Studying through Unisa in Sydney. Help and advice needed please

[anne89]

hi guys,

Im in desperate need of some help or advice from anyone who is studying through Unisa in Australia.

I am currently pursuing my Bcom degree through Unisa and im 10 modules away from completing it.

On the 21st of January 2015 i am relocating to Sydney on a spouse visa ( i have to leave before Feb according to my visa grant letter and i wont be a permanent resident so it could be difficult to study with an Australian University) and i would to like continue with my degree in Australia with Unisa, i would like to defer the first semester and continue from the second semester.

But Unisa emailed me that they have a new rule that a student will have to complete a certain amount of credits( modules passed) at the end of 2014 and register for 120 credits (10 modules) in 2015, 5 modules per semester, if the student fails to do this. you are not allowed to continue your studies with Unisa unless you complete a short course with them, this is an extra year, then you will be allowed to graduate. which is pretty ridiculous and sux for me because i want to defer a semester.

So today i visited the Unisa Durban Regional campus and tried to get information on how to continue this degree in Australia and more information on how the process with the new credit rule works and as per usual Unisa Student advisors were not helpful, i had to wait outside the gates for a ticket, then i was pushed around from one room to another finally i spoke to a women who was in the student advisor rooms.

I was told that to write my exams in Sydney, i would need to register online, change postal address and pay the international levy, according to them the amount is subject to the exchange rates,the lady that told me that i wasted my time coming in because that is all the information she can give me and with regards to their new credit program, i was told that i should not worry about it, i should just register for the second semester and see if im accepted to continue.

so after half a day at Unisa, i am very stressed about completing my degree, ive tried calling whatever number i could find and no one picked up the phone at Unisa, i have also emailed different departments and no reply.

so therefore i really appreciate some information, advice or help with this.

im sorry that i wrote a whole essay to you guys, i just dont know what to do

[Maligso]

They are useless with queries. Your best bet is to phone the faculty secretary in Pretoria and ask her. Just check in your TL's for contact details. Pretoria were always very helpful with me in the past. Good luck.

[anne89]

thank you maligso, i will definitely give her a call.

[Mel-B]

Sounds about right... getting answers for anything that is outside the box is very hard at UNISA. I had to get permission to take 12 modules in one year so I could finish my degree. It took many many many many calls and emails. EVENTUALLY I got hold of a faculty dean who took pity on me and helped me. Keep on trying until you find someone who will help you, there are helpful people there, you just need to get one on the line. Good luck!

[monsta]

I had a similar thing. I got a credit for one of my subjects. I needed a letter from unisa explaining why. I spent hours on the phone and wasted several mornings visiting them.

It got so bad, I eventually had it out with a call centre operator.. " A colleague of yours told me a completely different story yesterday. So, by my logic at least one of you is wrong. That means at least one of you needs to go to your manager and explain that you are not competent to do your job and you require further training ". Well, he said we would take my query to his boss. I could here that he just sat there and waited for me to hang up.

Eventually, I just went through the all the contact numbers on the UNISA site and called them up. I got several, " I have non idea what you are talking about" replies. But eventually, someone replied, " oh yeah.. We do those letters all the time. You need to speak to xxx". After that call my letter arrived in the post a week later. He even asked me which country it was for so he could tailer the letter. That employee single handedly restored my faith in UNISA.

[timothy]

Monsta, did you get credit for Unisa subjects at an Australian Uni? If not, what the Unisa letter for?

Anne89, you have 8 years to complete your degree. Look at the rules page 30&31

http://www.unisa.ac.za/contents/myChoice/docs/my_Choice_Unisa_2015.pdf

[rozellem]

I have a forum friend, Naomi Warr, who lives in Sydney and studies B Com through Unisa. Search her name under members and PM her your questions. Sure she would love to help.

[anne89]

thank you guys for all your advice.

i am currently going through the process of emailing and calling everyone i can get a hold of at unisa.

hopefully someone will be able to assist me with this matter.

timothy, as per my understanding i had 8 years for my degree but this new progression rule doesnt give me that amount of time, and rozellem, thank you, i have contacted naomi.

[timothy]

Anne89, the new rule is only for people who are not keeping up with the 8 year rule. I also received that email and started to worry until I read the rules and read the email again. You have nothing to worry. When did your degree start?

[anne89]

Timothy, ive started my degree in 2011.

i really hope its nothing to worry about.

[timothy]

I started in 2010. At the end if 2015 you need to have completed 62% of your modules to continue. Which I'm sure you have. Even for the people who haven't, they will give an extra year if you write them a letter.

Also, not a good idea to phone right now because of exams and also because registration has just opened.

[anne89]

thank you timothy.

i just might send them a letter.