• Section 1 - Purpose
• Background
• Scope
• Section 2 - Policy
• Part A - Qualifications
• Part B - Sub-bachelor Course Requirements
• Part C - Undergraduate Course Requirements
• Unit Level Requirements in the Core Zone
• Unit Sharing and Distinctiveness Across Course Components
• Capstone Requirements
• PACE Requirements
• Part D - Undergraduate Course Structure
• Single Undergraduate Generalist Degree Course Requirements
• Single Undergraduate Specialist Degree Course Requirements
• Double Undergraduate Degree Course Requirements
• Part E - Postgraduate Course Structure
• Graduate Certificates
• Graduate Diplomas
• Masters
• Masters Degree (Extended)
• Volume of Learning and Admission Points
• Double Masters Degree Courses
• Part F - Combined Degrees
• Design
• Progression, Exit and Articulation
• Part G - Micro-credentials
• Part H - Additional Institutional Requirements
• Section 3 - Procedure
• Section 4 - Guidelines
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Policy governs the design and structure of new academic courses and amendments to existing courses. It provides a consistent and coherent structure which supports the quality and integrity of the University’s academic courses and helps to ensure that students are provided with an exceptional academic experience.

Background

(2) The Macquarie Curriculum Architecture provides coherent, simple, and accessible curriculum structures that offer students clarity on their study pathway, and clarity for staff designing and delivering University courses. It supports the achievement of the University’s strategic vision of a ‘connected curriculum that will provide opportunities for students to graduate with depth of disciplinary knowledge and breadth of transdisciplinary understanding, as well as with big ideas thinking, transferable skills and relevant real-world experience’ as described in our Learning and Teaching Strategic Framework: 2015 – 2020. It also aligns with our Indigenous Strategy (2016-2025), to ensure the University delivers an ‘Indigenous connected curriculum’.

(3) The Policy is based on the MQ Model: Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles, MQ Model: Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles, and MQ Model: Combined Degree Curriculum Architecture Principles approved by the Academic Senate between July 2018 and September 2020.

Scope

(4) This Policy applies to all Macquarie University academic units and courses (award and non-award) including courses that are approved by the University and delivered with a third party provider at either an onshore or offshore delivery location or delivered entirely through an online platform. Higher Degree Research programs, the Bachelor of Philosophy, Master of Research, the Foundation and English language preparation programs are out of scope of this Policy.

Section 2 - Policy

Part A - Qualifications

(5) The University delivers a range of courses that lead to designated Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) higher education awards. The University also delivers non-AQF recognised micro-courses and foundation courses.

(6) The levels of higher education courses delivered by the University are specified in Table 1.

Part B - Sub-bachelor Course Requirements

Unit Level Requirements

(7) In a sub-Bachelor Diploma course a student can only count a maximum of 80 credit points (cp) at 1000 level or above.

Part C - Undergraduate Course Requirements

(8) Undergraduate degree courses can be undertaken in one of two configurations:

1. Single Degree; and
2. Double Degree.

(9) Undergraduate degree courses can be designed in one of two degree types:

1. Generalist; and
2. Specialist,

(10) The University Executive Group will set a Viability Score for all courses and their components (majors and specialisations).

(11) The Viability Score will be based on the number (headcount) of commencers into a course or a course component.

(12) Head count for minors that are a required component in the core zone of a course will be pro-rated and contribute to the Viability Score.

(13) The Viability Score will inform decision-making around the continuation of a course or a course component during the annual health check and periodic course review processes.

(14) The Viability Score will inform an Efficiency Metric which determines the number of majors / specialisations a course may have and the number of units per 10 credit point option set in the core zone of the course or in its majors and specialisations.

Unit Level Requirements in the Core Zone

(15) In a 240 credit point undergraduate degree course students can only count a maximum of 100 credit points at 1000 level.

(16) In a 320 credit point undergraduate degree course students can only count a maximum of 120 credit points at 1000 level.

(17) A course must be designed with a minimum of 40 credit points at 3000 level or above in a 240 credit point undergraduate degree course.

(18) A course must be designed with a minimum of 80 credit points at 3000 level or above in a 320 credit point undergraduate degree course.

Unit Sharing and Distinctiveness Across Course Components

(19) Individual units can meet the requirements of more than one course component.

(20) Students will not be permitted to complete two course components that share more than 50 per cent of their units.

(21) Combinations of course components that exceed the requirements of Principle 27.2 (MQ Model: Undergraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles) will be placed on an exclusions list.

