Program Variation


What is a Program Variation?

A program variation is a change in your current program. This includes, changes to your mode of study, home campus, program version, change from a double to a single bachelor degree, change standard to advanced of your current program, change advanced to Standard of your current program, change from Diploma program to another Diploma program, graduation requirements, and post graduate program level.

It is recommended that you seek academic advice before submitting your application.

A program variation is different to a program transfer. Please refer to the Program Transfer policy for more details.  Please see Section 2-I of the policy.


Criteria for Requesting a Program variation

Before completing the program variation form, please make sure you meet the following requirements for applying for a program variation:

Study load

You must have successfully completed a minimum full-time term worth of study (40 credit points).

Domestic and International Students

You must be a domestic student for all other types of program variations.

International Students can use this to change their home campus only.

NOTE: If you are an international student please complete International Program Transfer Application I

You must not be a WSU Online student . If you are a WSU Online student, you will need to contact WSU Online via help@westernsydney.edu.au to seek assistance to vary your program .

Applied in a program with The College or The University.

You must be registered with the College or The University

Related program

If you are in a program and want to change to a different program that is not connected, e.g. Bachelor of Science to a Bachelor Health Science. This will need a new application through the WSU portal. Applying through this portal will avoid application fees. Please refer to this page for more information about transferring to a new program.

Registration Status

You must be currently registered or have been registered in the previous term or have enough leave to cover a missed term.

Completed subjects

All subjects in previous terms must have grades applied under your current program before your Program Variation can be processed.

Reasons for using the Program Variation Form

The following explains what a program variation application can be used for:

Change Mode of Study

If you are part-time or full-time and want to change to full time or part time you can apply through the program variation form.

Change Home Campus

Complete a Program Variation form and select ‘Change home campus’ option in the drop-down menu. Please seek advice from you APA and refer to the handbook to check if majors and minors are offered at your desired new home campus.

Change from a double degree to single degree

Please see below for more details on what a program variation form can be used for under ‘Program Variation Rules for Undergraduate

Change post-graduate course level

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Postgraduate’.

Changing for Graduation Purposes

If you are in one program and currently eligible to graduate from a different program, with confirmation from your Director of Academic Program (DAP) or equivalent  you can submit a Program Variation form.

In the application you will need to attach any communication you have with the APA/ DAP or equivalent, as in some cases a Contrary to Program Rule (CTPR) Application will be needed to have degree works showing 100%.     Students don’t need to complete a CTPR as the APA/DAP will do it on their behalf.

NOTE: This option can be selected if you do not come under any other category listed above but will be graduating at the end of your current session or have been advised by your DAP or equivalent that at the completion of your last session you can graduate from the program that the application is being done for.

Please read the section below on ‘Early Exit’ if you are in program that has an option of early exit for graduation.

Change Program Version

If you want to change your current program version to an earlier or later version, a program variation form can be submitted.

Change from a double degree to a single degree

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Postgraduate’.

Change Standard to Advanced

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Postgraduate’.

Change Advanced to Standard

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Postgraduate’.

Change from Diploma program to another Diploma program

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Undergraduate’.

Change from Integrated program to another Integrated program (Diploma only)

Please see section under ‘Program Variation Rules for Undergraduate’.

Applying for Early Exit

To apply for an early exit please follow the steps in the knowledge article ‘How to apply for Early Awards or Exit Requests’

  • NOTE: Early Exit Programs. If you are in a Bachelor program that has an early exit of a Diploma, please try to complete an early exit application.
  • Please refer to the handbook of your program and check the catalogue term (term you started e.g. Autumn 2022) to confirm if an early exit with a Diploma is available.

Program Variation Rules for Undergraduate

Diploma

If you are in one of the following Diploma programs you can change to a similar qualification.

Current Program                                 Potential Change
Diploma Extended                                 Another Diploma Extended Program
Integrated Diploma/Bachelor             Another Integrated program*  Diploma/Bachelor

*You can only apply to through a program variation application if you are still in the Diploma component of the program.

