Academic Requirements

Academic Requirements
Rights and Responsibilities of Students
Resources and Facilities
Scholarships

Please note that where Head of School is indicated this refers to heads of an academic area, which may be Deans, Directors or Heads of Departments, Schools, Faculties, Centres or teaching areas.

Admission

Admission Requirements

The University requires that all applicants for courses meet the University's admission requirements.

To qualify for admission applicants must attain a prescribed level of performance in the Tertiary Entrance Examination or its interstate or overseas equivalents. Other qualifications may also be acceptable but the University reserves the right to determine the appropriate level of acceptability. Qualification of admission does not guarantee a place, particularly in courses for which there is competition for the number of places available.

More information on qualifications that can be used to meet course entry requirements and course prerequisites is available from http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/.

International Applicants

For information on all aspects of admission, including entry requirements, please refer to http://international.curtin.edu.au/applying/.

Students With Disabilities and/or Medical Conditions

Many of Curtin's courses have essential requirements that include:

extensive laboratory or computer laboratory hours,
fieldwork (occasionally in isolated locations or interstate),
group projects,
experiential learning modes,
the need for good colour-vision and manual dexterity

If you are a future student for whom any of these sample requirements might pose a difficulty as a consequence of a disability or a medical condition, you are strongly encouraged to enquire about the exact requirements of the course before you seek enrolment.

If you are a future student who, for the purposes of admission, has been disadvantaged as a consequence of a disability or a medical condition please read the information in the Alternative Entry and Special Consideration Entry sections to follow.

Alternative Entry

Curtin offers a range of alternative entry pathways. These include bridging and enabling programs for selected students who narrowly fail to satisfy normal admission requirements for selected courses. Application for these courses is made directly to the University. Not all courses have alternative entry programs.

For more information on bridging and enabling programs, and other alternative entry pathways, please refer to: http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/leavers/alternative.cfm or http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/mature/alternative.cfm.

Special Consideration Entry

Applicants who believe they warrant special consideration due to extraordinary circumstances can review the Guidelines for Special Consideration Application from http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/leavers/special.cfm Contact the University Admission Centre on + 61 8 9266 7805 or email admissions@curtin.edu.au for more information.

It is recommended that applicants have details of their special circumstances prepared at the time of enquiry, as it is useful when seeking advice from the staff.

The details of every conversation regarding special consideration will be treated respectfully and confidentially.

Applications

Applications for admission to Curtin at undergraduate level are to be made to the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC). The only exceptions to this requirement are for international fee-paying students, applicants who have previously studied at Curtin and mid-year entry applicants. For further information about the TISC application process please refer to http://www.tisc.edu.au.

For further information about other application processes at Curtin please refer to http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/leavers/applic.cfm or http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/mature/applic.cfm.

Admission into Honours Degree Programs

It is possible to undertake honours study in a number of areas at Curtin. Students in the University's own courses may be invited to undertake honours within their existing course or a separate honours degree course if their semester weighted average is above 65 per cent in at least the previous two study periods of full-time study.

Pass level degree graduates from other recognised higher education institutions may be considered for admission provided their academic record is equivalent or better than that required for Curtin students. Applicants should write to the Head of School of the discipline in which they wish to study providing detailed information on academic performance.

Each school has its own deadline and criteria for selection of honours-year students. In general, however, graduates from other institutions should write to the Head of School before the end of October for selection in the following academic year. The Head of School will advise future students on the status of their application including dates for enrolment in the event of being successful. For more information, please refer to: http://www.policies.curtin.edu.au/documents/honours_degrees_and_degrees_with_honours.doc.

Postgraduate Admission and Selection

Future students should consult the Head of School in which they wish to study regarding eligibility for admission. It should be noted that while they might meet eligibility requirements for admission, entry into a postgraduate program may not be possible in a particular year because appropriate staff members are not available to supervise specialist areas of research, and/or suitable facilities are not available. For more information, please refer to: http://www.postgrad.curtin.edu.au.

Some courses that have specific requirements have developed Application Guidelines which will assist in the preparation of your applications. These Guidelines are available for download from the Postgraduate Study Website at http://www.postgrad.curtin.edu.au/forms/coursework.cfm.

