Responsible officer: Deputy Vice Chancellor
Designated officer: Deputy Vice Chancellor
Approving authority: Academic Board
Approval: 2 February 2010
Last amended: 2 February 2010
Effective starting date: 2 February 2010
Policy number: AB18

Related policies:

• Coursework Programs and Awards – Governing Policy
• Doctoral Degrees – Governing Policy
• Research Masters Degrees – Governing Policy
• Program Accreditation and Course Approval - Governing and Institutional Operating Policy
• Learning and Teaching – Governing Policy
• Undergraduate Programs and Awards – Institutional Operating Policy

Due date for next review: 2 February 2015

Contents

• Purpose of policy
• Application of policy
• Definitions
• Types of postgraduate coursework programs
• Postgraduate program levels
• Master degree
• Graduate Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate/Postgraduate Certificate
• Study component 
• Courses included in postgraduate coursework programs
• Nested suites of programs, progression and exit points

Part A: Preliminary

1. Purpose of policy

1.1 The following policy prescribes the structure and requirements of postgraduate coursework programs, including Master degrees, Graduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Diplomas, Graduate Certificates and Postgraduate Certificates.

The policy does not relate to higher degrees by research.

2. Application of policy

2.1 This policy applies to all staff and decision-making bodies involved in the development and approval of postgraduate coursework programs of the University, and agents and partners of the University.

3. Definitions

In this policy the following definitions apply:

“Advanced level course” means a course that is coded at 200, 300 or 400 and the first digit of the coding corresponds to the year in which the course is normally offered in an undergraduate program.

“Award” means the qualification granted to a student who has completed all the requirements of the program associated with the award.

“Course” means a discrete element of a program, normally undertaken over a single teaching session, in which the student enrols, and on completion of which the student is awarded a grade, such grades appearing on a student's Official Statement of Academic Record.

“Introductory level course” means a course that is coded at 100 and is normally associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

“Postgraduate in level” means a postgraduate coursework program that provides students with an advanced knowledge of a specialist field of study or area of professional practice involving theoretical and applied topics.

“Postgraduate in time” means postgraduate coursework program that provides students with the opportunity to either develop a new discipline area, or extend skills and knowledge in a specialist field, usually with an emphasis on the acquisition or enhancement of professional or vocational skills and knowledge.

“Postgraduate level course” means a course that is coded at 500, 600 or 700, with the first digit of the coding indicating a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters course, respectively.

“Program” means a set of coherently scoped, sequenced and structured studies or courses undertaken by a student in order to meet the requirements for award of a qualification, other than a higher degree by research, that is conferred by the Council of the University.

“Project work” means a course that requires the establishment of a “real world” topic or problem which may be individual to a student or a group and which the student/group is required to investigate, apply theoretical concepts and produce an outcome usually in the form of a written report.

“Required course” means a course that is mandatory for all students to complete to be eligible for graduation from a program.

“Study component” means a coherent set of courses that develop a particular academic theme which is formally recognised on the Official Statement of Academic Record. This includes Majors, Extended Majors, Minors, Specialisations and Dean’s Scholars.

“Unit” means the value assigned to a course. As a general guide, the expectation is that students will undertake approximately 130 hours of work for each 12 units of coursework, including all forms of teaching contact and private study.

Part B: Policy

4. Types of postgraduate coursework programs and their structural features

4.1 Classification of coursework master programs

4.1.1 The University offers postgraduate programs that may consist of totally coursework, totally research or a combination of research and coursework.

4.1.2 Programs that comprise less than two thirds research are classified as coursework postgraduate programs. Master and Doctoral degrees that comprise at least two thirds research are classified as research higher degrees (refer to the Master by Research Degrees – Governing Policy or Doctorate Degrees – Governing Policy).

5. Postgraduate program levels

5.1 The University is committed to providing high quality and well designed postgraduate programs which meet the needs of its students and the community. Programs at the University are designed and structured based on the following principles.

5.2 Programs will:

(a) align to guidelines for learning outcome characteristics and pathways as described in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Implementation Handbook;

(b) set clear academic expectations and standards;

(c) provide clear and consistent program completion requirements for students; and

(d) meet the University’s requirement in regard to Graduate Attributes as identified in the Learning and Teaching - Governing Policy.

(e) not be offered until they have been accredited by the process identified in the Program Accreditation and Course Approval - Governing and Institutional Operating Policy

5.3 Codes for postgraduate programs are in the format of two alphabetic characters followed by three numeric characters, for example SC532. The first two characters normally represent the Faculty administering the program, or designate the program as interfaculty in the case of a program offered collaboratively by two or more faculties.

