A - Z Glossary of Terms
Accommodation
Housing arrangements on or off campus.
Award
A degree, diploma, associate diploma or certificate of the University granted at the completion of a course of study.
Commencement date
The date classes start at the beginning of each semester
Commencement fee
A portion of your tuition fee that you need to pay when you accept your offer to study at Macquarie University.
Credit point
Each unit of study is worth a specified number of credit points. The credit poin value of a unit reflects the amount of work required in the unit. Each credit point in a half-year unit would indicate that a student should expect to spend about three hours each week on that unit (including class contact hours). Therefore, a three-credit point subject would equate to nine hours of study per week.
Degree
The first degree a student enrols for is a Bachelor degree. Most Australian Bachelor degrees take three years of full-time
study to complete. An Honours degree is awarded to meritorious students who have completed an extra year of full-time study following their Bachelor degree. A higher degree or Postgraduate degree is undertaken by those who have already completed a Bachelor degree or Bachelor with Honours degree.
Faculties
For academic purposes, Macquarie University is structured by faculties, which are: Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Business and Economics, Faculty of Human Sciences and Faculty of Science.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A GPA is a calculation which reflects the overall quality of a student’s grades throughout their course, and is printed
on their academic record. A GPA of 4, for example, would indicate that all of a student’s grades have been distinction or high distinction grades.
Honours
Completing a degree ‘with Honours’usually means an extra year of study. Acceptance into an Honours program is based on academic achievement while at University, or acceptance into a degree with an integrated Honours program.
Major
A major is the area of study you choose to specialise in and will be reflected on your testamur. In many degrees there will be provision to fit in two majors. You can also complete a minor.
Minor
A minor is approximately half the workload of a major and will not be reflected on your testamur, but will be reflected on your transcript.
Offer letters
• A Full Offer
This provides you with a full offer, and allows entry in the next available intake for the program you have selected. No further conditions need to be satisfied. Sometimes alternative programs are suggested if you do not meet entry requirements of the program/s that you applied for.
• A Conditional Offer
This offer outlines the conditions that need to be satisfied in order for you to be offered a place in your selected program. Evidence must be shown that you have met the conditions before a full offer can be issued. Macquarie University will also check quota on the selected program before a full offer can be made.
• A Package Offer
This offer requires that you complete an English language program or another preliminary program before commencing your degree. You must accept the entire package by the deadline stated in the offer letter. Please note: If you choose to re-take an English test and meet the Macquarie University English language requirements you will need to re-submit your test. Macquarie University will issue a FULL offer provided places are still available.
Postgraduate
Any course of academic study higher than a Bachelor degree is a postgraduate course. A student of such a course is a postgraduate student.
Prerequisite
A unit of study which must be completed, or a requirement which must be satisfied, before a student is able to enrol in a particular unit.
Semester
One of two periods of study within the academic year.
Testamur
Your testamur is the official document with the University’s seal on it which certifies that you have been awarded your degree or diploma.
Transcript
Your academic transcript is the official and certified version of your academic record. This is the copy you would show to prospective employers or to other educational institutions.
Undergraduate
Undergraduate education is postsecondary education up to the level of a Bachelor degree.
Unit of Study
A program of study is made up of a number of units of study (generally referred to as units and informally called subjects).