Re-enrol
The procedure you need to follow to apply for Honours depends on your particular circumstances. Read the following carefully to make sure you are following the right procedure and not completing any forms unnecessarily.
If you are due to complete your Pass degree at the end of semester 2, and intend to continue straight on with Honours in semester 1 of the following year, you will complete a paper pre-enrolment in the Faculty of Arts Office in October of your final year. While you are not required to obtain departmental approval for this process, it is advisable to contact the Honours coordinator in your department to make preliminary enquiries. When all results for semester 2 are available, the Faculty of Arts will seek academic approval from the department concerned on your behalf and you will be notified of the outcome and of any further requirements regarding enrolment. Pre-enrolment forms will be available when pre-enrolment opens in October.
If you are completing your degree in semester 1 and intend continuing straight on with Honours in semester 2 of the same year, you must complete and submit the Honours Conversion form above. You must have this form approved by the department prior to submitting it at the Faculty of Arts Office.
If you have had a break of a semester or more since completing your Pass degree at this university, and wish to apply for Honours, you will need to complete the Honours Conversion form above.
If you have, or are completing, a degree from another university and wish to apply to undertake an Honours year in the Faculty of Arts at The University of Sydney please see the Honours information for Future Students
Applications for Honours Conversion for Semester 1 2009 are now open. Download an Honours Conversion application
Pre-enrolment opens in October 2008 for 2009. Pre-enrolment forms will be available here and in the Faculty of Arts Office for current University of Sydney students completing their degrees in semester 2008, and are applying for Honours in Semester 1 2009.
Graduation information will be sent to you well in advance of your graduation ceremony. The package of information will include a form to be returned to the Graduations Office indicating your intention to attend or to graduate in absentia.
If you have any concerns you may contact the Faculty Office -