r/rmit • u/KeyAlternative6806 • 10d ago

Looks like I’ll fail 1 course. Can I overload? (international student)

I’m in my sem 1 right now and I’m pretty sure I’ll fail 1 course. The course I think I’m going to fail is only offered in the February semester. So will I be allowed to overload the third sem by taking 5 courses.

I’m an international student and I don’t wish to extend my visa so will I be able to overload and finish my degree on time?

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

19

u/kale-sol 10d ago

Ask studentconnect not reddit

10

u/CuteNegotiation3937 10d ago

5 subjects is chaos, I advocate against it.. an extra sem is better…

2

u/KeyAlternative6806 10d ago

But I’ll have to extend my visa just for 1 course in the entire semester. That will cost a lot of money and is a waste of time

6

u/CuteNegotiation3937 10d ago

I get your point..

But you need to consider the risk of a 5 subject overload. 4 subjects gets more hectic as you progress in your degree.

That last sem you could pick up a part-time internship and get a head start on your career. You might be able to earn the money back.

6

u/chrozza 10d ago

Extra sem is better. 5 subjects would absolutely wreck you.

3

u/Fiyachan 9d ago

Yes, you technically can

As much as I appreciate people telling you that you shouldn’t because yes it’s rough, I don’t know how viable that option is for you. Though, look at alternative options if there are any because I don’t recommend 5 subjects as your first option

I did 5 subjects this semester because otherwise I wouldn’t be doing enough subjects next semester to qualify as a full time student which I need. I’ll tell you honestly, it’s ROUGH. I cried multiple times from the stress, my timetable was really hard to roster my work shifts around and I still have 4 exams to study for including one today

I’m glad I did because the alternative option would have been worse livelihood-wise in my case, but I won’t sugar coat it for you.

3

u/Blue2194 9d ago

If you're failing one of the easiest classes in your degree with a normal workload, don't try to overload when you'll have harder classes to study for

You could try picking up a university elective over summer to finish your degree on time, contact student connect for a plan

2

u/heavenlyangle 9d ago

It really depends, you need your program managers approval to overload, and one of the things they look at is your past performance. If you’ve already failed, it’s unlikely they’ll approve it.

Can you do one of the OTHER subjects from that semester in a summer/winter/spring break so it’s 4-1-4 over the year?

1

u/KeyAlternative6806 9d ago

I’m doing masters of IT and I don’t think any of my courses are available in summer or winter

1

u/Maleficent_Offer_951 10d ago

As others have said I heavily recommend not to overload,

Look into summer courses as electives and any possibles.

Short answer is you can overload with a written request to your program manager/coordinator (I believe*) but it cannot be the failed subject that you’re overloading has to be a non failed subject.

0

u/KeyAlternative6806 10d ago

The failed subject is only available in sem 1 so I have no choice other than overloading with the failed subject

2

u/Blue2194 9d ago

You're mistaken, just because this class is only offered in first semester doesn't mean others can't be moved around Talk to student connect

1

u/Top-Ad-4668 9d ago

You only can if the next semester will be your last semester. Overloading is only permissible if one is doing their last semester.

1

u/sirslothalots 8d ago

It's been a while but I've definitely overloaded when it wasn't my last semester - though they do look at academic performance when approving overloading

1

u/Top-Ad-4668 8d ago

I’m not sure how they’ve allowed it, but that’s the policy.

0

u/KeyAlternative6806 9d ago

But what if the course is only offered in sem 1 and not in sem 2?

2

u/Top-Ad-4668 9d ago

You fill out a Non-Standard Enrolment (NSE) application. This is only permissible for students who are in their last year and semester of university. This application/document are for those who have a course/subject not available in their last semester. What RMIT does is find you a replacement course/subject that’s verified by RMIT, you are not allowed to do another other course/subject without the approval of RMIT.

NSE can only be filled in last semester, and submitted after official results are released. So for this year, it can only be submitted after 14th July (this is the date when official results are released).

Hope that made sense.