7. General information and faculty policies

Application for admission

Undergraduate degrees and combined degrees

Details of the faculty's Undergraduate Admissions policy are available at Future Students: www.arts.usyd.edu.au

Application for admission to candidature for undergraduate degree and combined degree programs is made through the:

Universities Admission Centre (UAC)
Quad 2, 8 Parkview Drive
Homebush Bay NSW 2127
Phone: +61 2 9752 0200

Postal Address:
Locked Bag 112
Silverwater NSW 2128

Enquiries concerning the various Special Admission schemes offered by the University (including Mature Age) should also contact the University of Sydney Special Admissions Office, phone +61 2 8627 8207.

Undergraduate diplomas

Application for admission to candidature for undergraduate diploma programs is made directly to the Faculty of Arts office, where application forms are available. Applications close 31 October 2009 for graduate applicants, and 31 January 2010 for undergraduate degree candidates from other faculties of the University of Sydney who wish to enrol concurrently in one of the diplomas. (The application must include written permission from the Dean, Director or Principal of the other faculty or college in which you are enrolled.)

The Diploma of Arts, Diploma of Languages and Diploma of Social Sciences each require the completion of 48 credit points (including at least 36 senior credit points) in one subject area from Part A of the table of units of study for the Bachelor of Arts degree. Candidature is available to enrolled undergraduates and to graduates and may be full-time (depending on subject area of study and/or prerequisites) or part-time within the time limit of five years.

Faculty policies and general information

To be read in conjunction with Senate and faculty resolutions.

Appeals against results

The Faculty of Arts stands behind its marking process. All care is taken to ensure that the marking is consistent and fair and that markers adhere to the assessment criteria as advertised by the Faculty. Marking is regarded as an important part of the teaching and learning experience and markers provide constructive feedback to assess student progress.

If a student is of the opinion that the mark does not reflect the quality of his/her work and wishes to lodge an appeal against the grade awarded, the student must:

1. First contact the unit of study coordinator and if the coordinator is not available, contact the chair of the department or undergraduate coordinator in writing within fifteen working days of the marks being made available to students.
2. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome he/she may formally appeal against the grade to the Faculty Office (Attention: Dean of the Faculty of Arts) with the required documentation.

For more information please refer to the Faculty of Arts policy on Student Appeal and Remarking of Written Work and the Academic Board Resolution on Student Appeals Against Academic Decisions, www.arts.usyd.edu.au.

Attendance at classes

The Faculty requires satisfactory attendance at classes as a minimum condition of completion of a unit of study. Attendance below 80% of tutorials/seminars without written evidence of illness or misadventure may be penalised with loss of marks. For more information please refer to the Faculty of Arts policy on Attendance, www.arts.usyd.edu.au.

Credit transfer policy

Please refer to Chapter 3, section 14 for the faculty's credit transfer policy and its policy on units of study offered by other faculties within the University but not listed in Part B of the Table of units of study for the Bachelor of Arts.

Complaints and grievances

Students who believe they have been unfairly treated are encouraged to speak to their teachers or to the Chair of the department in the first instance. Students may, of course, also wish to seek advice and support from the Counselling Service or from student welfare officers. If the problem cannot be resolved at the departmental level, students may write to the Dean, care of the faculty office.

Dean's List of Meritorious Students

The annual Dean's List of Meritorious Students recognises academic excellence by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (including combined degree programs). Faculty views the establishment of the Dean's List as recognition of the high standard of academic excellence of Arts students and as a means of making their achievements known to both the wider University community and the public in general.

• The List is produced on the basis of each calendar year, since 1999, and will include the 20 most meritorious students in the Faculty of Arts.
• To be included in the annual Dean's List a student must have completed in the calendar year, usually in any year of enrolment after their first, usually at least 48 credit points. (A candidate enrolled in the Honours course is ineligible for inclusion in the Dean's List).
• The sole criterion in determining the award of a place in the list shall be the marks approved by the first and second semester Board of Examiners' meetings. (Late or subsequently altered results will not be considered in any circumstances.)
• Candidates for combined degrees are eligible, even if also eligible for inclusion in the Dean's List in another faculty or board of studies.
• Cross-institutional and other non-award students, diploma and postgraduate students are not eligible for inclusion in the Dean's List.

