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.

The attendance mode of a subject defines how the subject can be studied. Subjects can be offered in the following attendance modes:

  • online: subjects studied via external mode are offered via online delivery and require no on-campus attendance for learning activities. Online delivery is facilitated wholly through the virtual learning environment (e.g. LearnJCU) and may require participation in scheduled online sessions (e.g. blackboard collaborate tutorials).
  • on campus*: subjects studied via internal mode require regular face-to-face attendance at learning activities over most weeks of a study period and are usually held on campus.  Internal subjects may require embedded placement attendance.
  • multi-modal: subjects studied via mixed attendance mode requires a combination of scheduled physical attendance and scheduled virtual/online attendance for learning activities.
  • work integrated learning (WIL): subjects studied via placement/fieldwork mode require attendance at an internal or external site for most of the duration of the subject under the professional supervision of the unit or organisation for:
    • authentic or simulated learning,
    • practicum,
    • clinical placement,
    • project or internship
    • placement briefings or tutorials.

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 typically 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 Course and Subject 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 choose to pay your fees upfront, the full amount must be paid by the Payment Due Date, which is 10 days before 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

Co-requisite subjects are two or more subjects that must be taken within the same study period. You must enrol in them simultaneously, as you cannot take one without the other.

All subjects are assigned to a Teaching Period.

JCU's Australian campuses' main Teaching Period  are Semesters 1 and 2, which are 13 weeks in duration, Trimester 1, 2 and 3, which are 10 weeks in duration and Blocks 1-6 which are 6 weeks in duration.

Each Teaching Period 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 (Excluding Blocks)
  • 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. Semester 1, Townsville campus, On campus study mode).

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

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.

Subject Selection

Choosing appropriate subjects can be a daunting process.

To assist you, refer to:

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 (the first six months of the year) and Teaching Period 2 (the second six months). Each teaching period includes a variety of study formats, including Study Periods, Trimesters, and Block mode.

  • Semesters 1 and 2 – 13 weeks
  • Trimester 1, 2 and 3 – 10 weeks
  • Blocks 1-6– 6 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'.