Understand the Terminology

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Academic Credit
See Advanced Standing.

Advanced Standing
Recognition of having previously achieved a portion of the required knowledge, skills and understanding of units in an award program, expressed as an equivalent number of credit points towards that award.

Academic Registrar
The senior officer of the University who is responsible for the management of academic administration and student administration.

Admission
A decision to admit a student following the acceptance by an applicant of an offer to a designated course made by UWS in accordance with published University procedures and criteria.

Assessment
Any process designed to test a student’s learning.

Associate Dean
A senior academic staff member in a College who has overall responsibility for co ordination of the range of programs designated as the responsibility of the College.

ATO
Australian Tax Office.

At Risk
An outcome for a student who shows early indication of unsatisfactory academic performance.

Auditing a unit
Attendance in a unit informally (on a non credit basis). A student should always obtain beforehand the permission of the academic staff member responsible for the unit.

Award
The qualification granted to a student after completion of all the requirements of a higher education course.

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CAN
See Commonwealth Assistance Notice.

Candidate
A student a person admitted to a course and enrolled at the University until such time as the person has completed, is withdrawn from, been excluded from, or is determined to have abandoned the award in which they are admitted.

CAS
See Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

CECS
See Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

Census date
The date by which tuition fees and student contributions must be paid. Eligible students can opt to defer payment of fees via a HELP loan, but applications for deferment of tuition fees or student contributions must be made on or before the census date.

CHESSN
See Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number.

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CLS
See Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

College
The academic unit responsible for teaching and research in a range of academic disciplines. A College comprises several Schools.

Combined degree program
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 combined degree, not into its separate components and would not graduate from one of these components separately.

Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarship (CAS)
See Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN)
Students who have applied for a HELP loan and/or hold a Commonwealth supported place will receive a Commonwealth Assistance Notice from UWS. The CAN will detail information such as enrolled units (including those not Commonwealth supported), total HELP debt amounts, total up-front payments, any discounts received, and relevant census dates for payment of fees.

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Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarship (CECS)
See Commonwealth Learning Scholarships.

Commonwealth Grants Scheme (CGS)
The Australian government provides a contribution towards the costs of an agreed number of University places each year via the Commonwealth Grants Scheme. These places are known as Commonwealth supported places, with students paying the remaining fee amount, known as their Student Contribution. Please refer to the DEST website for more information.

Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)
From 2005 all Commonwealth supported students and/or students receiving HELP loan assistance must have a CHESSN. These students will be allocated a unique CHESSN, which will stay with them throughout their academic study, allowing their eligibility for Commonwealth assistance to be facilitated and monitored. Students will be advised of their CHESSN via their Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN).

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships (CLS) Program
The purpose of the Commonwealth Learning Scholarships (CLS) Program is to facilitate choice in higher education and to increase higher education participation by students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Funding of a specified number of scholarships for students enrolled at UWS is provided by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, with UWS selecting and administering the UWS CLS scholarships. There are two types of CLS; Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships and Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships.

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Commonwealth Supported Place
The Australian government provides each Higher Education Provider (HEP) with a specified number of Commonwealth supported places. For each of these places, the Australian government provides the HEP with a financial contribution towards the costs of study. Each student holding a Commonwealth supported place must then pay the remainder of their study costs via their Student Contribution.

Commonwealth Supported Students
See Commonwealth Supported place.

Conditional enrolment
A limitation placed on the number of units a student may enrol in for a specified period, usually for reasons relating to unsatisfactory academic performance.

Corequisite
A unit which must be undertaken in conjunction with or completed (all assessable tasks submitted) simultaneously with another designated unit. A pass in the designated unit, however is not contingent upon a pass in the corequisite unit.

Course
A program of study undertaken at the University leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate.

Course Advisor
An academic staff member who performs specific tasks that contribute towards the quality delivery and development of a program. A Course Advisor will provide advice and information to students as required, on matters including course progression, student leave and timetabling.

