Macquarie University Terminology
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
| N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
A
Academic Adviser |
Any full-time member of the teaching staff is able to act as an academic adviser for students, in order to give you help in deciding on your program of study and to advise you on other academic matters. Academic advisers can be consulted during the enrolment process at the beginning of each half-year; at other times you should ask within your Division of Registration for an adviser. |
Academic record |
Your academic record is a print out showing the units you have enrolled in and the grades you have been awarded. It also includes other useful information such as your grade point average and the credit point requirements for your degree. See also academic transcript, advising transcript. |
Academic transcript |
Your academic transcript is the official and certified version of your academic record. This is the copy you would show to prospective employers or to other educational institutions. Official Academic Transcript lists the qualification/s you have enrolled in and all units that you have attempted, and the grades received within that qualification/s. Official transcript is always printed on watermarked University paper. Most universities require that you pay an administrative fee to have this printed A certified copy means that a Justice of the Peace (JP) has sighted the original document and identified that the photocopy is a true copy of the original. |
Academic year |
The academic year consists of two half-years, each consisting of thirteen weeks of teaching and an examination period of several weeks. The first half-year begins in late February. |
Advising transcript |
Your advising transcript is a print out showing your progress to date to enable you and your academic adviser to make informed decisions about your current program of study. |
Appeal |
It is possible to appeal against a grade you have been awarded in a unit. Appeals always begin by discussing the matter with the tutor concerned. If you cannot come to a resolution, you should appeal in writing to the Dean of Division. Any appeals not resolved within the Division should be addressed to the Registrar and Vice-Principal. |
Assumed knowledge |
Some 100-level units, while not having prerequisites, assume that you will have certain knowledge and skills from previous study (such as the HSC). This information is listed in the UAC Guide each year, and also in the Undergraduate Handbook. |
B
bachelor degree |
The first degree in which you can enrol at a university is a bachelor degree. Rules relating to degrees are set out in the Undergraduate Handbook. |
Bachelor Degree Rules |
The University has a set of formal rules called the Bachelor Degree Rules which set conditions for all aspects of students' enrolment and progress towards a degree. They also specify the requirements for the award of the different degrees. |
C
Credit for Previous Studies |
If you have studied at another academic institution, you may be eligible for credit towards your degree at Macquarie. This credit is called credit for previous studies and is expressed in the form of Macquarie credit points.
If you are eligible for credit for previous studies you should request advice about credit for previous studies when accepting the offer of admission. Students who receive some credit for previous studies will also be advised of any areas in which exemptions may apply. |
Census dates |
These are the dates by which you must discontinue enrolment in a unit of study or course to avoid being liable for HECS charges or tuition fees for that unit or course. The census dates for 2006 are 31 March and 30 August. If you are enrolling in vacation or field work (V) units, check the dates of discontinuance listed in the Undergraduate Study - General Information section of the Undergraduate Handbook. For more information visit the HECS website www.goingtouni.gov.au |
Centre for Open Education (COE) |
The Centre provides guidance and assistance for distance education, evening and non-award students. Information and applications for Continuing Education courses are also available from the Centre. |
Change of Unit Enrolment(Formerly Change of Program) |
A change of Unit Enrolmentinvolves adding or discontinuing units from your program, or withdrawing from your course. Change of Unit Enrolmentproposal forms are available from the Student Enquiry Service, the web or the Centre for Open Education. Follow this link for more information |
Certified Documents/Academic Transcript |
A certified copy of a document/trascript means that a Justice of the Peace (JP) has sighted the original document and identified that the photocopy is a true copy of the original. JPs must sign and place their JP number on the photocopied document. For applications to Macquarie University any member of staff at the Student Enquiry Centre is able to confirm your copies. You will need to provide both the original documentation and a photocopy of this documentation to the member of staff who will check, stamp and then accept your application. |
Coherent study |
All bachelor degree students must complete a coherent study in units above 200 level, in order to graduate. The approved coherent studies are listed in the Undergraduate Handbook under the Division entries. Coherent studies are usually stated as a set of units at 300 level which total at least 12 credit points. Also (informally) called major. |
Composite mode |
A unit of study which is offered in composite mode has some components which require on-campus attendance and other components which are available by distance education. |
Concurrent Studies (Enrolment) |
Students may undertake units at another Australian university to count towards the requirements for their Macquarie degree. Credit for such studies will be granted as credit for previous studies on satisfactory completion of the unit or units. However, students must be aware of the conditions which apply to such studies and the procedures to be followed, or they may find that they are not eligible for credit for previous studies and are wasting their time and money. An information sheet is available from the Student Enquiry Service. |
Continuing education |
Courses in continuing education are provided for the wider community by the University, and are not part of the University's degree structure. |
Corequisite |
A corequisite is a unit of study which has to be completed prior to or concurrently with another. Prerequisites and corequisites are listed in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units in the Undergraduate Handbook. |