Deferment of UAC offers

Special provisions apply to persons who receive an offer of a place and wish to defer taking up an offer.

Persons who have not previously attended a recognised tertiary institution are normally able to defer commencement of their candidature for one year. Applications, which are handled by the Admissions Office of the University, must be made during the UAC enrolment period and be accompanied by the 'offer of enrolment' card.

Email accounts

All students and staff of the University have access to electronic mail facilities.

The University's Information and Communication Technology Services (ICT) provides all students with an email account free of charge. At the beginning of each academic year the ICT will allocate to you an email account, details of which will be printed on your Confirmation of Enrolment. As some students may not have computers of their own, ICT has installed an extra email interface which is convenient for use in computer laboratories. This basic, web-based email client can be used from any Web browser which can read pages on the University's network. If you have your own computer or subscribe to additional options on the extro system you will be able to choose from a number of different mechanisms for reading your email. The web interface is intended to provide basic functionality only.

Enrolment

Correct enrolment is the individual responsibility of each candidate.

The faculty assumes that those enrolled in the faculty have an understanding of the rules and regulations outlined in this Handbook as they relate to the particular program being undertaken.

While the Faculty of Arts office will assist you to understand and interpret these rules and regulations, it is in your interests to put your requests in writing to the faculty, in order to obtain a written reply for your own records and to ensure that a copy is placed on your student file for future reference.

Verbal advice, while given in good faith, may be given on an incomplete understanding of your situation as you have presented it, or may be misinterpreted or misunderstood. A candidate cannot count any unit of study or part-unit in which the candidate is not enrolled, even if a department has calculated and provided an informal result. Persons who wish to re-enrol after an approved period of suspension of candidature or as Honours conversion candidates need to complete an application to re-enrol after an absence. Application forms are available from the Faculty of Arts office or on the Arts website and must be lodged by the end of October for the following year.

Re-enrolment

All currently enrolled candidates will receive re-enrolment advice in October. Failure to re-enrol, or have a suspension of candidature approved, results in termination of candidature.

Current students wishing to enrol in Fourth Year Honours should note advice about entry in this handbook. The Honours Year has been divided into four (4) units of study for enrolment purposes only. Each unit of study has a credit point value of 12. In most cases Honours units of study have unit codes ending in 4011, 4012, 4013 or 4014. Full-time candidates enrol in 24 credit points per semester (eg, February semester: ENGL4011 and ENGL4012. July semester: ENGL4013 and ENGL4014). Approved part-time candidates enrol in 12 credit points each semester (eg Year 1: February semester ENGL4011, July semester ENGL4012. Year 2: February semester ENGL4013, July semester ENGL4014).

Variation of enrolment

Students should carefully check the statements of enrolment posted to the semester address registered with the University. Variations of enrolment may be made via the Internet (access is via the University of Sydney home page) or through the faculty office by the due date.

Advising the lecturer or the department is not sufficient. Students have sometimes found themselves with an unwelcome result of Absent Fail or with an unnecessary HECS liability because they either did not check their enrolment carefully or forgot to advise the University of a new semester address. Students are encouraged to check with the Faculty Office without delay if they believe their formal enrolment may not be correct.

Students wishing to withdraw from a unit of study in which they have enrolled and enrol in a new unit of study must do so at the Faculty of Arts office or via the Internet by:

• the end of the second week of first semester (for first semester units of study)
• the end of the second week of second semester (for second semester units of study).

