Faculty of Science Academic Advisor Appointments
Information Sheet and Degree Planner
The Faculty assists undergraduate students enrolled in single and combined degrees administered
by the Faculty of Science through the provision of administrative and academic advice.
Administrative advice is handled through enquiries at the Faculty of Science counter (10am-4pm
Monday-Thursday, 10am-1pm Friday). If you need academic assistance with degree planning or
progress, you are most welcome to submit a degree plan and make a booking with one of the
academic advisors – the Sub Deans or Associate Deans. Postgraduate Research and Honours
students should consult their supervisor and PG/Hons degree co-coordinator. Postgraduate
Coursework students should consult their degree coordinator.
Academic Advisors are senior academics who teach and research in Schools in the Faculty of
Science. They dedicate some time each month to advising students on degree matters. An
appointment generally runs for 15-20 minutes. To book an appointment, you must submit a degree
plan at the time of booking, as well as providing the reason for the booking. Bookings are made by
emailing the Science Administration Advisor (Admissions and Candidature Maintenance):
science.candidature@sydney.edu.au
There are many other commonly asked student requests that do not require appointments and these
requests should be made in writing, clearly explaining the issue and attaching supporting
documentation as appropriate. Many of these are outlined in the following pages.
To write to the Pro Deans, send a letter to Pro Dean, Faculty of Science, Carslaw Building, F07,
University of Sydney, NSW 2006 or email science.candidature@sydney.edu.au (make sure you
include your name and SID).
Academic Advisor appointments are for matters that cannot be easily resolved. If your matter or
concern can be resolved in another way, or requires a documented decision, you may be directed to
another method or form for resolution of your concern. Here are some typical concerns of students
and the practical steps towards resolving them.
These matters are appropriate for Academic Advisor appointments:
Concern
Action
Degree Planning advice
Prepare a degree plan and book an appointment
• Talented students fast tracking to
Book an Associate Dean appointment – at time of
booking appointment, you must present a degree plan
completion
• Elite athlete/performers needing help to
that shows how you intend to complete your degree, as
structure degree to accommodate training
well as providing one of the reasons one the left.
commitments and academic resolutions
• I am on the Academic Progression
Degree planning appointments are particularly
Register and need help structuring my
recommended for Talented Student Program students
degree while meeting my conditions
seeking to fast-track degrees and those students
• Proposed exchange units or coming back returning to the University after a period of exclusion.
from exchange
• After an appeal outcome
Students registered with Disability Services are always
• Recommencement after
welcome to book degree planning advice appointments.
suspension/exclusion
• Following an outcome in a case of
academic dishonesty
• Some units for my degree are no longer
offered
These matters do not require an Academic Advisor appointment
Concern or Frequently asked question
Action you can take
Structuring of a major
Information is available in the Faculty of Science
Handbook, Table 1, which sets out the requirements for
each major offered by the Faculty of Science
What do I need to do to complete my
The Faculty Handbook contains the degree resolutions
degree?
that you must meet to satisfy degree requirements. This
is the first place to look to check your progress. You
can find your current and completed units of study at
the Student Self Administration portal in MyUni. You
can use this information and the degree resolutions to
plan the remainder of your degree.
Seeking change of degree resolutions
especially for me and my situation (eg
exceeding cp limit on junior)
I am dissatisfied with an academic
decision including:
• An assessment task mark or result for a
unit
• Special Consideration outcome
• Special Arrangements outcome
• Credit offered
I am concerned about unsatisfactory
service in the Faculty and it is not an
academic decision.
I’ve been required to Show Cause and I
want to talk to someone about drafting
my Show Cause letter
Choosing between particular units in a
particular academic area
Credit – I’m transferring to the
University of Sydney, Faculty of Science
and I want to know what credit I can get
The Faculty undertakes potential graduand completion
checks for students after the census date for students
likely to complete in that semester. Potential graduands
together with those who are not yet meeting degree
requirements but appear to be within 30 credit points of
completion receive a letter from the University.
Apply through the Special Permission task in Sydney
Student. Make sure to include any relevant
documentation to support your case.
Complete an appeal against academic decision form:-
http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms/appli
cation_form_appeals.pdf
The Faculty is obliged to make decisions in accordance
with various University policies. If you are appealing
against an academic decision, you must set out clearly
in writing your reasons for believing the academic
decision has NOT been made in accordance with the
relevant policy.
Follow the Grievance policy outlined at
http://sydney.edu.au/student_affairs/complaints/how/no
n-academic.shtml
Contact the SRC or SUPRA or the ISSU (for
international students) for assistance
See your relevant year advisor / unit coordinator in the
particular School
The Faculty does not assess credit for potential
students. We are very happy to assess credit for
students once enrolled with us, which can be applied
for through the Apply for credit and/or RPL task in
Sydney Student. Information on credit can be found at:
http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms/infor
mation_credit.pdf
Am I eligible to seek a DC (Discontinue
Not Fail Grade) after the date
advertised?
I don’t know if I am in the right degree. I
want to know what career I can work in.
