Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne will now award official qualifications to students who leave their undergraduate degree after completing just six months of study.
The university has introduced an Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies, which requires students to complete at least six months of study and a minimum of four academic units.
Professor Laura-Anne Bull, Swinburne’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education, said the initiative aims to remove the stigma associated with leaving university early. “Leaving university for any reason often comes with a negative stigma, but it shouldn’t,” she said.
Government data shows that in 2023, 20 per cent of domestic students deferred or dropped out of their university courses. That year, around 396,000 students enrolled in degrees—a 22 per cent decrease from pre-pandemic levels and the lowest number in a decade.
Swinburne believes the certificate will allow students to use recognised course credits from other providers and return to the university later if they choose. Professor Bull added, “The traditional model of studying a three- or four-year degree full-time until graduation is outdated. This approach meets students where they are and supports their further study and professional development.”