Bachelor

If you are in a Bachelor’s program you can use a program variation for the following reasons.

Request to change from:

Current Program

Change through a Program Variation

Double degree to single degree

Double Bachelor e.g. Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Law

Change to either Bachelor of Law  OR Bachelor of Business. The second program will be dropped so only one program will remain.

Standard to Honours

Bachelor (e.g. Law)

Bachelor Honours - If you have been accepted into an Honours version of a program.

Standard to Advanced

Bachelor (e.g. Science)

You can use a program variation to change from the standard version to the advanced version of the same program. A GPA of 5.0 or higher is required.

Advanced to Standard

Bachelor (e.g. Advanced Science)

You can use a program variation to change from the advanced version to the standard version of the same program.

Program Variation rules for Postgraduate Program

You can change your postgraduate course level through a program variation form if you have not completed your program already.

Request to change from:

Process needed

Notes

Graduate Certificate to Graduate Diploma

Apply through program variation

Please make sure that you have the program variation form submitted 5 days or less before results are released of the current term you are in. The program you are requesting to go to must be nested to the program you are requesting to vary to, e.g. Graduate Certificate in Business to Graduate Diploma of Business.

If you wish to transfer to a different program (e.g., Graduate Certificate in Health Science to Graduate Diploma in Nursing), you will need to apply through the Western Portal .

Graduate Diploma to Master

Apply through program variation

Please make sure that you have the program variation form submitted before results are released on the current term you. The program you are requesting to go to must be nested to the program you are requesting to vary to, e.g. Graduate Diploma of Business to Master in Business.

If you wish to transfer to a different program (e.g., Graduate Diploma in Health Science to Graduate Master in Nursing), you will need to apply through the Western Portal .

Master to Graduate Diploma

Apply through early exit.

The program that you are requesting to early exit from must nested, e.g. Master of Business to Graduate Diploma in Business.

Contact  studentcompletions@westernsydney.edu.au

Graduate Diploma to Graduate Certificate

Apply through early exit.

The program that you are requesting to early exit from must nested, e.g. Graduate Diploma in Business to Graduate Certificate in Business.

Contact  studentcompletions@westernsydney.edu.au

NOTE: When you apply for an early exit the current program will be closed. The early exited program cannot be continued. If you wish to study that program again a new application will be required. The early exited program cannot be continued.

Instruction to Complete Program Variation Form

To complete the form, login to Western Now student Portal.

Go to Program Variation Western Now Student Portal and follow the steps.

If you need some guidance please have a look at this knowledge article.

Application Processing

If you have pending subjects applications will only be accepted 5 or less days before results are released if you have an active enrolment.

Once you submit the form, then the form goes directly to the relevant Director of Academic Program (DAP).

The processing time once approved depends on if you have any active subjects at the time the application was submitted:

  • If you have active subjects in a current session the Program Variation will be processed within 5-8 working days of the official result release.
  • If you have completed the subject(s) or have not pending results from previous session the Program Variation Application will be done within 3-5 days of approval.

You will be emailed through the Western Now ticket when the change has been processed and the steps you will need to do. If the Program Variation is for a new program that is being continued it will need eCAF details added to the new program.

Support

Academic Program Advisors (APA)

Please contact your APA through the Schools webpage if you are concerned about the criteria above and need advice.

Student Service Hub Support

If you need further help completing your application, Student Services Hub can help. You can call the Student Services Hub Infoline on 1300 668 370, email them, or drop in to a Student Services Hub on campus.

Support for Students at The College

If you are studying at The College and need support or advice regarding your application, please contact your First Year Advisor.

Support for update on application status:

Please send messages through the application. You can also email the enrolments team

Graduation

If you have tried the steps to apply for early exit but are having trouble please contact Student Completions studentcompletions@westernsydney.edu.au