University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2000 (as amended)

This Rule is made by the Senate pursuant to section 37(1) of the University of Sydney Act 1989 for the purposes of the University of Sydney By-Law 1999.

This Rule comes into force on 1 January 2001.

This Rule governs all coursework award courses in the University. It is to be read in conjunction with the University of Sydney (Amendment Act) Rule 1999 and the Resolutions of the Senate and the faculty resolutions relating to each award course in that faculty.

In this Rule:

award course means a formally approved program of study which can lead to an academic award granted by the University.

coursework means an award course not designated as a research award course. While the program of study in a coursework award course may include a component of original, supervised research, other forms of instruction and learning normally will be dominant. All undergraduate award courses are coursework award courses.

credit means advanced standing based on previous attainment in another award course at the University or at another institution. The advanced standing is expressed as credit points granted towards the award course. Credit may be granted as specific credit or non-specific credit.

specific credit means the recognition of previously completed studies as directly equivalent to units of study;

non-specific credit means a 'block credit' for a specified number of credit points at a particular level. These credit points may be in a particular subject area but are not linked to a specific unit of study; and

credit points means a measure of value indicating the contribution each unit of study provides towards meeting award course completion requirements stated as a total credit point value.

dean means the dean of a faculty or the director or principal of an academic college or the chairperson of a board of studies.

degree means a degree at the level of bachelor or master for the purpose of this Rule.

embedded courses/programs means award courses in the graduate certificate/graduate diploma/master's degree by coursework sequence which allow unit of study credit points to count in more than one of the awards.

faculty means a faculty, college board, a board of studies or the Australian Graduate School of Management Limited as established in each case by its constitution and in these Rules refers to the faculty or faculties responsible for the award course concerned.

major means a defined program of study, generally comprising specified units of study from later stages of the award course.

minor means a defined program of study, generally comprising units of study from later stages of the award course and requiring a smaller number of credit points than a major.

postgraduate award course means an award course leading to the award of a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, degree of master or a doctorate. Normally, a postgraduate award course requires the prior completion of a relevant undergraduate degree or diploma.

research award course means an award course in which students undertake and report systematic, creative work in order to increase the stock of knowledge. The research award courses offered by the University are: higher doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy, doctorates by research and advanced coursework, and certain degrees of master designated as research degrees. The systematic, creative component of a research award course must comprise at least 66 per cent of the overall award course requirements.

stream means a defined program of study within an award course, which requires the completion of a program of study specified by the award course rules for the particular stream, in addition to the core program specified by award course rules for the award course.

student means a person enrolled as a candidate for a course.

testamur means a certificate of award provided to a graduate, usually at a graduation ceremony.

transcript or academic transcript means a printed statement setting out a student's academic record at the University.

unit of study means the smallest stand-alone component of a student's award course that is recordable on a student's transcript. Units of study have an integer credit point value, normally in the range 3–24.

undergraduate award course means an award course leading to the award of an associate diploma, diploma, advanced diploma or degree of bachelor.

Authorities and responsibilities for the functions set out in this Rule are also defined in the document Academic Delegations of Authority. The latter document sets out the mechanisms by which a person who has delegated authority may appoint an agent to perform a particular function.

The procedures for consideration of, and deadlines for submission of, proposals for new and amended award courses will be determined by the Academic Board.

To qualify for the award of a degree, diploma or certificate, a student must:

complete the award course requirements specified by the Senate for the award of the degree, diploma or certificate concerned;

complete any other award course requirements specified by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the faculty and published in the faculty resolutions relating to the award course;

complete any other award course requirements specified by the faculty in accordance with its delegated authority and published in the faculty resolutions relating to the award course; and

satisfy the requirements of all other relevant by-laws, rules and resolutions of the University.

A unit of study comprises the forms of teaching and learning approved by a faculty. Where the unit of study is being provided specifically for an award course which is the responsibility of another faculty, that faculty must also provide approval.

Any faculty considering the inclusion of a unit of study in the tables of units available for an award course for which it is responsible may review the forms of teaching and learning of that unit, may consult with the approving faculty about aspects of that unit and may specify additional conditions with respect to inclusion of that unit of study.

A student completes a unit of study if the student:

participates in the learning experiences provided for the unit of study;

meets the standards required by the University for academic honesty;

meets all examination, assessment and attendance requirements for the unit of study; and

passes the required assessments for the unit of study.