Course Coordinator
See Head of Program.

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Course Schedule
A schedule of units approved by a College Board of Studies providing a coherent study for an award.

Credit Points
A numerical value attributed to a unit to indicate its contribution to a specified total number of credit points required to complete the course of which it is a part.

Credit Transfer
Advanced standing given for previous studies at a recognised university (including approved study undertaken through a study abroad or exchange program), TAFE or other approved tertiary institution such as a formally approved Registered Training Organisation.

Cross institutional enrolment
An arrangement in which, with permission, students from one University or tertiary institution take units from another University or tertiary institution and, upon successful completion, have those units credited to their course.

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Date of delivery
The date on which a notice is handed to the person who is the subject of the notice, or the date on which a notice is delivered to the contact address (as held by the Office of the Academic Registrar on the student records) of the person who is the subject of the notice, or the date of a formal acknowledgement or receipt evidencing delivery or receipt, or the date that is two days after the date of posting a notice by mail to the contact address of the person (as held by the Office of the Academic Registrar on the student records) who is the subject of the notice, or the date of transmission by email or facsimile where the student concerned has indicated in writing that they wish to receive material in facsimile form and has specified a transmission address.

Deferment
Is the choice of an applicant having accepted an offer, to delay enrolment for no longer than one (1) Academic Year.

DEST
Department of Education, Science and Training.

Double degree program
An award where two courses are studied at the same time, and in which units from one may be recognised as electives towards the other, but in which the student is allowed to graduate with one award before the other is completed. Those UWS Law degrees that permit more than one graduation (not all do) fall within this category.

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EFTSL
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) refers to the study load a student must be enrolled in to be classified as a full time student. Each unit of study is awarded an EFTSL value, which is a proportion of the total study load required to complete one full time year of the course. At the University of Western Sydney, 80 credit points = 1 EFTSL.

Elective
A unit which may be chosen by a student, as distinct from a compulsory unit.

Employer Reserved Places
Employer Reserved Places are utilised by employers and industry bodies to financially support study undertaken by employees for training purposes. Prior to 2005 these were referred to as Employer Funded Places.

Enrolment
The process whereby a student is allocated a place in one or more units in a teaching session, and is required to pay appropriate fees and sign a declaration to abide by the By Law, regulations and rules of the University.

Examination
A formal supervised assessment process conducted under controlled conditions and designed to test a candidate’s learning.

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Exclusion
Cancellation of enrolment and preclusion from re enrolment due to failure to meet progression requirements or for disciplinary reasons. The period of exclusion must be for a specified period of four to eight teaching sessions but must not exceed 24 months. An excluded student has no right of return to study at UWS, and must apply for readmission in competition with other applicants to the course in which they wish to resume study.

During a period of exclusion, a student’s enrolment will be terminated and the student will not be entitled to have access to University premises, except with the written permission of the Vice-Chancellor. A student who is excluded from the University shall not be granted academic credit for units completed at another University during the period of exclusion.

Executive Dean
Head of a College.

Exemptions with Advanced Standing
Specific units of study within an award that are acknowledged as having been attained by the applicant through prior learning. These exemptions may be granted with the allocated credit points for the exempted unit.

Exemptions without Advanced Standing
Exemption may be granted without Advanced Standing where the student has already achieved the maximum amount of Advanced Standing but is able to demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of a particular unit of study.

Expulsion
The removal of a student from the University on a permanent basis for disciplinary reasons.

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FEE-HELP
The Fee Higher Education Loan Programme (FEE-HELP) is scheduled for introduction by the Commonwealth government in 2005 to provide financial assistance for the payment of tuition fees by eligible full fee paying students. FEE-HELP will replace PELS, BOTPLS and OLDPS. Please refer to the Going to Uni website for more information.

Fee Notice
See Statement of Account.

Final Grades
Final Grades are awarded at the completion of a unit. A table of grades is available in the Assessment and Examination Policy.