(22) Where a student uses one or more units to satisfy the requirements of two distinct course components, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from the option sets of the two components or the course core(s). Where there is no such unit available, they may choose any other unit for which they are qualified to enrol.

Capstone Requirements

(23) All undergraduate courses will have a capstone requirement.

(24) A capstone will reside in the core zone in an essential unit of a course.

(25) A capstone may also be combined with a PACE unit.

(26) It is expected that a capstone unit will reside at 3000 level or above, and that all capstone units will have a breadth / maturity prerequisite of at least 60 credit points at 2000 level or above.

PACE Requirements

(27) All undergraduate courses will have a PACE unit requirement.

(28) A course’s compulsory PACE requirement will reside in the core zone as either an essential unit or an elective unit chosen from a distinct PACE option set.

Part D - Undergraduate Course Structure

(29) All single undergraduate degree courses will have the following study zones:

1. core zone (depth component); and
2. flexible zone (breadth / maturity component).

Single Undergraduate Generalist Degree Course Requirements

Course Structure

(30) For single undergraduate generalist degree courses the core and flexible study zone requirements are:

1. core zone is 160 credit points; and
2. flexible zone is 80 credit points.

(31) Course authorities will determine the composition of the core zone within the boundaries informed by requirements for essential units, elective units, elective units chosen from option sets, majors, specialisations and minors.

Majors

(32) The core zone of all undergraduate generalist degree courses will include a major.

(33) All majors must have the following structural elements:

1. no more than two units at 1000 level. No option sets at 1000 level except in those courses and their components where an option set is required to offer students of different abilities a required unit; and
2. at least 30 cp completed at 3000 level or above.

(34) A major will appear in the course’s major schedule.

(35) Majors are approved by the Academic Senate and are included in the course major schedule. The structure of majors in a course will be determined by the course authority and will be consistently applied across the major schedule.

(36) Majors can appear in the major schedule for more than one course but must be identical in all offerings. If the major is not identical it will require a different name in subsequent courses.

(37) For the purpose of double majors in a course, majors where it is possible to choose a combination of units which share more than 50% of units in common above 1000 level will be placed on an exclusion list to ensure a student cannot take these together.

(38) Majors may contain their own essential and / or elective units.

Other Core Zone Elements

(39) In single undergraduate generalist degree courses a core zone may consist of any or all of the following elements:

1. Essential Units;
2. Elective Units (chosen from Option Sets); and

1. Minors.

Essential Units

(40) Single undergraduate generalist degrees courses can have a maximum of 80 credit points of essential units in the core zone (notwithstanding any essential unit requirement for the major).

(41) A course core zone essential unit cannot appear in a major. However, a course core zone essential unit can be a prerequisite for units within a major.

(42) A core zone elective unit cannot be double counted towards a major or specialisation.

Minors

(43) A minor is an approved 40 credit point sequence of undergraduate units.

(44) A minor may be:

1. a derived minor, which is drawn from a University approved major or specialisation;
2. a transdisciplinary designated minor, which is a sequence of study drawn from the units of at least two approved course components; or
3. a disciplinary designated minor which is a standalone sequence of study of four essential units with a unique set of learning outcomes that must be quality assured through University Quality Assurance Enhancement and Improvement processes, including course periodic review.

(45) Derived minors and transdisciplinary minors do not require a unique set of learning outcomes.

(46) A derived minor has the same name as the major or specialisation from which its units are drawn.

(47) All minors must have the following minimum structural element: 20 cp must be completed at 2000 level or above.

(48) A minor may be a required component of a core zone.

(49) A student cannot qualify for a major and a minor, or a specialisation and a minor with the same name. 

(50) A student may not qualify for two minors with the same name.

(51) Designated minors require approval by the Academic Senate.

Flexible Zone Requirements

(52) Each generalist degree contains an 80 credit point flexible zone. This consists of free choice units which a student may utilise in either a non-structured or structured sequence of study. Students can determine how to design their flexible zone.

(53) In a non-structured sequence of study students are able to complete a wide range of units for which they are eligible to enrol.

(54) In a structured sequence of study students are able to complete a second major from the course’s major schedule or a minor from across the majors and specialisations of the University for which they are eligible to enrol.

Majors in the Flexible Zone

(55) Space in their schedule permitted, students can use their flexible zone to complete a second major from their course’s major schedule.