Course |
A course is the program of study you undertake, such as a degree or diploma. Also called course of study. |
Credit |
You are doing units for credit if you are doing them to count towards an award, such as a degree or diploma. This is normally the case unless you are a non-award student or unless the unit cannot be taken for credit with (NCCW) one that you have previously passed either at Macquarie or elsewhere. |
Credit point |
Each unit of study is worth a specified number of credit points. The credit point value of a unit reflects the amount of work required in the unit. Each credit point in a half-year unit would indicate that you should expect to spend about 4 hours each week on that unit (including class contact hours). |
Cross-institution |
Students who undertake a unit of study at Macquarie while enrolled at another institution must apply for cross-institution enrolment. Application for such enrolment needs to be made to the Student Enquiry Service by September of the previous year. See also concurrent enrolment. |
D
Day |
A day class is one which is scheduled before 6.00pm. |
Dean of Students |
The Dean of Students is available for consultation by students at all levels who need help and advice, especially on aspects of the system with which they are unable to find help elsewhere. Specific academic advice on programs of study and particular units should still be sought from academic advisers in the Divisions. |
Deferment |
Deferment describes the process whereby students who have been offered a place at Macquarie University (usually through the UAC), decide to defer studies for a period of one (1) year. Deferments are also offered to students who are offered a place in the Distance Law (LLB) program. Click here for more information. If you are a current student wanting to take a semester or more off, then you are discontinuing your studies. Please follow this link for more information. |
Degree |
A degree is the major kind of qualification awarded by a university. It is awarded either for successful work at undergraduate (bachelor degree) or postgraduate (higher degree) level, or as an honorary recognition (honorary degree) of achievement. |
Department |
Each of the Divisions of the University is divided into Departments, the name of which usually, but not always reflects the discipline being studied eg. the unit of English is in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Division of Humanities, Department of English. |
Discipline |
A discipline is a branch of learning, which may have its own distinct way of gathering and assessing knowledge. The Divisions of the University teach in more than one discipline; for example, Chinese, Education and English are in the Division of Humanities. |
Discontinuance |
If you decide to discontinue, or abandon, your enrolment in a unit, you must fill out a change of program proposal form, and hand or send in the form to the Centre for Open Education. The date by which you do this is important. In the first half-year, you must discontinue by 31 March in order to be 'early withdrawn' (EW) and to be not liable for HECS charges or tuition fees. The corresponding date for second half-year units is 31 August. If you withdraw after these dates, your official transcript will show a Fail grade for the unit. |
Distance education |
Certain units of study are offered on a distance education (or external) basis; these units are identified with an X code in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units (in the Undergraduate Handbook). Students who are otherwise doing their course by internal study may apply for enrolment in these units (other than law units). |
Division |
There are eight Divisions in the University, within the three Colleges. All undergraduate students will be registered in a Division. |
Division of Registration |
When you are enrolled, you will be registered in one of the Divisions of the University. You do not have to choose all your units from the Division in which you are registered. Each Division is divided into Departments, for example, if you were enrolled in a Bachelor of Media in Writing, your Division would be the Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy, Department of Media and Communications, which is in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. |
Dean of Division |
The Dean of Division is responsible for the academic and administrative affairs of the Division. |
E
Enrolment |
All internal and metropolitan distance education students (except LLB, BLegS students and Non-Award students) attend the University on a specified date before the beginning of each academic year in order to enrol in a course of study. Academic advisers are available to help you with your program, and you will be allocated to tutorials and practical classes. Details of enrolment dates and procedures are given in the booklet New Undergraduate Enrolment Information contained in the enrolment package. |
Evening |
An evening class is one which is scheduled at 6.00pm or later. |
Exclusion |
Exclusion from the University means that you are barred from re-enrolling for a set period (one or two years). You may be excluded for taking an unduly long time to complete your degree or for failing to pay fees or charges by the due date. |
Exemption |
A exemption is a decision made by a member of the academic staff that you may not take a particular unit at Macquarie University because you have studied and passed a similar unit at another institution. These exemptions are determined on the basis of overlap of content, and only apply to students who have been granted credit for previous studies. The number of credit points from which a student is exempted is not related to the amount of credit for previous studies given. You will be advised of the areas in which exemptions may apply at the same time as credit for previous studies is notified. If you are exempted from a unit which is a prerequisite for another unit, you are considered to have satisfied that prerequisite. |
F
Full time |
You are classified as a full-time undergraduate student if you are enrolled for the year in 17 or more credit points, or if, as a postgraduate student, the total of your unit weights is 0.75 or more. |
G
Grade Point Average (GPA) |
Your grade point average is a calculation which reflects the overall quality of your grades throughout your course. It is printed on your academic record; a grade point average of 4, for example, would indicate that all your grades have been HD or D grades. Also called GPA.