Contact

For more information on admission to Curtin University of Technology, contact the University Admission Centre on +61 8 9266 7805, email admissions@curtin.edu.au or refer to the website: http://www.futurestudents.curtin.edu.au.

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Higher Degrees by Research

Curtin offers a wide range of master and doctoral degrees by research. To qualify as a research degree, at least two-thirds of the required work for the award must be research. The award of a Master of Philosophy or a Doctor of Philosophy indicates that a student has contributed substantially to the knowledge or understanding in a field, and is capable of carrying out independent research.

For information about current procedures, rules, guidelines and appropriate forms required for each stage of the research degree process prospective higher degree by research students should refer to the website: http://research.curtin.edu.au/about/index.cfm.

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Fees and Charges

Fees and charges are approved by the Council of the University or in the case of the minimum Commonwealth Supported Student Contribution amounts annually by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST).

For information on these and other fees, please refer to: http://www.fees.curtin.edu.au.

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Enrolment

Deadlines for Enrolment

Failure to meet deadlines may result in the loss of place or the application of late fees. Students will receive an enrolment advice confirming their enrolment. It is the responsibility of each student to confirm their details are correct.

Amendment to Enrolment

Students may add or withdraw from units by specified deadlines. Withdrawal after the relevant census date will not remove the fee liability for that unit(s). For more information, please refer to: http://students.curtin.edu.au/administration/enrolment/amendment.cfm.

Cross-Institutional Enrolment

Cross-institutional enrolment is when a student already enrolled in one university wishes to enrol in unit(s) at another institution and have that study credited towards their degree. Formal arrangements exist with other universities in Australia. For more information, please refer to: http://students.curtin.edu.au/administration/enrolment/cross_institutional.cfm.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), previously known as Advanced Standing, is the recognition of a student's relevant prior study, experience or skills before undertaking the course.

Students who believe that they should not be required to study some units in a course, either because they have covered the work in other academic areas or because they have undertaken relevant employment activities, may apply for exemption from specified units. Refer to the University Policy and Procedure for Recognition of Prior Learning at: http://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/leavers/rpl.cfm.

OASIS

OASIS is Curtin's student portal. Through OASIS, students are provided with access to their student record (eStudent), the Official Communications Channel (OCC), and a range of other online services including a student email account and learning support systems.

It is a condition of enrolment at Curtin that students activate their OASIS account and access OASIS at least once a week to receive official communications from the University via OCC.

Students may be granted exemption from the requirement to access OASIS in exceptional circumstances only. Please refer to http://oasis.curtin.edu.au for more information.

Curtin Student Guild

The Curtin Student Guild is an important part of the University environment and plays an active role in representing student interests, providing welfare and other support services to students and organising many of the social, sporting and club-based activities that make Curtin such a vibrant community.

Under the Curtin University of Technology Act, all students automatically become members of the Student Guild on enrolment.

However, students may elect at the time of enrolment not to become a member of the Guild or may subsequently resign from Guild membership at any time.

Students are not required to pay a fee for Guild membership but if they wish to access the full range of Guild services (including access to discounts at on and off campus outlets), they may choose to pay a Guild Financial Membership Fee. Other than the discounts, payment of this fee will provide access to personal injury insurance, the Guild's Legal Assist and Student Assist Plus services (assistance with assessment and academic status appeals) and eligibility to participate in Guild-organised Intervarsity Sport and the Australian University Games.

Alternatively, students may choose to pay an Amenities and Services Fee which will give access to these additional services but not the discounts. The Amenities and Services Fee is collected by the University and passed to the Guild to pay for these services.

For more information on Guild services and what is available on payment of the Guild Financial Membership Fee or Amenities and Services Fee please see http://www.guild.curtin.edu.au/.

Leave of Absence

Once enrolled students may apply for specified periods of absence from their studies. This is called Leave of Absence.

For more information please refer to: http://students.curtin.edu.au/administration/enrolment/loa.cfm.

Placements and Exclusion from Clinical and Practical Units

Where completion of satisfactory clinical/practical experience is a compulsory part of the course, the University will make every endeavour to arrange a placement but accepts no responsibility should agencies refuse to accept any student.

