Foundation Studies

Foundation Studies Overview for international students

RMIT assessment policy and procedures cover the submission of assessments, application for an extension to submission dates and application for special consideration.

• Assessment policy 
• Assessment and results 
• Assessment: adjustments to assessment procedure 

​Special Consideration

If unexpected circumstances affect your ability to complete an assessment, you may be eligible to apply for Special Consideration online.

More about Special Consideration

Extensions 

If unexpected circumstances prevent you from submitting an assessment on time, you may apply for an extension.

• If you need less than 7 days for your extension, talk to your teacher
• If you need more than 7 days for your extension, you should apply for an extension online.

Academic Progress

RMIT Training is committed to academic excellence and supporting students in their studies. There are many support services available and it is important that you seek help if there are matters that are affecting your studies. You can talk to your teacher and to the Study Success team on Level 3.

Maintaining satisfactory academic performance is an important visa condition for international students. Read more about unsatisfactory academic performance.

The criteria for unsatisfactory academic progress is described in this schedule.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

"Academic integrity means acting with the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility in learning, teaching and research."

It means referencing the work of others while developing your own insights, knowledge and ideas.
Breaches of academic integrity include:

• plagiarism and failure to correctly acknowledge sources
• contract cheating or paying/getting another person to prepare an assignment
• submitting work prepared by another person
• copying other people’s work
• cheating in assessments including examinations
• using unauthorised materials or devices

Find out more about the expectations for maintaining academic integrity at RMIT.

Attendance requirements for Foundation Studies students

There are very strict attendance rules that apply to you if you are studying in Australia on a Student visa.

It is very important that you attend all your classes. If you do not follow these strict rules your visa may be cancelled.

You must maintain satisfactory attendance; this means attending at least 80% of your classes during your study period at RMIT Training. A study period is the duration of a full semester.

If you cannot attend class, you should have proof of why you cannot attend.  For example, if you are sick you should go to the doctor and get a medical certificate.  You should bring the medical certificate to Student Services as soon as you are feeling better and return to school.

Medical certificates must include the date/s that you did not attend class.  Medical certificates do not cancel your absences but will help if you need to explain your attendance situation to the Department of Home Affairs.

Attendance monitoring and warnings

Attendance is monitored in every class you attend.  You will be given an attendance warning via your student email address if your attendance begins to fall and you are at risk of not being able to maintain satisfactory attendance for the duration of your study period.

Notice of intention to report

If your attendance level falls to an unsatisfactory level, (less than 80%), you will receive an official notice. This will be sent to your student email address to let you know that RMIT University intends to report your unsatisfactory attendance to the Department of Home Affairs.

RMIT Training is required by law to report breaches of attendance requirement to the Department of Home Affairs.

Consecutive days absent

If you are absent from class for 5 consecutive days, you will be contacted by email and/or phone to discuss your attendance. 

If we cannot contact you and you continue to remain absent from your classes, we may refer your case to the University Student Support team.  The University Student Support Team may ask the Police to do a welfare check on you if they still cannot contact you.  A Police Welfare Check is when the police come to your home to make sure you are okay.

It is very important you check your student email regularly and respond to any important communications from RMIT Training and RMIT University.

RMIT Training Student Attendance Instruction

Please read the full RMIT Training Student Attendance Instruction.

Advice and support

If you are experiencing difficulties or require some support related to your attendance, please talk to us as soon as possible.  Speak to your teacher or contact student services.

Student Success Hub
Building 108, Level 3
Ph: 96575800
Email: foundationstudies@rmit.edu.au

Ensure you always keep your contact details up to date.

Update your details now.

If you are a student enrolled in Foundation Studies and you need to take a break from your studies, there are strict criteria you must meet. You can only apply for a Leave of Absence if compassionate and compelling circumstances are affecting your ability to study.  Eligible students may apply for a Leave of absence for either six months or a year.

International students on a student visa can only apply for a Leave of Absence if compassionate or compelling circumstances apply.

Taking Leave of Absence may affect your student visa.  We recommend that you contact the Department of Home Affairs before you submit a request for a Leave of Absence.

Taking a Leave of Absence from your studies may also affect the start date of your RMIT formal program. You should consider how your study plan may need to change, and if you need to defer the start of your RMIT formal program.

If you are considering a Leave of Absence, we recommend that you speak to your program coordinator for advice before applying.

Apply for a Leave of Absence before the census date to avoid paying fees.

Communication about your application, including requests for more information, will be sent to your RMIT student email account.

How to apply:

Follow this link to apply for a Leave of Absence

You must include supporting documentation in your application for Leave of Absence. Check the type of supporting documentation that you need here.

Students under 18 years of age

If you are under the age of 18, RMIT Training will request written consent from your parent before processing your Leave of Absence application.

Sponsored students

If you are a sponsored student, RMIT Training will request written consent from your sponsor before processing your Leave of Absence application.

Stay connected

RMIT Training may need to contact you during your Absence with important information.  You should continue to check your RMIT student email account and keep your contact details up to date.

Returning from Leave

Once your Leave of Absence period ends, you'll need to enrol in the next study semester by the enrolment deadline. If you do not enrol, you may lose your place in the program.

You will receive an email before the enrolment period telling you how and when to enrol.

This information will help you if you wish to transfer from RMIT to another registered education provider in Australia.

Impact on Student Visa

If you wish to transfer from RMIT to another education provider, your current student visa may be impacted.  For more information about how this could affect you and your student visa, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

Do you need to be released from RMIT?

If you want to withdraw completely from your studies, you must cancel your program enrolment. We recommend you speak to your teachers and contact student services to find out if cancellation is the best option for you. 

If you’re stressed or anxious, the RMIT Training Wellbeing and Experience team have a range of support services to help you.

You may also want to consider taking a Leave of Absence rather than withdrawing completely. Find this information in the 'Taking a break from your studies' section.

You can find out all you need to know about changing or cancelling your enrolment on the RMIT University website.

Students in the Foundation Studies program are expected to make satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory progress is a student visa requirement.

There are different stages in the unsatisfactory academic progress process. If students meet the criteria listed below, they will be identified as being at risk of not meeting the academic requirements of their program. This is known as unsatisfactory academic progress.

Unsatisfactory Course Progress
A student is considered to be making unsatisfactory course progress if the student:

• Has failed 50% or more of enrolled course load for the semester.
• Has failed the same course a second time.
• Has demonstrated that progress through a program will not allow completion of the program in the expected duration for that program (as stated in the eCOE) and has not shown compelling circumstances to explain the lack of progress.
• Has failed to meet progress requirements prescribed in the ESOS Act 2000 or other regulations that affect eligibility for an Australian student visa.

We hope your time at RMIT Training is enjoyable and rewarding, but if you're unhappy about something we would like you to let us know. RMIT Training is committed to resolving your concerns and complaints quickly, effectively, and sensitively. 

If you would like to raise a concern or submit a complaint, follow the step by step process on the RMIT University website. If you need help to submit your complaint, please contact Student Services reception or send an email to foundationstudies@rmit.edu.au.   

You can read more about how complaints are handled at RMIT in the Student and Student-Related Complaints Procedure.