Please note: For technical reasons the unit /subject descriptions in this Handbook are no longer available. Please consult the hard-copy version of the 2002 Handbook available either at Student Administration or in the University Library.
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A credit point is an indicator of the amount of work required in a subject and represents a workload of about four hours per week throughout the semester for an average student. This means that a three credit point subject, for example, carries with it the expectation that twelve hours of work per week will be done by an average student in the subject throughout the semester. These twelve hours include both class contact hours and time spent on study associated with the subject. A full-time student will normally undertake a 12 credit point workload each semester. However, under the New Academic Program continuing students may find their standard workload will vary from this.
Students are advised that their enrolment in any subject may be refused or declared invalid by the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Division offering the course in which the student is enrolled if the student is concurrently enrolled in subjects totalling more than 16 credit points in any one semester. A student may seek approval from the Pro-Vice Chancellor to undertake a greater load.
The relationship between the number of credit points and the workload refers to the average student. Students' work habits and capabilities vary widely, and there will inevitably be many students who choose to do more or less than the average. The provision of such a means for gauging workloads is helpful to all students, but particularly to part-time students, to avoid them being faced with excessive workloads in the later years of their courses. The use of a credit point system aims to make it easier for students to plan a workload within their ability.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Enquiries may be directed to
Academic Division Offices or by referring to the Specific RPL Provisions for
Particular Courses and Subjects available from Student Administration Enquiries
Desk.
Credit (previous studies completed at another
institution)
The granting of credit in a subject is based on previously
completed studies which are judged to be substantially similar in standard and
content to the subject in which credit is being sought. Credit is equivalent to
the achievement of a satisfactory pass result in the subject offered by the
University.
A student applying for credit must submit a completed Application for Credit form to the Student Administration Enquiries Desk, together with all pertinent documentary evidence, as early as possible and not later than the fourth week of their initial semester for credit to be awarded in that semester. Advice should be obtained from the student's course adviser at the time of enrolment, particularly if the granting of credit will affect a current semester's study program, as the matter needs to be decided prior to the HECS census dates. Students should not register in the subjects for which they are seeking credit.
A maximum limit on the number of credit subjects to be included in a course is determined by the total number of subjects in the course. Students wishing confirmation that credit subjects can count towards their course should seek an approved study program from their course convener.
Confirmation of the granting of credit will be mailed to the student by Student Administration.
Credit based on completed studies at the Canberra Institute of Technology is subject to specific agreements between the University and the Institute. See 'Register of Course Articulation' in The University section of this Handbook for further information on the level of credit that will be awarded. Students seeking credit based on these agreements should still apply for credit in the manner described above.
Internal
Credit (previous University of Canberra Studies)
Subjects from a complete
or an incomplete University of Canberra course are available for credit to
another course. Students seeking confirmation that subjects will count in their
new course should seek an approved study program from their course convener.
Also, students applying for credit must submit to the Student Administration
Enquiries Desk a completed Application for internal Credit form.
If you have successfully completed studies in a previous course and the study is similar in content to one or more required subjects in your current course, you may seek an exemption. You should consult with your course convener to seek approval for exemption together with approval for the substitute subjects you must undertake in lieu of the exempted subject/s.
The exemption and substitution of subjects is subsequently endorsed by the Divisional Academic Committee (formerly Faculty Board of Studies) meeting through a Variation of Course Requirements.
Assessment for each subject in a student's semester program is based on the student's performance in such written examinations, assignments, classwork, practical or other work as prescribed for the subject by the Division. The method of assessment for each subject offered by the University is available from the Division concerned at the commencement of semester.
Students should familiarise themselves with the methods of assessment prescribed for each subject they undertake.
If students fail to make satisfactory academic progress in their course, they may be sent a “Division Warning” or may be asked to “Show Cause” as to why they should not be excluded from their course. The criteria on which a Divisional Academic Committee (formerly Faculty Board) will decide whether or not a student’s academic progress is satisfactory are available from the relevant Division Office.
If a student is hampered by illness or other serious cause during semester, and the formal assessment of their work is adversely affected, they must notify their lecturer(s) and the Director, Student Administration as soon as possible. Written notification with supporting evidence, such as a medical certificate, must be received before the scheduled time of the final assessment for the subject. These procedures should be followed if the student wishes to have illness or other cause taken into account in the assessment of their work.
In the event of an illness during an examination session, the student must notify the supervisor-in-charge at the time and submit a supporting medical certificate to the lecturer in charge of the subject at the earliest possible opportunity. Generally, if a student sits for the examination, no consideration will be given for illness when the examination is marked.
The Examination Timetable for subjects having final examinations that are centrally coordinated is posted on the notice board in Building 2 (B floor) and is displayed in Student Administration in Building 1. The Timetable can also be found using the Online Student Information System (OSIS) and on the University’s Examination web page at http://www.canberra.edu.au/stuadmin/exam.html
The Preliminary Examination Timetable is published during Week 9 of each semester. This Timetable is subject to change. The Final Examination Timetable is published during Week 12 of each semester.
Students with disabilities may be eligible to sit their examinations in other locations. Students requesting permission to sit examinations in alternative locations should contact the Disability Liaison Officer in order to complete the necessary documentation after Week 9 of each semester (when the preliminary timetable is released).
Examination script books are the property of the University, and are retained for at least one year after examinations are held. The lecturer in charge of a subject is responsible for providing reasonable access for students to their own script books only.
