C/3.1 Award courses
Policy Owner | Director, Curriculum Quality and Standards |
Approval Date | 25/07/2022 |
Approval Authority | University Academic Board |
Date of Next Review | 31/07/2025 |
3.1.1 Purpose
3.1.2 Application
3.1.3 Roles and responsibilities
3.1.4 Qualification types
3.1.5 Award course titles and post-nominals
3.1.6 Entry requirements
3.1.7 Entry and exit pathways
3.1.8 Award course information
3.1.9 Award course categories
3.1.10 Award course structural elements
3.1.11 QUT You
3.1.12 Credit point system
3.1.13 Time-based study
3.1.14 Definitions
3.1.15 Delegations
Related Documents
Modification History
3.1.1 Purpose
The Queensland University of Technology Act 1998 (Qld) establishes QUT’s power to confer higher education awards (award courses). QUT is registered by TEQSA to self-accredit and offer award courses as prescribed by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). To comply with all relevant national regulatory requirements and standards, this policy describes:
- the classification, titles and post-nominal of award courses
- the minimum entry requirements
- the essential characteristics of award courses and associated components
This policy promotes coherent course structures and clear completion rules.
3.1.2 Application
This policy applies to all award courses at QUT.
Additional procedures and requirements for research degree courses and for awarding a higher doctorate are provided in the Higher degree research candidates policy (D/5.3).
The Non-award study policy provides the requirements for non-award study offered by QUT (C/3.3).
3.1.3 Roles and responsibilities
Position |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
|
University Academic Board (A/3.6) |
|
|
Curriculum Standards Committee (C/2.2) |
|
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education) |
|
| Faculty academic boards (A/3.7) and other entities delegated by University Academic Board | |
| University Learning and Teaching Committee (C/2.1) |
|
3.1.4 Qualification types
QUT award courses are designed to meet the relevant AQF qualification type specification, including the learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills) and volume of learning. Full characteristics of each qualification type are provided by the AQF and should be read in association with this policy.
QUT courses are purposely designed to support student learning and enable graduates to demonstrate achieving the learning outcomes for the qualification (course learning outcomes). Course learning outcomes, including transferable, non-discipline specific skills, are explicitly identified and align with the level of the qualification.
The Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only) provides the details of the qualifications most likely to be offered by QUT, which are:
- University Certificate
- Undergraduate Certificate
- Diploma
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor Degree
- Bachelor Honours Degree
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Masters Degree
- Doctoral Degree
- Higher Doctorate
3.1.5 Award course titles and post-nominals
The titles of QUT courses unambiguously identify the qualification type, level and field of study or discipline as required by the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy.
The course title and post-nominal are approved by the University Academic Board.
Additional procedures and course requirements for research degree courses and for awarding a higher doctorate are provided in the Higher degree research candidates policy (D/5.3)
3.1.6 Entry requirements
QUT sets minimum entry requirements for each level of award course. Minimum award level entry requirements as approved by UAB are recorded in the Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only).
Specific course entry requirements, which may include additional discipline-specific requirements, are approved at University Academic Board during course accreditation. The faculty academic board having responsibility for a course may revise entry requirements for an existing course, within the minimum standards established for each level of award course.
Alternative pathways
QUT supports alternative pathways into courses and therefore recognised prior learning may satisfy course entry requirements. Decisions that recognise prior learning for entry to an award course must be consistent with AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy and the Recognition of prior learning policy (C/5.4).
Student admission (E/4.1) is determined on the basis of merit and perceived probability of success, with provision for alternative entry and entry for underrepresented community groups.
3.1.7 Entry and exit pathways
QUT supports students by designing courses that provide a pathway to a higher AQF level qualification which may allow for advanced standing, and courses that allow an early exit pathway where appropriate. Design principles and examples of entry and exit pathways are provided in the Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only).
3.1.8 Award course information
Course information is a set of data elements that are approved as part of course accreditation. Course information includes specific requirements for admission to, and completion of, an award course. Students are eligible to graduate as soon as they have completed all the requirements for the course (E/10.1 Conferral, graduation and academic dress).
Course requirements are made available to students at the time of enrolment (E/4.3). Course requirements of past offerings are recorded in the QUT Handbook each year.
3.1.9 Award course categories
QUT courses may be a single degree or a double degree and may involve collaboration with other institutions.
Single degree
A single degree is a course of study that provides students upon graduation with a single qualification that may include Study Areas.
Double degree
A double degree is constructed as a program of study that allows a student to complete two awards within a shorter timeframe than if completed separately. On graduation students receive an award for each course completed (E/10.2 Official academic award documents).
