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C/3.2 Award classifications |
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3.2.1 Policy principles 3.2.1 Policy principlesQUT offers the award categories of associate degree, university certificate, university diploma, university advanced diploma, and university associate degree, bachelor degree, honours degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters degree and doctoral degree. Policy relating to award courses offered by QUT is based on the following principles:
3.2.2 Sub-bachelor awardsQUT may choose to offer sub-bachelor awards in the form of associate degrees which will normally be exit awards only. (a) Academic characteristics Sub-bachelor awards provide students with an introduction to the foundations of a discipline or across several disciplines. Students are expected to develop:
(b) Structure Sub-bachelor courses are normally sub-sets of existing bachelor degree awards and the units, academic characteristics, and learning outcomes are drawn directly from the parent bachelor degree. QUT also offers four specific sub-bachelor awards which are available to international students only and which do not articulate with a parent bachelor degree.
(c) Entry requirements Sub-bachelor awards require satisfactory completion of Year 12 in an Australian school system or equivalent, or an appropriate vocational education and training qualification, as the level of entry. 3.2.3 Bachelor degreesBachelor degrees include the following:
(a) Academic characteristics Bachelor degree courses provide students with a systematic and coherent introduction to a body of knowledge, the underlying principles and concepts, and the associated problem-solving techniques. Students are expected to develop the academic skills and attributes needed to comprehend and evaluate new information and concepts from a range of sources so that after completion of a degree they can continue to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowledge gained in their undergraduate studies. A bachelor degree course includes the provision of major studies in which a significant literature is available. Course content is taken to a significant depth, and knowledge is progressively developed to a high level to provide a basis for professional careers and pathways to postgraduate study and research. (b) Structure A bachelor degree comprises the following:
QUT encourages the provision of research pathways within bachelor degrees, such as the Dean's Scholars Programs. (c) Entry requirements Bachelor degree courses require satisfactory completion of Year 12 in an Australian school system, or equivalent, as the level of entry. Faculties may specify assumed knowledge of specific discipline areas, and may also set other special entry requirements such as folios or auditions (see E/4.1.2 ). (d) Entry pathways A number of pathways are available for entry to bachelor degree courses including:
3.2.4 Honours degreesAn honours degree is a 96 credit point (two semesters full-time equivalent) bachelor level degree following completion of a 288 credit point bachelor degree course. On completion, students receive both the award for the bachelor degree and the award for the honours degree. The level of honours awarded is based on the student's final grade point average (GPA) (see C/5.2.4). (a) Academic characteristics Honours degrees offer an additional 96 credit points of undergraduate study following a 288 credit point bachelor degree and provide:
(b) Structure Honours degrees contain a mix of advanced theory, professional training (where appropriate), research training, and a research project leading to a written dissertation or alternative form of presentation if appropriate. At least 25 per cent of the credit points associated with the course must be allocated to a project or dissertation. The proportion of credit points allocated to a project or dissertation should have reference to current practice within the relevant discipline nationally. (c) Entry requirements Honours degrees require completion of a three-year bachelor degree with a GPA of at least 5 as the level of entry, including grades of at least 5 in all units directly relevant to, or specified as prerequisite for, the proposed honours degree. Applicants who have demonstrated outstanding performance in only the final year of a bachelor degree, or whose application is based on other factors including work experience or involvement in research, may be admitted at the discretion of the executive dean of faculty. (d) Entry pathways Students who wish to undertake an honours degree must apply for admission at the end of the final year of their bachelor degree, or within 18 months of completing that degree. (e) Examination requirements For honours degrees, project reports and dissertations are examined by an examining committee, appointed by the executive dean, and consisting of at least two examiners, one of whom may be external to the University. The supervisor of the candidate's work may be a member of the committee but may not chair the committee or act as the primary examiner. A minimum of three copies of a dissertation is presented to the supervisor for examination. Dissertations are temporarily bound in order to facilitate the making of any revisions and editorial changes required by examiners before final printing and binding. 3.2.5 Graduate certificates and graduate diplomasA graduate certificate is a 48 credit point (one semester full-time equivalent) coursework postgraduate course. A graduate diploma is a 96 credit point (two semesters full-time equivalent) coursework postgraduate course. In some cases where there are discipline specific requirements, a graduate diploma may comprise more than 96 credit points. (a) Academic characteristics Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas are coursework courses that are generally designed for specific professional purposes to provide graduates and allied professionals with short, focussed programs and are taught at a level appropriate to a graduate intake. Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas may be developed in response to needs and demands to upgrade knowledge in areas of changing technology or expertise. Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas will either:
(b) Structure A graduate certificate will normally consist entirely of coursework. A graduate diploma may include a mix of coursework and project work. A graduate certificate may be designed to include up to 48 credit points of undergraduate units (see C/3.1.8). (c) Entry requirements Entry to graduate certificates or graduate diplomas requires completion of a three-year bachelor degree. In some circumstances, relevant prior work experience, particularly relevant professional practice, may be recognised for entry. (d) Entry pathways Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas may form part of a suite of nested courses together with a coursework masters degree (see C/3.1.8). 3.2.6 Masters degreesMasters degrees are classified as either coursework or research and may be:
(a) Academic characteristics Masters degrees provide students with an advanced knowledge of a specialist field of study or area of professional practice involving theoretical and applied topics. Students are expected to think rigorously and independently, develop high level skills in analysis, critical evaluation, and professional application, and creatively and flexibly apply knowledge and skills to new situations and complex problems. Coursework masters degrees allow the student to either develop a new discipline area, or extend skills and knowledge in a specialist field, usually with an emphasis on the acquisition or enhancement of professional or vocational skills and knowledge. Research masters degrees allow the student to acquire an in-depth understanding in a specialist field through a research program involving critical evaluation, selection and application of research methodologies, analysis of literature, and evaluation and interpretation of results. Guidelines for the requirements for a research masters degree, including supervision and examination of the research thesis are available from the Research Students Centre website. (b) Structure A coursework masters degree comprises coursework, project work and research in varying combinations. A project or dissertation in a coursework masters degree would normally be a maximum of 48 credit points. Credit points for a coursework masters degree will normally be 96 credit points if the pre-requisite is a four-year undergraduate degree or equivalent, and 144 credit points if the pre-requisite is a three-year undergraduate degree. Coursework masters degrees of 192 credit points may be established where there is a discipline requirement for an 'advanced' level of study provided by an additional 48 credit points beyond the standard 144 credit point course. A professional coursework masters degree normally involves a work-based or professional practice project. A research masters degree comprises coursework and research higher degree in varying combinations, where at least two-thirds of the course involves research higher degree and completion of a substantial, externally examined thesis. A research masters degree may vary between 1 EFTSL (96 credit points equivalent) and 2 EFTSL (192 credit points equivalent). (c) Entry requirements Entry to a masters degree is based on evidence of a capacity to undertake higher degree studies in the proposed field. For a coursework masters degree, entry is based on as a minimum:
For a professional coursework masters degree entry may be on the basis of either a relevant qualification and professional experience, or extensive high-level relevant professional experience. For a research masters degree, entry is based on as a minimum:
(d) Entry pathways Possible pathways for entry to a masters degree include:
Where an 'advanced' 192 credit point coursework masters degree is established, this would normally form a nested suite with a 'standard' 144 credit point coursework masters in the same discipline. Students with an honours degree entering a research masters degree may be granted advanced standing for the coursework component of the course. A research masters degree is a possible early exit point for students enrolled in a doctoral degree. (e) Examination requirements QUT requires that at least two examiners, at least one of whom is external to the University, be appointed to examine a thesis presented for a research master degree. The academic board responsible for the course appoints examiners on advice from the head of school and/or principal supervisor. Notes for the guidance of examiners of research master degree theses can be found at the Research Students Centre website. 3.2.7 Doctoral degreesA doctoral degree is a 3 EFTSL time-based course (six semesters full-time equivalent).QUT offers both a PhD and professional doctorates. The PhD is primarily achieved through supervised research. A professional doctorate involves varying combinations of research and coursework and may be classified as either a research higher degree or coursework doctoral degree. Professional doctorates may be developed in collaboration with relevant professional bodies or other universities. (a) Academic characteristics Doctoral degree programs provide students with the opportunity to carry out research addressing a matter of substance at a high level of originality and quality. Students are expected to provide a substantial original contribution in the form of new knowledge or significant and original adaptation, application, and interpretation of existing knowledge. QUT encourages a variety of approaches to the selection of topics and supervisors, and models of supervision. Topics could include multidisciplinary problems suggested by external bodies (for example, industry, government and commerce) with joint supervisors appointed from both academic and external environments. (b) Structure Course requirements for doctoral degrees are set out in the Doctor of Philosophy Regulations (MOPP Appendix 9 ) or other relevant regulations for individual degrees. Individual course requirements for supervision and thesis examination must be based on the Code of Good Practice for Postgraduate Research Studies and Supervision at QUT ( D/5.4 ). Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Professional Doctorates by Research For all research doctorates, the expected outcomes are gained through a comprehensive review of relevant literature, experimentation, creative work with exegesis or other systematic approach, or advanced searching and critical reflection on professional theory or practice. A research higher degree doctorate generally includes:
QUT permits the presentation of the thesis for a doctoral degree in the following formats:
Professional Doctorates by Coursework Coursework professional doctorates provide extended and advanced training in professional fields, and involve the candidate undertaking a project or integrated series of projects with a specific focus on professional practice, together with critical reflective practice to inform and benefit subsequent projects. A variety of forms of assessment for projects are encouraged. For a coursework professional doctorate, the course generally includes:
Course requirements for professional doctorates are established by the relevant faculty for each course, and are approved by University Academic Board. The course requirements for each professional doctoral degree are set out in the QUT Handbook. (c) Entry requirements The minimum requirement for entry into a research doctorate is either:
The minimum requirement for entry into a coursework professional doctorate is:
(d) Entry pathways All research masters degrees form a nested suite with the Doctor of Philosophy course provided the student is continuing studies within the same discipline. (e) Examination requirements In the case of a PhD thesis, at least two external examiners are appointed. University Research and Innovation Committee appoints examiners on advice from the principal supervisor. Notes for the guidance of examiners of PhD theses are available from the Research Students Centre web page. In the case of a doctoral degree in a specified professional field, a thesis is normally examined by an examination committee comprising two external examiners and one internal examiner. The internal examiner normally shall chair the committee. 3.2.8 Higher doctoratesThe degrees of Doctor of Letters (DLitt), Doctor of Science (DSc), Doctor of Engineering (DEng), Doctor of Business (DBus) and Doctor of Laws (LLD) may be awarded by the University. A higher doctorate may be awarded by University Academic Board on the recommendation of Research Degrees Committee for original and substantial contributions of distinction which add to the knowledge and understanding of any branch of learning with which the University is concerned. Procedures for awarding a higher doctorate are available from the Research Students Centre website. (a) Academic characteristics A higher doctorate degree requires the candidate to provide satisfactory evidence of outstanding scholarship and of an original, substantial and distinguished contribution to the knowledge, understanding, practice or creative achievement in any branch of learning with which the faculty is directly concerned. (b) Structure In order to be admitted as a candidate for the higher doctorate, the candidate must submit published works for examination. The published work should be seminal in that it has:
(c) Entry requirements Application to become a candidate for a higher doctorate is made in writing to the Registrar, detailing the applicant's grounds for admission, achievements and the work to be submitted for the higher doctorate. The relevant faculty appoints a committee to determine whether the work falls within the scope of the faculty and whether the quality and quantity of work to be presented justifies submitting the work for examination. If the candidate is accepted, an Examination Committee is appointed. 3.2.9 Double degreesA double degree may be offered at bachelor or masters level, and is constructed as a single program of study that allows the student to complete two awards of the same level within a specified timeframe. On graduation, students receive individual awards for each of the component degrees. Double degrees may be developed as a combination of two QUT award courses or as a joint degree combining a QUT award course and an award course from another university (see C/3.2.11). The course structure for a double degree must be constructed to meet the following criteria:
3.2.10 Joint awardsQUT encourages collaboration with other education providers through the development of joint awards where each provider can contribute a different discipline or perspective to an integrated course. Joint awards may be established as either a single course or double degree offered in collaboration between QUT and one or more other institutions. 3.2.11 Dual awardsDual awards may be established as a combined qualification with a single entry point leading to the award of two qualifications at different levels either involving two QUT courses or a QUT course together with a course offered by a registered Vocational and Technical Education (VET) provider. The following requirements apply to dual awards:
3.2.12 Exit awardsIn some cases, an exit award at a lower level may be possible for students who complete part of a course but do not wish to progress to completion of the award. Some awards may be available as exit awards only with no direct entry. Possible exit awards include:
Related DocumentsMOPP C/3.1 Courses and awards MOPP C/4.1 Curriculum development and approval MOPP C/5.2 QUT Grading system MOPP E/6.5 Allocation and release of results MOPP E/10.1 Graduation requirements MOPP Appendix 9 Doctor of Philosophy Regulations Modification History
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