5.4 Postgraduate coursework program levels are:

Master Degree

Graduate Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma

Graduate Certificate/Postgraduate Certificate

6. Master degree

6.1 Characteristics

6.1.2 Coursework master degrees will:

(a) provide students with an advanced knowledge of a specialist field of study or area of professional practice involving theoretical and applied topics (Postgraduate in Level); and/or

(b) allow the student to either develop a new discipline area, or extend skills and knowledge in a specialist field, usually with an emphasis on the acquisition or enhancement of professional or vocational skills and knowledge (Postgraduate in Time).

6.1.3 The unit value for a coursework master degree will align with professional and sectional norms for its specific discipline and will normally be:

(a) 96 units: in which case a pre-requisite is a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree in a related discipline;

(b) 144 units: in which case a pre-requisite is a minimum of a three-year undergraduate degree in any discipline; or

(c) 192 units: where there is a professional/industry requirement for an 'advanced' level of study.

6.1.4 To seek a variation from the requirements in 6.1.3, a case must be made at the point of accreditation of the program.

6.2 Structure

6.2.1 A Coursework Master Degree comprises coursework, work-based or professional practice, project work and research in varying combinations.

6.2.2 Project work in a coursework masters degree would normally be a maximum of 48 units.

6.2.3 Each Master Degree shall be designed to a achieve a set of Graduate Attributes which include the Graduate Qualities, Generic Skills along with the Learning Outcomes specific to the program.

6.3 Research Component

6.3.1 Where a Master degree includes a single research course of 36 units or greater, the arrangements for supervision and for examination of the thesis shall be consistent with the University’s Master by Research Degrees – Governing Policy.

7. Graduate Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate/Postgraduate Certificate

7.1 A Graduate Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma is a coursework program comprising at least 96 units.

7.2 A Graduate Certificate/Postgraduate Certificate is a coursework program comprising at least 48 units.

7.3 Characteristics

7.3.1 Graduate certificates/postgraduate certificates and graduate diplomas/postgraduate diplomas are coursework programs that are generally designed for specific professional purposes to provide graduates and allied professionals with short, focussed programs and are taught at a level appropriate to a graduate intake.

7.3.2 Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates (postgraduate in level) - are designed for students who are pursuing postgraduate studies to advance their knowledge in a discipline area related to their undergraduate studies. As such, they extend skills and knowledge in a professional area previously studied.

7.3.3 Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificates (postgraduate in time) - are designed for students who are graduates and who are pursuing studies in a new discipline area. As such, they develop understandings in a new academic, professional or vocational area.

7.4 Structure

7.4.1 Graduate diploma/postgraduate diploma and graduate certificate/postgraduate certificate programs comprise coursework, work-based or professional practice, and project work in varying combinations.

7.4.2 Each graduate diploma/postgraduate diploma and graduate certificate/postgraduate certificate program shall be designed to a achieve a set of Graduate Attributes which include the Graduate Qualities and Generic Skills along with the Learning Outcomes specific to the program.

8. Study  component

A study component is a coherent set of courses that develop a particular academic theme, and is approved by Academic Board as part of the program’s accreditation.

8.1 Specialisation

8.1.1 A specialisation may be included in a Master Degree, a graduate diploma/postgraduate diploma or a graduate certificate/postgraduate certificate.

8.1.2 A specialisation comprises at least 48 units of study that develop a coherent academic theme.

8.1.3 A specialisation must differ from all other approved specialisation by at least 12 units.

9. Courses  included in postgraduate coursework programs

9.1 Courses included in postgraduate coursework programs must comply with the following requirements:

Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters that are postgraduate in level: all courses will normally be postgraduate level courses.

Master Degrees that are postgraduate in time: a minimum of 48 units of postgraduate level courses must be included.

Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas that are postgraduate in time: all courses may be undergraduate level courses. Specifically designed postgraduate courses may be included where there is sufficient demand and/or there are professional recognition requirements.

9.2 The number of undergraduate introductory level courses is limited to 24 units in any postgraduate coursework program.

10. Nested  suites of programs, progression and exit points

10.1 Coursework postgraduate programs may be organised as “nested suites” with a graduate/postgraduate certificate, graduate/postgraduate diploma and a master degree offered in the same discipline area.

10.2 Nested suites of programs normally have shared entry requirements and a common pool of courses which facilitates student movement between the programs with full credit transfer.

10.3 The following table identifies the exit and entry points normally associated with nested suites of postgraduate coursework programs:

10.4 Progression to the higher level program may specify a minimum level of performance or require additional entry requirements, which will be specified at the time the program is accredited.

END

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