Full Fee Paying Students
Full fee paying students must pay their tuition fees up front, and do not receive assistance from the Commonwealth government via a Commonwealth supported place. Eligible fee paying students can opt to defer payment of tuition fees via FEE-HELP.

Full time student
A student who in any half year enrols in units having a combined EFTSL of at least 0.375 (30 credit points).

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Grade Point Average (GPA)
The GPA is used to measure the academic performance of individual students in order to acknowledge excellence. The formula for calculating the GPA is: GPA= The sum of (Credit point for the same specific unit x Grade point for specific unit)/Total number of credit points attempted. Refer to the Graduation Policy for more information.

Grades
Grades are the final mark given for an assessment or formal examination for a unit of study. A table of grades is available in the Assessment and Examination Policy.

Graduand
A student who has completed the requirements for an award and has been deemed eligible to graduate, but has not yet had the award conferred.

Graduate
A person who has completed the requirements of a course and has had the award conferred.

Grandfathering
Grandfathering is a term used to describe the transitional arrangements put in place by DEST for pre 2005 students with HECS, PELS, BOTPLS or OLDPS loans. Please refer to the DEST website for more information regarding these transitional arrangements.

Grandparenting
See Grandfathering.

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Head of Program
An academic staff member who provides academic leadership and direction for a program. The Head of Program will also co ordinate matters affecting delivery and quality control for unit outlines and curriculum materials, and ensure that student issues in all areas of the program are handled appropriately.

Head of Unit
Any person who holds any one of the following positions:
the Vice-Chancellor; a Deputy Vice-Chancellor or nominee; a Campus Provost; the University Secretary; a Dean or nominee; a Head of School or nominee; a Director or nominee; the Security Manager; any other position designated by the Vice-Chancellor as a Head of Unit; or a President of a student association.

HECS
The Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) is a charge that eligible domestic students are liable to pay every session towards the cost of their University tuition. This scheme was replaced by the HECS-HELP loan scheme in 2005.

HECS-HELP
The HECS - Higher Education Loan Programme (HECS-HELP) is scheduled for introduction in 2005 to assist eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their Student Contribution. Students who are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan can opt to defer part or all of their Student Contribution. HECS-HELP will replace HECS. Continuing HECS students can take advantage of Grandfathering arrangements during the transition period.

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HEFA
Higher Education Funding Act 1988.

HEIMS
See Higher Education Information Management System.

HELP
See Higher Education Loans Programme.

HEP
See Higher Education Provider.

HESA
See Higher Education Support Act 2003.

Higher Education Equity Programme (HEEP)
HEEP funding is utilised to assist disadvantaged groups to access Higher Education. The equity groups supported via HEEP are reviewed regularly, to ensure HEEP remains focused on those experiencing significant educational disadvantage. In addition to Indigenous Australians, HEEP currently focuses on people from non-English speaking backgrounds, people with disabilities, people from rural and isolated areas, women in non-traditional areas of study, and people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The Australian government allocates HEEP funding to Higher Education Providers based on a performance based formula to ensure a focus is maintained on improving education outcomes for equity groups.

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Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS)
HEIMS is a web-based Information System that DEST introduced to accommodate changes brought about by Higher Education reform. This system will be used by students to access information pertaining to Higher Education Providers, courses and unit information, and personal details such as loan history. Students will access HEIMS through the use of their CHESSN and a web-based private portal.

Higher Education Loans Program (HELP)
The term Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) refers to a range of loans introduced by the Commonwealth government in 2005. HELP loans include HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and OS-HELP. Please refer to the DEST website for more information.

Higher Education Provider (HEP)
The term Higher Education Provider refers to Universities and other higher education institutions.

Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA)
The Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) provides the guidelines for the Higher Education reforms introduced from 2005.

