Undergraduate Courses Policy (MPF1016)
RELEVANT LEGISLATION
University of Melbourne Act 2009
Statute 4.1 – The Academic Board
Statute 11.1 – Courses, Enrolment and Assessment
Regulation 11.1.R1 – Made under Statute 11.1
Regulation 11.1.A1 – Awards of the University
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
SCOPE
This policy applies to all undergraduate coursework award courses offered by the University of
Melbourne.
POLICY
1. Bachelor degree
1.1
A bachelor degree:
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consists of 300 points, with 100 points taken at each of first, second- and third-year
levels, as specified in each degree’s course rules, unless otherwise approved by the
Board .
is of three years (six semesters) full-time duration
includes a major and a breadth component, unless exempted by the Board.
will meet the requirements of an AQF level 7 qualification.
1.2
Each bachelor degree may have particular course rules which will be published in the
Handbook.
1.3
The minimum entry requirement for a bachelor degree course is the Victorian Certificate of
Education (VCE) or equivalent. Particular subject area requirements and minimum achievement
levels for each course will be approved by the Board and published in the Resolutions on
Selection and the Admission and Selection Into Courses Policy.
1.4
Majors:
(a)
Completion of a major is required for completion of a bachelor degree course, except for
except the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts courses, which contain specialisations.
(b)
Majors are a sequence of subjects designed to provide a depth of understanding in at least
one core discipline area within their course and prepare students for honours and graduate study
or employment in similar or cognate fields.
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(c)
Double majors may be undertaken in some courses (i.e. complete the requirements of two
majors within course requirements).
(d)
The number of credit points required for completion of a major may vary between courses.
(e)
Each major may require a different combination of compulsory and elective subjects
depending on the discipline area. Details of the points required for majors in the degrees are
specified in the course rules, as detailed in the Handbook.
(f)
Variations to the requirements of a major for an individual student may be approved by the
Program Director, on the advice of the relevant department, where the variation will not
compromise the academic integrity of the major.
(g)
Changes to the number of points required for a major is not permitted.
1.5
Minors
(a)
Minors comprise 75 credit points of study.
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25 points at each of first-, second- and third-year level; or
12.5 points at first-year level, 25 points at second-year level; and 37.5 points at third-year
level.
1.6
Breadth
(a)
The following breadth rules apply to bachelor degrees):
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(b)
Students are required to take a core component of 225 points and a breadth component
of at least 50 points. The remaining 25 points may be taken as either core component,
breadth or a combination of core component and breadth.
The core component of the course comprises subjects offered in fields of study
encompassed by the degree, including from designated majors in the course.
Students may take no more than 37.5 points of breadth at level one.
Bachelor of Commerce students seeking accreditation in actuarial studies or accounting
are exempt from a portion of the breadth component to allow completion of the subject
requirements for professional accreditation.
The Bachelor of Engineering, introduced in 2008, breadth requirement is between 37.5
and 50 points.
Bachelor of Environments students may be permitted to take breadth subjects that are
also available as core subjects in the course.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts suite of courses, Bachelor of Oral Health and the Bachelor of
Agriculture are exempt from the breadth requirement.
Breadth options include:
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University Breadth Subjects (UBS) are available in the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of
Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Environments, Bachelor of Music and
Bachelor of Science courses.
any other subjects available as breadth for the course (i.e. subjects outside the fields of
study offered within the core component), where the relevant subject prerequisites have
been met.
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1.7
Capstone Component
(a)
All undergraduate degrees will contain a capstone experience. Capstone experiences will
be an activity or experience, including but not limited to an examination or research project, which
requires students to consolidate and integrate the work undertaken in their Major. The Capstone
experience is intended to:
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offer both disciplinary and cohort coherence;
function as a bridge between the undergraduate experience and what lies beyond;
consolidate the content and skills acquisition components of a student's Major area of
study; and
encourage the student to apply those skills and experience both within the Capstone experience
itself, and after they have graduated.
