The status of a student who has had no enrolment activity at the university for a defined period without having applied for leave of absence. AWOL students are required to apply to return to study when ready to re-commence their course.
Academic appeal
A review process by which a student seeks to have a prior academic decision reconsidered by the university. See section E/1.2 of the Manual of Policies and Procedures.
Academic calendar
The official QUT calendar. The academic year is divided into three major teaching periods: Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Program. The calendar lists dates of teaching periods, exams and holidays for QUT students.
Academic credit
See advanced standing.
Academic encumbrance
A sanction applied when a student is suspended, excluded or has their enrolment terminated for academic reasons. See also sanction.
Academic history
An unofficial version of the academic record. Can be viewed via the HiQ site or can be requested in PDF format via eStudent. See also academic record.
A complete listing of courses, units, results and other information concerning a student's academic studies.
Academic regalia
The official dress (gown, hood and headwear) worn at a graduation ceremony. Colours represent faculty or level of study.
Academic transcript
See academic record.
Activity (Context: Class Allocation and Registration)
Delivery of teaching, e.g., lecture, tutorial, seminar. Each activity may have one or more classes.
Administrative charge
The fee applied to cover certain administrative processes and services.
Admission
When a prospective student meets entry requirements, and a place is available, they will be admitted into a course.
Advanced diploma
A sub-bachelor award, of two or three years duration, requiring skill and knowledge of a greater complexity and a higher level than expected at a diploma level.
Advanced standing
Credit granted for prior learning. Advanced standing is expressed in terms of the unit(s) and/or the number of credit points given towards the completion of a QUT course.
Advanced Standing Precedent List (ASPL)
A list of previous advanced standing application outcomes that acts as a guide for students currently applying for academic credit.
Agent
A business entity that has a formal agreement with QUT allowing it to recruit international students on behalf of QUT.
Alternative entry
A means of applying for entry through QTAC for applicants with no secondary or other academic qualifications. Assessments may be based on work experience, professional qualifications (e.g., an apprenticeship), STAT etc. Year 12 students are not generally allowed to apply using Alternative Entry.
Alumni
A forum of all past graduates, staff members, past and present Council members, and other qualified members.
Anti-requisite
A unit that cannot be enrolled in once another specified unit has been successfully completed (or credited or exempted). Anti-requisites are most commonly used for units that are similar in content.
Apostille
To show that a QUT document eg graduation parchment is genuine for use in overseas countries party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, HiQ staff notarise the document before it is endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with an Apostille. See also Authentication.
Appeal
A review process by which a student seeks to have a prior decision reconsidered by the university.
Application
The process of requesting admission to a course.
Articulation
Allows students to progress to advanced study pathways as their needs change, based on previous studies, e.g., a Graduate Certificate articulates to a Graduate Diploma, and in turn to a Masters.
Assessment
Work such as an examination, assignment, practical, or performance that a student is required to complete to fulfil curriculum requirements.
Associate degree
A sub-bachelor award, of two years duration, following Year 12 or equivalent, or Certificate III or IV. It can be a shorter higher education qualification offering an exit point at the sub-degree level, or a fully articulated pathway into a bachelor or advanced diploma.
Associate diploma
A former sub-bachelor award of two years duration.
Assumed knowledge
Indicates the minimum level of knowledge for students considering a course, but is not used as criteria for entry. Students without the assumed level of study are not prevented from enrolling; however, they may be disadvantaged unless they undertake bridging courses during or prior to the first year of study.
At risk
An academic status that identifies undergraduate students who are in their first 48 credit points of study who have received a study period GPA less than 4. Students who are at risk will receive an email advising them to contact the faculty and/or Student Counselling regarding issues impacting their academic performance.
Attendance mode
The way a course or unit is delivered. Classification is determined as: internal, external, online or block.
Attendance type
Can be full-time or part-time. Classification is determined as: full-time (student must be enrolled in 75% or more of the standard credit points for a full-time semester); or part-time (student must be enrolled in less than 75% of the standard credit points for a full-time semester).
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)
A program that provides funding to cover the tuition fees for domestic postgraduate research students. This includes two years full-time equivalent entitlement for masters by research and four years full-time equivalent entitlement for doctoral research programs.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
A twelve level structure which includes all qualifications in education and training after Year 10. The Australian Qualifications Framework ensures that all qualifications are consistent and recognisable throughout Australia.
AUSTUDY
An income support scheme, provided by Centrelink, for full-time students aged 25 years and over.
