Exit and Interim Award Procedure

Intent

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

This Procedure addresses Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF) Standard 1.5.1.

Scope

This Procedure applies to all students undertaking award courses and programs at James Cook University (JCU; the University) in Australia and Singapore.

Definitions

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

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. Exit and Interim Awards

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

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

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

1.4 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 1 do not need to apply for an Interim Award. Interim Awards for Appendix 1 courses will be assessed automatically by the Examinations Team.

3.2 Unless Clause 3.1 applies, for coursework courses 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 For Higher Degrees by Research (HDR), a HDR candidate can apply for an exit award by sending an email request to grs@jcu.edu.au. The request will be received by the Graduate Research School and assessed for adherence to the Course and Subject Handbook requirements. This will be subject to approval by the Dean, Graduate Research and Researcher Development.

3.4 Approval for the conferring of an Exit Award or an Interim Award will be sought from the relevant College Dean if:

3.4.1 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;

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

3.5 The student will be notified of the approval of the award via their JCU student email address within 20 University working days. The notification will include information on the graduation process and issuance of documentation.

3.6 Students not approved to receive an Exit Award or an Interim Award will be advised via their JCU student email address and have the right to lodge a review and appeal in accordance with the Student Review and Appeals Policy and Academic and Statutory Decisions Review and Appeal Procedure.

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

4.1 A student who is conferred a coursework 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 percent credit for their previous James Cook University studies but is exceeding 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

Coursework Award Finalisation, Conferral and Issuance Procedure

Posthumous Award Procedure

University Seal Procedure

Student Code of Conduct

Student Review and Appeals Policy

Academic and Statutory Decisions Review and Appeal Procedure

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