Suspension of enrolment

Pass course

• Students must re-enrol annually. A student who wishes to suspend candidature must first obtain approval from the faculty.
• The candidature of a student who has not re-enrolled and who has not obtained approval to suspend will be deemed to have lapsed.
• Suspensions are not approved for more than four semesters.
• Candidates who re-enrol after a period of suspension must complete the requirements for the award course under such conditions as determined by the Dean.
• Candidates who have completed the requirements for the pass degree may not suspend their candidature and must be awarded the degree unless they are enrolled in the Honours course.

Examinations and results

There is a formal examination period at the end of each semester following a one-week 'study vacation'.

Draft examination timetables are issued well in advance. Candidates should make an effort to check the draft timetable as soon as it is released and immediately report any clashes to the Examinations Office. Draft examination timetables usually become final after seven days.

Information as to the time of particular exams is never available before the draft timetable is released.

Candidates are expected to be available throughout the examination periods; the faculty will not approve leave of absence for these times. (It may be possible to make special arrangements with individual departments and schools on an informal basis; but only if such arrangements are acceptable to the examiners and do not involve the University in additional expense.) Candidates should not make overseas travel arrangements before the final dates of their examination are known.

Examination rules

The general rules which apply in examinations are reproduced with each timetable.

Assessment Consideration

Special Consideration, Special Arrangements and Extensions for Written Work

For further information and to apply online go to www.arts.usyd.edu.au

Special Consideration and Special Arrangements

The Faculty of Arts assesses student requests for consideration relating to completion of assessment in accordance with the regulations set out in Part 5 of the Academic Board's policy on Assessment and Examination of Coursework and the Special Arrangements for Examination and Assessment policy. Students are expected to become familiar with the University's policies and Faculty procedures relating to Special Consideration and Special Arrangements.

There are two types of consideration students can apply for as follows:
Special Consideration – for serious illness or misadventure.
Special Arrangements – for essential community commitments.

Special consideration

The University's assessment practices are designed to ensure that conditions are fair to all students, as consistent as possible, and that individual students are not disadvantaged by adverse personal circumstances beyond their control or by the activities of other students.

There is a clear distinction between longstanding serious illness or misadventure and short-term serious illness or misadventure.

Longstanding serious illness or misadventure

Students who, because of serious illness or misadventure, are prevented from attending classes for prolonged periods should seek an interview with the Undergraduate Coordinator in each of the departments in which they are studying. Even if they do not exceed any specified permitted period of absence, they may need to consider whether their best interests are served by discontinuing with permission from the course until they are able to resume their studies effectively. They may apply to the Faculty of Arts in writing for a suspension (leave of absence) of their candidature or to withdraw from the unit or units of study affected. International students may seek advice from the International Office regarding visa requirements prior to making any changes to enrolments.

Short-term serious illness or misadventure

Only well-attested serious illness or misadventure during a semester or occurring at the time of an examination will warrant special consideration for academic performance. This policy deals with short-term serious illness or misadventure that may prevent an otherwise well prepared student from sitting for an examination or completing a particular assessment.

Special Consideration will NOT be granted in the following Instances

• Occasional brief or trivial illness of a one or two week duration that occur one week or more before an assessment is due or an examination undertaken;
• Workloads from other units of study, disciplines and faculties, except where the request for special consideration is made within the first three weeks of semester;
• Employment where the request for special consideration is made less than four weeks before the date of the assessment;
• Illness and misadventure that have prevented students from acquiring a Pass level of knowledge/skills (including all illnesses/misadventures resulting in the student missing six weeks or more of lectures or tutorials);
• Adequate standards of documentation and processes have not been met;
• Requests for extensions for assignments made after the assignment is due or an assessment has taken place (except where the circumstances prevented earlier provision; no special consideration requests shall be processed if submitted more than one week after the assessment);
• The performance of the student was equivalent or superior to that demonstrated in other assessments in the unit of study; and they pertain to planned commitments, such as elective surgery, holiday or work, where the student could reasonably be expected to have scheduled the commitment or their studies to not adversely affect their studies;
• Computer-related problems, except where a police report is provided indicating that burglary or calamity has resulted in the loss of both a computer and backups from the student's place of residence (NB it is assumed that students keep regular back-ups of their work, so theft of a laptop is not grounds for special consideration).
• Jury service, military service, national sporting, religious or cultural commitments and other unforeseen events are not dealt with under this policy, as they are not instances of illness or misadventure. Such matters are dealt with under the Special Arrangements policy.