It is calculated for each qualification you are enrolled in For more information, review the Handbook |
Graduate |
A graduate is someone who has been awarded a degree. |
Graduand |
A graduand is someone who has completed all the requirements for a degree but who has not yet had the degree conferred. |
Graduate Diploma |
Graduate diplomas are available to students who have already completed a bachelor degree in any field and who now wish to complete the equivalent of a major study in another field without attempting a second undergraduate degree. Graduate diplomas consist wholly of undergraduate units in a particular discipline. |
Graduate Diploma rules |
The University has a set of formal rules called the Graduate Diploma Rules which set conditions for all aspects of students' enrolment and progress towards a graduate diploma. They also specify the requirements for the award of the different graduate diplomas. The Graduate Diploma Rules are set out in the Undergraduate Handbook. If you are not sure what a rule means, staff at the Student Enquiry Service will be happy to explain it to you and discuss how it might affect you. See also Bachelor Degree Rules. |
H
HECS-HELP |
Higher Education Contribution Scheme. The booklet HECS - Your Questions Answered is available from the Student Enquiry Service.
More information can be obtained from our Fees and Charges Section. |
Higher degree |
A higher degree is any degree that requires you to have passed a bachelor degree first. |
Honours |
Most bachelor and master degrees can be taken at a higher level known as honours. Undergraduate students may apply for entry to the honours year at the completion of their degree if their grade point average is high enough, although in some Divisions (such as Law) honours degrees are awarded on the basis of performance throughout the program. There are different entry requirements for the different honours degrees. Postgraduate honours degrees are normally research degrees, as opposed to coursework degrees. For more information can be obtained from the Honours webpage |
I
Intellectual property |
Intellectual property is material, research, knowledge or inventions developed or discovered by staff or by students as part of their studies towards a degree. Any such material is the property of the University. If you have a query regarding intellectual property, you should refer it to the Research Committee before you begin your research. |
Interdisciplinary studies |
The University offers various programs of study which involve units across a number of Divisions. These interdisciplinary studies are in fields such as Aboriginal Studies, Asian Studies and Women's Studies. |
Internal study |
Courses or units taken by internal study involve attending classes on campus, as opposed to those taken in distance education mode by correspondence. |
J
Justice of the Peace |
A Justice of the Peace is an individual that is authorised to certify documents.
