At Risk Notice
Updated: Jul 24
If you have received an At-Risk Notice from Swinburne, it is understandable to feel concerned about what it means. An At-Risk Notice is an early warning, not a formal penalty. It is intended to alert you to your current academic standing and give you the opportunity to access support and improve your progress.
The Swinburne Advocacy Service (SAS) can help you understand your situation and consider your next steps.
Not sure what this means?
An At-Risk Notice is issued when the university identifies that your academic progress may be unsatisfactory of the requirements outlined in the Academic Progress Policy. This usually occurs after results are released and forms part of Swinburne’s Academic Progress process. The purpose of the notice is to make you aware of potential concerns early, so you can address any difficulties before more formal action is considered.
You may receive an At-Risk Notice if your results indicate patterns such as:
Failing 50% or more of your enrolled units in a study period
Failing the same unit more than once
Failing a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or placement unit
Being unable to complete your course within the maximum allowed timeframe
Receiving an At-Risk Notice does not mean your enrolment is at risk of cancellation at this stage. It is an opportunity to reflect on what may have affected your results and to access support.
What happens next?
An At-Risk Notice is a supportive intervention rather than a formal academic progress decision. The university is encouraging you to review your current situation and take steps to strengthen your academic progress moving forward.
You are not required to submit a formal response. However, taking early action can help prevent further academic progress concerns in future study periods.
Many students find it helpful to reflect on what contributed to their results, whether academic, personal, health-related, or external factors. Understanding these challenges can help you identify what support or adjustments may be beneficial.
How can I improve my academic progress?
Improving your academic progress often involves accessing appropriate support and making practical adjustments to your study approach or workload.
You may find it helpful to reflect on what contributed to your results and consider what support could assist you moving forward. This might include accessing academic skills support to strengthen your study techniques, seeking course advice to review your enrolment or study load, or using counselling and wellbeing services if personal circumstances have affected your studies.
If you have a health condition or ongoing difficulty impacting your learning, disability or accessibility support may also be available.
Taking steps early can help you regain confidence and improve your academic progress in future teaching periods.
You can access further information about the support services available at Swinburne here.
Do I need to respond to the notice?
You do not usually need to submit a formal response to an At-Risk Notice. However, it is a good idea to treat it as a prompt to review what may have affected your results and to take practical steps to improve your progress.
Engaging with support early can make a real difference and may reduce the likelihood of further academic progress concerns in future study periods.
What happens if my results do not improve?
If academic progress concerns continue in future study periods, you may receive a Show Cause Notice. This is a formal stage of the Academic Progress process where you are asked to explain the reasons for your academic performance and demonstrate why your enrolment should continue.
Receiving an At-Risk Notice does not automatically lead to this stage. Many students improve their progress after accessing support and making appropriate adjustments.
Need support
Receiving an At-Risk Notice can feel unsettling, particularly if you are unsure why it was issued or what to do next. You are not expected to manage this alone.
The Swinburne Advocacy Service (SAS) provides free, confidential, and independent support. We can help you understand why you received the notice, explore strategies to improve your academic progress, connect you with relevant university support services, and prepare for any future academic progress meetings if required.
If you have received an At-Risk Notice, contacting the Swinburne Advocacy Service early can help you understand your options and take practical steps to stay on track with your studies.