Any student who is found to have provided forged documentation in order to obtain special consideration will be subject to the University's procedures for dealing with cases of student discipline as set out in Chapter 8 of the University of Sydney By-law 1999 (as amended).

Examiners may respond to a request for special consideration in one or more ways:

1. When the candidate is on the 'borderline' between grades the examiners may elect to give the higher grade;
2. The candidate may be given a further test usually before the meeting of the Board of Examiners;
3. An extension for missing or unsatisfactory assignments may be approved, or new assignments arranged;
4. If in the judgement of the examiners the candidate is not capable of achieving a pass even with extensions of time and/or further tests, no action will be taken. The approval of such special arrangements is entirely at the discretion of the examiners. It should be noted that no extensions or further tests could be given, in any circumstances, after the beginning of the following academic year. If the requirements for a unit of study have not been completed by then, the candidate has failed it. (In some cases, a department may be willing to grant exemptions for work completed if the student re-enrols in the unit of study in a later year, but the candidate must re-enrol in the whole unit of study).

Requests for special consideration are sympathetically treated, but candidates must appreciate that in some cases the faculty cannot make the concession requested, even when strong evidence is presented.

To apply for special consideration online, further information and the Academic Board policy, go to the Faculty of Arts website: www.arts.usyd.edu.au.

Special Arrangements

Special Arrangements may be made available to any student enrolled in a Faculty of Arts unit of study, who is unable to meet assessment requirements or attend examinations, because of one or more of the following situations:

1. essential religious commitments or essential beliefs (including cultural and ceremonial commitments);
2. compulsory legal absence (eg jury duty, court summons, etc);
3. sporting or cultural commitments, including political/union commitments, where the student is representing the University, state or nation;
4. birth or adoption of a child; and
5. Australian Defence Force or emergency service commitments (including Army Reserve).

To apply for special arrangements, further information and the Academic Board policy, go to the Faculty of Arts website: www.arts.usyd.edu.au.

Any student who is found to have provided forged documentation in order to obtain special arrangements will be subject to the University's procedures for dealing with cases of student discipline as set out in Chapter 8 of the University of Sydney By-law 1999 (as amended).

Students should first contact either their unit of study coordinator or the department's undergraduate coordinator.

Further tests

All requirements for the unit of study (essays, assignments, examinations and any further tests) must be completed and assessed before the finalisation of results for that semester. Supplementary examinations are not awarded to degree candidates in the Faculty of Arts and have been replaced by 'further tests'.

Where there is doubt about a candidate's performance, departments may arrange further tests after the examination period but before the finalisation of results.

Where a candidate has been prevented by sufficient and duly certified illness or misadventure from completing a unit of study, examiners (at their discretion) may award further tests or additional assignments. The date for such further tests, and the deadline for assignments, are at the discretion of the department concerned. Where possible and practicable, all further tests will be administered before the advertised date for release of results. No further tests can be taken, and no late work submitted, in the following academic year in any circumstances.

No further tests will be granted for Law units of study.

Late Work

Any student who hands in work late (that is, at any time following the published due date), and does not meet the criteria for an extension or special consideration, or who does not have a special case under disability or students at risk programs, will be penalised. For more information please refer to the Faculty of Arts policy on Late Work available on the website, www.arts.usyd.edu.au.

Results: Junior and Senior units of study

In accordance with Academic Board Policy, departments are encouraged to make results available to students directly after they have been confirmed by the Chair. Students will receive written confirmation of results. Students can also access results via the Internet.

