Exit and Interim Award Procedure

Intent

This procedure supports the Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy by outlining the requirements to process a request for students taking an award that is different from their admitted award.

Scope

The procedure applies to all students undertaking award coursework courses and programs at James Cook University (JCU) in Australia and Singapore.

Definitions

Except where otherwise indicated in this procedure, the definitions used in this procedure are found in the Policy Glossary.

Exit Award: an award conferred when a student withdraws from either an undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree and has completed a predetermined number of credit points and appropriate subjects as stated in the Course and Subject Handbook to qualify for the nominated Exit Award.

Interim Award: an award conferred to a student on completing a course component while remaining admitted in the original course. Interim Awards are listed under Award Details in the Course and Subject Handbook under the relevant course.

Procedure

1. Provisions Relating to Exit and Interim Awards

1.1 Exit and Interim Awards are only available for coursework courses.

1.2 The Exit or Interim Award must be a recognised award within the Course and Subject Handbook.

1.3 Except for the Diploma of Tertiary Studies, Exit Awards are conferred only when the student withdraws from the course.

1.4 The Diploma of Tertiary Studies is only conferred when the student exits the University.

1.5 Interim Awards are conferred whilst the student remains admitted to their course.

2. Diploma of Tertiary Studies

2.1 Students who have successfully completed a minimum of 24 credit points across all Bachelor level studies undertaken at James Cook University and exit the University without taking an undergraduate award, will be eligible for a Diploma of Tertiary Studies as an Exit Award, where no other Exit Award option exists. At least 3 credit points of study must have been successfully completed in the 10 years prior to the awarding of the Diploma of Tertiary Studies.

3. Application and Assessment for Exit and Interim Awards

3.1 Students studying courses in Appendix I do not need to apply for an Interim Award. Interim Awards for Appendix I courses will be assessed automatically by the Examinations Team.

3.2 Unless Clause 3.1 applies, a student can apply for an Exit Award  or an Interim Award by sending an email request to enrolments@jcu.edu.au. The request will be received by the Academic and Administration Enrolment team and will be assessed to check for adherence to the Course and Subject Handbook requirements

3.3 Approval for the conferring of an Exit Award or an Interim Award will be sought from the relevant Director of Academic Quality and Strategy if:

3.3.1. The requested Exit Award or Interim Award is not a recognised Exit Award or Interim Award for the student’s admitted course, as stated in the Course and Subject Handbook or;

3.3.2. The requested award does not meet the Exit Award or Interim Award course requirements as stated in the Course and Subject Handbook.

3.4 If the Exit Award or Interim Award requested is an approved Exit Award or Interim Award within the Course and Subject Handbook for the student’s admitted course and the student has met the award requirements of the Exit Award or Interim Award, the Student Services team will process this in the Student Management System.

3.5 The student will be notified of the approval of the award via their JCU student email address.

3.6 The Examinations Office will contact the student to advise graduation processes and preferences for issuance of the graduation documentation under the Coursework Award Finalisation, Conferral and Issuance Procedure.

3.7 Students not approved to receive an Exit Award or an Interim Award have the right to lodge an appeal in accordance with the Student Review and Appeal Policy and Student Review and Appeal Procedure (General)

4. Subsequent study after an Exit Award or Interim Award has been conferred

4.1 A student who is conferred an Exit Award or Interim Award will be subject to the credit eligibility as stated in the Course and Subject Handbook for any subsequent course.

4.2 If a student wishes to retain 100% credit for their previous James Cook University studies but is contravening the maximum allowable credit in accordance with Course and Subject Handbook rules on the subsequent course, JCU will revoke the Exit Award.

Related policy instruments

Award Finalisation and Graduation Policy

Awards Titling Procedure

Coursework Award Finalisation, Conferral and Issuance Procedure

Posthumous Award Procedure

University Seal Procedure

Academic Dress Policy

Student Code of Conduct

Student Review and Appeals Policy

Schedules/Appendices

Appendix 1 – Degrees with Automated Interim Awards

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this policy are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History