Common terms you need to know before you start uni
Understand all the university terms you need to know before you start your studies
Starting听uni听comes with lots of new听terminology听you might not be familiar with, so听we鈥檝e听broken them down to help you feel confident as you get ready to study. Bookmark this guide to stay across the key terms听you鈥檒l听see as you prepare for university.
Your guide to common university terms
A-C
A
Accepted qualifications:听Admission to 91色情片 is based on academic merit, including听NSW HSC and interstate Year 12, International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A-Levels and听NZ NCEA Level 3.听You can learn more about our accepted qualifications on our website.
Accreditation:听Accreditation听means听a degree or program听that听meets the professional or industry standards set by an accrediting body.
Additional听selection criteria:听Some degrees at 91色情片 require steps in addition to your UAC application. These may include tests (such as the University Clinical Aptitude Test for Australia and New Zealand (UCAT ANZ)), an audition (Fine Arts: Music specialisation) or an extra application to 91色情片 (Aviation (Flying), Medicine, or degrees with Co-op and 91色情片 Canberra).听
础诲箩耻蝉迟尘别苍迟听蹿补肠迟辞谤蝉:听Some students may receive听补诲诲颈迟颈辞苍补濒听辫辞颈苍迟蝉听that help increase their听selection rank听when applying to university.听
础诲尘颈蝉蝉颈辞苍:听Admission听means听you鈥檝e听been accepted听into听a program or course.
Admission pathways:听Admission pathways听offer听a听way to enter听a degree听which looks at more than just your ATAR.听91色情片 offers a range of admission pathways to help open doors to your dream degree.
础濒耻尘苍颈:听Alumni听are听graduates of a university.听You may also hear 鈥渁lum鈥 used for an individual graduate.
础蝉蝉耻尘别诲听办苍辞飞濒别诲驳别:听At 91色情片, we听don鈥檛听have formal subject prerequisites. Instead, we have 鈥assumed knowledge鈥. If you听haven鈥檛听studied the assumed knowledge subjects, it听won鈥檛听prevent you from being eligible to receive an offer for the degree, but you may find yourself starting behind in your first year. We strongly recommend bridging courses if you听don鈥檛听have the assumed knowledge for your degree of interest.
Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR):听ATAR is听a ranking system that provides an overall measure of academic achievement in relation to other students. The lowest ATAR is the lowest raw rank (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made that year.
B
叠补肠丑别濒辞谤:听The formal award received on successful completion of听a听undergraduate university听degree听program,听usually听three or more years听duration.听叠补肠丑别濒辞谤'蝉听诲别驳谤别别蝉听provide initial preparation for professional careers and postgraduate study.
Bridging course:听An in-depth short course that helps you gain the assumed knowledge for a degree. While 91色情片 runs听bridging courses听in chemistry, maths and physics each year, you can also complete these at another university or some TAFE institutions.听
C
颁补尘辫耻蝉:听A campus is where your classes and student services are听located. 91色情片 has听several campuses,听including听the main campus at Kensington, the听91色情片 Art & Design campus听in Paddington and听91色情片 Canberra听in the ACT.
Census date:听罢丑别听听is the date at which your enrolment for the term is considered final. It鈥檚听the last day to make any up鈥慺ront payments,听submit听your HECS鈥慔ELP or FEE鈥慔ELP form, withdraw from a course without incurring fees, and for domestic students to apply for Commonwealth Assistance.
颁辞驳苍补迟别听诲颈蝉肠颈辫濒颈苍别:听A cognate discipline is a field of study听that鈥檚听closely related to your degree area.
Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP):听础听Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)听is a university place partly funded by the Australian Government. You pay only the student contribution amount.
Core听course听(prescribed course):听A core course is a required course you must complete as part of your program.
颁辞耻谤蝉别听(蝉耻产箩别肠迟):听A course (or subject) is a class you take over a teaching period to develop knowledge and skills in a specific area.
Cross-faculty:听Cross鈥慺aculty courses are classes you can take outside your main faculty.