A double degree may be:
- two undergraduate courses
- an undergraduate course and a postgraduate course (vertical double)
- two postgraduate degrees of the same AQF level
The combination of two postgraduate courses at different levels is normally managed as a nested suite rather than a double degree.
Collaborative double degree
A double degree that combines a QUT award course with an award course from another university is a collaborative double degree. A collaborative double degree may involve one AQF level or two sequential AQF levels. On graduation students receive an award for each course completed from the respective institutions.
Joint degree
A joint degree is a single degree offered in collaboration between QUT and one or more other institutions. A joint degree is typically conferred by QUT and the other institutions. A joint degree is not an articulation agreement between QUT and other institutions as it is not recognition of prior learning. It is a close cooperation between QUT and the other institution in the design of the course, the curriculum development, course delivery and assessment of learning outcomes.
3.1.10 Award course structural elements
Courses are comprised of structural elements, as defined below, and must be designed such that they are consistent with principles for curriculum design (C/4.1 Curriculum design, approval and accreditation).
The Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only) provides detail of the course structural model.
Unit
A unit (C/4.5 Unit and module information) may be core, requiring students to complete, or be an elective unit, providing students with a choice of study from within or outside their discipline.
Designated unit
Courses that have learning outcomes identified as critical requiring students to meet a satisfactory level of competence may include designated units. Designated units may include professional experience, particular skill development or the demonstration of certain personal qualities. A student who fails a designated unit more than once cannot continue in the course and may be excluded from enrolment or placed on academic probation (E/6.7 Academic progress).
Study area
A study area is a set of units within a course which together form a coherent body of knowledge and skills that provide the main focus of a course. Courses may include:
- Study area A (major)
- Study area B (second major or minor or study area A Extension)
Study areas may have learning outcomes that align to, but are subordinate to, course learning outcomes.
The Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only) sets out the minimum requirements for study areas.
3.1.11 QUT You
QUT is committed to developing graduates who will thrive in changing and volatile environments and contribute effectively to diverse communities as global citizens. To contribute to this commitment, all QUT award courses are designed to align with the Real World Learning Vision, and undergraduate award courses include a compulsory component, QUT You.
QUT You is a core structural element of undergraduate award courses and is required for completion for students commencing study from 2024, unless the course has been approved by the Provost as a designated course (Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only)).
For double degrees involving two undergraduate courses, QUT You is normally accommodated equally between the courses. If it is a collaborative double degree, the QUT award course may need to include all of QUT You.
Further information is provided in the Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only).
3.1.12 Credit point system
QUT uses a credit point system for all coursework courses for the purposes of calculating student load (Equivalent Full Time Student Load - EFTSL) for internal and external reporting. The credit point value is a measure of the proportion of the volume of learning:
- One year of full-time study is approximately 1,200 hours which includes all teaching, learning and assessment activities.
- A standard unit at QUT is 12 credit points, representing approximately 150 hours.
- A full-time year of a course is 96 credit points.
Any variation to the credit points per full-time year of a course is regarded as overload or underload and is approved by University Academic Board.
QUT allows exceptions to the standard unit credit points in certain circumstances as outlined in Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only).
3.1.13 Time-based study
Higher Degree Research (HDR) courses are offered as time-based study consistent with the requirements of the relevant AQF level. These degrees are characterised by the enrolment of a student in a thesis unit, which culminates in a major research output.
3.1.14 Definitions
Award course – a higher education award as defined in section 5 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth), meaning a qualification covered by level 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) or an award of a similar kind, represented as being of a similar kind. The qualifications most likely to be used at QUT are outlined in the Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only). In this policy ‘course’ means an award course.
Complementary studies - a group of units that may be required in addition to core units and a Study Area A in order to fulfil course requirements.
Course is a structured and coherent set of units or thesis components purposely designed to support students to learn and achieve the course learning outcomes of the qualification. In this policy ‘course’ means an award course.
Course learning outcomes are a set of attributes (knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills) that graduates will be able to demonstrate upon the completion of the course. They are future-focussed and explicitly identify and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level of the qualification, reflecting the standards of the discipline and the profession and the QUT Real World Learning Vision. They include transferable, non-discipline specific skills.
Course requirements are the specific requirements for admission to and completion of an award course.
Coursework course is a course in which the methods of learning and teaching that lead to the acquisition of skills and knowledge does not include a major research component. As defined in Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Credit points indicates an estimation of the volume of learning associated with an award course, study area and unit (C/3.1.12).