You will need to certify documents such Change of Name details or Official Academic Transcripts for applications. You can obtain Justice of the Peace services from the Student Enquiry Service. |
K
L
Lecture |
A lecture is a large class where the students are formally addressed by a lecturer who specialises in the area in question. Students usually take notes in a lecture but do not take an active role unless invited to do so by the lecturer. |
Lecturer |
Any member of the academic staff who gives a lecture is likely to be referred to as a lecturer. More formally, a lecturer is someone who holds an academic rank above an associate lecturer but below a senior lecturer. |
Level |
The level at which a unit is taught indicates the amount of prior knowledge required to study it successfully. For example, 100-level units may be entered in the first year of study and often do not have any prerequisite units, while at 200 level, units generally have 100-level prerequisites. |
M
Misadventure |
See unavoidable disruption. |
Misconduct |
Misconduct occurs when a student does not follow the By-laws or rules set down by the University. A student may be punished for misconduct or breach of discipline by suspension from classes, payment of fines, or exclusion from examinations. |
Mode of offering |
The mode of offering for a unit of study indicates whether it is a day (internal), distance education (external), composite mode (n) or vacation or field work (V2) unit. |
N
NCCWNot to Count for Credit With |
In the Schedule of Undergraduate Units (in the Undergraduate Handbook), the column headed 'NCCW' lists those units which may not count for credit with the specified unit. |
Non-award |
Non-award enrolment, available in most undergraduate and some postgraduate units, lets you enrol without counting those units towards a degree or diploma. It is not available to you if you are currently enrolled in a Macquarie degree or if you have one partly completed from a previous enrolment. |
Non-degree |
Non-degree enrolment is enrolment by a current Macquarie degree student in a unit which will not be counted for credit towards the degree. Such a unit may be an NCCW unit. |
Not effectively enrolled |
You are not effectively enrolled if you withdraw from a unit on or before the census date (31 March for first half-year and full-year units and 31 August for second half-year units). Your enrolment in that unit will not be permanently recorded and you will not be liable for HECS charges for that unit. |
O
Office of Financial Services |
Matters relating to fees, parking charges, or indebtedness to the University should be addressed to the Office of Financial Services, Attention: Revenue Section. Payments should be made to the Cashier in the Student Enquiry Service in the Lincoln Building (C8A). |
On-campus session |
An on-campus session is a lecture, tutorial or practical session held on the university campus for students who are studying in distance education mode. |
P
P-type units |
Students enrolled in the BADipEd, BBADipEd, BComDipEd, BEcDipEd or BScDipEd are required to complete 12 credit points in professional (p-type) units. These involve a substantial amount of supervised work in schools. They are listed in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units in the Undergraduate Handbook with the prefix 'TEP'. |
Part-time |
You are regarded as a part-time undergraduate student if you are enrolled in fewer than 17 credit points in a year, or, as a postgraduate student, in units with a total weight of less than 0.75. |
Pass degree |
A pass degree is the normal form of a bachelor degree or a master degree, when an honours program has not been undertaken. |
Pink form |
The 'Special Approvals Under the Bachelor Degree Rules' form is commonly known as a Pink Form. See also waiver form. |
Plagiarism |
If you take the work or ideas of another person (living or dead) and present them as your own, you are committing plagiarism, a serious academic offence. |
Postgraduate |
Any course of academic study higher than a bachelor degree is regarded as a postgraduate course. See also undergraduate. |
Practical |
Practical work or practical sessions are usually a compulsory component in the scientific subjects of the University. They are often carried out in a laboratory or in the field and involve 'hands-on' techniques. |
Prerequisite |
A prerequisite is a unit of study which must be completed or a requirement which must be satisfied before you enrol in a particular unit. Prerequisites and corequisites are listed in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units in the Undergraduate Handbook. |
Prescribed unit |
In some courses, such as the Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Technology or the Diploma in Education, you will have to complete certain compulsory units. The units which are compulsory have been specified by the Academic Senate and are referred to as prescribed units. |
Program of study |
Your program of study is the combination of units or research work required to enable you to qualify for the degree for which you are enrolled. Your program of study may also be the combination of units that you are taking in any one year. |
Proxy |
A proxy is a written authorisation empowering another person to vote or act for the signer. You may enrol by authorised proxy if you are a re-enrolling student who is not able to attend in person during the specified enrolment period. You should provide your proxy with all the necessary information to enrol on your behalf, including, if necessary, a completed HECS options form. Enrolment by proxy is not available to students in their first year of enrolment. |
Q
R
Registrar's Office |