For all units of study other than Fourth Year Honours, the following grades apply within the Faculty of Arts:

High Distinction: 85 per cent and above

Distinction: 75-84 per cent

Credit: 65-74 per cent

Pass: 50-64 per cent

Fail: Anything below 50 per cent

Terminating passes are not available to candidates in degrees supervised by the faculty and cannot be counted towards degrees in the faculty if obtained at another institution.

Candidates who do not complete units of study in which they enrol receive one of four results: 'withdrawn', 'discontinued – not to count as failure', 'discontinued – fail' or 'absent fail'. Except in cases of serious illness or misadventure the result is determined by the date on which notification is received by the Faculty of Arts office.

Withdrawn

This is the same as if the candidate had not enrolled in the unit of study concerned. Although the University has a record of the withdrawal, the unit of study and result will not appear on the official transcript of academic record. In this case there is no HECS liability.

In order to have a unit of study enrolment recorded as 'withdrawn', notice must be given by the candidate to the Faculty of Arts office on or before the deadline of

• Wednesday 31 March 2010 (for semester one units)
• Tuesday 31 August 2010 (for semester two units)

Discontinued not to count as failure (DNF)

This does not count as an attempt at the particular unit of study but does appear on the candidate's academic record.

In order to have a unit of study enrolment recorded as 'discontinued – not to count as failure':

1. notice must be given to the Faculty of Arts office on or before the deadline of

• Friday 23 April 2010 (for semester one units)
• Friday 10 September 2010 (for semester two units) or

2. after the deadline, evidence is produced of serious illness or misadventure.

Students should note, however, the regulations concerning satisfactory progress. Discontinuation – not to count as failure in a unit or units of study does not mean that the student's progress is considered to be satisfactory.

Discontinued Fail (DF)

This counts as an unsuccessful attempt at the unit of study concerned and appears on the candidate's academic record. Where notice is given after the deadline for 'discontinued – not to count as failure' but before the last day of lectures for the unit of study, the result is 'DF'.

• Friday 4 June 2010 is the last day of lectures in first semester
• Friday 29 October 2010 is the last day of lectures in second semester

Absent Fail

If a candidate misses the deadline for 'discontinued' and does not sit the final exam, the result is 'absent fail'.

Exceeding semester limit

Students other than first year are permitted to undertake units of study up to 30 credit points per semester. Only students due to complete their degree requirements may be permitted to exceed the limit with the permission of the faculty.

The weighted average mark

A WAM may be calculated for students who have attempted senior units of study. The WAM for students in the Faculty of Arts is the average mark per unit of study of all senior units attempted. Results of W (Withdrawn) and DNF (Discontinued – not to count as failure) are ignored in the WAM calculation.

A document providing more information about the WAM and the ways in which it is used is available from the Faculty of Arts office. Students are encouraged to read it and raise any concerns they have with members of the academic staff or with an Undergraduate Adviser in the Faculty office.

Full-time, part-time status

To be considered 'full-time', a student must have a HECS HELP liability of at least .375 in a semester. In terms of the Faculty degrees, this means a student must be enrolled in at least 18 credit points in a semester. Students with enrolments below this level are part-time.

HECS-HELP

HECS-HELP (the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, which may either be paid in full with a discount or deferred) is determined on a semester basis from the 'weight' of the units of study the student is enrolled in. This means that workload determines HECS-HELP liability. An enrolment in 24 credit points in a semester is the standard full-time load and costs approximately 0.5 HECS.

Information and Advice

Any candidate who wishes to make an application relevant to a degree, or who needs advice as to degree or unit of study requirements should contact the Undergraduate Adviser for the Faculty of Arts. The adviser is located in the Faculty of Arts office, Ground Floor, Western Tower (opposite the Clock Tower at the foot of the MacLaurin Hall stairs), Quadrangle. The office is normally open for enquiries from 10.00am to 4.00pm (Mon – Fri). The phone number is +61 2 9351 3129; fax +61 2 9351 2045. Detailed or complex requests should be made in writing to:

The Student Administration Services Manager
Faculty of Arts office
Quadrangle A14
The University of Sydney
New South Wales 2006

Email:

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of ideas, methods or written words of another person or group without acknowledgement of the source, and the intention of portraying the work as your own. If you summarise another person's work without acknowledging them, or make minor alterations to a piece of text without quoting the source, you are plagiarising. In the course of academic life, plagiarism appears both in the taking of the work of acknowledged scholars as well as the taking of the work of peers, particularly other students. Plagiarism is a form of theft and a form of fraud. It constitutes an academic offence.