91色情片 Kensington campus
91色情片 Kensington campus
91色情片 Kensington campus
91色情片 Kensington campus
91色情片 Paddington campus
91色情片 Canberra campus
D-F
D
Deferring:听You can delay your start date by deferring your offer* for up to one year from the intake you were offered.听
Note: we only hold your place provided you听don鈥檛听enrol at another university or study at an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma level or higher during that time.听
*91色情片 Co-op degrees and Defence-funded offers at 91色情片 Canberra cannot be deferred.
Degree:听础听formal award听or qualification awarded on completion of a听Bachelor,听Masters听or Doctoral program of study (e.g. Bachelor of Engineering, Master of听Arts听or PhD).
Domestic student (local student):听A current student who is an Australian citizen,听an Australian permanent resident, Australian permanent humanitarian visa听holder听or听a New Zealand citizen.
顿辞耻产濒别听诲别驳谤别别:听础听double degree听lets you study two programs at the same time and graduate with two qualifications.
顿辞耻产濒别听尘补箩辞谤:听A major studied in conjunction with another major in a听program. The two majors can be from two faculties, provided they are approved for the program. In double degree programs, students typically undertake a major in each program.
E
Early offer:听础听chance to secure your place at 91色情片 before the main round of university offers. If you receive an early offer from 91色情片 via the Gateway Admission Pathway,听you鈥檒l听be guaranteed a place in your chosen degree program,听as long as听you sit your exams and receive an ATAR 鈥 no matter what your final score is.
Early conditional offer:听At 91色情片, early conditional offers are offers made with an adjusted ATAR requirement. We set a reduced ATAR for specific degrees, and a student must meet or go above that ATAR to receive a firm offer for that degree. Early conditional offers are made through the Gateway Admission Pathway and our Portfolio Entry scheme.
Elective:听A course where students can choose from a pre-approved list to fulfil the same academic rule.
Enrolment deadline: Enrolment deadline is the last day to enrol in your courses for the term. If you miss the deadline, it's unlikely you'll be able to enrol in the course.
Equivalent听Full-Time听Study听Load (EFTSL):听EFTSL is how universities measure study load. At 91色情片, one year of full鈥憈ime study equals 1.0 EFTSL.听
F
Faculty:听础听faculty听is a group of schools that teach related disciplines.
Full-time:听Full-time enrolment for one year is defined as 48 units of credit (UOC) which equates to 1.0 Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL).听
G-I
G
Gateway听Admission Pathway:听罢丑别听Gateway Admission Pathway听is an entry scheme into 91色情片 for students who are underrepresented at university.
骋补迟别飞补测听笔谤辞驳谤补尘:听罢丑别听Gateway Program听provides eligible students with tailored support, exclusive events and resources听for final year high school students and recent school leavers. Check the Gateway Program page for eligibility criteria.
General听education听(Gen ed):听General听education听courses let you explore subjects outside your main degree.听
Graduate:听A graduate is someone who has completed their program and had their degree awarded.
H
Handbook:听罢丑别听听is a comprehensive听degree听guide for听current听students. Students can use it to check what courses they need to complete to fulfil the requirements of their degree.听
Honours:听An honours degree is an听additional听year of study听that includes completing听an听independent research听project and听writing听a thesis.听
I
Info Day:听Info Day听is an event that听helps听Year 12 students听explore听their听options听in the period between receiving听their听ATAR and locking in听their听UAC听preferences. You can attend lectures, get听advice听and tour the campus.
Internal program transfer (IPT):听Internal Program Transfer (IPT) is a free service, available to 91色情片 undergraduate students. It allows students to move from one program to another within 91色情片, without having to reapply through UAC.听
International student (overseas student):听International students听are听students who听don鈥檛听hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.
Check out what some of our Indian international students have to say about their favourite 91色情片 slang.