(56) A student may extend a minor requirement in their core zone to a major through use of the flexible zone. The completion of the major must meet any core zone minor requirement.

Minors in the Flexible Zone

(57) A minor or a designated minor may also be available in the flexible zone.

(58) Students can use their flexible zone to complete a minor. Minors are drawn from any major / specialisation (including outside the student’s course) for which units are available in the flexible zone.

(59) A list of all minors available to flexible zones will be made available to students.

Award Names

(60) Generalist degree awards are named after the general field of study. No further additions to the title are permitted.

Single Undergraduate Specialist Degree Course Requirements

(61) Unlike generalist degrees, single undergraduate specialist degree courses may have a larger core zone. The core and flexible zones must be specified in multiples of 40 credit points, representing the equivalent of one session of full-time student load. Minimum requirements are:

1. core zone is at least 160 credit points; and
2. flexible zone is no more than 80 credit points.

(62) The core zone in a specialist degree course must only be as large as required to meet the course’s pedagogical needs.

(63) It is possible that due to the need to deliver the specified learning outcomes or external accreditation requirements, a specialist degree course may have insufficient space to set a flexible zone.

(64) In single undergraduate specialist degree courses the core zone may consist of any or all of the following elements:

1. Essential Units;
2. Elective Units (chosen from Option Sets);
3. Specialisations;
4. Concentrations (an internal component of a specialisation); and
5. Minors.

Essential Units

(65) Specialist degree courses can have up to 100 per cent of the core zone consisting of essential units.

(66) A core zone essential unit cannot appear in a specialisation. However a core zone essential unit can be a prerequisite for units within a specialisation.

(67) A core zone elective unit cannot be double counted towards a major or specialisation.

Specialisations

(68) An undergraduate specialist degree course may have specialisations and if it does these specialisations will be components of the core zone.

(69) Specialisations contribute to the acquisition of the course’s learning outcomes.

(70) A student may only take one specialisation in a course.

(71) Specialisations are approved by the Academic Senate and are included in the course’s specialisation schedule.

(72) A specialisation can appear in more than one course’s specialisation schedule but must be identical in all offerings. If the specialisation is not identical it will require a different name in subsequent courses.

(73) Specialisations may contain their own essential and / or elective units.

Concentrations

(74) Course authorities will determine if specialisations will have concentrations.

(75) A concentration will consist of units drawn from the specialisation. In the case where a specialisation has more than one concentration, no concentration may share more than one unit with another.

Award Names

(76) Specialist degree awards are named after the specialist or professional area of study. They must not incorporate a generalist degree title.

(77) Specialisations can be recorded in brackets in the name of the award.

Double Undergraduate Degree Course Requirements

(78) Double undergraduate degrees allow students to combine two undergraduate courses and achieve a reduction in the volume of learning by forgoing the flexible zone of both courses.

(79) Outside stated University exclusions, students may choose any combination of undergraduate degrees for which they are qualified to be admitted.

(80) All students must be advised that due to unit or pre-requisite unavailability, timetable clashes, clinical placements, or other possible course restrictions (beyond their individual unit performance) they may be unable to complete their chosen double degree combination within expected normal full-time duration of the courses. Course authorities must monitor combinations to manage systemic timetable clashes.

(81) Some double degree combinations may lead to professional recognition. In some double degrees, for example, when a specialist course with an accreditation requirement is combined with a generalist course that helps to fulfil the requirements for accreditation, the double degree combination can influence student options in the second course’s core zone.

(82) Units completed in a double degree may meet the requirements of both courses of study. This is known as unit sharing.

(83) Unit sharing at 2000 level or above is limited to 50 credit points of the core zone units for 320 credit point combinations, with an additional 20 credit points of unit sharing permitted for each additional 80 credit points of study.

(84) Double degree combinations that exceed these unit sharing requirements cannot be combined as doubles and the combination will be placed on the exclusion list.

(85) If the combined volume of learning of the two courses is at least 440 credit points when doubled a discount of up to 40 credit points will be permitted by the Academic Senate if course authorities can demonstrate that the required learning outcomes for each course have been met by the completion of identified units.

(86) The completion of such units may be directed as per professional recognition requirements noted above.

(87) At any stage of their candidature a student may choose to cease their enrolment in a double degree and transfer to the stand-alone version of either constituent course (if a single degree version exists).

(88) Students who transfer from a double degree will have any completed units counted towards the flexible requirement of the stand-alone course up to the maximum credit point requirement.

