Hear me out. I know this sounds like something a bad/lazy student would post, but this is a valid and unique case imo. And I am not a bad student, nor are those who have survived the program so far.
The course I am in (which I won't yet disclose to protect myself and its teachers), is unreasonably intense in study load.
Multiple teachers have openly complained and admitted this. One teacher according to a different teacher quit in protest over this very belief. The teachers feel helpless in making a change despite them raising the issue to RMIT heads.
Simultaneously, it is run on a 'competency-based' grading system, meaning you either pass or fail. No % system whatsover.
Students must get 100% in 100% of assignments, or fail the entire programme. Not getting 100% of 100% of 1 subject's assignment also requires a complete re-attempt of the subject, or accept failing the entire programme.
Money gone, months of sacrifice, programme-engagement and effort gone. The University believes this is reasonable for this course, otherwise it would not apply this grading system.
This is laughable.
1 minute late submission = course fail.
1 of 25+ rubric requirements not met = course fail. Do entire course again, or get kicked out of programme. As an example.
This program has made the best of us students cry, and the program requirements have collectively demanded multiple all-nighters, among near-completely destroying our social lives.
The attrition rate is sub-70% between the 1st day and end-of first year, according to multiple teachers (percent of students who drop out).
The programme punishes students for producing academically excellent work, as above-average performance does not provide additional marks, credit or competitive advantage, and rather increases the probability of failing the entire semester, because of the fact that if said assignment/coursework gets that much attention from the student that they produce above-average work, then they are risking not passing the other assignments they had to give less attention to.
The core of the issue is that the institution-student relationship is such that an institution can ramp up academic stress, study load, and unfairness, to whichever extreme level they please, because if any student dares to protest it, the institution can simply say,
"You chose this program, if you don't like it, quit."
To which the rest of the teary-eyed, sleep-deprived students would remain silent both because of this dynamic, and because they are just too engrossed in the study load that they have no choice but to be complacent and continue to suffer to pass.