1.8
Completion of 50 points of study at one year level is required before proceeding to the next
year level, unless otherwise approved by the Board.
1.9.
A student who has-
(a)
pursued a course of studies for at least three academic years as a full-time student, or its
equivalent as a part-time student, unless a different period of candidature has been approved by
the President of the Board on the recommendation of the relevant dean,
(b)
attended lectures and classes and undertaken such assignments, investigations and
practical laboratory, field or clinical work as prescribed by the Board on the recommendation of
the faculty and published in the Handbook, and
(c)
completed all assessments to the satisfaction of the examiners;
may be admitted to the degree of bachelor appropriate to the discipline or specialty studied, with
the award title listed by the Board pursuant to Regulation 11.1.R1.
2. Bachelor honours programs
2.1
A Bachelor honours program will meet the requirements of an AQF level 8 qualification.
2.2
A bachelor honours program is an additional 100 point program taken after the completion
of a 300-point bachelor degree course, with the exception of the Bachelor of Engineering degree
with honours.
2.3
No more than 25 points of the 100 points of a Bachelor honours program may be taken at
the third-year level.
2.4
Bachelor honours programs must include a research subject of 25 points or more
(dissertation, minor thesis or research project).
2.5
The Board will approve minimum entry requirements for bachelor honours programs and
publish them in the Resolutions on Selection.
2.6
The Bachelor of Engineering is a 400-point course with 100 points at each year level
where honours is recognised through academic achievement.
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2.7
A Bachelor (degree with honours) can only be awarded when:
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a student has completed all components of the honours program in accordance with the
course rules; and
the examiners certify that the student has been awarded first, second or third class
honours.
3. Sequential bachelor degree courses
3.1
Sequential bachelor degree courses will be structured such that the first course is
completed with 300 points (3 years) and the second with a subsequent 200 points (2 years). The
second course is completed with up to 100 points cross-credited from the first course.
3.2
The second course will consist primarily of core subjects and breadth will not be available
unless otherwise approved by the Board.
3.3
100 points of credit in the second course will consist largely of breath studies undertaken
in the first. Credit may be given for core subjects where appropriate.
3.4
Completion of a major is required both courses.
3.5
Entry into the second course requires the applicant to have met the entry and prerequisite
requirements of the second course from school studies or from studies within the first course.
4. Concurrent diplomas
4.1
A concurrent diploma will meet the requirements of an AQF level 5 qualification
4.2
A concurrent diploma course can only be undertaken concurrently with a bachelor degree
course and requires completion of:
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a specified 100-point program
between 50 and 100 points of study in addition to that completed through the bachelor
degree course
a diploma in an area of study separate to that which the student is undertaking as part of
a bachelor’s degree;
a bachelor degree course to take out the diploma.
4.3
Up to 50 points of studies undertaken towards the bachelor degree course may be crosscredited towards the concurrent diploma course (and vice versa), allowing completion of the
concurrent diploma course and bachelor degree course with the addition of only 50 points.
4.4
The Diploma in Music (Practical) requires completion of a minimum of 75 points with a
maximum of 25 points cross-credited.
4.5
In some cases subjects taken towards the breadth component of a bachelor degree
course may be credited towards a concurrent diploma course.
4.6
Credit points for subjects completed in a degree or diploma cannot be moved from the
degree or diploma to allow additional subjects to be taken in the degree.
4.7
Studies completed in a concurrent diploma course may be credited to a graduate course
where
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the credit guidelines for the graduate course permit, and
the student discontinues the concurrent diploma course.
4.8
Entry to a concurrent diploma course will be permitted after completion of one year of
study in a bachelor degree course. With the permission of the enrolling faculty, entry to a
concurrent diploma course may occur at the commencement of a bachelor degree course or after
completion of two years of study in a bachelor degree course.
4.9
Entry to the Diploma in Music (Practical) is only available at the commencement of a
bachelor degree course.
