CONCURRENT DEGREES
Concurrent degrees are for students who wish to create their own combination of bachelor degrees at Macquarie University. Concurrent degrees are not established degrees under the Bachelor Degree Rules and do not appear as approved degree combinations in the Undergraduate Studies Handbook or in the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) Guide.
Examples of combinations include the Bachelor of Arts with the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of Arts with the Bachelor of Applied Finance, and the Bachelor of Media with the Bachelor of Commerce.
You will NOT be undertaking a concurrent degree combination if you:
- Enrol into an established combined degree (eg BALLB or BBA/BA-PSY). These combined and double degrees are treated as one study pattern for enrolment purposes and are governed by specific Bachelor Degree Rules;
- Commence an additional Bachelor degree after having completing one. If you have qualified or are about to qualify for your first degree and wish to undertake a second bachelor degree following completion of your first, you will not be undertaking concurrent degrees. Please contact the Coursework Studies Section for information on how to apply for undergraduate bachelor degree admission on (02) 9850 7314.
How do I apply for Concurrent Degrees?
How long will it take to do a concurrent degree? (Credit for Previous Studies)
When can I start a Concurrent Degree?
University Policy for Concurrent Degrees
How do I plan my program of study?
Enrolment
Fees, HECS and Commonwealth Supported Students
How Do I Apply To Do Concurrent Degrees?
Applications for Semester 2, 2008 are now closed. Late applications will not be accepted.
Course commencement |
Applications open |
Application Closing date |
Semester 1 2009 |
End-August 2008 |
30 October 2008 |
Semester 2 2009 |
Mid-April 2009 |
mid June 2009 |
Application forms will be available for download from this website after the application open date indicated above. |
||
Application Procedure
If you wish to apply for Concurrent Degrees you must complete two separate application steps. Failure to complete both steps will invalidate your application.
Step 1: All students applying for concurrent degrees must complete the ‘Concurrent Bachelor Degree Notification Form’ and obtain Academic Advice and approval on the ‘Approved Study Plans (A and B)’. All (3) of these forms MUST be completed and returned by: the relevant Application closing date (as indicated above.
Step 2: Formal application for admittance to the second (new) degree. There are two different options for application, see below. You must select one of these application methods.
2A) Application via Internal Transfer. Use this option if the degree you wish to add is listed in the Internal Transfer policy, and you meet/will meet the stated requirements at the time of application.
Further details regarding Internal Transfer can be obtained from page 9 of the 2008 Handbook of Undergraduate Studies or from: http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/undergrad/current/currentstudents/coursetransfer.htm
NOTE: Dates for Internal Transfer Applications are applicable. You must adhere to these dates.
2B) Apply for admission through UAC. Use this option if there is no Internal Transfer policy for the degree you wish to add, or if you do not yet meet the Internal Transfer requirements listed in the policy. Applications for Semester 1 2009 open in September 2008.
UAC applications must be lodged by the deadline set by UAC. See www.uac.edu.au for the dates. You must adhere to these dates.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE LODGED NO LATER THAN THE DATES SPECIFIED.
NOTE: There may be different due dates for individual steps of the application procedure.
How Long Will It Take To Do A Concurrent Degree?
It will take at least 5 years of full time study. You will be granted a maximum amount of general credit for previous study of 18 credit points at 100 level and 10 credit points at 200 level towards the second degree once the first degree is completed. The actual amount of the general credit that can be used will depend on exemptions granted. You cannot receive exemptions over the total number of general credit points granted.
When Can I Start a Concurrent Degree?
The best time to start a concurrent degree is at the commencement of the second year of your first degree. By this time you have some idea of the demands of university study and can make an informed decision about taking on another degree.
It is also an ideal time because you are unlikely to have done extra work in your first degree which cannot be counted towards the concurrent/second degree.
Excess units taken in one degree cannot be transferred to the other degree. At 100 and 200 level they may count towards the second degree under the umbrella of the “credit for previous study” granted at the completion of the first degree as designated credit into the second degree. However the maximum amount of credit for previous study is 18 credit points at 100 level and 10 credit points at 200 level. It is stated in the University policy that: "The second degree will commence from the time of successful application i.e. no units will be retrospectively transferred".
University Policy on Concurrent Degree
4.1 If you wish to do concurrent degrees you must be eligible for entry to the second degree.
4.2 You must apply for admission through UAC or qualify under the internal transfer procedures.
4.3 The maximum number of undergraduate study patterns (ie. single degrees, double degrees or combined degrees) in which you can enrol at any one time is limited to two (eg. BAppFinBCom with BALLB).
4.4 The second degree will commence from the time of successful application ie. no units will be retrospectively transferred.
4.5. If you decide to abandon one degree (or combined degree), then credit can only be transferred from that degree to the other in the form of credit for previous studies or CPS (previously called advanced standing).
4.6. You will be granted 28 credit points of credit for previous study (of which 10 may count at 200 level) from your first completed degree to the second (or they can be completed simultaneously and the credit for previous study will be credited to the nominated degree).
You should also note that it is University policy that once a student has completed the requirements for a degree they are not permitted to re-enrol in that degree for the purpose of undertaking additional units.
How Do I Plan My Program of Study?
You must obtain approval for your proposed study plans for each of your concurrent degrees from the relevant Divisions.
Units taken in one degree will count as prerequisites for units in another degree.
You should note: credit for previous study of 18 credit points at 100 level and 10 at 200 level only counts towards the second degree/study pattern at 100 and 200 level. No credit is given at 300 level. You must complete all the 300 level requirements for each degree/study pattern.
- Units at 100 and 200 level - Appropriate units in your first degree, with a credit point value of up to 18 credit points at 100 level and up to 10 credit points at 200 level, may count twice: ie. they may count towards your first degree and (because of the credit for previous study) count towards your second degree also. Therefore, in your second degree/study pattern you should not do too many units at 100 and 200 level if you want to make effective use of the credit you will be granted.
- Units at 300 level or above - You must do all the requirements at 300 level for each degree because no units can count twice at this level.
Enrolment
First degree: Enrol online in those units you wish to undertake in the first degree, during the re-enrolment period. NOTE: The university will advise you of the re-enrolment period by email (sent to your student email account). Therefore you should regularly check your @students.mq.edu.au email account.
Second degree: Once the application for the second degree has been assessed and approved, you will be sent a letter of offer, and instructions for online enrolment for the second degree.
Fees and Charges
Commonwealth supported places/Domestic tuition fee-paying place
For 2008, all undergraduate students will have either a Commonwealth supported place, or a Domestic tuition fee-paying place.
Details of student contribution rates and domestic tuition fees for 2008 are available on the website at:http://www.mq.edu.au/reforms/
Full details about Commonwealth supported places, domestic tuition fee-paying places, HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP assistance are set out on the Coursework Studies Section website at:http://www.reg.mq.edu.au/undergrad/current/feescharges/index.htm
If you are a Commonwealth supported student undertaking concurrent degrees, the fees that you are charged are determined by the year in which you commenced your studies in each degree.
If you commenced your first degree:
- prior to 2005, you will be charged pre-2005 HECS rates in this degree (until the end of 2008);
- in 2005 or 2006, you will be charged the 2005/2006 student contribution rates in this degree;
- in 2007, you will be charged the new 2007 student contribution rates for this degree.
As you will be commencing your second degree in 2008, you will be charged the new 2008 student contribution rates for this degree.
If you are a domestic fee-paying tuition student undertaking concurrent degrees, you will be charged the tuition fee rate for the current year of study in both your degrees.