Elective units are units that are not core units in a course but may be undertaken to contribute to the required credit points of a course for completion as part of the complementary studies of the course.
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) is a measure used by the Commonwealth Government and QUT to measure total load consumed by a student. At QUT one year of full-time study is 96 credit points which is equal to 1 EFTSL.
Major research output examples of major research outputs include theses, dissertations, exegeses, creative works or other major works submitted for the award of a higher degree. Major research outputs are assigned a code and an Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) value and are approved by faculty academic boards. All major research outputs are coded using the same schema as for units.
Nested suite courses are two or more postgraduate courses at different Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels that allow students to easily articulate between courses at different levels and provides multiple entry and exit points. All units of the lower level course are included in all of the higher level courses in the suite.
Non-award study – refer to the Non-award study policy (C/3.3).
Post-nominal is the abbreviated form of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification type and field of study or discipline used by a graduate to identify their qualification.
QUT Handbook is the official record of course and unit offerings from past years, available on the Digital Workplace.
QUT You is a core/compulsory component of an undergraduate course, including double degrees.
Structural elements are the components of the course structure (C/3.1.10).
Study Area – refer to C/3.1.10. The Study Area A (a major) is included on academic transcripts (E/10.2). A Study Area B (a minor) may be a second major that is linked to a Study Area A, a Study Area A extension or may be specific faculty units or a set of specific university-wide units.
Unit – refer to C/3.1.10 and the definition of unit in the Unit and module information policy (C/4.5).
Volume of learning is a dimension of the complexity of a qualification. It identifies the notional duration of all activities required for the achievement of the learning outcomes specified for a particular Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification type. As defined in AQF. For award courses it is expressed in equivalent full-time years, for a full-time year or unit it is expressed in hours. Refer to C/3.1.12.
3.1.15 Delegations
Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (C101, C102, C103, C104) (QUT staff access only).
Related Documents
MOPP C/3.3 Non-award study
MOPP C/4.1 Curriculum design, approval and accreditation
MOPP C/4.5 Unit and module information
MOPP C/5.4 Recognition of prior learning
MOPP D/5.3 Higher degree research candidates
MOPP E/4.1 Student admission
MOPP E/4.2 Advanced standing
MOPP E/4.3 Enrolment programs
MOPP E/6.7 Academic progress
MOPP E/10.1 Conferral, graduation and academic dress
MOPP E/10.2 Official academic award documents
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy
Award courses protocol (QUT staff access only)
Guidelines for interpretation of research within AQF Level 8-9 qualifications (QUT staff access only)
Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021
Queensland University of Technology Act 1998 (Qld)
Real World Learning Vision (QUT staff access only)
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth)
Modification History
|
Date |
Sections |
Source |
Details |
| 25.07.22 | All | University Academic Board | Periodic review - policy revised, content combined from C/3.1 Courses and awards and C/3.2 Award classifications to new policy Award courses |
| 24.05.19 | C/3.1.9 | University Academic Board | Revised policy to clarify the definiton of 'module' - effective 01.06.19 |
| 14.09.18 | All | University Academic Board | Revised and simplified policy - effective 01.01.19 |
| 11.08.17 | C/3.1.4 | Dean of Studies | Revised policy to include consequential amendments following new course approval (MPhil) and research specialisations |
| 27.03.15 | All | University Academic Board | Revised policy |
| 20.09.13 | C/3.1.9 | University Academic Board | Policy revised to require separate unit codes and teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts - effective 01.01.14 |
| 24.05.13 | C/3.1.3, C/3.1.4 | University Academic Board | Policy revised to align to regulatory environment including the TEQSA & CRICOS standards |
| 25.05.12 | All | University Academic Board | Policy revised to align to regulatory environment including the AQF and in response to operational feedback |
19.02.11 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Policy revised to include approved name change for Office of Teaching Quality to Learning and Teaching Unit |
23.07.10 |
C/3.1.3, |
University Academic Board |
Policy revised to include SAMS terminology and processes |
13.11.09 |
C/3.1.7 |
University Academic Board |
Revised policy |
14.11.08 |
All |
University Academic Board |
Revised policy effective from 01.01.09 (replaces former policies C/3.1, C/3.4, C/7.3, C/7.9) (endorsed by University Teaching and Learning Committee 21.10.08) |
|
19.05.06 |
All |
University Academic Board |
Revised policy (endorsed by Teaching and Learning Committee 02.05.06); replaces former policies C/3.1, C/3.7, C/3.8 and C/3.9 |
|
21.05.02 |
All |
Academic Policy and Programs Unit |
Updated and linked to QUT Handbook |