Each unit of study is assigned a specified number of credit points by the faculty responsible for the unit of study.

The total number of credit points required for completion of an award course will be as specified in the Senate resolutions relating to the award course.

The total number of credit points required for completion of award courses in an approved combined award course will be specified in the Senate or faculty resolutions relating to the award course.

A student may, under special circumstances, and in accordance with faculty resolutions, be permitted by the relevant dean to undertake a unit or units of study other than those specified in the faculty resolutions relating to the award course and have that unit or those units of study counted towards fulfilling the requirements of the award course in which the student is enrolled.

A student who completes a unit of study will normally be awarded grades of high distinction, distinction, credit or pass, in accordance with policies established by the Academic Board. The grades high distinction, distinction and credit indicate work of a standard higher than that required for a pass.

A student who completes a unit of study for which only a pass/fail result is available will be recorded as having satisfied requirements.

In determining the results of a student in any unit of study, the whole of the student's work in the unit of study may be taken into account.

Examination and assessment in the University are conducted in accordance with the policies and directions of the Academic Board.

A faculty has authority to specify the attendance requirements for courses or units of study in that faculty. A faculty must take into account any University policies concerning modes of attendance, equity and disabled access.

A faculty has authority to specify the circumstances under which a student who does not satisfy attendance requirements may be deemed not to have completed a unit of study or an award course.

A student who has completed a unit of study towards the requirements of an award course may not re-enrol in that unit of study, except as permitted by faculty resolution or with the written permission of the dean. A student permitted to re-enrol may receive a higher or lower grade, but not additional credit points.

Except as provided in section 7.1, a student may not enrol in any unit of study which overlaps substantially in content with a unit that has already been completed or for which credit or exemption has been granted towards the award course requirements.

A student may not enrol in units of study additional to award course requirements without first obtaining permission from the relevant dean.

Except as prescribed in faculty resolutions or with the permission of the relevant dean:

a student enrolled in an undergraduate course may not enrol in units of study with a total value of more than 32 credit points in any one semester, or 16 credit points in the summer session; and

a student enrolled in a postgraduate award course may not enrol in units of study with a total value of more than 24 credit points in any one semester, or 12 credit points in the summer session.

Students may be granted credit on the basis of previous studies.

Notwithstanding any credit granted on the basis of work completed or prior learning in another award course at the University of Sydney or in another institution, in order to qualify for an award a student must:

for undergraduate award courses, complete a minimum of the equivalent of two full-time semesters of the award course at the University; and

for postgraduate award courses, complete at least 50 per cent of the requirements prescribed for the award course at the University.

The credit granted on the basis of work completed at an institution other than a university normally should not exceed one third of the overall award course requirements.

A faculty has authority to establish embedded academic sequences in closely related graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's degree award courses. In such embedded sequences, a student may be granted credit for all or some of the units of study completed in one award of the sequence towards any other award in the sequence, irrespective of whether or not the award has been conferred.

In an award course offered as part of an approved conjoint venture the provisions for the granting of credit are prescribed in the Resolutions of the Senate and the faculty resolutions relating to that award course.

The relevant dean may permit a student to complete a unit or units of study at another university or institution and have that unit or those units of study credited to the student's award course.

The relevant dean has authority to determine any conditions applying to cross-institutional study.

A student who repeats a unit of study shall, unless granted exemption by the relevant dean:

participate in the learning experiences provided for the unit of study; and

meet all examination, assessment and attendance requirements for the unit of study.

A student who presents for re-assessment in any unit of study is not eligible for any prize or scholarship awarded in connection with that unit of study without the permission of the relevant dean.

A student must complete all the requirements for an award course within ten calendar years or any lesser period if specified by resolution of the Senate or the faculty.

A student who wishes to discontinue enrolment in an award course or a unit of study must apply to the relevant dean and will be presumed to have discontinued enrolment from the date of that application, unless evidence is produced showing:

that the discontinuation occurred at an earlier date; and

that there was good reason why the application could not be made at the earlier time.

A student who discontinues enrolment during the first year of enrolment in an award course may not re-enrol in that award course unless:

the relevant dean has granted prior permission to re-enrol; or

the student is reselected for admission to candidature for that course.

No student may discontinue enrolment in an award course or unit of study after the end of classes in that award course or unit of study, unless he or she produces evidence that:

the discontinuation occurred at an earlier date; and

there was good reason why the application could not be made at the earlier time.

