Policy For Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) Students

The Monash Special Examination Conditions for NESB students policy provides for faculties to allow special examination conditions to be available to undergraduate students from Non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) and Non-standard English speaking backgrounds who are experiencing language difficulties in their first two semesters of tertiary study in the English language.

For the purposes of this policy NESB students are defined as those who:

• were born where English is not the first language; and
• have not been resident in Australia for longer than ten years; and
• speak a language other than English at home; and
• were educated in full English medium for no more than five years.

Special examination conditions may also be permitted for Australian Indigenous students whose English proficiency share similar characteristics.

Participating faculties are as follows:

You can apply for special examination conditions if you:

• are undertaking the first semester of tertiary study taught in the English language, or are undertaking the second semester and did not achieve a credit grade for a unit in the same (or an equivalent) discipline of study in your first semester; and
• have recognised a language difficulty and sought assistance with that difficulty by the end of week seven of the semester, by consulting learning support staff of the Learning Skills Unit (LSU) or faculty; and
• have submitted a formal application for special examination conditions in that unit by the end of week eleven of the semester; and
• have been assessed by a qualified professional, for example a staff member of LSU, who has verified that you are experiencing language difficulties and have taken measures to address those difficulties;
• have been approved for special examination conditions by the Chief Examiner of that unit in line with the relevant overall faculty policy.

Where the use of a dictionary has been granted, the Examinations Unit will provide an English dictionary at the examination venue.

You can apply for special examination conditions by completing an application form available from your faculty office. Submit this application to your faculty office before the end of week eleven of semester.  The application will be forwarded to an appropriate LSU officer as well as the Chief Examiner of your unit.  You will be notified of the outcome of your application for special exam conditions in writing.

You must bring your Notification to your exam and place it on your desk.  The supervisor in charge of the exam venue will note your special conditions and will attach the Notification to your examination script.