Current Students Enrolment Enrolment Terminology

Enrolment Terminology

It can be overwhelming when you face new terminology at university. This page explains a number of key enrolment terms.

For other terminology you can also view:

Finance terminology (covers HECS-HELP and government terms)

Full glossary of terms in student policies

Assumed knowledge indicates a good understanding of knowledge you require for a particular subject.

You can still enrol in a subject that requires assumed knowledge, even when you don't have the recommended level of knowledge. However, you will be considerably disadvantaged.

We strongly advise undertaking additional study or other appropriate preparation if you don't have assumed knowledge.

Subjects can be delivered in different ways. For many subjects, the mode of delivery is through regular face-to-face teaching each week on campus. However, some subjects are delivered through online or intensive mode study. You will need to consider attendance mode when choosing your subjects.

Your enrolment is considered to be finalised on your subjects' Census Date, the last date by which you can enrol and/or withdraw from subjects, and the final deadline to pay or defer your subject fees.

If you do not finalise your enrolment by this date, you will be penalised financially.

If you do not withdraw from your subjects, prior to the academic penalty date, you will receive a fail grade.

Your course structure is made up of different components, which can be viewed in your study plan in eStudent.

Different components include your course, major, minor, subjects (planned, enrolled, exempt and passed), core subjects and optional/elective subjects. See Study Plan.

Credit points are a basic measure of study load. Most subjects are usually worth three credit points. A normal full-time study load for one year is 24 credit points (8 subjects per year). A part-time study load is generally less than 18 credit points of subjects for one academic year.

Please review the Handbook for your degree rules from the year you commenced your studies.

If you have undertaken previous studies or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible to apply for credit, towards your JCU degree.

Leave of absence or taking a break from study is the term used when you take time off from your course for a duration of time.

If you pay your fees upfront, you must pay all fees by the Payment Due Date, which is 10 days prior to the Census Date.

In many cases, you must have a certain level of knowledge in a specific area before you can undertake that subject. As a result, you may have to complete one or more pre-requisite subjects.

If you fail or withdraw from pre-requisite subjects, you will subsequently be withdrawn from the subject that requires the pre-requisite(s). If you have undertaken equivalent study or work experience elsewhere, you can apply for a 'requisite waiver' in eStudent.

Anti-requisites

If there is a significant overlap in content for two or more subjects, they may be defined as anti-requisites for each other. You will not be able to enrol in any subject that is an anti-requisite for one of your existing subjects.

Co-requisites

These are two or more subjects that must be undertaken in the same study period. You must enrol in co-requisite subjects at the same time – you cannot enrol in one without the other.

All subjects are assigned to a Study Period or Trimester.

JCU's Australian campuses' main Study Periods are 1 and 2, which are 13 weeks in duration, and Trimester 1, 2 and 3, which are 10 weeks in duration

Each Study Period and Trimester has a:

  • Start date
  • End date
  • Last date for addition or substitution of subjects without prior approval of the subject coordinator
  • Payment Due Date
  • Census Date
  • Lecture recess
  • Last date for withdrawal without academic penalty
  • Exam period
  • Results Publication date.

Your study load is determined by the amount of credit points you are studying.

A normal full-time load (full-time student) is 24 credit points (8 subjects) spread over an academic year. You are classed as a full-time student if you're enrolled in 18 or more credit points (6 subjects) in one academic year, or 9 or more credit points in a teaching period.

You are considered a part-time student if you are enrolled in less than 18 credit points in one academic year, or less than 9 credit points in a teaching period.

You are generally not permitted to undertake an overload in a teaching period/trimester.

Overload is NOT recommended in your first year of study.

Your study plan is a blueprint of what subjects you need to complete in order to meet degree requirements, including core, optional, elective, major and minor subjects.

Your study plan is listed in eStudent. Subjects will appear on your study plan as 'planned' until you enrol in and/or pass the subject.

Your study plan also lists approved credit for the previous study, if applicable.

Core subjects

These are compulsory subjects that you must pass in order to complete your degree.

Sometimes you may have to select a core subject from a specified list.

Optional or Elective subjects

These are chosen from a list. You need to choose and pass a certain number of subjects from this list to complete your course.

In your Study Plan these subjects are flagged by the word 'option'. These lists have a credit point value, which means you must keep selecting subjects from the list until you reach the required credit point limit.

If you withdraw from or fail these subjects, they will not appear on your study plan. You will need to reselect a subject from the list.

Majors

Some courses require you to choose a major, which allows you to study a specific area in-depth (e.g. Bachelor of Science majoring in Marine Biology). If your course requires a major, it will be listed on your study plan in eStudent.

Minors

Similar to a major, a minor is an area of study that you elect to pursue in some depth. It is, however, to a lesser number of credit points than a major. A minor does not print on your testamur.

When you choose a subject you also have to decide when, where and how you want to study the subject (e.g. Study Period 1, Townsville campus, internal study mode).

This information defines each offering of a subject. View the offerings for your subjects via Subject Search.

Some subjects have a maximum number of students that can be enrolled at one time, known as a 'subject quota'.

If you are unable to enrol in one of your chosen subjects because the quota has been reached, you should contact the Student Centre to discuss alternatives.

Choosing appropriate subjects can be a daunting process.

To assist you, refer to:

The academic year is divided into two teaching periods: Teaching Period 1 (first six months of the year) and Teaching Period 2 (second six months of the year). Each teaching period contains a number of different study periods and trimesters, including the main 13 week Study Period and intensive study periods.

The JCU Trimester model however will have shorter 10-week blocks of study, as opposed to the current Semester model of 13 weeks.

If you choose to change course, transfer to a different JCU campus or return to study after discontinuing your studies, this is often referred to as 'Variation to Study'.