4.10
Eligibility is limited to students who meet the entry requirements for the diploma
4.11
Selection for a concurrent diploma course:
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is by competitive entry;
only available to students who meet the entry requirements;
will be based upon academic merit or an audition; and
is subject to availability of places and completion of prerequisite study, where
prerequisites have been established
4.12 Commonwealth supported and international fee-paying places will be available in each of
the concurrent diploma courses.
4.13
A student who, after being admitted to the course, has:
(a)
pursued a course of studies for the time prescribed or for any variation of the time which
has been formally approved by President of the Board on the recommendation the relevant dean;
(b)
attended lectures and classes and undertaken such assignments, investigations and
practical work as prescribed by the Board on the recommendation of the relevant faculty and
published in the Handbook; and
(c)
completed to the satisfaction of the examiners the prescribed assessments,
may be granted the concurrent diploma appropriate to the discipline or specialty studied, with the
award title listed by the Board pursuant to Regulation 11.1.R1.
5. Associate degrees
5.1
Associate degrees will meet the requirements of an AQF level 6 qualification
5.2
An Associate degree:
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consists of 200 points, with 100 points taken at each of first and second-year levels
is of two years (four semesters) full-time duration
unless otherwise approved by the Board.
5.3
Associate Degree courses may be designed to allow students to articulate into a bachelor
degree course in a cognate area of study with a maximum credit of 200 points. All other
provisions of the Advanced Standing, Credit and Accelerated Subject Entry Policy will apply.
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5.4
The minimum entry requirement for an associate degree course is the VCE or equivalent.
Particular subject area requirements and minimum achievement levels for each course will be
approved by the Academic Board and published in the Resolutions on Selection and/or the
Admission and Selection Into Courses Policy.
5.5
The subjects of the course for the associate degree and the conditions on which those
subjects may be taken are those approved by the Board and published in the Handbook.
5.6.
A student who has:
(a)
pursued a course of studies for at least two academic years as a full–time student, or its
equivalent as a part-time student, unless a different period of candidature has been approved by
the President of the Board on the recommendation of the relevant dean;
(b)
attended lectures and classes and undertaken such assignments, investigations and
practical field work as prescribed by the Board and published in the Handbook; and
(c)
completed to the satisfaction of the examiners prescribed assessments,
may be granted the associate degree appropriate to the discipline or specialty studied, with the
award title listed by the Board pursuant to Regulation 11.1.R1.
6. Advanced diplomas
6.1
An Advanced Diploma course:
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consists of 150 or 200 points, with 100 points taken at each of first and second-year
levels
is of two years (four semesters) full-time duration
unless otherwise approved by the Board.
6.2
An Advanced Diploma will meet the requirements of an AQF level 6 qualification
6.3
Advanced Diplomas may be designed to allow students to articulate into a bachelor
degree course in a cognate area of study with a maximum credit of 200 points. All other
provisions of the Advanced Standing, Credit and Accelerated Subject Entry Policy will apply.
6.4
The minimum entry requirement for an Advanced Diploma course is the VCE or
equivalent. Particular subject area requirements and minimum achievement levels for each
course will be approved by the Board and published in the Resolutions on Selection or the
Admission and Selection Into Courses Policy.
6.5. The subjects of the advanced diploma and the conditions on which such subjects may be
taken are those prescribed by the Board and published in the Handbook.
6.6
A student who has:
(a)
pursued a course of studies for the time prescribed or for any variation of the time which
has been formally approved by the President of the Board on the recommendation of the relevant
dean;
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(b)
attended lectures and classes and undertaken such assignments, investigations and
practical work as prescribed by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the relevant
faculty and published in the Handbook; and
(c)
completed to the satisfaction of the examiners the prescribed assessments,
may be granted the advanced diploma or associate diploma appropriate to the discipline or
specialty studied, with the award title listed by the Board pursuant to Regulation 11.1.R1.
7. Learning Outcomes
7.1
All courses must include statements of learning outcomes which will address the types of
skills and knowledge, both specific and generic, that students are expected to acquire in the
course.