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Indigenous Support Fund (ISF)
As Indigenous Australians are under-represented in higher education, the Australian government provides HEPs with funding for activities aimed at increasing Indigenous educational participation. For more information see the Improving Educational Participation and Outcomes for Indigenous People Fact Sheet on the DEST website.

Invoice
See Statement of Account.

Key program
A Key Program is a compulsory core of 160 credit points or more for undergraduate courses– that is, at least two thirds of a three-year degree or the first three years of a four year course. The key program in a Bachelor award is a set of units that establishes a defining area of concentration or specialisation within the degree course. Each key program will include at least 60 credit points of study at 300/400 level.

Leave of Absence
Approved temporary withdrawal from a course.

Life Long SLE
As a tool to encourage life long learning, Commonwealth supported students will receive a Life Long Student Learning Entitlement to use towards updating their qualifications or re-training. The accrual of Life Long SLE is dependent on age as at 1 January 2005. Once a person is eligible to accrue Life Long SLE, they receive the equivalent of 1 EFTSL of Life Long SLE in the first year, and 0.125 EFTSL of Life Long SLE each following year.

Load
See EFTSL.

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Mail
Either registered; standard mail; express post mail; or UWS email account where specified by UWS policy and/or procedures.

Major
A defined sequence of units in an undergraduate degree which delineates an area of concentration or focus within a course. A major will comprise of 80 credit points. No more than 30 credit points can be at 100 level. At least 30 credit points must be at 300 level or higher. A major may consist solely of 200 and 300 level units.

Miscellaneous student
See Non Award student.

Non Award student
A person enrolled in a unit or units, but not in a course leading to an award.

Other credentialled learning
Programs or courses undertaken within the workplace, professional organisations or other training contexts other than recognised universities, TAFE and other approved tertiary institutions. Such prior learning has already been assessed by an educational establishment.

OS-HELP
The Overseas Higher Education Loan Programme (OS-HELP) assists domestic students with travel and living expenses whilst studying overseas.

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Part time student
A student who in any half year enrols in units having a combined EFTSL of less than 0.375 (30 credit points).

PELS
The Postgraduate Education Loan Scheme (PELS) is an interest-free loan facility available to students enrolled in fee-paying, postgraduate, non-research courses. PELS was replaced by FEE-HELP in 2005. Continuing students with existing PELS loans still have access to pre 2005 PELS eligibility requirements.

Permanent Resident
The holder of an Australian permanent residency visa. These students are classified as Domestic students for the purposes of assessing eligibility for University entry and Commonwealth assistance.

Postgraduate course
A program of study leading to an award, where entry into the program requires students to have completed a degree or equivalent studies or experience in that field of study.

Prerequisite
A unit which must have been satisfactorily completed, or a requirement which must have been satisfied, before a student may enrol in a particular unit.

Progression
A student’s movement throughout a course from admission to graduation, satisfying minimum course requirements at each stage.

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Recognition of Prior Learning
General term used to describe the University’s policy of acknowledging learning in other contexts that can be applied to the knowledge, skills and understanding outcomes of study in award programs.

Resignation
Complete withdrawal from a course by a student.

RTS
The Research Training Scheme is a Commonwealth funded initiative that provides eligible higher degree research students with an entitlement to a HECS exemption for the duration of an accredited higher degree research course. Please refer to the DEST website for more information.

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School
An academic organisational unit within a College which undertakes teaching and research in particular areas and the administration of particular units of study.

Session
A period during which the content of a unit is delivered and the assessment is completed.

Student
A person enrolled at the University.

Statement of Account
All enrolled Commonwealth Supported and fee-paying (including FEE-HELP) students have electronic access to a Statement of Account. It lists enrolled units, total fees payable, due dates and methods of payment. The Statement of Account is generally available until the census date of the session to which it refers. From mid-2008 Statements of Account are no longer mailed to students, so it is each students responsibility to retrieve their statement through MySR.