Authentication (of documents)
To show that a QUT document (e.g., graduation parchment) is genuine for use in overseas countries not party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, HiQ staff notarise the document before it is Authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. See also Apostille.
Authority registered subject
A subject that senior secondary students may study. Results in these subjects are recorded on the Senior Certificate, but they are not included in the calculation of OPs and FPs. Formerly known as a board registered subject.
Authority subject
A subject that senior secondary students may study. Results in authority subjects are recorded on the Senior Certificate and included in the calculation of OPs and FPs. Formerly known as a board subject.
Auto-allocation
Students will be automatically registered when an activity has no choice of classes (i.e., only one registration option).
Auto-credit
Applied when a student transfers between courses and has already completed (and passed) a particular unit in another QUT course. Units that are credited via Auto-Credit have a Stage of 'Completed' and a Status of 'Credited'.
Availability
Specifies when, how, and by whom a study package (i.e., course or unit) is offered.
Award
The title of the course on completion, e.g., Bachelor of Science.
Award course
A program of study leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate accredited by QUT. See also course and study package.
Award parchment
A certificate issued when students have completed their course requirements and have had an award conferred by the University Academic Board. Also known as degree certificate or testamur.
Award with honours
Made to a student within some QUT bachelor degree courses of four or more years duration who have recorded outstanding achievement in their course.
B
Bachelor degree
The first level degree at a university, normally requiring at least three years of full-time study.
BGSB
Brisbane Graduate School of Business.
Blackboard
A web-based system for accessing course learning materials. Replaces the previous Online Learning and Teaching (OLT) system from 2008. Blackboard is linked from the QUT homepage. See QUT Blackboard.
Board registered subject
See authority registered subject.
Board subject
See authority subject.
Bridging program
A course that enables a student to take up a new subject or course by covering the gap between the student's existing knowledge and the skills required for the subject or course.
C
Calendar
See academic calendar.
Campus
The site on which a university is located. QUT has two campuses in Brisbane: Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. See also location code.
Cancellation of enrolment
When an award course or a program of non-award studies is discontinued . The cancellation may either be requested by the student or imposed by QUT if a student fails to adhere to administrative processes or pay charges. See withdrawal.
Census date
The date on which a student's enrolment is taken to be finalised. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP debts are incurred on census dates. Students must make their up-front payments and submit their requests for Commonwealth assistance by the census date.
Centrelink
A government agency that delivers a range of Commonwealth services to the Australian community, including income support for students, job seekers and people with disabilities.
Certificate course
A sub-bachelor award of 4 to 18 months duration, e.g., Certificates I-IV.
Certificate of completion
An award for shorter courses, e.g., the General English program for international students.
Certified copy
A photocopy of a document that has been certified by a Justice of the Peace or Commissioner of Declarations as being an exact copy of the original.
Chancellor
The honorary head of the university.
Cheating
Includes conduct such as bringing unauthorised material into an examination, communicating with others during examinations (whether by speaking or other means), reading the work of other examinees during the exam or attempting any of this type of conduct. See also academic misconduct and plagiarism.
CIF
Creative Industries Faculty.
Class contact
See contact hours.
Clinic
A learning activity that provides the opportunity to apply professional and practical understanding through engaging with clients in real-world situations.
Cluster
A group of teaching periods belonging to a particular semester.
Coaching
A learning activity that pairs students with an individual coach or a small group to help navigate problems, consider novel solutions, and improve skills and performance.
Cohort
See student cohort.
Combined award
An award or course delivered by two institutions. Students will graduate with two types of awards, usually a diploma and a degree. For example, QUT in conjunction with TAFE Queensland offers the combined award Diploma of Business/Bachelor of Business (Business). It should not be confused with a double degree.
Combined degree
See double degree.
Commencing student
A student who enrols for the first time in their course of study.
Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)
Contains information about a student's enrolment and use of Commonwealth assistance.
Commonwealth assisted student
A student who is a Commonwealth supported student or who is in receipt of a HELP loan or a Commonwealth Learning Scholarship.
Commonwealth contribution
The financial contribution that the Commonwealth makes towards the cost of a student's education.
Commonwealth Grant Scheme (CGS)
The scheme that facilitates Commonwealth contributions toward the cost of a student's education.
Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)
A unique identifier for each student that accesses Commonwealth assistance for higher education.
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
The Australian Government website that lists all Australian education providers and the courses they offer to international students.
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A higher education place for which the Commonwealth makes a contribution towards the cost of the student's education.
Commonwealth supported student
A student who occupies a Commonwealth supported place.