The grading system used for both undergraduate and graduate subjects at the University is as follows:
HD High Distinction
DI Distinction
CR Credit
P Pass
UP Ungraded Pass (pass grade for subjects assessed on a Pass/Fail basis only)
PX Conceded pass (does not meet prerequisite requirements)
NW Fail result based on written notification of withdrawal from subject after due date
NX Fail result based on failure to reach pass grade in a subject having completed all the subject assessment requirements
NC Fail result based on failure to complete one or more of the assessment requirements for the subject
NS Fail result based on failure to sit for a final examination (NS is an optional subcategory of NC)
NN Fail result based on non-participation in a subject
WD Withdrawal approved by Division for good cause
NAS Non-Assessment
WH Withheld result
CNT Subject continuing over more than one academic year
*** Inapplicable or unavailable
The grade PX may be used for some subjects approved by Academic Board to indicate that, although the student has passed the subject, no enrolment in higher level subjects in that discipline will be permitted unless the student repeats the subject and a grade of Pass or better is achieved.
Results will also be available via OSIS (On-Line Student Information System).
A student whose progress in a course of study or subject is unsatisfactory may be subject to action taken under the Academic Progress Rules. A recommendation for such action is made by the appropriate Divisional Academic Committee (formerly Faculty Board). The Divisional Academic Committee (formerly Faculty Board) may direct that letters be sent to students asking them to show cause why they should not be directed to discontinue the course of study or a particular subject.
Students who fail to give sufficient reason for their poor performance, or fail to respond to the show cause letter, may be excluded from the course or subject, either with immediate effect or if certain specified conditions are not met.
A student who is excluded from a course is excluded for the period which is indicated on the notice of exclusion. To resume studies the student must submit an Application for Admission form and should include information that they have an improved likelihood of success should they be admitted. Any application for readmission after the period of exclusion has expired will be considered on its merits along with other applications for admission to that course. An applicant who has been excluded from an Australian tertiary institution in the two years prior to the application may not use the results from a Special Tertiary Admissions Test as the basis for readmission. For further information on applying for admission see the chapter titled Admission in this section of the Handbook.
A student who is excluded from a subject will be advised of the period of exclusion in the notice of exclusion.
Students who are dissatisfied with a Fail or PX grade may seek a review of their result.
The Procedure for Review of Subject Results is available from Division offices and from OSIS. The first step is to consult the lecturer-in-charge of the subject on the Monday following the official publication of results. If the Monday is the first day of the semester, the lecturer-in-charge of the subject may be consulted on the Tuesday.
If the issue is not resolved by discussion with the lecturer, the student may request mediation and if necessary, a formal hearing. Strict timelines apply as set out in the Procedure.
Students should be aware that failure to meet a financial obligation to the University may result in the issue of a Certificate under the Obligations Statute.
The issue of such a Certificate means that the University may refuse enrolment or re-enrolment and withhold students' awards or statements that they have completed the academic requirements of the whole or part of their course.
Students must complete the academic requirements for their course within a certain maximum period in order to be awarded the degree, diploma or certificate to which their course leads. The maximum period for the completion of a course leading to a bachelor degree is normally ten years. The maximum period for completion of a course leading to a postgraduate award varies. The period is calculated retrospectively in time from the date the student successfully completed every matter so specified in his/her study program.
Any student who wishes to obtain information about the maximum period allowable to complete a course should write to the Director, Student Administration.
The normal duration for a doctoral degree by research is three years' full-time study or equivalent. The normal duration for a masters degree by research is two years' full-time study or equivalent.
The University has determined maximum periods of enrolment in doctoral and masters by research programs, as follows:
PhD and Professional Doctorate by research programs
Masters by research programs
Students may, at any time, request in writing a certified transcript of their academic record. A charge will be made for the preparation of these statements. The current scale of charges can be obtained from the Student Administration Enquiries Desk.
Students who have completed the academic requirements of their course will automatically receive one free transcript when the course completion is certified, subject to any restrictions under the Obligations Statute or other University legislation.
Students expecting to complete the academic requirements of their course at the end of a particular semester should notify Student Administration before Week 5 of that semester. Once course completion has been certified, a student ceases to be enrolled unless they have been admitted to a further course of study. See the chapter on Admission in this section of the Handbook.
Students completing a course leading to a graduate award will need to have provided appropriate evidence of their graduate status prior to completion of the course. Students cannot be admitted to a graduate award without evidence of graduate status.
Students who have not had course completion certified at the Divisional Academic Committee (formerly Faculties Examiners Board) meetings in July and November, may not be able to have their award conferred at one of the ceremonies being held in July/August and December 2003.
The University ceremonies for the conferring of awards will be held in July/August and in December. Students who notify Student Administration by week 5 of their final semester, that they expect to complete the academic requirements for their course at the end of that semester, will be sent an invitation to the July/August or December graduation by week 14. The invitation will be mailed to a student's term address in anticipation of the course completion being certified at the Examiners’ Board meetings. Students who have their course completion certified at the Examiners’ Board meetings and whose award is duly approved by Council, will be included in the list of graduands for the July/August or December conferring of awards ceremonies. Exact dates will be published on UC Online.
Students who have their course completion certified at other Board meetings will be invited to attend the next appropriate graduation ceremony.
Academic dress for the University consists of a black cloth academic gown, black trencher and hood. The colour of the hood lining distinguishes the level of award.
Diploma (3-year)
Black hood with turquoise blue lining
Degree of Bachelor (3 and 3.5 - year)
Black hood with red lining
Degree of Bachelor (4-year)
Black hood with maroon lining
Degree of Bachelor (5 and 6-year)
Black hood with pale grey lining
Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate
Black hood with gold lining
Degree of Master
Royal blue hood with horizon liningThe dress for a degree of Doctor is a royal blue gown with gold facings, a black bonnet and hood.
Doctor of Philosophy
Royal blue hood with horizon lining
Graduates whose testamur has been lost or destroyed may request in writing a replacement certificate confirming that they are graduates of the University or its predecessor, the Canberra College of Advanced Education. A charge will be made for the preparation of this certificate.
Latest update: 18/03/03