Academic staff

the staff responsible for all teaching and research activities at the university. They include the professors, associate professors, lecturers and tutors.

Admissions

entry granted into a course following confirmation that all requirements to study have been met. Usually precedes enrolment.

Alternative entry

a means of applying to QTAC without having completed Year 12 or any other formal academic qualifications. Applicants are assessed on the basis of work experience, personal competencies, professional or postsecondary qualifications (eg an apprenticeship) and results from the STAT (Special Tertiary Admissions Test). (Year 12 students are not generally allowed to apply using Alternative Entry.)

Assessment

work such as an examination, assignment, practical or performance that a student is required to complete to fulfil an educational purpose, such as to motivate learning or provide feedback, and/or to provide a basis for a record of achievement, such as grading.

Assumed Knowledge (see also 'prerequisites')

Some universities do not have mandatory subject prerequisites for all entry to their programs or courses. Assumed knowledge indicates the minimum level of knowledge for students considering a course, but is not used as criteria for entry. Students without the assumed level of study are not prevented from enrolling, however they may be disadvantaged unless they undertake bridging courses during or prior to the first year of study.

Bachelor

the lowest level degree at a university, normally requiring at least three years of full-time study.

Census date

the date on which a student's enrolment is taken to be finalised. HECS -HELP and FEE-HELP debts are incurred and Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) is consumed on census dates. Students must make their up-front payments and submit their request/s for Commonwealth assistance by the census date.

Centrelink

a government agency delivering a range of Commonwealth services to the Australian community including income support for students, job seekers and people with disabilities.

Commonwealth-supported place

higher education place for which the Commonwealth makes a contribution towards the cost of the student's education.

Contact hours

the number of hours that a student will be expected to spend at university attending lectures, tutorials, or practical/laboratory classes.

Course or program

an approved program of study in a discipline or field leading to an award or degree of the university.

Credit

credit granted towards a student's current course from studies successfully completed at another tertiary institution or in another course at university. Can also be referred to as an exemption.

Deferment

1. QTAC: where a QTAC offered applicant wishes to delay the start of their studies at university.
2. Exams and assessment: where any component of assessed work within a unit of study is approved to be done by a specified later date.

Discipline

a field of related studies, eg biology, physics, mathematics, history, music, fashion design.

Enrolment

process by which a student formally registers in units of study and pays associated fees.

Faculty

a formal grouping of academic programs, schools, discipline areas, research centres and/or any combination of these drawn together for educational purposes.

HECS/ HECS-HELP

a scheme that includes up-front payment discounts and loans to help eligible Commonwealth supported students pay their student contributions.

Lecture

a class in which an academic staff member gives formal instruction in the subject matter for students enrolled in that unit.

OP (Overall Position)

indicates a current Queensland Year 12 student’s state wide rank order position based on overall achievement in authority subjects. The OP rank may be used to assess eligibility for admission to undergraduate courses.

Orientation Week

a program of activities designed to familiarise new students with university.

Postgraduate course

a course of study leading to an award of graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree, professional doctorate or doctor of philosophy. Postgraduate study usually requires successful completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent learning as a minimum entry requirement.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites usually refers to subjects studied in high school that are may be required in order to gain entry to a program or course of study at university. 

Prospective student

a person who has made enquiries about a course of study but is not yet enrolled for that particular course. This includes people who may have made an application for admission.

QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre)

the body that acts on behalf of universities and TAFE institutes to publish course information and requirements, provide application materials and receive and process applications.

Scholarship

a sum of money or other aid granted to a student on the basis of merit or other factors, for example, low income, rural or Indigenous background. See also Commonwealth Learning Scholarships, exemption scholarship, fee-paying scholarship. Smaller scholarship amounts may be referred to as bursaries.

Tutorial

a group learning situation facilitated by a tutor and based on the materials presented during lectures.

Undergraduate course

a course of study leading to the award of an associate diploma, diploma, associate degree or a bachelor degree.

Unit or subject

a set of classes run over a teaching period providing instruction on a particular subject matter. A unit generally takes three or four class contact hours per week. A unit may be designated as core or elective.