Complementary studies
The optional components you can take, in addition to the Course Core and Study Area A, to round out the completion of your course. Complementary Studies may include a Study Area B (second majors, minors etc) and or units.
Completion criteria
Requirements that must be met before a course can be deemed complete eg Industrial Experience.
Compulsory unit
See core component.
Concurrent pre-requisite rule
Allows a unit and its pre-requisite to be undertaken simultaneously.
Conditionally complete
A student's status when they require additional criteria to complete their degree, have been set to completion approved, and have enrolled in their final credit points.
Conferral
When the Registrar confirms the successful completion of an award course.
Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)
CoE is a Department of Education and Training document issued by QUT to international students who have accepted their offer with QUT. The CoE is used by the student to obtain an Australian International Student Visa.
Consequential withdrawal
A system process that, when enacted, withdraws a student from a unit where requisites have not been met.
Consultation
A learning activity that provides the opportunity to seek advice and/or feedback on a unit’s coursework and learning.
Contact hours
The number of hours that a student is expected to spend at university attending lectures, tutorials, or practical/laboratory classes; usually expressed as a weekly amount.
Continuing student
A student who will continue their enrolment in their course.
Cooperative education program
A joint venture between employers and QUT to better prepare students for employment upon graduation. The program integrates a student's studies with an extended period of paid industrial experience. Students are enrolled during the industrial experience which becomes part of their undergraduate program.
Core component
Mandatory component of a course or study area.
Core subject
See core component.
Co-requisite
When a unit requisite can be completed during the same study period as the unit it applies to (or must have been passed in an earlier study period).
Council
The body that is responsible for the entire management of the university. QUT Council comprises industry professionals; appointees from higher education, government, and commerce; elected staff, students and members of alumni; and the university's chief executive officer.
Course
An approved program of study in a discipline or field leading to an award from the university. See also award course and study package.
Course code
A course identifier used for administrative purposes. All course codes comprise two letters followed by two numbers (XX99).
Course completion
The semester and year in which a student expects to complete their course.
Course completion letter
QUT automatically provides international students studying an award course with letters of completion after the student officially completes their course. The letter includes course information, completion date, language of instruction for immigration purposes and graduation ceremony details. Other students requiring a letter of completion can request a verification of studies.
Course coordinator
An academic staff member responsible for the facilitation of a course or courses.
Course load
The minimum combined EFTSL value of units required to complete the course of study.
Course summary
An overview of a course including course structures, contact details and special requirements. The course structure lists the units, recommended order of study and electives for a particular course to assist with planning and meeting course requirements. Students can access their course summary from the courses section of the QUT Students site or from their study plan in HiQ.
Coursework masters
See masters by coursework.
Coursework program
A method of teaching and learning, usually in a structured class or seminar format, that leads to skills and knowledge and does not include a major research component.
Credit
See advanced standing.
Credit points (CP)
The number of points assigned to a unit, study area or complementary studies that count towards the enrolment load and total points to complete a course. Credit points are also an indicator of the amount of work the unit might entail.
Cross-institutional enrolment
An enrolment in one or more units through an institution other than the home institution. Study at the other institution is credited to the student's course. When the home institution is QUT, permission from the Executive Dean of Faculty is required prior to enrolment at the other institution to guarantee credit.
D
Dean
The executive director of a faculty.
Deferment
QTAC: where a QTAC offered applicant wishes to delay the start of their studies at QUT.
Exams and assessment: where any component of assessed work within a unit of study is approved to be done by a specified later date. For deferment of enrolment see leave of absence.
Degree
An award conferred by the university confirming that the student has completed a course of study.
Department of Education
The Commonwealth Government Department responsible for higher education. Formerly known as the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Department of Home Affairs
The Commonwealth Government Department that provides and coordinates policy advice on students' temporary entry to Australia. Formerly known as DIMIA/DIMA/DIAC/DIBP.
Designated unit
A unit which a student is required to pass in order to continue in their course.
Diploma
A sub-bachelor award of 18 to 24 months duration. It prepares students to apply technical and theoretical concepts in a broad range of contexts.
Discipline
A field of related studies, e.g., biology, physics, mathematics, history, music or fashion design.
Division
Departments and/or sections grouped together for the purpose of coordinating administrative and/or educational support services.
Domestic student
A student who is an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen resident in Australia, the holder of an Australian Permanent Resident Visa or the holder of a permanent humanitarian visa.
Double degree
A combination of two QUT degree courses from different disciplines undertaken simultaneously.