Enrolment help

When should I enrol?

Please start the enrolment process as soon as possible after receiving your offer to study at UOW. You may also wish to familiarise yourself with key dates relating to enrolment and orientation schedules.  

Tutorial enrolments will normally open two (2) - five (5) weeks before the start of each session. We recommend that you complete your course enrolment before this time.

 

How do I log into the system?

Log in here using your UOW student number and date of birth to activate your student account. 

 

I don’t know my student number, where can I find it?

If you applied to UOW directly, your student number will be referenced on your offer letter/emails from UOW.

If you applied via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), you will receive an email with your student number soon after receiving your offer (please allow up to 10 days to receive this email).

Note: Even if you receive multiple offers from UOW, your student number will stay the same. If you are still unsure, contact the Future Students Team.

 

Can I use my smart phone to enrol?

Yes, our enrolment system is mobile-friendly. However, we recommend you use a device with a larger screen such as a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

 

I am having problems accessing the system

There are various reasons why you may not be able to start your enrolment. Please see below for common messages you may receive, along with steps you can take to start your enrolment:

Message: ‘Student type on admissions does not match’

Australian citizens: A certified copy of your passport and/or birth certificate is needed to confirm your citizenship before you can commence your enrolment.

Permanent residents: you will need to provide a copy of your visa grant along with your passport. 

Please email the certified copy/copies of your to askuow@uow.edu.au or futurestudents@uow.edu.au.

Message: ‘Not a valid offer / conditional offer’

Your offer is still conditional. You will need to provide the relevant documentation outlined in your Offer of Admission to futurestudents@uow.edu.au.

Message: ‘Not Paid’

If you are an international student and you have paid and accepted your offer, and you are still receiving this error, please contact the Future Students Team for assistance. If you have not yet paid or accepted your offer, you may wish to contact the Future Students Team for assistance in doing so.

 

Should I still enrol now if I want to defer my offer? 

If you are sure that you want to defer your offer, do not need to enrol in your course. Instead, you should defer your offer to your preferred intake by submitting the deferral request form. 

Most offers can be deferred for up to 12 months.

If you have already enrolled in your course and now wish to defer, it is important that you withdraw from all subjects via SOLS before the census date, as well as submitting a deferral request. 

How do I create my username and password?

You will be prompted to create your username and password at the beginning of the enrolment process in the ‘User Account’ section.  

Please keep a record of your username and password as you will need this information to log in to SOLS and other UOW systems after completing your enrolment.

 

What is SOLS?

SOLS is the online system you will use to self-manage your studies at UOW. For more information on SOLS, visit the SOLS help page or watch this video.

My personal details in the system are incorrect

If your personal details appear to be incorrect, please contact the AskUOW Team for help with updating your information prior to proceeding with your enrolment. 

 

Do I have to provide an emergency contact? Who should they be?

It is essential that you provide UOW with someone to contact in the unlikely case of an emergency. 

Your emergency contact can be anyone you trust to respond to a personal situation such as a family member or close friend.

 

What is the difference between the ‘Current Session Address’ and ‘Permanent Home Address’?

When enrolling, you will be required to provide UOW with two addresses:

1. Current session address: an address for where you will be living during each academic session; and 
2. Permanent home address: an address for where we can contact you out of session, an example may be your home address.  

The two addresses may be the same. 

If your details change during your studies you must update them via SOLS.

 

I can’t see my visa details

Our enrolment system will not always display visa information. This information is recorded separately. 

If you are concerned that your visa information may be incorrect, please contact the AskUOW Team. 

 

My visa & citizenship is unconfirmed, how do I fix this? 

If you are an international student who has received your student visa and are now in Australia completing your enrolment, you may find that the enrolment portal states that your visa status is unconfirmed. 

This will not stop you from completing the enrolment process. This is a general message, please proceed to the next steps and complete your enrolment.  

What is the enrolment survey and why do I have to do it?