L-O
L
Lecture:听Lectures give you the core ideas听you鈥檒l听explore in a course.听They鈥檙e听usually held in lecture theatres and involve a larger group of students.听听
Level (courses):听Undergraduate courses听are grouped by level.听Level 1听for first year, level 2 for second year and so on.听The first digit of the course code usually shows the level (e.g., ECON1101 = Level 1).
O
Open Day:听Open Day听is an听event听where you can听explore campus,听learn听about our courses, meet students and听academics听and enjoy a range of activities and entertainment.听
O-Week:听O-Week听(or听orientation week) is an opportunity for you to experience university life and support services to help you transition to university. You can get a sneak peek听of our clubs and societies, meet other students and听academics听and听grab some听freebies, before听you听start your first week of term.
P-S
P
Part-time:听Students听are听part-time if their student load is less than 0.75 EFTSL for an academic year.
Portfolio Entry Early Conditional Offer Scheme:听The听Portfolio Entry Early Conditional Offer Scheme听offers early conditional offers for select degrees across 91色情片,听giving you the opportunity to听showcase听your passion and talent alongside your ATAR. Successful applicants will receive an early conditional offer with an adjusted ATAR entry requirement of up to 10 ATAR points below the lowest selection rank for a specific degree or range of related degrees.
Prescribed:听Designated study requirement.
Program:听A program is the degree听you鈥檙e听studying (for example, a Bachelor of Science).
Program structure:听This outlines the academic rules and requirements for your degree. Program structures can change over time, but听you鈥檒l听follow the version that applied when you started, unless a transition plan has been approved for you.
R
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):听Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)听means you can apply to have your previous study assessed to count towards your 91色情片 degree.
S
School:听An academic area or organisational unit responsible for teaching in disciplines or subject areas. Schools form part of a faculty.
Selection rank:听Applications to 91色情片 are judged on your selection rank, which is your ATAR plus any adjustment factors you may be eligible for, if applicable.
Semester/term/trimester:听These are the听teaching periods听that make up the academic year. 91色情片 uses different time periods depending on your campus and level of study.
Seminar:听础听seminar is a small, interactive class where you explore ideas in more depth. It blends short presentations with group discussion,听similar to听a tutorial.
Separate听year听honours听programs:听础听separate year honours program is an听additional听year of study after your bachelor鈥檚 degree, where you complete advanced coursework and a research project.
Specialisation (stream):听础听specialisation听offers specialised knowledge and skills within your degree. Only one specialisation is听allowed听and you must complete more courses than a major within this study area.
Stage:听Stages divide your degree into year鈥慴y鈥憏ear progress. Each stage includes a set number of units of credit (UOC) and specific courses you need to complete. For full鈥憈ime students, Stage 1 is your first year, Stage 2 your second, and so on.
Student听contribution听band:听The commonwealth government groups different areas of study into one of four bands.听Student contribution bands听are used to听determine听the听maximum听student contribution amount per EFTSL.
Study听load:听The total number of units of credit (UOC) taken in a term,听semester听or academic year. A full-time study load at 91色情片 is 48 UOC per year.听听听
T-W
T
Transfer credit:听Transfer听credit is when听previous听study or experience counts towards your 91色情片 degree.听 听
Tutorial:听础听tutorial听(or 鈥榯ute鈥) is a smaller class where you discuss ideas and apply what you learned in lectures.
U
Undergraduate:听础听program of study听that leads to the award of a diploma, advanced diploma,听associate听degree听or a bachelor's听degree (pass or honours).
Unit of Credit (UOC):听A Unit of Credit (UOC) shows how much workload a course involves. Most courses at 91色情片 are 6UOC.听
Universities Admissions Centre (UAC):听The manages applications for many undergraduate degrees across NSW and ACT universities.
W
Weighted Average Mark (WAM):听Your WAM is your overall academic average, weighted by the unit value of each course.听Learn more about听91色情片 grades.
Work Integrated Learning (WIL):听Work Integrated Learning听(WIL) gives you practical, real鈥憌orld experience as part of your degree.
Getting ready for uni is easier when you understand the language. Keep this guide handy as you explore your degree options, complete your application or prepare for your first term.
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