Courses and Degrees Statute

Bachelor Degrees Rules 1998

The Council of The Australian National University, makes these Rules under sections 3 and 4 of the Courses and Degrees Statute.

Dated 11 September 1998.

The Council of The Australian National University

Name of Rules

1 These Rules are the Bachelor Degrees Rules 1998.

OBJECT OF THESE RULES
These Rules are intended to set up the platform upon which the University’s Bachelor Degrees are based. They are meant to be read in conjunction with the Undergraduate Handbook Rules 1998 and the Handbook itself as it appears on the Internet.

In these Rules you will find generally applicable information about doing a bachelor’s degree at the University, including the range of degrees offered, the combinations available for combined courses and obtaining status for work already done.

Details about specific units, prerequisites, incompatible units, sequences and combinations of units, honours courses and other matters relating to particular degrees and units are to be found in the Handbook. The relevant parts of the Handbook are given legislative authority by the Undergraduate Handbook Rules 1998.

Definitions are used to draw the distinction between single and combined degree courses and their components. This enables the Rules to cover all undergraduate degrees in the same way.

PART 1 — Preliminary

Application

2 These Rules, and Orders made under these Rules, apply in relation to a course commenced or continued on or after 1 January 1999.

Definitions

3 (1) In these Rules, unless the contrary intention appears:

Board means:

(a)  for the Institute of the Arts — the Board of the Institute of the Arts; and

(b)  in any other case — the Board of The Faculties;

combined course  means a course leading to the award of 2 degrees in accordance with Part 3;

course means a course for a degree;

degree means a degree mentioned in Part 1 of the Schedule, a combined course mentioned in Part 2 of the Schedule or a component degree of a combined course, as the case requires;

Faculty, for a degree, means the Faculty responsible for the degree or a School in the Institute of the Arts;

[NOTE: Under the Faculties (The Faculties) Statute the powers of a Faculty may be delegated to an officer of the University or to a committee.]

Handbook Rules means the Undergraduate Handbook Rules 1998 as amended and in force from time to time;

Order published in the Handbook, for a degree, means the Order published (or to be published) under rule 9 of the Handbook Rules that relates to a degree, or, for a component of a combined degree, the Order published (or to be published) under rule 9 of the Handbook Rules that relates to that component;

[NOTE: For example, a reference, in relation to the degree of Bachelor of Actuarial Studies to the Order published in the Handbook is a reference to so much of the Degree of Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Units) Order (however called) as is included in the relevant Part of the Handbook.]

student means an applicant to undertake, or a person undertaking, all or part of a course.

(2)  A reference in these Rules to value for a unit is a reference to the value, in credit points, of the unit.

Orders

4 (1) For the Courses and Degrees Statute:

(a)  the Board is the specified authority for making Orders about the units for these Rules and the requirements for completion of courses; and

(b)  the Board must exercise its power to make those Orders with the advice of the Faculty concerned.

(2) The Board may, by Order published in the Handbook, set out, for each unit a Faculty offers:

(a)  the unit’s name; and

(b)  the unit’s identifying code; and

(c)  the unit’s credit point value; and

(d)  the prerequisites and co-requisites (if any) for taking the unit; and

(e)  if there are any other units with which the unit is regarded as incompatible — the names of those units; and

(f)  any other conditions to which taking the unit is subject.

(3) The Board may, by Order published in the Handbook, detail the requirements for completion for each single degree, combined course and honours course.

(4) The Board may, by Order published in the Handbook, change the requirements for particular units to be undertaken for a component of a combined course a Faculty offers.

The degrees that may be conferred

5 A degree may be conferred as a pass degree or as a degree with honours.

Who may be enrolled?

6 A Faculty may only enrol a person as a student if the person has been admitted to the University in accordance with the Admission (Bachelors Degree Courses) Rules or the Institute of the Arts Undergraduate Admission Rules.

How must choice and order of units be approved?

7 (1) A student must get the approval of the Faculty for the proposed choice and order of the units of the student’s course and for any change to that choice or order.

(2) The number of units that a student may take in a semester, year or other teaching period may be determined by the Faculty responsible for the student’s course.

(3) Except with the permission of the Faculty concerned, a student must not undertake a course at the same time as undertaking a degree, diploma or other award course offered by:

(a)  another Faculty; or

(b)  another tertiary education institution.

How may a student be assessed?