Where there is concern that a student may be a danger to others when carrying out required practical or clinical training, e.g. health reasons, the student may be excluded from further study. For further information on possible exclusion contact the Head of School.

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Assessment

Students will be assessed, and given results only in those units for which they have enrolled. Centrally scheduled examinations are conducted during the official examination period as outlined in the academic calendar http://students.curtin.edu.au/administration/dates/index.cfm.

Students enrolled in units externally will be informed early in each semester of arrangements for external examinations. Depending on location, some external students may be responsible for organising the examination venue. Further information for external examinations is contained in the Distance Education Handbook, or refer to: http://examinations.curtin.edu.au/students/external_exam.cfm.

Deferred and Supplementary Examinations

Information on deferred and supplementary examinations is available at: http://examinations.curtin.edu.au/students/sup_exam.cfm.

Student Academic Status

The Board of Examiners ratifies the results of each student at the end of each study period. The Board of Examiners also determines a course status for each student of Good Standing, Conditional or Course Terminated.

To retain a status of Good Standing, students must achieve a satisfactory level of performance in their studies. A student who does not perform satisfactorily may be placed on Conditional status for which conditions may apply.

Students whose performance indicates to the Board of Examiners that they are unlikely to complete their course satisfactorily will be advised that their studies are terminated.

For information on appeals against status refer to the Appeals section below.

Notification of Results

Results will be made available at the completion of each study period. On conferral of their award, students will receive a complimentary Academic Transcript.

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Results Grading System

Results are generally given in the form of grades.

Grade Descriptor/AVCC Descriptor

10	100	High Distinction
9	90 - 99	High Distinction
8	80 - 89	High Distinction
7	70 - 79	Distinction
6	60 - 69	Credit
5	50 - 59	Pass
F	00 - 49	Fail

PASS	Pass Grade Only
FAIL	Fail Grade Only
PC	Conceded Pass
PX	Pass After Supplementary Examination
FX	Fail After Supplementary Examination
F-IN	Fail - Incomplete/Insufficient Assessment
ANN	Result Annulled Due to Academic Misconduct
WD	Withdrawn Late

X	Outstanding Supplementary Assessment
DA	Deferred Assessment
OA	Ongoing Assessment
GNS	Grade Not submitted

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Graduation

To be eligible to graduate, students must have satisfied all the requirements of their course. Graduation is the date on which the University approves the conferral of an award on a graduand, and this date appears on the award and Academic Transcript. On conferral of their award, students will receive an Academic Transcript free of charge.

For more information please refer to: http://www.graduations.curtin.edu.au.

Intermediate Awards

An Intermediate Award is an approved exit point from a higher level award course. It recognises completion of units that make up the requirements of an approved course where the student has completed these units as part of a higher level course. For further information refer to: http://www.policies.curtin.edu.au/documents/intermediate_awards.doc.

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Appeals

Students have a right of appeal against academic or administrative decisions affecting them.

Remember that disputes can frequently be resolved without going to a formal appeal. Before using a formal appeal procedure, students should discuss any disputed decision with their course coordinator or head of school.

A student may seek assistance and advice from the University Counselling Service or the Student Guild in preparing an appeal.

If a student considers that they have been unfairly or improperly treated in the appeals process, they have the right to lodge a grievance with the Manager Conflict Resolution as outlined in the Grievance Resolution policy.

For information on all appeals refer to: http://students.curtin.edu.au/rights/appeals/.

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Penalties (for Plagiarism)

Plagiarism means knowingly presenting the work or property of another person as if it were one's own without appropriate acknowledgment or referencing.

Academic honesty is crucial to a student's credibility and self esteem, and ultimately reflects the values and morals of the University as a whole. A student may work together with one or a group of students discussing assignment content, identifying relevant references and debating issues relevant to the subject. Academic investigation is not limited to the views and opinions of one individual, but is built by forming opinion based on past and present work in the field. It is legitimate and appropriate to synthesise the work of others, provided that such work is clearly and accurately referenced.

