Studying online through OUA

Enrolling and withdrawing from OUA units

Enrolment

If you are studying through OUA, whether it be in a Macquarie-OUA degree or single units, you can enrol in and withdraw from units via the OUA website. If you are having trouble enrolling or withdrawing from units, contact the OUA Student Advisors for assistance.

OUA close of enrolment dates are different from Macquarie University dates; OUA closes earlier so make sure you check the dates on the OUA page.

A Confirmation of Enrolment email from Macquarie will be sent to the email you registered with OUA. The email will be sent within 30 days before the upcoming study period and will include details of your Macquarie Student ID and how to access your units.

Withdrawal

Students seeking to withdraw from units must do so by the relevant census date to avoid financial and academic penalties, or by the 'Last Date to Withdraw' to avoid academic penalty only. See the Withdrawal without Penalty section for more information.

If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS-HELP), submit a withdrawal without penalty form to Macquarie. Both the academic and financial penalty will be assessed by Macquarie. Refer to the withdrawing without penalty page for more information.

If you paid your fees upfront to OUA or are a FEE-HELP student, your financial penalty is assessed by OUA. You will need to submit a special circumstances form directly through OUA. Refer to the OUA Special Circumstances page for more information.

Prerequisite waivers

If you want to enrol in an OUA unit but are unable to because you haven’t met the prerequisites and if you can demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge to successfully complete the unit, you can submit a prerequisite OUA waiver. This application form is different from the Special Approval (Waiver) request form for students studying directly through Macquarie. Make sure you don’t submit the wrong form!

Special consideration

You may experience serious and unavoidable difficulties that affect your academic performance when assessments are due or you have an exam. In these instances, consider applying for Special Consideration.

Supporting evidence is required with your request. For more information, visit the Special Consideration page.

Withdrawal without penalty

If you have experienced serious and unavoidable disruption to your studies after the census date, you can apply for withdrawal without penalty.

There are two parts to the process which are assessed independently:

• withdrawal without academic penalty and
• withdrawal without financial penalty

'Withdrawal without academic penalty' is assessed by Macquarie. You can refer to the withdrawing without penalty page for more information about how to apply.

'Withdrawal without financial penalty' depends on how your fees are paid.

Applying for a degree program offered via OUA

Although you may have started as a non-award student by taking individual study units, you can apply for Macquarie University's Bachelor's degrees available through OUA if you satisfy the entry requirements. Please refer to the OUA website for more information about the requirements for individual degree entry.

Please note that you must adhere to the degree structure and curriculum requirements from the academic year you are admitted to the program (e.g., if you are admitted into a course in 2026, then you will follow the course structure set out from 2026). Changes to the degree structure introduced in subsequent years will not apply retroactively to students already enrolled, except where explicitly stated or where students receive approval to transition to a revised degree structure.

You can refer to the degree structure that applies to you in the OUA Student Hub. Click on the degree, and the degree structure relevant to your admission will display.

You can refer to the degree structure which applies to you in the OUA Student Hub, click on the degree and the degree structure which applies to your admission will show up.

Maintaining an active enrolment in your degree

Students must ensure they maintain an effective, active enrolment (enrolled in at least one MQ OUA course unit in a Session without a pre-Census withdrawal). Effective enrolment is required in the first session of study for your course admittance to remain active. Otherwise, your offer will lapse, and you will need to reapply for entry into your course.

Important: Any new entry into a degree will mean you must follow the degree structure and curriculum from the most recent academic admittance year, not a previous one.

Applying for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Your previously studied units at Macquarie University or at another institution may be recognised and counted towards your degree. For Macquarie OUA units you have completed, they will already be credited to your current degree. For units you have completed with other providers, please submit an RPL form to assess the units: log in Service Connect and choose Managing and Understanding My course to lodge your RPL request.

Your Flexible zone allows you to enrol in any Undergraduate unit, including those from other OUA providers, as long as you meet the prerequisites.

If you have completed non-Macquarie units, you must submit your Statement of Attainment when you graduate so that these can be credited to your degree.

Checking your course progress

The following information is applicable to students admitted into an undergraduate as well as postgraduate program.

If you would like to check your course progress, you can submit an enquiry by logging in the Service Connect Portal, then, under Managing & Understanding My Course, you can check course progression, and information about graduation as well.

As an OUA student, you can also check your degree progression through your OUA Student Hub. Please note that it is your responsibility to access the available resources and information and keep track of their course progression.