Handbook 2008

The Credit Points System

Study at Murdoch is based on a system of credit points. Most units have a value of 3 or 4 points. The guideline adopted by the University in determining the number of credit points represented by each unit is that the usual full-time student load in a semester is twelve points. Thus a three-point unit should engage roughly a quarter of a student’s available time and effort. This is an inclusive estimate, including all lectures, tutorials and/or laboratory classes, personal reading, and assignments required for the unit.

Full-time and Part-time Study

A full-time student normally enrols for 12 credit points in each semester, or 24 credit points in each academic year. Students must be enrolled in at least 9 points in a semester to be regarded as full-time: those whose enrolment is below 9 points at any stage in the semester will no longer be eligible for Centrelink support. For Centrelink purposes units are either in Semester 1, which includes all units with a census date between 1 January and 30 June, or in Semester 2, which includes all units with census dates between 1 July and 31 December. The only exceptions are full-year and straddle units, which are split equally between the two semesters.

Students may enrol on a part-time basis. There are difficulties in offering units involving laboratory sessions outside normal working hours. Students who foresee difficulty in attending units during normal working hours should consult the teaching timetable in planning their unit enrolment.

International students must be enrolled in at least 12 points in a semester to be regarded as full-time. Those international students whose enrolment is below 12 points must contact the Student Advisor via Murdoch International, as they will not be satisfying the conditions prescribed for a student visa.

General Credit

Regulations permit up to two points of general credit to be awarded to students enrolled in a degree requiring more than 24 points, and up to one point for students enrolled in diplomas and 24-point degrees where the student has been affected by circumstances largely beyond her or his control. General credit is not available for 12-point courses.

General credit cannot be used to satisfy course requirements.

If a student will be 0.5 point short of completion, credit should be awarded automatically. General credit normally is limited to 1 point. General credit of 1.5 or 2 points can be awarded only in highly exceptional cases, and cannot be awarded where

the shortage of points is a consequence of unit choices made by the student (students who because of a combination of units of different points values are 1.5 or two points short should take an additional unit);

the student has failed a unit in the final semester prior to graduation;

the student has been awarded credit of 24 or more points for previous studies; or

the student has four or more failures and/or Withdrawn results on the academic record.

General credit cannot be awarded where the student

will have completed less than the minimum 42 points of Part II required by the regulations; or

needed only 24 points of Murdoch units to complete the degree, as a consequence of credit granted on admission to the University; or

is taking an Independent Study Contract of less than 4 points in the final semester prior to graduation.

For further advice on General Credit students are encouraged to contact the Faculty Student Administration before enrolment in their final semester.