7.2
Learning outcomes are approved by the Academic Board when the course is established.
7.3
Learning outcomes must be designed, at a minimum, to be consistent with students
acquiring the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) learning outcomes (knowledge, skills,
and application of knowledge and skills) as set out in the criteria and descriptors for the
appropriate qualification type.
7.4
Course coherence will be demonstrated by clarity of the learning outcomes and the way in
which each element in the course contributes to achieving them.
8. Articulated courses
8.1
Articulated courses may be developed. These may be between undergraduate courses or
from an undergraduate to a graduate course.
8.2
Where courses allow articulation from an undergraduate to a graduate award course, the
graduate part of the course must meet the graduate course structure requirements as set out in
the Graduate Course Structure Policy. For example, the Master of Engineering is structured as a
fully articulated course from a bachelor degree course where the relevant streams/majors have
been completed.
9. Combined degrees (double degrees)
9.1
Combined degrees will not be approved in undergraduate courses from 2008.
10. Course progression
10.1 Where the Board has approved specific progression rules for a course, these must be
published in the Handbook.
10.2 Progression rules may specify the number of credit points which must be completed at
each year level of the course before proceeding to the next year level.
10.3 Progression rules may specify a level of academic achievement to move from a nested
course to a subsequent course or to articulate from one course to another.
11.
Management and administration new generation bachelor degree
courses
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11.1
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Each bachelor degree course will have a course standing committee which:
oversees the design, development and delivery of the course;
monitors the quality of the course; and
proposes any necessary course changes to the Academic Board through the Academic
Programs Committee (APC).
11.2 Membership and terms of reference of the course standing committees are outlined in
Schedule A.
11.3 The custodial dean is the dean of the faculty to which the new generation bachelor degree
course has been assigned for administrative purposes. Responsibilities of the custodial dean are
outlined in Schedule B.
11.4 Responsibilities of deans of all faculties contributing core studies or pathways in the new
generation bachelor degree courses are set out in Schedule B.
11.5 A program director will be appointed to each of the six bachelor degree courses introduced
in 2008 (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of
Environments, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science) to provide a single point of
accountability for the responsibilities shared by faculties participating in the new generation
bachelor degree course. Responsibilities of the program director are set out in Schedule B.
11.6 Each bachelor degree course (or sometimes a major in a course) will have a course
coordinator assigned whose primary responsibilities are oversight of the academic integrity of the
course (or major) and oversight of the provision of advice to students on matters relating to their
course. Specific roles of course coordinators are determined by the faculty dean and may be set
out in various University policies and procedures.
SCHEDULES
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Schedule A – Course Standing Committee Composition and Terms of Reference
Schedule B – Responsibilities of Custodial Deans, Deans and Program Directors in the
Management and Administration of New Generation Bachelor Degree Courses
RELATED DOCUMENTS
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Admission and Selection Into Courses Policy
Australian Qualifications Framework
Award Nomenclature & Abbreviations Procedure
Breadth Study in Undergraduate Courses Procedure
Course, Program and Subject Approval and Review Policy
Course, Program and Subject Approval and Review Procedure
Course Duration and Completion Policy
Course Duration and Completion Procedure
Credit, Advanced Standing and Accelerated Subject Entry Policy
Discontinuation and Phasing-Out of Academic Programs Policy
Discontinuation and Phasing-Out of Academic Programs Procedure
Graduate Course Policy
Resolutions on Selection
Credit for Prior Learning Procedure
Special Credit-Admission for Polytechnic Students Procedure
Student Application and Selection Procedure
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DEFINITIONS
Term
Definition
Articulate/Articulation
movement between qualifications, where the completion of one award
allows movement into another (higher award) with advanced standing
and credit in the higher award.
Award course
A program of study formally approved/accredited by the University
which leads to an academic award granted by the University or which
qualifies a student to enter a course at a level higher than a bachelor's
degree.