A discontinuation of enrolment may be recorded as 'Withdrawn (W)' or 'Discontinued – not to count as failure (DNF)' where that discontinuation occurs within the time-frames specified by the University and published by the faculty, or where the student meets other conditions as specified by the relevant faculty.

A student must be enrolled in each semester in which he or she is actively completing the requirements for the award course. A student who wishes to suspend candidature must first obtain approval from the relevant dean.

The candidature of a student who has not re-enrolled and who has not obtained approval from the dean for suspension will be deemed to have lapsed.

A student whose candidature has lapsed must apply for re-admission in accordance with procedures determined by the relevant faculty.

A student who enrols after suspending candidature shall complete the requirements for the award course under such conditions as determined by the dean.

A faculty has authority to determine what constitutes satisfactory progress for all students enrolled in award courses in that faculty, in accordance with the policies and directions of the Academic Board.

For the purposes of this Rule, 'good cause' means circumstances beyond the reasonable control of a student, which may include serious ill health or misadventure, but does not include demands of employers, pressure of employment or time devoted to non-University activities, unless these are relevant to serious ill health or misadventure. In all cases the onus is on the student to provide the University with satisfactory evidence to establish good cause. The University may take into account relevant aspects of a student's record in other courses or units of study within the University and relevant aspects of academic studies at other institutions provided that the student presents this information to the University.

The relevant dean may require a student who has not made satisfactory progress to show good cause why he or she should be allowed to re-enrol.

The dean will permit a student who has shown good cause to re-enrol.

exclude the student from the relevant course; or

permit the student to re-enrol in the relevant award course subject to restrictions on units of study, which may include, but are not restricted to:

completion of a unit or units of study within a specified time;

exclusion from a unit or units of study, provided that the dean must first consult the head of the department responsible for the unit or units of study; and

specification of the earliest date upon which a student may re-enrol in a unit or units of study.

A student who has been excluded from an award course or from a unit or units of study may apply to the relevant dean for re-admission to the award course or re-enrolment in the unit or units of study concerned after at least four semesters, and that dean may readmit the student to the award course or permit the student to re-enrol in the unit or units of study concerned.

With the written approval of the relevant dean, a student who has been excluded may be given credit for any work completed elsewhere in the University or in another university during a period of exclusion.

The relevant dean may vary any requirement for a particular student enrolled in an award course in that faculty where, in the opinion of the dean, exceptional circumstances exist.

Undergraduate diplomas may be awarded in five grades – pass, pass with merit, pass with distinction, pass with high distinction or honours.

Degrees of bachelor may be awarded in two grades – pass or honours.

Graduate diplomas and graduate certificates may be awarded in one grade only – pass.

Degrees of master by coursework may be awarded three grades – pass, pass with merit or honours.

The award of honours is reserved to indicate special proficiency. The basis on which a student may qualify for the award of honours in a particular award course is specified in the faculty resolutions relating to the course.

Each faculty shall publish the grading systems and criteria for the award of honours in that faculty.

Classes which may be used for the award of honours are:

First Class

Second Class/Division 1

Second Class/Division 2

Third Class

With respect to award courses which include an additional honours year:

a student may not graduate with the pass degree while enrolled in the honours year;

on the recommendation of the head of the department concerned, a dean may permit a student who has been awarded the pass degree at a recognised tertiary institution to enrol in the honours year in that faculty;

faculties may prescribe the conditions under which a student may enrol part-time in the honours year;

a student who fails or discontinues the honours year may not re-enrol in it, except with the approval of the dean.

An honours bachelor's degree student with an outstanding academic record throughout the award course may be eligible for the award of a University Medal, in accordance with Academic Board policy and the requirements of the faculty resolutions relating to the award course concerned.

The award of honours or pass with merit is reserved to indicate special proficiency or particular pathways to completion. The basis on which a student may qualify for the award of honours or the award with merit in a particular degree is specified in the Faculty Resolutions relating to that degree.

A student who has completed an award course or a unit of study at the University will receive an academic transcript upon application and payment of any charges required.

Testamurs may indicate streams or majors or both as specified in the relevant faculty resolutions.

This Rule applies to all candidates for degrees, diplomas and certificates who commence candidature after 1 January 2001.

Candidates who commenced candidature prior to this date may choose to proceed in accordance with the resolutions of the Senate in force at the time they enrolled, except that the faculty may determine specific conditions for any student who has re-enrolled in an award course after a period of suspension.