8 (1) A student undertaking a course must submit to examinations or assessment in the units of the course as required by the Faculty concerned.

(2) A student may only be admitted to examination or given other assessment in any of the units of a course if he or she has attended the classes, and carried out work in the units of the course, to the satisfaction of the Head of the Department concerned.

(3) However, a student must not be refused an examination or other assessment by reason only of the fact that the student failed to attend a class or carry out work if the student was not given reasonable notice that he or she was required to attend the class or carry out the work.

What are the time-limits for a course?

9 (1) Unless the Faculty otherwise determines, a student must finish his or her course:

(a)  if the course is a single degree course in a School in the Institute of the Arts — 7 years after beginning it; and

(b)  if the course is any other single degree course in The Faculties¾in not more than 10 years after beginning it; and

(c)  if the course is a combined course for which the total value mentioned in the Schedule is less than 240 credit points — in not more than 10 years after beginning it.

(d)  if the course is a combined course for which the total value mentioned in the Schedule is 240 credit points or more — in not more than 11 years after beginning it.

(2) However if status is granted under rule 13 or 17 for work done elsewhere, the Faculty responsible for the course must fix a time, not more than the maximum period for the course, within which the student undertaking a pass degree must comply with these Rules.

(3) However, a student undertaking a degree with honours may only be admitted to the degree if the student:

(a)  finishes the course for the corresponding pass degree within the period mentioned in subrule (1) or (2); and

(b)  finishes the honours year of that course, to the satisfaction of the Faculty, in 1 year as a full-time student or 2 years as a part-time student.

(4) Also, a student undertaking a degree with honours may only be admitted to the degree if:

(a)  for a student undertaking 1 honours course, or a combined honours course — he or she undertakes the honours year immediately after finishing the requirements for the corresponding pass degree; and

(b)  for a student undertaking 2 honours courses — he or she undertakes the honours year of each course:

(i)  immediately after completing the requirements for the corresponding pass degree; or

(ii)  immediately after completing the honours year for the other component degree.

(5) However, if a student undertakes an honours course for which he or she is not required to undertake an honours year, subrules (1) and (2) apply to that student for that course and subrules (3) and (4) do not.

(6) The Faculty may change a time limit mentioned in subrule (3) or (4) for an honours degree.

Suspension of course

10 (1)  The Faculty may approve the suspension of a student’s course.

(2) If the Faculty approves the suspension of a student’s course, the period of suspension must be included in the maximum period of the course.

PART 2 — Undertaking a Single Degree

Division 1 — The Pass Degree

What are the course requirements for a pass degree?

11 (1) A list of single degree courses offered by the University is set out in Part 1 of the Schedule.

(2) To finish the course for a pass degree a student must pass units mentioned in subrule (3) the total value of which is set out in the Schedule and complete the other requirements for the degree set out in the Orders published in the Handbook.

(3) The units, sequences of units or combinations of units that may be included in a course are the units, sequences or combinations of units approved by the Faculty concerned and set out in the Orders published in the Handbook.

(4) The Faculty may, in special circumstances, approve a course or variation of a course that does not comply with subrule (2) or (3).

What units may be taken for a pass degree?

12 (1) The units for the pass degree must be chosen from:

(a)  units offered by the Faculty concerned; and

(b)  units approved by the Faculty that are offered by other Faculties or elsewhere in the University.

(2) The units offered by the Faculty are the units set out in the Order for the Faculty published in the Handbook and have the credit point values set out in that Order.

(3) A unit from another Faculty or elsewhere in the University must be taken in accordance with the Rules and Orders that relate to that unit.

(4) The Board may, by Order, determine:

(a)  units for which a student may not receive status if taken with other units; and

(b)  a maximum number of units for which a student may receive status in any year; and

(c)  a maximum number of credit points for which a student may receive status for taking specified units; and

(d)  subject to any other relevant Orders, any other condition to which the taking of a particular unit is subject.

(5) A Faculty may, in a particular case, determine a matter mentioned in subrule (4).

(6) However, in a determination under subrule (5) a Faculty must comply with any relevant Order made by the Board.

[NOTE: The Orders published in the Handbook generally mention units that are incompatible with, or that may not be taken concurrently with, or after completion of, other units and prerequisites and co-requisites to the taking of particular units.]

