Use our A-Z list below to decipher university phrases, terminology and definitions.
A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T U V W
A
Academic Record
An official statement of Academic Record is a certified statement detailing a student’s complete academic record at USC.
Advanced level courses
Students normally undertake advanced level courses in the second and third years of their programs. Entry to these courses may be subject to successful completion of a prerequisite/s. These courses are normally coded as 200- or 300-level courses (eg HIS220 or MBT352 ).
Authority subject
An authority subject is a subject for which the course of study is based on a syllabus that has been approved and issued by the Queensland Studies Authority (QSA).
Award
An award (or award program) is a recognised certification of achievement that is granted to a student after the completion of all requirements of a higher education program (eg Bachelor of Arts).
B
Bachelor
Bachelor is the title for an undergraduate program (eg Bachelor of Business). Generally, a bachelor degree at USC comprises 288 units (24 courses) and normally takes three years of full-time study or six years of part-time study to complete. Four year undergraduate programs are also available.
C
Census date
The census date is the date by which students must finalise their enrolment in each semester or session. The census dates for semesters and sessions are listed in the Academic Calendars.
Combined degree
A combined degree is a combination of two undergraduate degrees undertaken simultaneously (eg Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science). A combined degree at USC comprises 384 units (generally 32 courses) and normally takes four years of full-time study or eight years of part-time study to complete.
Contact hours
Contact hours are the number of hours students are expected to attend classes on campus. A full-time student spends about 12 hours per week in classes, plus between 20 and 40 hours studying per week (five to 10 hours per course).
Core course
Core courses are a requirement of most USC undergraduate degrees. The courses enable students to gain skills and knowledge for successful tertiary study and lifelong learning. Students choose two courses from the following options: Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship; Communication and Thought; and Environment, Technology and Sustainability.
Course
A course (commonly known as a subject) is a component of an award program that is normally one semester in length. Each course is generally 12 units in value. The standard enrolment for a full-time student is four courses per semester.
Credit transfer
Credit transfer is the process of assessing prior academic work in order to determine whether those studies are of equal depth and academic rigour as courses offered at USC. A successful credit transfer application will reduce the number of courses required to complete an award program. Also known as advanced standing. See also: Recognition of Prior Learning.
Cross-institutional enrolment
Cross-institutional enrolment is where a student enrols in a course/s through another institution which, on successful completion, can be credited to the student’s award program at their home institution.
D
Dean
A Dean is a member of academic staff responsible for the management of a faculty.
Deferral
Deferral is a process where a student, offered a place in a program through an application for admission, chooses to defer their commencement of study until a later semester/year.
E
Elective
Many programs include elective courses, where students have the flexibility to study courses outside of their major or minor (or perhaps in another faculty) that counts towards their degree.
Enabling courses
USC offers enabling courses in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Literacy, General Mathematics, Mathematics for Physics, Statistics, and Writing Skills for students who may not have studied these areas in high school, or who need a 'refresher' prior to commencing tertiary study.
Enrolment
Enrolment is the process where an applicant, having received a written offer to study a particular program, chooses the courses to study in that program, pays the appropriate fees, and is issued with a Student ID Card. See also: Recommended enrolment pattern.
F
Faculty
A faculty is an organisational area within the University devoted to particular academic programs and research (eg Faculty of Science, Health and Education). Each faculty is headed by a Dean.
Field positions (FPs)
Field positions (FPs) indicate an OP-eligible Year 12 student’s rank order position, based on overall achievement in authority subjects in up to five fields. A rank of 1 is the highest and 10 is the lowest.
Full-time student
A full-time student studies at least three courses per semester. The standard full-time workload is four courses per semester.
G
Graduand
A graduand is a student who has completed all the requirements of an award program, but is yet to receive their testamur (degree certificate).
Graduate
A graduate is a student who has completed all the requirements of an award program and has received their testamur (degree certificate).
H
HECS-HELP (Higher Education Contribution Scheme - Higher Education Loans Program)
HECS-HELP is a loan that helps eligible Commonwealth-supported students to pay their student contributions.
HECS-HELP liability
A HECS-HELP liability is the amount a student is liable to repay to the Commonwealth Government under HECS-HELP. The amount is calculated on the student's enrolment as at the census date in each relevant semester.
Honours program
An honours program is usually two semesters (one year full-time) of coursework, seminars and supervised research undertaken after a bachelor degree. It advances a student's knowledge and experience, and helps to prepare for future research work or postgraduate study.