Repeating a unit of study

A student repeating a unit of study may be exempted by the department from some sections of the unit of study. Nevertheless, the student must enrol in the unit of study and is liable for the full HECS cost for the unit of study.

Talented student program

The Faculty of Science offers a talented student program in many of its subject areas. Arts students taking units of study in Mathematics or other science areas may also apply to enter the talented students program. Further information is available from these departments.

Timetables

All students will have access to their timetable via the Internet. Details about access will be provided at enrolment.

Website: www.usyd.edu.au/studentcentre/timetabling

Timetable clashes

Efforts are made to avoid timetabling clashes but it is not possible to eliminate them completely. Students who have clashes with classes should consult the relevant teaching staff in the departments concerned and acquaint themselves with the departmental policies regarding attendance before they make a decision about how to deal with such clashes. Students must be aware that ultimately they are responsible for the consequences of any decision they make.

Students who decide to continue with both units of study must check that the relevant teaching staff are made aware of their intention. Furthermore, students should note that they may not use a timetable clash to gain, for instance, special consideration, negotiate due dates, or miss in-class testing.

Students should be advised that they need to keep in mind the final dates for changing or withdrawing from units of study so that they do not incur penalties or additional HECS.

Majors

Students will be asked to nominate their primary major. All majors which a student is eligible for will be reflected on the testamur for the pass degree.

BA (Asian Studies) degree award

Eligible students will be advised and if they do not confirm their intention in regard to the degree by the due date they will be awarded the BA (Asian Studies) degree and may not revert to the BA only.

BA (Languages) Exchange

Students must spend at least one semester on exchange organised through the International Office, or undertake in-country study at an appropriate university where the target language is the official language of that university/country. If students spend one semester on exchange or in-country study, they must complete a minimum of 24 senior credit points (counted here as exchange units), including 12 senior credit points in the language major. If students choose to spend two semesters abroad, they may claim up to 48 senior credit points, including 24 in the language major.

Bachelor of International Studies Travel Scholarship

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of International Studies (DH054) in the Faculty of Arts commencing 2008, may apply for a travel scholarship if enrolled in GOVT2802 International Studies Practicum. Students should contact the Faculty of Arts for further information.

Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of International and Global Studies and Bachelor of International and Global Studies and Bachelor of Laws Study Abroad Scholarships

Students enrolled in the above mentioned degrees may apply for a scholarship to undertake study at an overseas tertiary institution for one or two semesters. For further information please contact the Faculty of Arts.

Arts Network - Student Support Program

The Arts Network Mentoring Program is about giving new first years a warm welcome and a great introduction to the Faculty of Arts. It's a chance for first years to meet other new students they'll be studying with. They also benefit from all the wit and wisdom of our fantastic senior students, who volunteer to be mentors for the program.

The main objective of the Arts Network is to help build an encouraging and supportive learning environment and sense of identity and belonging for all students in the Faculty of Arts, especially for incoming first year students. In working towards achieving our primary objective, we might just happen to have a bit of fun along the way too.

Get involved
To find out more about what's in the program for you, check out the info pages for first years and mentors. You can join the program online www.arts.usyd.edu/teaching/ArtsNetwork/ by following the links. Any more questions? email

The Write Site

The Write Site provides online support to help you develop your academic and professional writing skills.

Each module provides descriptions of common problems in academic and professional writing and strategies for addressing them. You will see samples of good writing and also do some practice activities in error correction.

For more information go to: www.writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au