The enrolment survey is an Australian Government mandated questionnaire that informs institutional decision-making and reporting practices. 

It is important that you answer the questions is this survey honestly, as your responses will contribute to planning for support services at UOW.

 

What if I don’t know the answer to a question in the survey?

You will have to answer all of the questions marked as *Required. If you do not know the answer to the remaining questions, leave the answer blank and move on to the next question.

 

I am an international student who has not yet arrived in Australia, how do I answer the survey question “What year did you arrive in Australia?”

If you have not yet arrived in Australia and are enrolling online, enter the year that you plan on traveling to Australia and commencing your course.  

Do I have to upload a photo now?

It’s recommended that you upload a photo, but you can skip this step for now.

You can have your photo taken on campus during Orientation, or anytime by the AskUOW team in Building 17 (Wollongong campus).

For all other UOW campuses, visit your campus staff for assistance.

 

What are the requirements for the photo?

You can find a full list of requirements here.

 

Why is a photo required and how will it be used?

Your photo will be used for your Student ID to confirm your identity. 

 

My photo won’t upload, what should I do?

Double-check the file format and ensure that the image is in JPEG or PNG format before attempting to upload the photo again.

If your photo still won’t upload, you can skip this step for now and have your photo taken on campus by the AskUOW team or campus staff.

 

I don’t like my photo, can I change it?

You can change your photo at any time before you finalise your enrolment on the system. However, once you have received your email summary, your photo will be finalised in the system.

What if there are no offers showing?

If there are no course offers shown in the online enrolment system, please contact the Future Students team for assistance. 

 

The course I want to enrol into is not showing?

If the course you were expecting to see is not shown in the online enrolment system, please contact the Future Students team for assistance. 

 

I have been given an offer through Early Admission, but I want to accept my University Admission Centre (UAC) main round offer

All eligible offers will be reflected in the online enrolment system. Select your preferred offer and follow the steps to enrol.

 

What if I receive another offer to a different course after I have already enrolled?

If you receive another offer that you would prefer to accept, you will need to withdraw from all subjects for the course you initially enrolled in. This must be done via SOLS prior to the session census date (failure to do so will result in liability for fees associated with this course). 

Following this, you will need to commence the enrolment process for your preferred course.

What is a unique student identifier (USI)?

A USI is a unique number issued to each student by the Australian Government. Once you create a USI, you have it for life. Your USI allows you to keep a record of all of the education/qualifications you have completed, regardless of institution.

You are required by the government to provide your USI to your educational institution.

For detailed information on how to apply for a USI and whether you need to provide one when you enrol, visit our USI page.

 

Can I complete my enrolment without providing a USI? What happens if I don’t provide it?

Domestic Students

If you are a domestic student, you will need to provide UOW with your USI prior to the census date of your first session of study.

If you are seeking Commonwealth support for the first time (CSP ,HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP or OS-HELP), you will need to record your USI on your electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (known as an eCAF) when you enrol. 

If you do not provide UOW with a USI by this date, your enrolment will be cancelled.

International Students

If you are an international student studying onshore in Australia, you are required to provide UOW with your USI as soon as possible in order to be eligible to obtain your degree.

Please note, international students who are studying outside Australia with an Australian education or training provider do not need a USI. This also applies to New Zealand citizens.

 

Can I defer my fees?

If you are eligible and wish to defer your fees to a HELP Loan, you will need to:

• Confirm your billing type by selecting ‘Apply’ under the ‘HELP Loan Option’ tab in course enrolment portal (this can be changed later in SOLS)
• Provide your Tax File Number (TFN); and
• Confirm your billing option for your course.

 

What is HECS/how does a HECS-HELP loan work? 

HECS-HELP is a loan scheme where eligible students can defer payment of their tuition fees (student contribution amount) through a loan from the Australian Government.

International students are not eligible to receive a HECS-HELP loan.