(89) Depending on the stage of their enrolment, a student may not receive the full credit for all units previously undertaken.

(90) With each course’s core zone previously approved by the Academic Senate and with the student simply completing the core zone requirement of two University approved courses, double degree combinations do not require further Academic Senate approval.

(91) However, if a popular double combination is to be marketed to international students, it must be approved by the Academic Senate in order for it to meet TEQSA requirements to be registered on CRICOS.

Part E - Postgraduate Course Structure

(92) The University Executive Group will set a Viability Score for all postgraduate courses and their components (specialisations).

(93) The Viability Score will be based on the number (headcount) of commencers into a course or a course component.

(94) The Viability Score will inform decision-making around the continuation of a course or a course component during the annual health check and periodic course review processes.

(95) The Viability Score will inform an Efficiency Metric which determines the number of specialisations a course may have and the number of units per 10 credit point option set in the core zone of the course or in its specialisations.

Unit Sharing and Distinctiveness across Course Components

(96) Individual units can meet the requirements of more than one course component.

(97) Students will not be permitted to complete two course components that share more than 50 per cent of their units.

(98) Combinations of course components that exceed the requirements of Principle 17A.2 (MQ Model: Postgraduate Curriculum Architecture Principles) will be placed on an exclusions list.

(99) Where a student uses one or more units to satisfy the requirements of two distinct course components, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from option sets within the two courses. Where there is no such unit available, they may choose an elective unit, for which they are qualified to enrol, from another course.

Graduate Certificates

(100) For a Graduate Certificate (as an entry qualification) the course requirements are 40 credit points.

(101) Graduate Certificates can not include specialisations.

Graduate Diplomas

(102) For a Graduate Diploma (as an entry qualification) the course requirements are either:

1. a foundation zone of 40 credit points and a core zone of 40 credit point; or
2. a core zone of 80 credit points.

(103) A student completing a Graduate Diploma course can only complete one specialisation. A specialisation in a Graduate Diploma must be exactly half the credit points of the core zone.

Masters

(104) Masters courses can be undertaken in one of three configurations:

1. Single Degree;
2. Combined Degrees (see MQ Model: Combined Degree Curriculum Architecture Principles); or
3. Double Degree.

Single Degree Structure

(105) All single Masters courses may have the following study zone structure:

1. Core Zone;
2. Flexible Zone; and
3. Foundation Zone.

Core Zone

(106) In Masters courses the units in the core zone will always be at 8000 level.

Flexible Zone

(107) In Masters courses the units in the flexible zone can be a mix of 6000 and 8000 units.

Foundation Zone

(108) In Masters courses the units in the foundation zone may be recorded as 6000 Level if the outcomes and assessment are an extension of the undergraduate unit from which they are drawn.

(109) For a Masters degree, course requirements can comprise the following study zones depending on the volume of learning being undertaken by the student and the field of study:

1. Core zone: at least 80 credit points;
2. Flexible zone: 40 credit points or zero; and
3. Foundation zone: 40 credit points or 80 credit points or zero (see MQ Model: Combined Degree Curriculum Architecture Principles).

(110) A Masters may have a specialisation, which will be a component of the core zone.

(111) A student completing a Masters course can only complete one specialisation.

Masters Degree (Extended)

(112) An Extended Masters course will be comprised of either a core zone or a core plus foundation zone.

(113) Extended Masters courses may have a specialisation.

(114) A student completing an Extended Masters may complete more than one specialisation.

Volume of Learning and Admission Points

(115) Entry to a Masters degree course is dependent on a student meeting the course’s admission requirements at one of the four volume of learning admission points.

(118) Informed by market trends and University needs, a course authority can promote and admit students at specific admission points.

Exit Awards

(119) Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas can act as exit awards for the relevant Masters course.

(120) When a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma is being utilised as an exit award, any study zone requirements for that award do not apply.

(121) To qualify for an exit award, a student must meet the course learning outcomes for that award.

Double Masters Degree Courses

(122) Double masters degrees allow students to combine two postgraduate courses and achieve a reduction in the volume of learning by forgoing the flexible zone of either or both courses.

(123) Where it is not possible to accommodate the core zone of both courses within standard durations the combination should be excluded.

(124) Outside stated University exclusions students may choose any combination of postgraduate degrees for which they are qualified to be admitted.

(125) Students must gain entry to both courses. This can be at different admission points.

