If you would like to add or drop a course, we recommend requesting a change before your course starts.

If you need to make a change after your classes start, you can add and drop a course before 10% of your course has elapsed. For example, 10% of a 16-week course is approximately two weeks.

It is best to request a change as soon as possible as the date you submit your request may impact your fees or your grade if you are adding or withdrawing from a course.

Learn more about withdrawing and our refund policy. 

Check before requesting a change

If you add or drop a course the change might affect your credits and fees, and you may need to inform StudyLink.

If you are adding a course you will need to check if you meet the entry requirements for the course and how this may impact your study plan.

Timetable clash

When adding or swapping a course, you will need to check the timetable to avoid a clash with your other courses.

If you have a timetable clash and there is a very good reason for you to be exempted from attending classes for one of the courses (for example you are repeating a course), when you submit the request, add a note about the clash in the supporting documents section of the form.

Number of credits (part time or full-time study)

Part time study means that you are enrolled in the minimum required number of courses within your chosen programme. In general, studying between 1 to 3 courses or 15 to 45 credits per semester is classified as part time study for most programmes at Unitec.

Domestic students

According to StudyLink's criteria, part time is anything less than 48 credits per semester or anything less than 96 credits per year.

If your change of enrolment request changes you from a full time to part time student or you will exceed the maximum number of points, this may impact your student allowance or student loan. You will need to contact StudyLink.

Contact StudyLink

Any request to study more than 60 credits per semester will be assessed by a relevant Academic Programme Manager and your previous grades will be taken into consideration.

International students

If you are an international student, taking less than 45 credits per semester means you are studying part time, and this will impact your visa and insurance entitlements.

If you drop below 45 credits or want to change your programme, you must email Unitec at international@unitec.ac.nz.

For any visa concerns, email studentvisa@unitec.ac.nz.

Request to study 5 courses

If you want to apply to enrol in 5 courses in one semester, you need to submit an application for this with your Change of Enrolment request.

Note: Any Bachelor of Business students enrolled in Industry Based Learning (IBL) cannot apply to take more than 4 courses in one semester.

How to submit a request:

1. Complete the Application to Study Five Courses Form - In the form, you must explain your circumstances and reasons for studying 5 courses in one semester.
2. A copy of this form will be sent to your email address after submitting it.
3. Save the details of the form and attach that to your Change of Enrolment request.

Third time enrolment

If you want to enrol into a course that you have previously failed twice, you must submit a ‘Third time enrolment’ application.

How to submit a request:

1. Complete the Application for Third Time Enrolment Form - In the form you must explain your circumstances and what has changed to enable your success with your third attempt.
2. A copy of this form will be sent to your email address after submitting it.
3. Save the details of the form and attach that to your Change of Enrolment request.

Change a major

If you would like to change your major, please call us on 0800 10 95 10 or email study@unitec.ac.nz or visit Student Central and we will submit your request to the Enrolment Team on your behalf.

Grade impact for late changes or withdrawal

If you change your enrolment between the course start date and up to 2 weeks (or more for double semester courses) after the start date of your course you may be entitled to a 90% refund and your enrolment in the course will not appear on your transcript.

If your change of enrolment falls outside the 10% timeframe you may be charged the full fees for the course and the record may appear on your transcript as a grade of W (Withdraw) or DNC (Did not complete).

Withdrawing and refund policy

Learn more about withdrawing and our refund policy

StudyLink

If you add or drop a course or your programme, you may need to let StudyLink know.

Let StudyLink know if you:

- Add a course, including for summer school
- Change your programme of study
- Drop / withdraw from a course
- Withdrawal from your programme

Contact Studylink

How to add and drop a course

If you want to add a course, you will usually have to swap (drop) another course. Complete both of these requests in one change of enrolment session.