All matters relating to an undergraduate student's enrolment and academic record are administered through the Undergraduate Studies Section. Any correspondence on these matters should be addressed to the Undergraduate Studies Section. Any enquiries or telephone calls should be directed to the Undergraduate Studies Section, Level 1, Lincoln Building (C8A), (02) 9850 7314. |
Rules |
See Bachelor Degree Rules, Graduate Diploma Rules. |
S
Schedule of Undergraduate Units |
The Schedule of Undergraduate Units in the Undergraduate Handbook is the official list of units offered, specifying time of offering, credit points, corequisites and prerequisites, and so on. |
Science unit |
A science unit is one which is accredited by the University for the purposes of the Bachelor of Science Rules. These units are identified in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units by an asterisk (*) next to the unit code. Also called designated science unit. |
Semester |
Unofficial term for half-year. |
Seminar |
In the style of instruction called a seminar, a small group of students and a lecturer meet to discuss a specific topic. |
Special examination |
If you were unable to attend a compulsory examination because of illness or unavoidable disruption, you may apply to the Academic Program Section to sit a special examination at a later date. The temporary grade awarded is ‘IS’ (Incomplete - Special Examination). |
Student Enquiry Service |
Staff in the Student Enquiry Service are available to provide help and information for all students. |
Student counsellor |
The University Counselling and Health Service (UCHS) has a number of specially trained staff who act as student counsellors. They can help you to deal with problems, both personal and study-related, that you may encounter while you are at the University. The service is free of charge, but you do need to make an appointment to see a counsellor. |
T
TEP |
Teacher Education Program. For more information visit www.mq.edu.au/aces |
Testamur |
Your testamur is the official document with the University's seal on it which certifies that you have been awarded your degree or diploma. |
Transcript |
See academic transcript |
Tuition fees |
Tuition fees are charged for many postgraduate courses and for graduate diplomas to cover the cost of teaching. No undergraduate degree courses at Macquarie currently charge tuition fees to Australian citizens and permanent residents. |
Tutor |
Any member of the academic staff who takes your tutorial is likely to be referred to as your tutor. More formally, tutor is the old title for the rank now known as associate lecturer. |
Tutorial |
In a tutorial, a group of (usually) 12 to 20 students meet with a tutor to discuss a specific topic. The topic may relate to one of the lectures in the unit, and one or more of the students may be asked to give a presentation for the others to discuss. |
U
UAC |
Universities Admissions Centre |
Unavoidable disruption |
Unavoidable disruption is the result of a set of circumstances beyond normal expectation and over which you have no control, which adversely affects the otherwise satisfactory progress of your studies. Documentary evidence of such disruption, or of illness, may be accepted (on the recommendation of the Dean of Division) as reason for withdrawal without penalty from a unit or for the award of a special examination. (used to be called misadventure.) |
Undergraduate |
Any course of academic study for a bachelor degree is regarded as an undergraduate course. See also postgraduate. |
Unit code |
An individual code has been allotted to each unit of study. The code is three or four letters to represent the subject area followed by one digit to represent the level of the unit: 1 = 100 level, 2 = 200 level, 3 = 300 level, etc followed by two further digits to distinguish the particular unit. For example, the unit code for Language and Social Life is LING312, indicating that it is a Linguistics unit at 300 level. |
Unit of study |
Your course, whether it is for a degree or diploma, is made up of a number of units of study (sometimes informally called subjects), each worth a set number of credit points. For instance, if you are studying for the Bachelor of Arts, you must complete units totalling at least 68 credit points you might do as many as 20 or 25 units, worth 2 to 6 credit points each. Units are offered either over the full year, or in first half-year, or in second half-year, or as vacation units. A list of all the units offered for undergraduate students is found in the Schedule of Undergraduate Units in the Undergraduate Handbook. |
University Handbooks |
The University publishes separate handbooks for postgraduate and undergraduate students. These contain information on postgraduate and undergraduate courses and their rules, and gives details on the units of study offered.
The most up-to-date information is published on the internet, www.handbooks.mq.edu.au. |
University medal |
University medals recognise exceptional achievement in students who graduate with first class honours in bachelor degrees each year. The candidate's Division of Registration may recommend to Academic Senate that a medal be awarded; only one medal may be awarded in an honours program in any particular year |
V
W
Waiver form |
The 'Special Approvals under Bachelor Degree Rules' form is often called a waiver form.
This is used to gain academic approval to enrol in a unit/s that you do not currently meet the requirements for. |
Withdrawal without penalty (W) |
‘W” (withdrawn) is a grade given for a unit of study which indicates that you have withdrawn from the unit without academic penalty and is awarded when a Fail grade is converted to a W, on the grounds of unavoidable disruption. ‘W’ withdrawn grades still attract a financial liability. |
Workload |
Your workload in your program of study is defined by the number of credit points you enrol for during the academic year. Full-time students generally do about 24 credit points a year, and part-time students about 12. |
X, Y, Z