How to get status in pass course for previous work

13 A Faculty may grant a student who has carried out work or completed part of a course at this University, at another university or at a college of advanced education or a similar institution, such status in the course for a pass degree as it determines, having regard to all the circumstances.

(2) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise, a student must not be granted status for work carried out, or a unit or subject passed, more than the prescribed number of years before the date on which the student applied for status for that work, unit or subject.

(3) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise, a student may not enrol in a unit forming part of a sequence of units if the student seeks status for work carried out, or a unit or subject passed, in relation to that sequence of units more than the prescribed number of years before the date on which the student applies to enrol for the first-mentioned unit.

(4) In this rule prescribed number of years means:

(a)  for a course undertaken in the Institute of the Arts — 8 years; and

(B)  for any other course undertaken in The Faculties — 10 years.

How must a student’s performance be categorised?

14 The performance of a student in a unit must be classified as “high distinction”, “distinction”, “credit”, “pass”, “course requirements satisfied” or “fail”.

When can a student be admitted to the degree?

15 Except with the permission of the Faculty concerned, a student may only be admitted to the pass degree if the student has finished the course and has complied with these Rules and the Orders.

Division 2 — The Degree with Honours

Enrolment in honours course

16 The Faculty may enrol a student in an honours course mentioned in the Order published in the Handbook on the recommendation of the Head of the Department in which the honours course is proposed to be taken.

How to get status in honours course for previous work

17 (1) A Faculty may grant a student who has carried out work or completed part of a course at this University, at another university or at a college of advanced education or a similar institution, such status in the course for the honours degree as it determines, having regard to all the circumstances.

(2) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise, a student must not be granted status for work carried out, or a unit or subject passed, more than the prescribed number of years before the date on which the student applied for status for that work, unit or subject.

(3) Unless the Faculty determines otherwise, a student may not enrol in a unit forming part of a sequence of units if the student seeks status for work carried out, or a unit or subject passed, in relation to that sequence of units more than the prescribed number of years before the date on which the student applies to enrol for the first-mentioned unit.

(4) In this rule prescribed number of years means:

(a)  for a course undertaken in the Institute of the Arts — 8 years; and

(b)  for any other course undertaken in The Faculties — 10 years.

Honours work

18 A candidate for the degree with honours must, in the years of the course allocated for the corresponding pass degree, undertake the course approved by the Faculty for the pass degree as well as any extra work required by the Head of the Department responsible for the honours course.

Honours year

19 (1) The course requirements for an honours course (including the requirements for an honours year if applicable to the course) must be set out in the Order published in the Handbook.

(2) If the course for a degree with honours includes an honours year, a student may be admitted to the honours year by the Faculty concerned if the student has reached a sufficiently high standard in the preceding years of the course for the corresponding pass degree.

How may an honours year be cancelled?

20 (1) If a student is not making satisfactory progress in an honours course, the Faculty may (on the recommendation of the Head of the Department in which the student is undertaking the course) cancel the enrolment of the student for the degree with honours.

(2) If, under subrule (1), the Faculty cancels the enrolment of a student for a degree with honours, the student is to be regarded, for rule 24, as having abandoned the course for the degree with honours.

May an honours year be attempted more than once?

21 Except with the permission of the Faculty, a candidate for a degree with honours may only attempt the honours year once.

When can a student be admitted to an honours degree?

22 A student who has complied with these Rules and who has reached a standard satisfactory to the Faculty in the units of the student’s course and any other work that he or she is required to perform may be admitted to the degree with honours.

How must an honours degree be categorised?

23 A candidate for the degree with honours who reaches an appropriate standard and complies with these Rules for the degree may be awarded a degree with first class honours; second class honours, division A; second class honours, division B; or third class honours.

Candidates for honours degree may be admitted to pass degree

24 A candidate for the degree with honours may be admitted to the pass degree if the candidate has not already been admitted to that degree, has complied with these Rules for admission to that degree, and:

(a)  fails to reach an appropriate standard for the award of the degree with honours; or

(b)  abandons the course for the degree with honours.

PART 3 — Undertaking Combined Courses

Combined courses

25 (1) With the permission of the Faculties concerned, a student may undertake the courses for 2 degrees as a combined course.

(2)  The University offers the combined courses mentioned in Part 2 of the Schedule.

[NOTE: Typically 1 or both degrees taken as a combined course involves taking fewer units than taking the 2 degrees separately.]