You will automatically begin repaying this loan when your income reaches a minimum threshold which is set by the government, however you will be able to make voluntary repayments once the debt has been indexed to your ATO account.

For more information on HECS-HELP loans, visit the ATO website.

 

What is SA HELP? 

SA‐HELP is a loan scheme where eligible students can defer the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) fee through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).

If you are an international student, you will not be eligible for an SA-HELP loan.

For more information on SA-HELP loans, visit the ATO website.

 

How do I get past the HELP Loan section if I want to pay upfront? 

If you are a domestic student and plan on paying your fees upfront, you will still need to click the ‘apply’ button in the Billing type section as all students are required to understand what a HECS-HELP loan means and entails. The final part of this section will allow you to choose ‘Full up-front payment’ as your preferred billing type. 

If you are an international student, you are not eligible for a HELP loan.

 

I’m paying upfront; do I have to read and understand all payment options?

Yes. You need to read and acknowledge all information on the SOLS ‘Help Loan Option’ tab and select the ‘full upfront payment’ as your billing option.

 

Can I change my payment option (eligible students only)?

You can change your payment (billing) option in your SOLS account as long as it is before the relevant session’s census dates. To do this, simply:

1. Log in to your SOLS account
2. Select the ‘Fees’ menu (left hand navigation panel)
3. Select ‘HELP Loan Option’ (drop-down option)
4. Click the 'Maintain' button (for your default billing type); and
5. Follow the prompts to change your billing option.

 

What if I don’t have a Tax File Number (TFN) – can I still enrol?

Yes, you can enrol in your course without a tax file number (TFN). A TFN is only required if you are an eligible student using the HECS-HELP billing option and can be provided later.

To continue your enrolment without a TFN;

1. Select 'upfront' as your default billing option; and
2. When you receive your TFN, change your billing option to HECS-HELP (through your SOLS account) before the session’s relevant census date. 

 

What information do I need to know about my tuition fees?

Please refer to the Domestic student fee help or International student fee help videos for further information on tuition fee requirements.

 

When are tuition fees due?

Tuition fees are always due on the relevant session census date.

Census date is the last date to:

• Pay all fees relevant to the session
• Withdraw from subjects (without incurring a fee)
• Change your Help loan billing option (if eligible)

 

Where can I find more information on billing options?

Please refer to the HELP loans and billing options webpage for an overview of all of the Help loans and billing options available.

How do I know which subjects to enrol in?

You can find a list of the subjects you are required to complete for your course in the relevant Course Handbook (year you commenced your degree). Subject information can be found under the 'Course Structure' heading of your specific degree.

For assistance with subject selection in your first year specifically, you can refer to the First year enrolment guides or Study Sequences for Sydney Business School, UOW students.

This information will outline the core subjects (compulsory subjects), whether you need to choose a major/minor (focus area of study), and whether you will have any elective subjects (subjects you can choose outside of the core subjects) throughout the duration of your degree.

How many subjects should I enrol in? 

When planning your studies and the number of subjects you would need to enrol into, the main consideration to determine is if you would like to be, or need to be, studying full-time, or if you can study a part-time load of subjects.

Your equivalent full-time student load (either full-time or part-time) is based on the number of your enrolled subjects at any given time. The number of subjects/credit points you need to study to be classified as full-time is also dependent on if you are studying standard sessions or if you are studying trimesters.

• Trimesters - For students in trimesters, a full-time load is usually 18 credit points (equivalent to 3 subjects*) per trimester.
• Semester Sessions - In standard sessions, such as Autumn and Spring, a full-time load is 24 credit points (4 subjects*) per session or 48 credit points (8 subjects*) annually.

International Students on a Student Visa

If you’re on a student visa, you must be enrolled full-time. This is 24 credit points (equivalent to 4 subjects*) each session, or 18 credit points (3 subjects*) per trimester. This ensures you complete your course by your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) end date.

Domestic Students

As a domestic student, you often have the flexibility to choose if you would like to study full-time or part-time without seeking approval, essentially being able to choose how many subjects you would like to enrol in.