Student Contribution
The term Student Contribution refers to the portion of study costs that Commonwealth supported students must pay. The Australian government provides a contribution to the Higher Education Provider (HEP) for each student holding a Commonwealth supported place. The remaining portion of fees is the contribution that the student must pay towards their unit study costs. Students may be eligible for a HELP loan in order to access financial assistance for the payment of Student Contributions.

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Student Learning Entitlement (SLE)
A Student Learning Entitlement provides students with access to a minimum of seven years EFTSL as a Commonwealth supported student. Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, and holders of Australian permanent visas are entitled to SLE. Students can obtain additional SLE under certain conditions. Please refer to the DEST website for more information.

Student load
See EFTSL.

Student Private Portal
The Student Private Portal gives students access to a summary of the Commonwealth assistance they have received, including their SLE usage, HELP loans received, and Commonwealth scholarship history.

Sub major
A sub-major is an approved, defined sequence of 40 credit points at any level in an undergraduate course.

Suspension
The barring of a student from attendance at the University for a specified period of time due to disciplinary reasons. A student may be suspended for a period of one to four teaching sessions, which will not exceed 12 months. At the conclusion of a period of suspension, the student has automatic right of resumption of study in their original course, or a course deemed to be equivalent by the University.

During a period of suspension, a student’s enrolment will be terminated and the student will not be entitled to have access to University premises or facilities, except with the written permission of the Vice-Chancellor. A student who is suspended from the University shall not be granted academic credit for units completed at another University during the period of suspension.

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Termination
The cancellation by the University of a student’s enrolment in a course, usually due to failure to meet administrative requirements.

Testamur
The certificate presented to a graduate at Graduation, indicating the award received.

TFN
Tax File Number.

Transcript
An academic transcript is the formal written record of results achieved in all enrolled subjects in a course.

Tuition Fees
Course fees paid by full fee paying students for each unit in which they are enrolled. Full tuition fee paying students do not receive an Australian government contribution towards their course costs as do students paying a student contribution. The Australian government sets a minimum limit on tuition fees. Tuition fees will not be less than the student contributions paid by Commonwealth supported students in the same course. Fees are charged according to the UWS approved fees schedule, and vary across awards and units. The fee schedule is revised each calendar year, and therefore fees may increase annually.

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UAC
For most undergraduate and postgraduate courses, applications for admission at UWS must be submitted through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). If a course requires direct application to the University, this will be advertised within the UWS webpages.

Uncredentialled learning and Skills recognition
Learning that has been gained from working or life experience. Such prior learning may have been gained through work based programs, self tuition, non accredited professional development programs, TAFE or University programs.

Undergraduate course
A program of study leading to an award that does not require students to have already completed a degree course prior to admission.

Unit
a unit of study, normally of one session’s duration.

Unit completion
a student completes a unit if they:
a) attend the lectures and other classes, workshops, as specified in course rules;
b) satisfactorily complete the written and other work required; and
c) satisfy the assessment requirements of the unit.

Unit Coordinator
A member of the academic staff who is responsible for academic administration matters relating to the unit and students enrolled in that unit.

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Unit Level
The level applied to a unit is an indication of the level of learning required in the unit. For example, for undergraduate study it is advisable to take 100 level units prior to taking 200 level units or 300 level units. There is a general University requirement that no fewer than 60 credit points of 300/400 level units are included in an undergraduate degree.

University
The University of Western Sydney.

UWS Student Email Account
A free email account that the University provides to all students. Students are expected to check their UWS email account at least twice weekly as part of their enrolment. All communication with the University through email must be done using the UWS student email account. The account can be accessed at http://studentmail.uws.edu.au/.

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Vice-Chancellor
The Chief Executive Officer of the University of Western Sydney.

Withdrawal
The formal cessation of enrolment in a unit.

Working Day
Where University documents refer to timelines specified in 'working days', these are taken to mean weekdays Monday to Friday within normal business hours, excluding public holidays.

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