What are the requirements for a combined course?

26 (1) To finish a combined course, a student must pass units the total value of which is the value in credit points for the course mentioned in the Schedule.

(2) The units, sequences or combinations of units that may be included in the course are the units, sequences or combinations of units approved by the Faculty and set out in the Order published in the Handbook.

(3) The Faculty may, in special circumstances, approve a course or variation of a course that does not comply with subrule (1) or (2).

(4) A unit must not be credited more than once to a student undertaking a combined course.

How can a student be admitted to a component degree?

27 (1) Subject to the Orders, a student may be admitted to 1 of the pass degrees if the student finishes the requirements for the relevant component of the combined course mentioned in the entry for the degree in the Order.

[NOTE: Typically, the compulsory requirements include all of the units undertaken in that component of the degree and also a number of points taken from the other component.]

(2) Having been admitted to that degree, the student may not be admitted to the second pass degree in the combined course unless he or she finishes all of the requirements for the course.

Can all or part of a combined course be taken as an honours degree?

28 (1) A student undertaking a combined course may undertake a course for either or both of the degrees with honours.

(2) If a student undertakes a course for 1 of the degrees with honours, the student must comply with any conditions imposed by the Faculty for the admission of the student to the honours course.

(3) A student may be admitted to 1 of the degrees with honours if the student finishes the requirements mentioned in subrule 27 (1) for admission to the relevant pass degree and complies with the requirements for the degree with honours in accordance with these Rules and the Orders.

(4) If a student undertakes a combined course for both of the degrees with honours, the student must take the honours year of each component of the course (if any) in separate years unless the Faculties, on the recommendation of the Deans, permit otherwise.

Application of Rules and Orders to combined courses

29 The Rules and Orders that are applicable to a single degree apply, except where they are inconsistent with this Division, in relation to a component of a combined course.

PART 4 — Review of decisions and Application of amending Rules and Orders

Review of decisions

30 (1) If a Faculty makes a decision affecting a student under these Rules, the Faculty must tell the student, in writing, about his or her rights to a review of the decision.

(2) A student may seek review of a decision made by a Faculty under these Rules, except a decision classifying the student’s performance in accordance with rule 14.

(3) Application for review of a decision must initially be made to the Dean of the Faculty (or Director of a School within the Institute of the Arts) concerned.

(4) If the Dean or Director receives an application for review, the Dean or Director must review the decision and make a fresh decision as if he or she were making the original decision.

(5) If the student wishes to seek review of a decision made under subrule (4), the student may appeal to the Board.

(6) The Board, or a Committee established by it for the purpose, must review a decision referred to it under subrule (5) and may make any decision that could have been made by the original decision-maker.

Application of amending Rules and Orders

31 If an amendment affecting a course or combined course is made to these Rules, or to relevant Orders, the amendment does not apply to a student who, before the amendment was made, had finished 1 or more units of the course or combined course unless:

(a)  the student:

(i)  elects in writing that the amendment apply; and

(ii)  submits to the Faculty concerned proposed alterations to the course or combined course that are in accordance with these Rules and the relevant Orders, as so amended; and

(iii)  the Faculty approves those alterations; or

(b)  the Faculty determines otherwise.

Schedule

Courses offered by the University

PART 1 — Single Bachelor Degrees

PART 2 — Combined Bachelor Degree Courses

[NOTES:    The Faculties responsible for a combined course are the Faculties responsible for the single Bachelor Degrees that are components of the combined course.

The abbreviation for a combined course consists of the abbreviation for each of its components separated by a slash (eg the abbreviation for the Degree of Bachelor of Asian Studies (Vietnamese) and Degree of Bachelor of Arts (Visual) is BAsianStudies(Vietnamese)/BA (Visual).]

* The credit point values shown are for combinations involving the current four-year course for the BA(Visual) degree. From 1999, that course will no longer be offered to new students or to students transferring from other courses. A new, three-year course leading to the degree of BA(Visual) is being designed, together with corresponding new versions of the various combined courses and it will be that course in which new or transferring single-degree and combined course students will enrol in 1999. Therefore new and transferring combined-course students will be subject to a different set of course requirements, which when finalised will be published in the Institute of the Arts Handbook 1999 and at
http://www.anu.edu.au/ITA/handbook/ and
http://www.anu.edu.au/handbook/