Academic Hurdles

SRC Caseworker Mel walks you through dealing with special cons and overcoming hurdles

SRC Caseworkers can give advice on almost anything that affects your studies. The SRC’s website has some leaflets on a range of issues, but if you have specific questions, contact a caseworker.

Special Consideration

What is special consideration?

If you (or someone you are the primary carer for) experience short-term (four weeks or less) illness (physical or mental), injury or misadventure, that affects your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration.

How can you apply?

Go to the special consideration portal to apply and see what documentation you need. You must get medical documentation (e.g., Professional Practitioner’s Certificates) on or before the assessment’s deadline. If you cannot see your doctor, use a home doctor service, as backdated documentation is not usually considered. You must submit your application within 3 working days of the assignment deadline, unless you have a compelling reason. Most late application are rejected.

What should you do while waiting?

If you missed an exam, start studying as soon as you can, or if it was an assignment, submit it to your subject coordinator (even by email) as soon as possible. Do not wait for your special consideration to be approved, as it may be retrospective, and you might miss the new deadline.

What happens if you are successful?

You might be given a supplementary exam, or extension for your essay, or maybe have assessments reweighted. You will never just get extra marks.

What if you are still sick?

If you are still too sick to complete the assessment, apply for special consideration again. If you are not able to get a further special consideration you will automatically get a Discontinue Not Fail (DC) grade. This means you will need to re-do the subject for it to count, but you will not have a fail grade on your transcript, and it will not affect your average. Talk to an SRC Caseworker about applying for a HECs/fee refund.

What about long term illness?

If you have a long term (more than 4 weeks) medical condition (physical or mental), you can apply for disability support. This includes chronic illness, or temporary conditions such as broken limbs or pregnancy. Disability Services can help you with an academic plan to successfully complete your degree with reasonable accommodations. For medical conditions that are included in your disability academic plan, you can only apply for special consideration if your illness is exacerbated.

What if you only need a couple of days?

Your subject coordinator is able to grant a two-working day extension for a non-examination task. This is separate to special consideration and does not change any conditions or deadlines. Ask your co-ordinator directly.

What if you can’t get documentation?

If you have difficulty getting supporting documentation, do not buy a false medical certificate. It is quite likely that the Uni will find out, and you risk being suspended. Companies that sell fake medical certificates and essays have started blackmailing students, so even if the Uni doesn’t find out, you might be caught in an expensive, lifelong trap. SRC Caseworkers are independent of the Uni and can give you confidential advice on what options you have.

Appealing a grade

If you believe you received an incorrect mark, you have 15 working days to lodge an informal academic appeal with your subject coordinator. Explain exactly where you should have received more marks and why. If you are not successful you may be able to lodge a formal appeal, explaining where there was a breach of policy or procedure. You cannot argue academic opinion at this level of appeal. The formal appeal deadline is 20 working days. Late appeals are not often considered. For more details check the academic appeals leaflet on our website.

Academic honesty

In any assignments, including exams, you must reference ideas or words from another source, even your own previous assignments. The Academic Honesty Education Module explains how to correctly paraphrase and reference, and you can also talk to a Peer Learning Advisor. Incorrectly referenced assignments will be considered academically dishonest and may lead to a fail.

Most online tutoring and file sharing sites are considered academically dishonest and may lead to “misconduct” and a penalty of suspension from Uni. If a tutoring company offers to write part or all of your assignment, or if the website has answers from other students, it is likely that they are not legitimate. Avoid using sites like Course Hero, Chegg or Github, even if you used them legitimately in high school. Similarly, avoid services on websites like Sydney Today, or advertised through WeChat. Sharing answers on Facebook groups is usually considered misconduct too, so check with your lecturer what sites you are allowed to use.

Surviving Uni

Priya Gupta gives you the tips and tricks to get through your first year of uni in one piece

Units of Study, Credit Points and UoS Outline

Units of Study are your subjects, with each assigned a number of credit points, usually between 2cp (for OLEs) and 6cp (for most regular subjects). All units of study have a code made up of four letters referring to the school it falls within, and four numbers eg. ANAT2001. The level of the subject (i.e. 1000, 2000, 3000…) generally indicates the amount of pre-requisite knowledge, and what year you will complete the subject in. However, you can do subjects out of line with your year as long as you have space within your degree to do so and fulfil the requirements. Unit of Study outlines contain the important information about a subject, including the dates and types of assessments, learning outcomes, textbook requirements, and mode of teaching. For 1000 level units, these are released two weeks before the first teaching day, and one week for other levels - make sure you have a look!

Sydney Student

Sydney Student is where the administrative side of your degree happens. This is where you enrol, choose your majors and subjects, make (or defer) payments, store and change your personal details, view end of semester results, discontinue subjects, and more. Piazza & Ed

These platforms host subject-specific workspaces where students can ask questions of the whole cohort and teaching staff. This is a good first stop to ask a question about class content or assessments (or really anything which isn’t personal), for good reasons; the burden of answering questions can be shared around, leading to quicker and more comprehensive reponses, and students are able to learn from questions that others ask.