Board
the Academic Board of the University of Melbourne
Breadth:
A component of a Bachelor degree comprising subject drawn from
areas of study outside those offered within the core component of the
degree.
Breadth track:
a coherent group of three or more subjects (including at least one
subject at level 2 or higher) that progressively develops knowledge and
skills relevant to a particular domain, theme, topic or issue. Breadth
Tracks may be in a single discipline, or multi-disciplinary or interdisciplinary (some Breadth Tracks include subjects that are not
available as Breadth in all New Generation degrees). A list of Breadth
Tracks is available in the handbook.
an activity or experience, including but not limited to an examination or
research project, which requires students to consolidate and integrate
the work undertaken in their Major. The Capstone experience is
intended to:
Capstone subject /
experience:
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offer both disciplinary and cohort coherence;
function as a bridge between the undergraduate experience
and what lies beyond;
consolidate the content and skills acquisition components of a
student’s Major area of study; and
encourage the student to apply those skills and experience both within
the Capstone experience itself, and after they have graduated.
Concurrent diploma:
An award course, involving study equivalent in depth to an
undergraduate Major which is undertaken concurrently with a Bachelor
degree. The title of a concurrent diploma is Diploma in XXXXX
Compulsory subjects
subjects required for completion of the degree
Core:
subjects required for completion of a Major
Core component:
subjects undertaken from within the broad discipline central to the
degree (i.e. Arts, Science etc.). These may include compulsory and
elective subjects.
Credit Points
an allocated number (usually 12.5 or multiples thereof) that represents
the size of the subject, its workload and its contribution to meet the
requirements of a course.
Cross-credit:
Where a subject taken towards one award course may also be
included in the Points required for a second award. Cross-crediting
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allows a student to complete awards without accumulating the
combined total Points of each award.
Custodial faculty:
a faculty to which courses and/or subjects have been assigned for
administrative purposes.
Diploma:
concurrent diploma
Elective:
subjects within the broad discipline central to either the degree or
Major, from which students may choose a specified number
Handbook:
The official University repository for all current course and subject
information
Honours:
a 100 point program of study at the fourth year level following a 300
point Bachelor degree.
Learning outcomes:
the expression of a set of knowledge, skills and the application of the
knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate
as a result of learning
Major:
defined sequence of subjects chosen to provide depth of study within a
specific subject area
Minor:
defined sequence of subjects within an award course, generally
comprising fewer points than a major
Nested course -
A sequence of courses that form stages in the highest available award.
Each stage may operate as an entry and exit point.
Points:
means Credit Points
Program:
The term is often used generally to cover a course or streams within a
course, it also has the specific meaning of a recognised coherent
cluster of subjects within a course for which there are particular
structural requirements specified (e.g. compulsory core subjects,
sequencing of subjects). It may also be used to cover a part of a
course, for example honours in a bachelor degree.
Sequential degrees -
The completion of two bachelor degrees in sequence.
Specialisation:
constitutes an area of academic or vocational expertise in which
students focus their studies within their degree.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICER
The President of the Academic Board is responsible for the development, compliance monitoring
and review of this policy.
IMPLEMENTATION OFFICER
The Academic Secretary is responsible for the promulgation and implementation of this policy in
accordance with the scope outlined above. Enquiries about interpretation of this policy should be
directed to the implementation officer.
REVIEW
This policy is to be reviewed by 30 June 2015.
VERSION HISTORY
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Version Approved By
1
President,
Academic
Board
Approval
Date
Effective
Date
Sections Modified
21 Sep
2012
21 Sep
2012
New version arising from the Policy
Simplification Project. Loaded into MPL as
Version 1.
2
Academic
Board
5 Dec
2013
6 Dec
2013
Modifications to all sections relating to courses
to include content from Regulation 11.1.A1
consequent upon the proposed revocation of
Regulation 11.1.A1.
Previously titled Undergraduate Course
Structure Policy.
3
Academic
Board
29 May
2014
29 May
2014
New section 1.7 inserted and subsequent
statements within section 1 renumbered.
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