(126) In combining two courses the only volume of learning discount, excepting formal Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), will be the forgoing of any flexible zone requirement.

(127) Units completed in a double degree can meet the requirements of both courses. This is known as unit sharing.

(128) Units completed in a postgraduate double degree can meet the requirements of both courses of study.

(129) This form of unit sharing is limited to 50 cp of the core zone units for 160 cp combinations, with an additional 20 cp of unit sharing permitted for each additional 80 cp of study.

(130) Double degree combinations which exceed these requirements cannot be combined as doubles and the combination will be placed on an exclusion list.

(131) Where a student uses a single unit to satisfy the requirements of two core zones, to ensure the total volume of learning is not reduced, they will complete an additional unit of the same or higher level.

(132) At any stage of their candidature a student may choose to cease their enrolment in a double degree course and transfer to the stand-alone version of either constituent course (if a single degree version exists).

(133) With each course’s core zone previously approved by the Academic Senate and with the student simply completing the core zone requirement of two University approved courses, double degree combinations do not require further Academic Senate approval.

(134) However if a popular double combination is to be marketed to international students, it must be approved by the Academic Senate in order for it to meet TEQSA requirements to be registered on CRICOS.

(135) Where a student uses a single unit to satisfy the requirements of two separate courses, they will still be required to complete the volume of learning for the double degree course. They will complete additional units that can be chosen from the option sets of the two components or the course cores. Where there is no such unit available, they may choose an elective unit, for which they are qualified to enrol, from another course.

Part F - Combined Degrees

(136) Combined Degree Courses are a form of integrated study across AQF levels 7, 8, and 9.

(137) While combined degree courses comprise components from both undergraduate and postgraduate courses they must be designed and approved as an integrated course of study.

(138) In approving a combined degree course, the Academic Senate's Academic Standards and Quality Committee must be satisfied that the undergraduate and graduate courses that comprise the combined degree are derived from related fields.

(139) Each Combined Degree Course will have a dedicated course director. This could be the director of the Masters component of the combined degree course.

(140) Entry requirements for combined degree courses will reflect the fact that these are exclusive course opportunities for high-achieving students. Entry requirements for these courses may be higher than they would be for admission to the stand-alone undergraduate version of the course.

Design

(141) Combined degrees should be highly structured and must be designed in such a way that a student who does not meet the progression WAM requirement will be able to complete the final year of the undergraduate course in no more than 80 cp and still meet all degree requirements.

(142) A combined degree course’s capstone experience will usually be undertaken as part of the final 40 credit points of study for the course.

(143) Students will complete a PACE unit as part of the course.

(144) Each combined degree course will have its own set of Course Learning Outcomes.

(145) Transition Core and Masters components of a combined degree course may not be discounted by recognition of informal or non-formal prior learning.

Progression, Exit and Articulation

(146) Students will be required to achieve a specified Weighted Average Mark (WAM) to continue in the course after the completion of 160 cp.

(147) Executive Deans or their delegates will set the progression WAM depending on the specific needs of the course. The figure will be no less than WAM 70 and no more than WAM 80.

(148) Students who do not achieve the required WAM will default to the stand-alone undergraduate degree course that serves the combined degree course. Any 6000+ level units completed will meet the requirements of the undergraduate course as either core or flexible zone units. A student defaulting to the stand-alone undergraduate degree must complete the undergraduate course’s capstone and PACE requirements.

(149) Articulation to Year 2 MRes will be available for combined degree courses where the course is seen to meet the requirements for entry to MRes Y2 (FTE).

Part G - Micro-credentials

(150) Rescinded 1 January 2021, per Academic Senate Resolution (20/122). Refer to the Micro-credentials Policy / Procedure.

Part H - Additional Institutional Requirements

(151) The University may embed compulsory co-curricular not-for-credit short modules into courses.

Section 3 - Procedure

(152) Refer to the Curriculum Architecture - 2020 Study Plan Review Procedure.

Section 4 - Guidelines

(153) Nil.