There are however considerations you need to take into account when choosing how many subjects you would like to enrol in, such as:

• Are you studying a certain program that requires you to study full-time? (e.g., studying a Bachelor of Law, Bachelor of Nursing or Doctor of Medicine).
• Are you required to maintain a full-time study load to continue receiving certain benefits such as Centrelink or Scholarships?
• Will studying part-time impact your course progression and study sequence? For example, the ability to meet pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements, or the ability to complete your degree within the maximum timeframe.

*Based on 6 credit point subjects

Can I enrol part-time for my short course or reduce my study load?

If you are eligible, yes. If you wish to enrol part-time or reduce your study load, please contact askuow@uow.edu.au for further advice.

Do I have to enrol in future sessions now? 

You are only required to enrol for the current session; however, we do encourage you to enrol into future sessions through SOLS once you know which subjects you plan on enrolling in.

Students commencing in Autumn/Trimester 1 or 2 

You do not need to enrol in all your subjects for the year now, however it is advised where possible.

If you are unsure which subjects, major, minor, or specialisation you should choose, it is best to enrol in first session subjects only and speak with the AskUOW team prior to the commencement of your second session to get advice on subject enrolment. 

Students commencing in Spring/Trimester 3 

If you are commencing your studies in the Spring semester/trimester 3, you will only be able to enrol into subjects for your first session.

What are default subjects and why do I have them?

Some courses have ‘core’ subjects that must be completed. The course enrolment portal may pre-populate default subjects that apply to your course. All you have to do for these subjects is click the ‘Add’ button.

Please note, the portal will only pre-populate core subjects and as such you may be required to enrol into additional subjects to meet your study load requirements.

What is major maintenance?

While your degree will reflect a specific qualification, for example, Bachelor of Arts, some courses require students to complete a major, minor, or specialisation that focuses on a distinct area of study. In some courses, students may be eligible to select to complete a second major, minor, or specialisation.

For more information, please visit the Majors and Minors webpage.

How do I select a major/minor?

Declaring a major, minor, or specialisation refers to the formal process of selecting the area of study you intend to specialise in within your degree. You are encouraged to declare your major/s via SOLS by the end of your first year of study, however this can be changed at any time in throughout your degree.

Where can I find options for elective subjects? 

Elective subjects can be chosen from the General Schedule (the results can be narrowed down by adding additional filters from the side, e.g. Session, Study Area, Subject Level).

If you have core subjects, these will typically need to be completed before any elective subjects.

I’m having problems entering my subject code?

Please ensure the subject code you are trying to enter is correct, for example, some subject codes are seven (7) digits with no space between the letters and numbers, e.g. ACCY111.

However, some subjects are six (6) digits with a space between the letters and number, e.g. LAW 111.

If you are entering the number correctly and you are still experiencing issues, this could mean:   

1. The last date to add a subject has passed (refer to key dates)
2. The subject quota is 'Full' (the subject is not taking any more students for the current session)
3. There is a course constraint
4. You have enrolled in the maximum number of subjects permitted for the current session.

What is a ‘Course Constraint’?

This means you are trying to add a subject that does not relate to your degree or is only available at another campus. In these instances, you will need approval by completing the Subject Management Form.

Please check you are entering the correct subject code.

Remember to check the first year guides (if you are a new student), or the Course Handbook for returning students. 

I have credit for prior (CPL) learning – what subjects should I enrol in?

If you have been awarded credit for prior learning (CPL), and are unsure what subjects you should be enrolling into, please contact askuow@uow.edu.au. 

I only enrolled in one subject, where can I add the rest?