The University regards very seriously any acts of cheating or dishonesty by way of plagiarism. Penalties for such incidences have been defined within the University's Acts and Statutes. There is a range of penalties which may be imposed on a student for academic dishonesty, i.e. plagiarism. Depending upon the severity of the act of plagiarism, or the number of other like offences which have previously occurred, a student may have one or a combination of the following penalties imposed against him/her by the University:

cancellation or deprivation of credit for any examination or other academic work, which will entail an ANN* grade being assigned to a students academic record;
suspension of all or any of a student's rights and privileges including, suspension from attending lectures, seminars, tutorials or other classes;
suspension from the use of or exclusion from laboratories or other facilities or any part of such facilities;
suspension from attendance at or exclusion from any examination;
exclusion from the University or any part of the University for any specified period, not exceeding the remainder of the calendar year;
refusal for re-enrolment as a student;
a fine, up to the maximum approved by Council;
expulsion from the University.

* ANN - result annulled due to misconduct

Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students found guilty of plagiarism involving thesis work may have one or a combination of the following penalties imposed by the University:

Requirement to attend a remedial course;
Requirement to revise and resubmit affected work within a specified period;
Withdrawal of the thesis from the examination process;
Termination of enrolment;
A FAIL classification for the thesis.

(Curtin University of Technology Act, 1966 - Statute 10 Student Disciplinary Statute)

Staff are required to make students aware of the University's expectations with respect to academic honesty. All unit outlines distributed by the University are required to contain reference to the University Statement on Plagiarism. It is incumbent upon a staff member to report incidences of plagiarism immediately upon discovery to facilitate appropriate action being taken. For further information, refer to the Academic Integrity website at: http://academicintegrity.curtin.edu.au/students.html.

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Miscellaneous

Criminal Record Screening and Clearance

Many Curtin courses require students to undertake an external clinical placement, practicum or other fieldwork. Hospitals, schools, welfare agencies and other organisations, which have substantial dealings with people, now require that employees and associates be subject to criminal record checks. Students who are enrolled in courses in education, community and public health and human service areas, or where stipulated in the Curtin Courses Handbook, are required to undergo Criminal Record Screening and obtain a clearance prior to undertaking their placements or practicum.

A criminal record does not necessarily preclude a student from participating in an external placement, clinical practice or practicum. However, external agencies have advised that convictions leading to 12 months imprisonment or more for crimes:

of a violent or sexual nature, or
where the victim was under 18 years of age or elderly, or
for dealing or trafficking in drugs, or
involving fraud,

are likely to lead to a refusal to provide any placement involving contact with the public.

Full details about the Criminal Record Screening and Clearance will be issued to successful applicants in appropriate courses with an offer of a student place; or at the time of enrolment. Students undertaking double degrees in Education (especially with Health Sciences) should ensure that their type of Clearance is acceptable to the Department of Education and Training (WA). The clearance is performed by The CrimTrac Agency for a cost of approximately $33. Applicants should use the industry-specific forms available at http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/ or at http://www.health.wa.gov.au.

Applicants should be aware that if they apply for a clearance and do have a conviction relating to offences such as (1) or (2) above, then this information will be placed on a national database and made available to other authorities. Applicants can obtain confidential advice from the following agencies:

Head of University Counselling Services at Curtin on +61 8 9266 7850,
Department of Health (WA) on +61 8 9222 4222,
Department of Education and Training (WA) on +61 8 9264 4111.

Working with Children

The Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004) came into effect on 1 January 2006. The legislation aims to protect children by preventing unsuitable people from working with children. As a responsible organisation, Curtin University of Technology is committed to ensuring the wellbeing and safety of children with whom students work throughout the course of their studies or work. Students who are required to obtain a Working with Children (WWC) Check will be advised of Curtin's procedures by their Course Coordinator and/or their Fieldwork Coordinators. WWC Checks will apply if the student will be participating in activities that involve interaction with children for five or more days a year.

Full details of the Act and legislative requirements are available at: http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/default.htm.

Communicable Diseases

Prospective students who are carriers of communicable diseases such as Hepatitis B or C, HIV or Tuberculosis who are seeking admission to specific programs at Curtin are strongly advised to seek advice on the University policies and procedures in this area from the relevant course coordinator or the University Health Service before making an application for the course.

