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. The value of the commencement fee you need to pay will be listed on your offer letter. This commencement fee is deducted your first semester tuition fees (so it is not in addittion to your fees).
Credit point
Each unit of study is worth a specified number of credit points. The credit point 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
A degree is the major qualification awarded by a university. It is awarded either for successful work at an undergraduate (bachelor degree) or postgraduate (higher degree) level, or as an honorary recognition (honorary degree) of achievement.
Combined Degrees
A Bachelor degree combined with the Bachelor of Laws or the Diploma of Education. The two programs are studied at the same time and units from one may be recognised as electives towards the other. Students may elect to qualify and graduate with the Bachelor degree component first (if they meet requirements) and continue studying in the Bachelor of Laws or Diploma of Education.
Double Degrees
An approved program of study leading to a single award formed through the combination of two otherwise separate degree programs that would otherwise lead to separate awards. Students are enrolled specifically into the double degree program, not into its separate components and may not graduate from one of these component degrees separately.
Faculties
An administrative grouping of research and academic staff and students based on the area they teach and study. At Macquarie University there are four faculties: 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 structured sequence of units in a particular discipline or subject area which is approved by the University. You can also complete a minor.
Minor
In general terms, a minor requires completion of half of the requirements of an approved major. In practice, a minor requires completion of 12 credit points taken from an approved major, including 6 credit points at 300 level.
Offer letters
• A Full Offer
This provides you with a full offer of admission, and allows entry for the stated intake of the course you are eligible for. No further conditions need to be satisfied.
• A Conditional Offer
This offer outlines the conditions that must be satisfied in order for you to be offered a place in your selected course. Once you have met the conditions, a full offer can be issued. Macquarie International also has to confirm quotas on the selected course before a full offer can be made.
• A Package Offer
This offer requires that you complete, and achieve a required result, in an English language program or another preliminary program before commencing your course. 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. The academic transcript lists the units and programs you have enrolled in and all the units you have attempted, and the grades received. An official transcript is always printed on watermarked University paper.
Undergraduate
A course of academic study for a bachelor degree is regarded as an undergraduate course.
Unit of Study
A course, whether it is for a degree or diploma, is made up of a number of units of study (sometimes informally called subjects), each worth a fixed number of credit points.