[USYD] A Complete Guide to Late Discontinuation under Special Circumstances (DC) in 2025: What You Must Address to Get Approved

1. The Policy Framework: The Core Clauses You Must Address

A successful USYD DC application must satisfy all three elements of “special circumstances” as defined in Coursework Policy cl 92 and reiterated in the 2025 Procedures cl 3:

(a) Circumstances beyond your reasonable control

Under cl 3 of the Procedures, circumstances must be:

• unusual, uncommon, and abnormal, and

• not due to any action or inaction on the student

(b) Full impact after the census date

Your condition or circumstances must not have made their full impact until on or after the census date.
This is the most commonly contested criterion and must be supported by dated medical evidence.

(c) Made it impracticable to complete the unit

You must demonstrate that continuing the unit was impossible or unreasonable, not merely difficult.

This requirement appears in Procedures cl 3 and cl 4(1)(a).

Unless all three criteria are clearly met with reliable evidence, USYD will decline the application.

2. Additional USYD Requirements Under the 2025 Procedures

The Procedures 2025 impose specific mandatory requirements that many students overlook.

2.1 You must explain why other remedies were not suitable

Under cl 4(1)(b), DC will only be approved if the circumstances could not be addressed by Special Consideration or Special Arrangements.

Your statement must explicitly address why:

• short-term remedies

• extensions

• replacement exams

were not appropriate or not possible given the nature and duration of your circumstances.

2.2 You must address “why only these units” (if applicable)

If you passed other units in the same teaching period, you must explain, per cl 5(6)(b)(v), why only specific units were impacted.

2.3 You must provide sufficient supporting documentation

Under cl 6(1), the University must be able to form a view independently of your personal statement.

This means:

• Medical letters must have dates of onset, dates of full impact, dates unfit to study, and a clear causal explanation.

• Evidence must be in English and include identifiable contact details (cl 6(2)).

• If relying on an exacerbation of an existing condition, you must supply fresh evidence of worsening (cl 6(4)).

2.4 Applications out of time require extra evidence

If lodged late, you must show why it was impractical to apply earlier (cl 5(5)).

3. How to Structure a Professional, Clause-Compliant DC Application

Below is the structure we use for successful USYD submissions.

Step 1: Identify the affected units (cl 5(6)(a))

Start by listing each unit code and teaching period.

Step 2: Explain why circumstances were beyond your control (cl 3; cl 5(6)(b)(i))

Use clear, specific descriptions and align them with the “unusual, uncommon, abnormal” standard.

A strong explanation will describe:

• the diagnosis or event

• why it was unforeseeable

• why it was outside your ability to influence or avoid

Avoid generic statements like “I was stressed” or “I was busy”.

Step 3: Demonstrate the date when full impact occurred (cl 3; cl 5(6)(b)(ii))

Your evidence must explicitly confirm:

• the onset date

• the date the condition made its full impact

• how that date falls after the census date

This is where most applications fail.
Medical providers must specify the “full impact” date. Without it, USYD will not approve DC.

Step 4: Show why it was impracticable to complete the unit (cl 3; cl 5(6)(b)(iii))

Here, explain:

• which assessments or class requirements were affected

• why studying, preparing, or sitting assessments was impossible

• why continuation would have caused deterioration

“Impracticable” does not mean “hard.” It means:

• medically, psychologically, or situationally unreasonable

• unsafe

• not viable given the circumstances

Step 5: Explain why Special Consideration could not address the issue (cl 4(1)(b); cl 5(6)(b)(iv))

You must address:

• duration of illness compared with the length of the teaching period

• why extensions or deferred exams would not resolve the problem

• why the nature of your condition is inconsistent with short-term remedies

Step 6: If you passed other units, explain why only certain units were impacted (cl 5(6)(b)(v))

Examples:

• the affected unit had continuous assessment, unlike others

• the content required concentration or attendance that your condition prevented

• the exacerbation occurred during a period where only specific units had assessment deadlines

Step 7: Attach all relevant evidence (cl 5(6)(c); cl 6)

This must include:

• treating practitioner letters

• psychologist or psychiatrist notes

• hospital records

• death certificates (if applicable)

Every document must satisfy the independent verification requirement in cl 6(1).

4. Common Reasons USYD Declines DC Applications

Based on hundreds of cases, most rejections occur due to:

A. Missing “full impact” date

This is a mandatory requirement under cl 3 and cl 5(6)(b)(ii).

B. Evidence does not state “unfit to study”

Medical documents must specify functional impact.

C. No explanation for why the student did not apply earlier

Required under cl 5(5) for out-of-time applications.

D. Evidence is too vague or generic

Statements like “stress,” “anxiety,” or “fatigue” without clinical detail are insufficient.

E. No linkage between circumstances and inability to complete assessments

You must link cause → impact → academic impossibility.

F. No explanation why SC was not appropriate

Required under cl 4(1)(b).

5. How We Achieve Consistent Success at USYD

Since 2023 to date (11/12/2025), Academic Appeal Specialist has:

• successfully assisted students in withdrawing from more than 550 units,

• achieved strong outcomes even for students previously rejected,

• developed a clause-driven, policy-compliant methodology that aligns with USYD decision-maker expectations.

Our advocacy includes:

• drafting fully clause-referenced statements

• advising medical practitioners on compliant wording

• preparing review submissions under Procedures cl 8

• preparing appeal submissions under the Student Academic Appeals Rule

• identifying procedural errors or factual mistakes (cl 8(4)(b)–(c))

Need Professional Help with Your USYD DC Application?

If you are unsure how to address the criteria, or if you have been refused already, we can provide:

• a professionally drafted DC statement

• a clause-referenced review request under cl 8

• tailored guidance for your treating practitioners

• strategic advice on unit planning and visa considerations

Contact Academic Appeal Specialist for personalised assistance grounded in policy, procedure, and become one of the successful outcomes.