Cross-institutional Study – I want to
know if I can do it
The DC application form tells you what criteria and
documentation are required:
http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms/applicat
ion_form_dnf.pdf
Consult the Careers Office or the relevant year advisor /
unit coordinator in your School
You need to identify the institution and complete and
submit a cross-institutional study request form:
http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms/appli
cation_form_cross_inst_outbound.pdf
Jury duty – I’m a good citizen, but the
trial I might be serving on is expected to
run for a long time when I have
assignments due
I want to keep going with my undergrad
Science degree but enrol in another
degree –Medicine/PG study/
Honours/Diploma of Languages at the
same time
I want to transfer streams in my degree
(e.g. BSc to BSc (Adv.) or BPsych
(Science) to (Arts))
I want to transfer degrees within the
Faculty (and it is not a stream transfer)
I want to transfer degrees within the
University (and it is not a stream
transfer or a transfer within a Faculty)
My visa is going to expire and I am
experiencing study difficulties
I am a sponsored international student
and I am not meeting my degree
requirements
I am a new student in the Faculty of Arts
or Engineering or Nursing. I need
Science credit - is the Faculty of
Science the right place to ask?
I need a degree that does not have a
compulsory Maths requirement
I am a concerned parent/ partner/ third
party – who can I talk to about a
student’s results?
I didn’t get into the undergraduate
degree I wanted to get into, what can I
do?
My application for admission to an
undergraduate degree/ crossinstitutional/ non-degree study is really,
really late – but I still want it considered
I’m having trouble enrolling with my
Sydney Student
Write to the Faculty with a copy of your call up papers if
you are seeking a statement to support a claim that you
will suffer detriment if you are unable to attend
university whilst serving on a jury. You may alternatively
apply for Special Arrangement to arrange alternative
conditions for any affected assessments.
You must write in to the Faculty seeking permission and
the reasons for seeking permission.
Ensure your transfer is on the list of available stream
transfers, then fill out a Stream Transfer form available
at http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms.shtml
Confirm that your transfer is on the list of allowable
transfers under Allowable Course Transfers (Faculty of
Science degrees) at
http://sydney.edu.au/science/cstudent/ug/forms.shtml
If your transfer is available, apply for a course transfer
through Sydney Student.
Apply through the Online Application portal. Instructions
are available at
http://sydney.edu.au/study/admissions/apply/how-toapply.html
Contact the ISSU first, then the International Adviser
Contact the ISSU first, then the International Adviser
You may apply for a credit transfer through your
Sydney Student.
BLAS is the only degree administered by the Faculty of
Science that has no maths requirement – check the
Faculty Handbook and consider a transfer to this
degree (through UAC).
Privacy legislation forbids University staff sharing
information about students – even with those most
concerned about their welfare. Talk to the student in the
first instance.
Look at the Handbook and UAC for cut-offs for an
alternative course. Sydney Student (local)/International
Office (international) can also assist students looking to
commence in first year.
Phone: 1800 SYD UNI
Email: future.students@sydney.edu.au
Unfortunately the Faculty cannot accept late
applications for admission.
Contact Science Information through 1800 SYD UNI or
the Current Students Contact Centre at
current.student@sydney.edu.au
Appointment booking checklist
□ Completed degree planner attached, and
Reason for appointment provided:
□ Talented students fast tracking to completion
□ Elite athlete/performers needing help to structure degree to accommodate
training commitments and academic resolutions
□ I am on the Academic Progression Register and need help structuring my
degree while meeting my conditions
□ Proposed exchange units or coming back from exchange
□ After an appeal outcome
□ Recommencement after suspension/exclusion
□ Following an outcome in a case of academic dishonesty
□ Some units for my degree are no longer offered
FACULTY OF SCIENCE DEGREE PLANNER
FOR STUDENTS BOOKING ACADEMIC ADVISER APPOINTMENTS
Current students in degrees administered by the Faculty of Science can book academic adviser
appointments to discuss your unit of study choice to complete you degree.
 You must bring a completed degree plan to your appointment.
 You must complete your plan in conjunction with the degree resolutions in the Faculty of Science
Handbook: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks
 You can find the units you have successfully completed on MyUni. If you cannot access MyUni,
the counter staff at the Faculty can also print an internal transcript for you at no charge.
 You may find it helpful to complete the planner using one colour for units you have successfully
completed, and another for those that you intend to do in the future.
To arrange an appointment after you have completed your plan:
Students in the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (BLAS) degree:
Contact either A/Prof Fiona White or Dr Ben Miller to arrange an appointment.
Email Fiona.white@sydney.edu.au. Consultation hours: Tues 1pm-2pm, Wed 9am-10am
Email Benjamin.miller@sydney.edu.au. Consultation hours: Tues 10am-11am, Thurs 10am11am
Students in all other undergraduate Science degrees:
Email the Science Administration Advisor (Admissions and Candidature Maintenance) at
science.candidature@sydney.edu.au. In your email attach your completed degree plan and
indicate what days and times you are available and what you would like to discuss.
Name:
SID:
Degree name:
Intended major(s):
Year
Semester
1
1
20_
2
st
summer
nd
2
20_
1
winter
2
summer
rd
3
20_
1
winter
2
Unit of Study
& credit points
Unit of Study
& credit points
Unit of Study
& credit points
Unit of Study
& credit points
Total
CP
summer
th
4
20_
1
winter
2
summer
th
5
20_
1
winter
2
summer
th
6
20_
1
winter
2
Total Credit Points