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A guide to moving forward

Understanding your academic warning or exclusion

Receiving an academic warning or exclusion can feel overwhelming, but you have options and UJ has support services that can help you take the next step.

Support services available on all 4 campuses

What this guide is for

UJ has a network of support services designed to help students get back on track. This guide explains what an academic warning or exclusion means, what steps to take, and where to find help.

At UJ, an academic warning, often shown as E1 or E2, means your record shows unsatisfactory academic progress and that you are at risk of exclusion. The F7 or 7F code refers to a formal exclusion decision that comes with a specific right to appeal within your faculty's rules.

This guide is normally sent by your faculty via email or SMS together with your exclusion notification, and it is also available through official UJ communication channels.

Section 1
Academic Warning

Five concrete steps to take when you receive an E1 or E2 warning code.

Section 2
Formal Exclusion (F7)

What F7 or 7F means, the appeals process, academic regulations, and what happens if your appeal is unsuccessful.

Section 3
Quick Reference

Support service contacts in one place: email, phone, and campus support details.

You can turn this around Even at this stage, you still have options, but you must act quickly. Use the tabs above to navigate to the section most relevant to your situation.

What does your academic warning mean?

An academic warning, E1, E2, or unsatisfactory academic progress means your faculty has identified that you are at risk of academic exclusion. This is an early alert. It is not exclusion itself.

Act now The moment you see an E-code on your record or realise you are in trouble with your academic performance, reach out for help. Do not wait until the end of the semester.

Log in to uLink and check your academic record. Look for codes such as E1 or E2, and read your faculty notes carefully.

Read all SMS and email communications from UJ about your academic performance and any conditions attached to your continued studies.

Treat your academic performance as a year-long project: monitor your marks, ask questions early, and use available interventions.

The Academic Development Centre provides free academic support to all UJ students. You do not need to be failing to use their services.

  • Academic skills workshops and consultations, including time management, exam preparation, note-taking, and learning strategies.
  • Access to the Student Online Success module on UJ Moodle.
  • Tutor classes, mentoring programmes, consultation hours, and revision sessions.

As soon as you notice that you are not passing a module, test, or assignment, contact your lecturer, module coordinator, or Head of Department.

adc@uj.ac.za

The UJ Writing Centre helps students improve academic writing, including essays, reports, lab write-ups, and referencing. Book a consultation before each major assignment and bring your task brief, draft, and rubric.

APK
D Ring 3
011 559 2568
APB
K Block
011 559 1646
DFC
Room 6311, 6th Floor, John Orr Building
SWC
Adelaide Tambo Building
writingcentre@uj.ac.za

The Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development, PsyCaD, provides free and confidential support to all registered UJ students.

  • Individual counselling and therapy for stress, anxiety, trauma, and motivation.
  • Walk-in consultations for initial screening.
  • Career counselling and personality or ability assessments.
  • Concession assessments for support during exams and tests.
APB
Impala Court
011 559 1318
APK
C Ring 1
011 559 3106 / 2509
DFC
House 2, Louisa Street
011 559 6042
SWC
Adelaide Tambo Building, Academic Block B
011 559 5752
psychservices@uj.ac.za WhatsApp: 073 802 9604 24-hour crisis: 082 054 1137

The Centre for Academic Technologies offers training and support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Moodle, uLink, UJ WiFi, and MiEbooks.

Office hours: Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 16:00.

+27 11 559 3580 uhelp@uj.ac.za

If you receive a formal exclusion (F7/7F)

F7 means you have not passed the minimum number of modules required by your faculty to progress and you have been excluded from your programme. The only way to remedy this is to submit an appeal.

Submit before the deadline Each UJ faculty has its own appeals process and deadline. Late submissions are not accepted. Check your faculty website and uLink notifications urgently.

Your appeal may require your full academic record, supporting documents such as medical certificates or affidavits, and a written motivation explaining what affected your performance and your plan to succeed if readmitted.

Know your Academic Regulations

AR 6.6
Module failure limit: A student who has failed the same module twice may not continue studying that module without special permission from the Executive Dean. A second failure is grounds for exclusion that cannot ordinarily be overturned.
AR 6.3
Seven-year credit validity: Credits for modules you have passed are only valid for seven years from the date of completion. After seven years, those credits may no longer count toward your qualification.
AR 6.7/6.8
Promotion requirements: You must pass at least 60% of your required modules to be promoted to the next year. Students who have not been promoted for any two years of study will be academically excluded.
AR 7.3.3
Decision is final: The decision of the Faculty Appeals Committee is final. You have one opportunity to appeal. There is no further re-appeal process.

