Home → International Students → Study Options → Glossary of Common Terms

Glossary of Common Terms

Award

The particular achievement – certificate, diploma, degree, graduate certificate, or graduate diploma – conferred upon successful completion of the requirements for that specified program. See program.

Course

A distinct unit of study which forms part of a program for which a result may be recorded. Each course is identified by its alphanumeric course code.

For example, GEOS1010 Introduction to Physical Geography and BIOL1010 Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology are both courses.

Faculty

The University is divided into divisions. The principal academic divisions in which teaching and research are conducted are called Faculties. There are five Faculties in the University.

Major

Many programs require the completion of a series of courses from one or a number of related disciplines. This series of courses is referred to as a major.

Program

The collection of courses constructed in an approved way to form a coherent program leading to one of the awards of the University. For example, the Bachelor of Science program leads to the Bachelor of Science degree.

School

Faculties are divided into Schools, which are defined by disciplines. For example, the Faculty of Science and Information Technology has five Schools.

Term

Each academic year is divided into terms dependent upon how the courses you are studying are delivered. The academic year may be divided into either two semesters or three trimesters.

Units

Each course is given a unit value and each program requires the accumulation of a total number of units according to the degree pattern.

For example: a Bachelor of Arts program requires the completion of 240 units.