How to add a new course

PDF instructions with pictures

Steps to add a course

1. Login to your Student Portal using your Unitec login details.
2. Under Useful Links in the bottom right-hand corner, select ‘Change Enrolment’.
3. The Student Request Form page will open.
4. Select the semester and the year for the request, eg. Semester 2, 2022.
5. You will need to allow pop-ups for this site. Click ‘always allow pop-ups…’
6. Click ‘Start request’.
7. Check your contact details are correct and update them if necessary (we may need to use these contact details to discuss your request with you).
8. Select ‘Change enrolment’ from the dropdown menu.
9. If you know the class number of the class you want to add, enter it into the box, otherwise you can search for the class by clicking on ‘Find Classes’.
10. In the Term field, scroll down to the correct semester.
11.In the Subject field, search for the subject you are studying and scroll down to select the right one.
12. In Course Career, select ‘Undergraduate’ if that’s what you are.
13. Click ‘Search’.
14. Note the number of the class you want to add. (Check that you have the pre-requisites required and you are not enrolled in any
restricted classes). If you can’t find the number for the class you want to swap to, you can do the following:
a. Open Unitec.ac.nz (in a different window).
b. Search for your programme name.
c. Scroll down the programme page to courses and timetables.
d. Click on the name of the course you’re swapping classes within.
e. Find the four-digit number of the class you want to start attending, and note it down.
15. Type the 4 digit number under ‘Add New Class’. Click ‘Add Class’.
16. Check that this is the class you want to take (make sure there are no timetable clashes). If you are good to go, click on ‘Review’.
17. The system needs a reason for why you are changing your class - select ‘New class’ (it won’t let you submit your request without a reason). Add any other relevant information in the text box.
18. Then click ‘Submit’.

How to drop a course

PDF instructions with pictures Steps to drop a course

1. Log into Student Portal using your Unitec login details.
2. Under Useful Links in the bottom right-hand corner, select ‘Change Enrolment’.
3. The Student Request Form page will open.
4. Select the semester and the year for the request, eg. Semester 2, 2022.
5. You will need to allow pop-ups for this site. Click ‘always allow pop-ups…’
6. Click ‘Start request’.
7. Check your details are correct and if necessary, update them (we may need to use these contact details to discuss your request with you).
8. Select ‘Change enrolment’ from the dropdown menu.
9.Select the class you want to drop.
10. The system will ask you for a reason you are dropping your class – please select the most appropriate one (it won’t let you submit your request without a reason) and add any other useful information in the text box.
11. Then click ‘Submit’. You can check the progress of your change request by returning to the student requests form.

Technical issues

Error when trying to submit a change request

You can only have one Change Enrolment request being processed at a time for each semester. If you wish to cancel an existing request and submit a new one, you can do so by opening the Change Enrolment request and selecting cancel.  For any technical issues please contact 0800 10 95 10 or email us at study@unitec.ac.nz

Issues accessing Student Portal

See the Student Portal page for help with accessing your account.

Processing time of application, fees and refunds

Change requests are usually processed in 5 working days. If you find your request taking longer than that, please talk to Student Central or your Academic Programme Manager.

You can check the progress of your request, and see if your request has been approved or declined in your Student Portal.

The processing of fees and refunds will take longer, please allow up to a month for these to be processed.

If your request is approved

When your change is approved, you can attend your new class. The new course will be on Moodle the day after enrolment. Your name may not appear on the class register immediately.

If your request is declined

A change request could be declined for any of the following reasons:
- Timetable clash
- Course is full (If your Change Enrolment request has been declined due to a course being full, it is very likely that Unitec have already tried adding another class without success.)
- Requirements not met
- Permission has not been granted from Academic Programme Manager
- There is an error in the change request and it needs to be resubmitted
- The request is no longer valid or required
- The request has been completed previously
- The request needs to be changed or amended for various reasons
- There may be a cross credit application submitted that has not been notified with the change request.

Need help? Contact us

If you’re not sure whether you can still make changes to your course or need assistance submitting a change of enrolment request, please contact us.

Domestic students

International students