Get help immediately

The Student Representative Council can support and represent you in academic exclusion appeal processes. Contact the SRC as soon as you receive notice of a possible F7 appeal, not after the panel has already met.

As soon as you receive an exclusion notice, contact your faculty administration office to confirm the appeals process and deadline for your faculty.

Faculty offices: uj.ac.za/faculties

Understand the impact on financial aid

NSFAS requires you to pass a minimum percentage of your modules each year to remain eligible. An academic exclusion may result in suspension of your bursary. Address financial concerns as soon as possible.

011 559 3575 / 4275 / 3906 / 4273 studentaccounts@uj.ac.za

If your appeal is unsuccessful

The Faculty Appeals Committee has confirmed your exclusion. This particular programme path has ended, but opportunities for future study and success have not ended. Use the checklist below to plan your next steps.

Read the outcome letter carefully
Keep a copy, note the main reasons, and remember that AR 7.3.3 means there is no further re-appeal process within the faculty.
Ask your faculty for clarification
Contact the faculty office respectfully and ask them to explain the main reasons so you can make informed decisions.
Meet with an academic advisor or lecturer
Reflect honestly on what went wrong and get realistic advice on what would need to change for you to succeed in future.
Explore alternative study options
Ask whether you are eligible for a different qualification at UJ, another faculty, another institution, or recognition of prior learning.
Consider a planned reset period
Use time away from formal study intentionally: work, volunteer, take short courses, seek counselling, and prepare to return stronger.
Look after your mental health
Speak to a counsellor, trusted family member, mentor, faith leader, or friend. Do not carry this alone.
Check the impact on funding
Contact NSFAS or your bursary office, ask how exclusion affects current and future funding, and get everything in writing.
Create a written next-step plan
Cover the next 3 to 12 months, list your options, and set specific actions with rough timelines.

Your next steps

1
Read the outcome letter carefully.
Keep a copy and note all reasons given.
2
Ask for clarification if needed.
Contact your faculty respectfully and request a clear explanation.
3
Meet with an academic advisor or lecturer.
Reflect honestly and get realistic advice.
4
Explore other options.
Consider another UJ programme, another institution, or recognition of prior learning.
5
Create a written plan.
Include study, work, counselling, funding, and application actions.

Talking with your family or support network

You might say: "My appeal was not successful, so I cannot continue in this programme right now, but I am already exploring other options and planning my next step."

An upheld F7 means this particular path has ended permanently. It does not mean that opportunities for further study and future success have come to an end.

PsyCaD 24-Hour Crisis Line

082 054 1137

Telephonic psychological crisis counselling, available anytime.

Higher Health Help Line: 0800 36 36 36. Free call. SMS 43336.

Student Portal
uLink
ulink.uj.ac.za
Academic Support
Academic Development Centre (ADC)
adc@uj.ac.za
Writing Support
UJ Writing Centre
writingcentre@uj.ac.za
APK: 011 559 2568
APB: 011 559 1646
Psychological Services
PsyCaD
psychservices@uj.ac.za
APK: 011 559 3106 / 2509
WhatsApp: 073 802 9604
Disability Support
Disability Unit
disabilityunit@uj.ac.za
011 559 3745
Career Services
Career Services (PsyCaD)
psycadassessments@uj.ac.za
011 559 3333
Financial Aid
UJ Financial Aid Office
mylife@uj.ac.za
011 559 4555
Student Accounts / NSFAS
Student Accounts
studentaccounts@uj.ac.za
011 559 3575 / 4275 / 3906 / 4273
Technology Help
Centre for Academic Technologies
uhelp@uj.ac.za
+27 11 559 3580
Faculty Offices
All Faculties
uj.ac.za/faculties
Library
UJ Library
uj.ac.za/library
Important disclaimer: Academic processes, deadlines, and forms may change from year to year. Always check your uLink account, faculty announcements, and official UJ communications for the most current information. This guide is a general reference and does not replace official faculty instructions.