University Requirements for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coursework Awards

Intent

To outline the various conditions for granting an Undergraduate and Postgraduate Coursework Award

Scope

The policy applies to undergraduate and postgraduate coursework candidates.

Policy and Procedures

1. Granting of an Award of the University

Candidates who have fulfilled the conditions of the Requirements for the Award in which they are enrolled and have complied with all Statutes and other Requirements applicable to them may be granted the Award.

2. Subject Enrolment

In each year of enrolment, each student is required to nominate a selection of subjects. The Head of the appropriate Faculty may reject a student’s enrolment and/or selection of subjects where the selection of subjects does not conform to the requirements of the award or where enrolment in a particular subject is restricted. At the direction of the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor some students will be required to attend an enrolment advisory session. However, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the selection of subjects conforms to the requirements of the award in which the student is enrolled; and acceptance by the University of a student’s enrolment and selection of subjects must not be taken as confirmation that the selection of subjects conforms to the requirements of the award in which the student is enrolled.

3. Maximum Enrolment

The maximum enrolment for any candidate will normally be restricted to 15 credit points per teaching period without the special approval of the Head of the appropriate faculty. The normal enrolment for a full-time candidate is 24 credit points in an academic year.

4. Cross-institutional Enrolment

Cross-institutional study may be available to JCU students who wish to undertake a relevant subject at another institution because that subject is not offered by JCU, or because students cannot attend JCU due to extenuating circumstances.

Approval is not granted routinely and is usually restricted to substantial grounds such as justifiable academic reasons, relocation for work commitments or compassionate reasons preventing a student from attending a class at JCU.

Other than in exceptional circumstances, students must have completed at least one year (24 credit points) of the award at JCU to be eligible for cross-institutional study.

Where a course is subject to accreditation by an external body, cross-institutional study will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

If a student has been granted advanced standing for studies completed at another institution, the quantum of advanced standing and cross-institutional enrolment shall not exceed the maximum advanced standing allowable for that particular award.

Any provisions or restrictions regarding cross-institutional study detailed in individual award rules shall take precedence. Some courses require at least 18 credit points of a student’s final year of study to be completed at JCU.

International students may be permitted to undertake cross-institutional study with another registered Australian education provider, subject to all specific visa and / or scholarship conditions.

5. Normal Period of Candidature

A three year undergraduate degree requires 72 credit points and is normally completed in three years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent; a four year degree requires 96 credit points and is normally completed in four years of full-time study or the part-time equivalent.

Candidates’ attention is drawn to the Academic Progression Policy which requires that candidates progress with their studies in accordance with the conditions set down by that Policy.

Candidates are not permitted to undertake more than the minimum number of credit points required to complete their degree without the approval of the Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor.

6. Enrolment Status

A full-time candidate for any particular year is one who in that year enrols for subjects to the value of at least 18 credit points.

A part-time candidate for any particular year is one who in that year enrols for subjects to the value of less than 18 credit points.

7. Suspension or Termination of Enrolment

Where a student’s enrolment is suspended or terminated, their attendance at the University, participation in on-line tuition or participation in a professional or clinical placement will cease, with effect from the date of suspension or termination.

8. Completion of a Subject

To complete a subject a candidate shall, in the one academic year, fulfil the requirements of the appropriate School as approved by the appropriate faculty for that subject in regard to attendance at lectures and classes, presentation of oral, written, practical and field work and satisfactory performance in examinations or in other forms of assessment. These conditions will be specified in each subject outline issued at the commencement of the subject.

9. Prerequisite Subjects

Except with faculty permission, granted on advice from the Head of the appropriate School, a candidate may not enrol for any subject until a passing grade has been obtained for any prerequisite subject or subjects or other conditions have been met as detailed in the Master Schedule of subjects.

10. Inadmissible Subjects

Where two subjects are listed in the Master Schedule of subjects as an inadmissible subject combination, credit may be gained for only one of the subjects.

11.1 Professional Experience

Where a course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements, students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled at their own expense.

11.2 Students may be required to be interviewed, in accordance with the relevant procedures, to assess their suitability to undertake, or to continue in, a professional or clinical placement.

11.3 Where a course includes a prescribed professional or clinical placement(s) and where that placement(s) may involve contact with young people, a student’s initial enrolment and continuing enrolment in that course will be conditional upon the following:

• 11.3.1 eligibility of the student for a Suitability to Work with Children Card at the time of the first enrolment;

• 11.3.2 maintenance of that eligibility throughout the whole of the course;

• 11.3.3 actual application for or acquisition of a Suitability to Work with Children Card prior to commencement of placement.

In the event that a student becomes ineligible for a Suitability to Work with Children Card, at any time between the date of first enrolment and the date of completion of the course, the student will not be able to complete the degree.

12. Withdrawal from Subjects by Candidates

A candidate who withdraws from a subject after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty shall be deemed to have failed in the subject unless the faculty is satisfied that there are special reasons for waiving this provision.

13. Grades Awarded

A candidate’s performance in a subject shall be graded within the range of grades specified in the policy Standard System for Reporting Grades.

Schools will inform students of the criteria for each grade in each subject.

14.1 Honours

The degree with honours may be taken with honours in a single discipline or with combined honours in two disciplines.

14.2 The examination for the degree with honours shall be as designated by the Head of the appropriate School and shall be by:

• 14.2.1 passing or by being granted credit for passes in such assignments, exercises and written papers as may be prescribed; and

• 14.2.2 completing such other requirements, as may be approved and prescribed by the appropriate School responsible for examining the various subjects in which the candidate is enrolled; and

• 14.2.3 the presentation of a thesis, in manner and at a standard satisfactory to the appropriate Head of School.

14.3 The Bachelor Degree with Honours may be awarded in the following classes:

• Class I The award of Class I Honours is acknowledged on the Testamur which is conferred at a Graduation Ceremony or Council meeting.

• Class II Division A

• Class II Division B

• Class III Class III Honours is not awarded in Engineering and Law..

15. Advanced Standing for Previous Studies

The Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, or relevant Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor, or delegate, may give a candidate advanced standing towards an award of this University for subjects completed at this or another University within the limits indicated in the Advanced Standing for Previous Studies and Recognised Prior Learning policy.

Approval Details

Policy sponsor:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Approval authority:	Academic Board
Version no:	11-2
Date for next review:	18/04/2016

Modification History

Version no.	Approval date	Implementation date	Details
11-2	14/07/2011	15/07/2011	Change of approval authority only from Council to Academic Board
11-1	08/06/2011	09/06/2011	Endorsed by Academic Board on 18/04/2011 and approved on an interim basis (ie until the document can be presented to Council) by the Vice-Chancellor
07-1	16/08/2007	17/08/2007	Published in Policy Library and Student Handbook

Stella Coppola of 779staff last updated this page on 18 Feb 2013.