Section 5 - Definitions

(154) Commonly defined terms are located in the University Glossary. The following definitions apply for the purpose of this Policy:

1. Attendance Mode refers to how courses are offered; either internally, externally, or on-line. Course authorities must work within obligations specified by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, 2000 for courses offered to international students.
2. Capstone is a final year unit of study or learning experience which integrates the material presented across a course of study.
3. Combined degrees refers to integrated study across AQF levels 7, 8 and 9.
4. Concentration refers to a 40 cp sequence of study within a specialisation.
5. Core zone contains a course’s specific depth requirements to meet the disciplinary, trans-disciplinary, or professional area of study. The core zone includes all compulsory requirements for a course (excepting the foundation zone in postgraduate courses) and may include essential units, elective units chosen from defined option sets, and any required sequence of study such as majors, minors or specialisations. The core zone delivers the course learning outcomes in conjunction with any other breadth and / or maturity requirements.
6. Course refers to a sequence of study which leads to a higher education award. All courses are owned by the Academic Senate on behalf of the University. Faculties / Offices act as stewards for courses on behalf of the Academic Senate. Faculties / Offices are responsible for the design, delivery, review, and development of courses in compliance with University policies and procedures.
7. Course Authority refers to the delegated members of a Faculty / Office who are the stewards of the course.
8. Course Learning Outcomes express the set of knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate as a result of completing the course.
9. Derived minor refers to a minor which is drawn from a University approved major or specialisation. A derived minor has the same name as the major or specialisation from which its units are drawn.
10. Designated minor – Transdisciplinary refers to a purpose-built sequence of study approved by the Academic Senate that is not available as a major or specialisation. It requires students to complete units drawn from at least two approved course components.
11. Designated minor – Disciplinary refers to a standalone sequence of study of four essential units with a unique set of learning outcomes approved by the Academic Senate.
12. Double degree refers to a student completing the core zones of two single degrees at the same AQF level. Students are not required to complete the flexible zone requirement of either course.
13. Essential Unit refers to a specific compulsory unit that all students enrolled in the course must complete.
14. Elective Unit refers to a unit in the core zone which is chosen from a defined option set.
15. Flexible zone (undergraduate) contains a course’s “free choice units”. A student can use their flexible zone to enrol in any unit within the University for which they meet the pre-requisites.
16. Flexible zone (postgraduate) contains a course’s breadth and / or maturity requirements.
17. Foundation zone contains a course’s foundational requirements (knowledge, capabilities and context for action) for a student from a non-related background.
18. Free choice units refers to any unit offered by the University for which a student is qualified to enroll. Free choice units are completed in the flexible zone.
19. Generalist degree refers to an AQF Level 7 qualification comprising 240 credit points of study. Refer to the Academic Statements Policy / Academic Statements Schedule for nomenclature requirements.
20. Major refers to a mandatory sequence of study within a generalist degree course. A major must be exactly 80 credit points. Majors contribute to the acquisition of a course’s learning outcomes.
21. Minor refers to an approved 40 credit point sequence of undergraduate units. A minor is a derived minor, a transdisciplinary designated minor, or a disciplinary designated minor. All minors must have the following minimum structural element: 20 credit points must be completed at 2000 level or above (see also Designated Minors / Derived Minors).
22. Micro-credential refers to the recognition of attainment for the completion of individual micro-unit(s) of study. A micro-credential is not a formal AQF award.
23. Micro-unit refers to a non-standard unit of study. The volume of learning in a micro-unit can be set at 15 hour (1 cp) multiples ranging from 15 hours (1 cp) to 75 hours (5 cp).
24. Micro-course refers to a non-AQF recognition of attainment for the completion of 20 cp of study. A micro-course can be a terminating qualification or engage with the suite of formal AQF awards.
25. Specialist degree refers to an AQF Level 7 or 8 qualification comprising 240 or 320 credit points. Refer to the Academic Statements Policy / Academic Statements Schedule for nomenclature requirements.
26. Specialisation refers to a sequence of study in undergraduate specialist degree courses and postgraduate degree courses. In undergraduate specialist degree courses, Specialisations are at least 120 credit points of which at least 40 credit points must be completed at 3000 level or above. In postgraduate courses containing specialisations, specialisations will always be exactly half the credit points of the course’s core zone. Specialisations within a course must be the same size.
27. Study Mode refers to how a course is undertaken either as full-time or part-time study. Course authorities must work within obligations specified by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for courses offered to international students.
28. Study Zones refers to the composition of a course. In undergraduate courses this consists of the core and flexible zones. In postgraduate courses this may comprise the core, flexible, and foundation zones.
29. Unit refers to the individual components of study within a course. Undergraduate and postgraduate units utilise a system of 10 credit points or multiples thereof. A 10 credit point unit must meet the Commonwealth’s expectation that a unit of study will consist of 150 hours of activity for a student so enrolled.