Handbooks

The online faculty handbooks have all the information that you need to figure out your major/s, and determine what subjects you can and have to do throughout your degree. For each major, the requirements are set out, along with a list and description of eligible subjects which you can explore. Hot Tip (something that your very own editor didn’t discover until 3 years in): The handbooks get updated every year, and the previous years’ handbooks are archived. If you begin at USyd in 2021, you need to refer to the 2021 Handbook for your entire degree. Every year after your first year, the current edition will be inapplicable to you, and cause much distress when you start to think that you haven’t fulfilled your degree requirements.

Canvas

Canvas is the central platform you will use on a daily basis while studying; it is where you will watch lectures, upload assignments, find resources, notifications, and all other relevant information. Downloading the Canvas app on your phone can be useful in a pinch, but the online version works far better.

Timetable

USyd’s hosting platform for timetables has changed this year. Our assessment: worse looking interface than previous years with seemingly less control over your timetable, but slightly less infuriating to use. By now you should have indicated your preferences for classes and been assigned a timetable, hopefully one that works well for you. You should still be able to change your allocated classes, but get onto it quickly, as this function closes a few weeks into the semester. Make sure you regularly check your timetable and look at the correct week, as classes may be off some weeks or in an alternate location. This is easier if you link your timetable to your Google Calender, which - it must be said - is the superior online calender. Textbooks and readings

Technically, universities may not make students purchase materials which are essential to the course separate to the course cost itself. Unfortunately, this isn’t enforced well, and some faculties, such as Law, require you to purchase textbooks regularly. However, for many others, the two situations you are likely to encounter are: Textbooks or readings are recommended, but not essential to the course. You will have to determine if you would benefit from having them.

Readings are essential and examinable, but provided in full. Wait until a few weeks into the semester before making a decision to purchase textbooks, as you will have a better idea if it necessary for you. Second-hand textbooks are a great way to save money, and for the most part, the past few versions of the textbook will contain nearly identical information, and be adequate as a replacement. StudentVIP is a very handy platform for purchasing textbooks directly from other students (as well as a great all-around resource to find subject-specific tutors, subject reviews, and even a great map of USyd if you get the app). Some courses have official notes or bound printouts of readings available to purchase from Kopystop; this is near Broadway, but you can check their catalogue online. Some students use websites such as z-library to download textbooks, but as this is illegal, we can certainly not recommend it.

Library and Database Subscriptions

The libraries at USyd are a great resource which you should utilise during your time studying! There are a few different libraries on campus with which you will have varying difficulty finding a table, but you can book rooms or study desks at some online, usually a few days to a week in advance. The USyd Library Website is invaluable for research assignments, and allows you to search for general terms or specific readings. Clicking on a result tends to prompt you to either directly download a PDF or to navigate to the database where the material is published, and log in through your USyd account. It is possible to request an item from another library if you’re desperate for a specific resource. You have access to a number of useful databases which USyd pays subscriptions for. When searching through a database (eg. JSTOR) directly, always try to log in with your Unikey/Password combination.

Student IDs

This year, Student IDs are more important than ever; to access any building, including libraries and bathrooms, students must swipe in with their card. This was implemented during COVID to allow reduced levels of staffing of buildings, and ensure that only students were using the faculties. You will also need your Student ID during exams, so make sure to order it through Sydney Student if you haven’t already.

Part-time vs Full-time study:

Part-time and full-time are two different modes of study, based on the number of credit points you complete in a given semester. Domestic students: Full time study is considered to be 18 cp and over in a semester.

Whilst part-time generally extends the length of your degree, there are many possible reasons why full-time study is not feasible for you as a student. However, implications of part-time study include not being eligible for a Concession Opal card, or for Centrelink payments Austudy and Youth Allowance. International students: Required to undertake 24cp per semester. If you want to drop a subject or study under 24cp, you must apply for a reduced study load. The 24cp can be split over different ‘sessions’ in a semester; for example, 18cp can be done in the regular ‘Semester 1/2’ session, and 6cp done during an ‘Intensive’ session. Important Dates

These deadlines are very final, so make sure you are familiar with them and don’t procrastinate if you start to doubt that a subject is right for you. The dates listed below are for Semester 1. Last day to add a unit of study: 12th March This is exactly what it sounds like! Census Date - 31st March

This is the last date to discontinue a unit of study where you do not have to pay for the unit and it does not appear on your transcript. To withdraw from a subject: Sydney Student > My Studies > Units of Study > press the bin icon next to the subject in your selections. Last day to Discontinue not to count as failure a unit of study - 24th april (end of week 7) If you discontinue before this date, you will receive a DC (discontinue no fail) grade on your transcript, rather than a fail. You will have to pay the cost of the subject. To discontinue a unit after the census date: Sydney Student > My Studies > Units of Study > Other Options > Discontinue Last date to Discontinue Fail- 6th June (or on last day of classes) If you discontinue a subject before this date, you receive a DF (discontinue fail) grade on your transcript, but it does not affect your WAM, and a mark is not given. You will need to pay for the subject. After this deadline, you can’t drop a subject. It will appear on your transcript alongside a mark, and you are required to pay for the subject.