I
Introductory courses
Introductory courses provide a sound knowledge of essential areas, and a foundation for studies in majors and/or minors within an award program. They are normally coded as 100-level courses (eg ENP101 ).
L
Lecture
A lecture involves a member of the teaching staff presenting themes and concepts related to a course of study to students enrolled in the course. Most courses have one weekly lecture.
M
Major
A major is a sequence of eight courses from one particular area of study.
Minor
A minor is a sequence of four courses from one particular area of study.
N
Non-award studentA non-award student is enrolled in a course/s which does not lead to an award (eg Bachelor of Science). Headstart, visiting or Study Abroad students are non-award students.
O
Overall Position (OP)
An OP indicates a Queensland Year 12 student’s statewide rank order position, which is based on overall achievement. To be OP-eligible, Year 12 students are required to sit for the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test and to have studied 20 semester units of authority subjects. A rank of 1 is the highest and 25 is the lowest.
P
Part-time student
A part-time student studies either one or two courses per semester. The standard part-time workload is two courses per semester. Those attending university in Australia on a student visa cannot study on a part-time basis.
Postgraduate student
A postgraduate student studies a postgraduate coursework program (eg Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters by coursework) or a higher degree by research (eg Masters by research, Doctor of Philosophy) at university.
Practical
A practical offers students the opportunity to practically apply relevant skills (eg laboratory skills). Practical classes are usually 15–25 students in size.
Prerequisite courses
Prerequisite courses are those that a student is required to complete prior to enrolling in another course.
Program
A program is the complete award with which a student graduates (eg Bachelor of Arts).
Program code
A program code is a combination of letters and numbers that identifies an award program for administrative purposes.
R
Rank (refer to Selection rank)
Recognition of prior learning for credit
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is the process of assessing knowledge and skills developed through other learning, informal studies or work-related learning, to determine whether the skills and knowledge contribute to meeting the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of a course or program at USC. A successful RPL application will reduce the number of courses required to complete an award program.
Recommended enrolment pattern
A recommended enrolment pattern lists the ideal courses to enrol in, in order to meet the requirements of a degree.
Recommended prior study
Recommended prior study refers to the Year 11 and 12 subjects (or equivalent) the University recommends students study before commencing a particular degree. This is not a prerequisite subject, but a recommendation as to what knowledge students should possess in the subject area—eg recommended prior study for the Bachelor of Science (Sport and Exercise Science) is English, Maths and one or more of the sciences, preferably Chemistry, Physics or Biology.
Required course
Required courses provide a sound knowledge of essential areas in the Faculty of Business, and provide a foundation for studies in particular majors and/or minors within the degree. They are normally coded as 100 level courses (eg BUS101 ).
S
Selection rank
Students applying for university study, who are not OP-eligible, are assigned a rank based on other qualifications such as previous secondary school and tertiary results, work experience or bridging and preparatory studies. A rank of 1 is the lowest and 100 is the highest. Also known as Rank.
Semesters
The academic year is divided into two main semesters. First semester generally runs from February to June, and second semester from July to December, as listed in the Academic Calendars.
Sessions
The academic year is divided into multiple sessions, as listed in the Academic Calendars. Sessions are generally for postgraduate studies, but also apply to what was previously known as Summer semester.
Summer semester
Summer semester (also known as a session) is a non-standard teaching period in the undergraduate academic year, running between December and mid-February. Courses are delivered in intensive mode, because the number of teaching weeks is less than a standard semester. Summer semester courses are available to USC students, students from other universities studying cross-institutionally, and members of the community studying as visiting students.
T
Testamur
A testamur is the certificate awarded to a graduate on completion of a program of study.
Tutorial
A tutorial is a forum for discussion and consolidation of the themes and concepts introduced in a lecture. Tutorial classes are usually 15–25 students in size and provide an atmosphere of discussion, interaction, presentation and debate.
U
Undergraduate student
An undergraduate student studies a bachelor degree or honours program at university. An undergraduate student may also be a student who already holds a degree, but is taking a second or subsequent degree at the same level.
Unit
Each individual course is given a unit value to represent the proportion of the award that each course comprises. Courses are usually 12 units in value.
USC Central
USC Central is the online system where students enrol, view grades and class schedules, and update contact details.
V
Visiting student
A visiting student studies a university course/s for professional or personal development—they do not enrol in a complete award program. Visiting students receive normal instruction, assessment and formal results.
W
Work integrated learning
Work integrated learning incorporates field trips, lectures by industry experts, internships, practicums and applied research projects. Work integrated learning is designed to enable students to experience the work environment and career realities of their chosen discipline.