If you have completed the online enrolment portal and only enrolled into one subject, you can update your subject enrolment through your SOLS account. To do this:

1. Log in to SOLS
2. Select ‘Enrolment’ (from the left-hand navigation menu)
3. Select 'Enrolments / Variations' (from the drop-down menu)
4. Enter the additional subject code/s and add the subject/s for the relevant session

Enrolment in equivalent subject - action required

An equivalent subject is one that has substantially overlapping content with another subject. The learning outcomes of these subjects have been deemed as equal to one another. Please know that if you complete a subject that is flagged as equivalent the credit point value will not count toward your degree.

There are a few reasons a subject many be flagged as equivalent on your record:

1. You have completed the same subject under a previous enrolment
2. You have completed an equivalent subject under a previous enrolment, which has a different subject code
3. You have been awarded credit for prior learning for the subject into which you are enrolled

If you enrolled into an equivalent subject by mistake you should withdraw from that subject before Census date to avoid being charged fees for the subject.

If you have questions about why you have an equivalent subject on your record, please contact askuow@uow.edu.au for advice.

How do I set up my timetable?

You will be able to complete your timetable and enrol into the classes for your subjects once tutorial enrolments open.

Tutorial enrolments typically open two (2)- five (5) weeks prior to the session commencing. Detailed advice on planning your timetable and enrolling in tutorials can be found on the tutorial enrolment website. 
 
Please note, you will first need to complete the enrolment portal and access SOLS, before you can access tutorial enrolment. 

Why do some tabs in the navigation panel display a tick (√)?

Each time you complete a section of the enrolment portal, the system will display a 'tick' on the navigation panel (top of screen). This indicates you have successfully completed this step.

If you have not completed the step in full and further action is required, the system will display a warning sign '!', with the exception of the upload photo section.

You will need to ensure each section of the navigation panel has a tick or the portal will not allow you to continue.   

Why do I need to enter recovery information?

Recovery information enables you to reset your password (or other personal information) during the enrolment process and is where your enrolment summary will be sent. Make sure you enter an email address that you check on a regular basis.

Please note, your recovery email address should NOT be an agent or high school email address. An appropriate example is an @gmail or @hotmail email account for example.

What if I don’t complete all sections of the enrolment portal?

You are not enrolled until all sections of the course enrolment portal have been successfully completed. The summary page is the final screen of the enrolment process.

How will I know that I have completed my enrolment? 

When you reach the final enrolment summary tab you will be prompted to email the enrolment summary to the email address you nominated as your recovery email.

Receiving this email signals your online enrolment has been successfully complete.

If I complete my enrolment in the portal, can I log back in?

You will not be able to log back into the enrolment portal after you have received your enrolment summary via email. However, you can change any of the information (including subjects and billing type) through your SOLS account (with your UOW username and password created when you first logged in). 

Please note: SOLS activation occurs approximately one hour after completing the enrolment process.

I’m receiving an error message. What does this mean? 

If you receive an error message while completing your course enrolment and are unsure what you need to do, contact the Future Students team for assistance.

Orientation

Orientation is a chance for you to discover everything the University of Wollongong has to offer, make new friends, and immerse yourself as a student. The date and time of your Orientation Day will depend on your course and campus.

Visit the Orientation website for more information.

Preparing for your first class

Visit our How Uni Works website for useful information, tips, and videos to you prepare for your first session at UOW.

Timetable and tutorials 

The next step is for you to enrol in your classes and create your timetable. Please note, tutorial enrolments open at various times. Please refer to the following resources for dates and tutorial information.

• Tutorial enrolment
• Timetables and classes
• Timetable FAQs
• How to enrol in tutorials video

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

UOW uses multi-factor authentication (MFA) or Two-Factor Authentication for several UOW systems and applications. After you’ve enrolled, you’ll need to set up MFA before you can use the majority of UOW’s systems and applications.

Information on how to set up MFA on your laptop, tablet, or smart phone is available on the UOW User Account webpage.

Accessing AskUOW

Once you have received your UOW login, you will be able to access more information and FAQs on everything UOW in AskUOW. Login using your student username (i.e. the name that appears before @uowmail.edu.au) and your UOW password.