Youth Allowance and Austudy Payments

Youth Allowance (for students 16-24 years) and Austudy (for students 25 years of age and over) payments are available to eligible students who are undertaking at least 75 per cent of the full-time workload of their course. Some workload concessions are available for academic or disability reasons.

Students need to meet specific criteria to be eligible for benefits. To assess your entitlement to payments, contact 132 490 or visit the Centrelink Student Services Centre at the Bentley Campus (Building 106). http://www.centrelink.gov.au.

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Higher Education Reforms

This information is meant only as a brief introduction to the Higher Education Reforms - students should refer to the website http://www.goingtouni.gov.au for more detailed information.

Overview

In 2005, the Australian Government introduced a package of Higher Education Reforms, affecting domestic students. Domestic students belong to one of the following categories:

Australian citizen;
New Zealand citizen; or
holder of an Australian permanent visa

The more significant changes are detailed below.

Types of Students

Domestic students can either be a 'Commonwealth supported student' or a 'fee paying student'. The vast majority of domestic undergraduate students at Curtin are in Commonwealth supported places.

Postgraduate students at Curtin will continue to be fee-paying.

Student Contributions and Tuition Fees

Each year the University determines the student contribution for Commonwealth supported students for each unit within ranges set by the Australian Government. These are published at http://www.fees.curtin.edu.au.

Tuition fees for fee-paying students are also determined each year and are published at http://www.fees.curtin.edu.au.

Higher Education Loan Program

If a student is an Australian citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa, they may pay their student contribution or tuition fee up-front, or may request a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loan.

HECS-HELP is for eligible Commonwealth supported students (predominantly undergraduate) to pay their student contributions.

FEE-HELP is for eligible fee-paying students to contribute towards their tuition fees (predominantly postgraduate students at Curtin). Information on how much students are allowed to borrow is available at http://www.goingtouni.gov.au. A loan fee of 20 per cent applies to FEE-HELP loans for undergraduate courses of study.

Repayments for all HELP loans are based on income. Students do not have to start repaying their HELP debt until their income reaches a certain level. Further Information is available at http://www.goingtouni.gov.au.

If a student commencing a course after 1 January 2005 is a New Zealand citizen or the holder of an Australian permanent visa other than a humanitarian visa they will not have access to a HELP loan. They must pay their student contribution or tuition fee up-front without a discount.

Transitional Arrangements for Students Who Commenced their Course Prior to 2005

Students who commenced their course in a HECS place prior to 1 January 2005 and have not discontinued their course nor completed it will have access to HECS-HELP based on the eligibility criteria that applied under HECS unless they discontinue or complete their course or no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

The maximum student contributions that a university can charge a pre-2005 HECS student are less than the maximum that can be charged to a student who commences their course in 2005.

Students who prior to 1 January 2005 commenced a postgraduate course that was eligible for PELS and who incurred a PELS debt for that course and have not discontinued their course nor completed it will have access to FEE-HELP based on the eligibility criteria that applied under PELS unless they discontinue or complete their course or no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

These transitional arrangements will remain in place for study up to and including 31 December 2008.

Student Learning Entitlement

Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of an Australian permanent visa have a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE), giving them access to seven years equivalent full-time study as a Commonwealth supported student. Additional SLE is allocated in specific circumstances (for example, if a student enrols in an undergraduate course that is longer than six years).

Request for Commonwealth Assistance Form

All students who are in a Commonwealth supported place must complete and sign a request for Commonwealth assistance form and provide it to the University upon entry to the course.

Students who are requesting HELP assistance must complete a request for Commonwealth assistance form and provide it to the University on or before the census date.

Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN)

Students receiving Commonwealth higher education assistance (for example, studying as a Commonwealth supported student, or accessing a HELP loan) are given a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). This number will stay with them throughout their academic life, allowing their entitlements to be maintained, even if they transfer to another university.

The Department of Science, Education and Training (DEST) is responsible for allocating CHESSNs. Students will be advised of their CHESSN.

"Going To Uni" Website - Department of Science, Education and Training

The Australian Government has established a web site at http://www.goingtouni.gov.au to assist in the management of the reforms and provide information to students.

Students are able to access the HEIMS Student Private Portal from this site for a summary of their personal details regarding the Commonwealth assistance that they are entitled to and/or are receiving.

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