Academic terminology can vary considerably depending on where you are from. We've developed this glossary to help you understand some of the terminology used at Charles Sturt.
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Academic dress – the components of dress all graduates are required to wear at a graduation (convocation) ceremony.
Academic integrity – acting with honesty, fairness and responsibility in learning, teaching and research. It involves observing and maintaining ethical standards in all aspects of academic work.
Academic misconduct – the breach of academic integrity in any area. It involves engaging in dishonest or unethical practices, including but not limited to cheating, collusion or plagiarism. Depending on the circumstances and the nature of the academic misconduct, consequences might include educational intervention or the imposition of penalties appropriate to the misconduct.
Accrediting body – a professional association which formally accredits programs within a particular discipline. For example Charles Sturt's Bachelor of Exercise Science and Sport Science is accredited with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) via the National University Course Accreditation Program (NUCAP).
Alumni – an association and networking group for graduates, current and former staff who studied at Charles Sturt.
Assessment – measurement of a student's skill and knowledge, such as an essay or exam.
Assumed knowledge – knowledge that students are assumed to have, in particular referring to subjects the University recommends you complete prior to starting the course.
Articulation – the specific design of a course to maximise opportunities for students to proceed from one level of education/training to the next, for example from a TAFE Diploma to a Bachelor degree.
Award – another name for a Charles Sturt degree. Awards are the qualification conferred upon a student following the successful completion of an academic program. Awards can be undergraduate or postgraduate (known in some countries as graduate), with titles such as Bachelor, Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master, Doctor, etc. Charles Sturt awards all comply with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Campus – the location where you will undertake your study.
Candidate – a person enrolled for a higher degree by research. The terms 'candidate' and 'student' can be used interchangeably. The person's period of enrolment is known as their candidacy.
Capstone project/subject –an opportunity within a program for students to gain valuable on-the-job skills and experience in preparation for the workplace.
Census date – the date by which you must have finalised your subject selection and payment for a particular session. However for international students, earlier deadlines apply. Make sure you are familiar with the Charles Sturt International Student Refund Policy.
Clinical placement – provides students with direct education and valuable exposure to professional practice by allowing them to practice in real professional settings. Typical in a health and education courses.
Cohort – a group of students that commences a particular program of study in a particular year.
Commencing student – a student who has enrolled in a program for the first time between 1 January and 31 December of a given year.
Continuing student – all students who are not commencing students.
Core subjects – the subjects in a course that all students are required to complete.
Course – the degree or qualification you are enrolled in, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level. This may also be known as a program. Not to be confused with a subject.
Course Director – a member of the academic staff in a Faculty responsible for administrative matters relating to students enrolled in a course.
Course offering – the ways in which the University makes a course available to students. A course offering typically involves the mode of study, location and intensive schools (where applicable).
Course prerequisite – a course or group of courses that must be successfully completed prior to undertaking a more advanced course.
Credit – the term 'credit' is used in two ways at the Charles Sturt:
CRICOS code – a code which is allocated to all programs available to international students which are:
Cross institutional enrolment – this is where the student is enrolled in an academic program at one educational institution (the home institution) and is permitted by that institution to enrol in courses at another recognised educational institution (the host institution) which will be counted towards an award at the home institution.
Defer – to delay the start of an undergraduate course.
Domestic students – Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of an Australian permanent visa.
Double degree – a program where two separate programs at the same level have been combined to complement each other, such that the core elements of the two awards are undertaken simultaneously and the requirements of each award are fully met.
Elective – a subject which students have a choice in selecting (usually from a specified list) in addition to the core subjects of the course.
Executive Dean- the member of academic staff responsible for the management of a Faculty.
Endorsement – (also known as endorsement of candidature) the successful completion of probation requirements for higher degree research students.
Examination – a form of assessment whereby a student is required to undertake a specified academic task within a specified period of time, normally between one and three hours. The location of the examination and access to external assistance is also normally regulated.
Exchange student – a domestic or international student who participates in a student exchange program to study at another University or education provider that has a formal agreement with Charles Sturt.
Exemption – release from specified parts of a course (such as exemption from lectures, practicum placement, tutorials, projects or any other components of a course including elements of assessment). The exact requirements will be determined by the course director.
Faculty – a department within a university devoted to a particular area of study. Charles Sturt has three faculties – Arts and Education; Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences; and Science.
Full-time student – a student enrolled in subjects that amount to 75% or more of the normal full-time study load for a session. A normal full-time study load for a student is four 8 point subjects in each of two sessions per year. Note that international students must be are enrolled full-time to comply with their visa conditions.
Grade – grades indicate the level of performance in a course against specified criteria and standards. Grade range from High Distinction (85-100%), Distinction (84-75%), Credit (74-65%), Pass (50-64%) and Fail (0-49%). Grades are awarded in all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses.
Graduand – a student who has qualified for an award but who has not yet had the award conferred.
Graduate – a student who has had an award conferred.
GPA – a student's grade point average. GPA is calculated from the results in each subject completed within a course.
Induction – an introductory program which gives someone essential information about how an organisation works, their role and what is expected of them. Higher Research Degree students are required to attend an induction as part of meeting their probation requirements.
Intensive school – A short period of study, usually from three to five days, where online students come on campus to complete units or assessment tasks for a subject. These may be compulsory or optional.
International student – a student studying at an Australian University who is not a citizen, on a permanent visa or a citizen of New Zealand. International students are usually in Australia on a student visa.
Invigilator – a staff member or approved nominee who is responsible for supervising examinations.
Lecture – a formal presentation by an academic staff member, usually to a large number of students. Lectures may include the use of handouts and audio-visual presentations. Opportunities for asking questions or discussing the material being presented are usually limited. At Charles Sturt, lectures are often recorded and made available later via CSUReplay
Major study – an area within a course that allows in-depth study in a specialised area of a particular field.
Minor study – Like a major study, a minor study is a smaller grouping of subjects within a course, allowing students to focus on a particular field
Medical certificate – a signed statement from a registered medical practitioner, health practitioner or approved health specialist which specifies the period of time during which a medical condition has, or will, affect a student's participation and/or attendance. Charles Sturt University Medical Certificates are legal documents and must contain the practitioner's stamp and signature.
Mode of delivery the manner in which a course or subject is being given There are two modes of delivery:
Online education – a mode of study allowing students to complete their course online without having to come on campus. Does not normally include a face-to-face component although may require attendance at intensive schools. Note international students on student visas are strictly limited on the number of online subjects they are allowed to take.
Open book – an examination where approved written or printed material is allowed.
Orientation – a program of activities run at the beginning of the academic session which is designed to provide students who are new to the University with the information and support they need to become familiar with, and confident about, University life. The program may presentations, online resources, workshops and a range of other activities.
Part-time student – a student enrolled in subjects that amount to less than 75% of the normal full-time study load for a session.
Plagiarism –involves the use of another person's words, ideas, designs or work without appropriate acknowledgment. Some common forms of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:
Program – the degree or qualification you are enrolled in, either at undergraduate or postgraduate level. At Charles Sturt, this is usually referred to as a course.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) – credit granted towards the requirements of an award program which recognise prior learning, usually from
Referencing – the acknowledgement of information sources in academic work. Referencing is the appropriate way to give credit to the original source of an idea, piece of writing or creative work.
Residential school – Known as Intensive school. A short period of study, usually from three to five days, where online students come on campus to complete units or assessment tasks for a subject. These may be compulsory or optional.
School – a unit or department of Charles Sturt that administers the courses in a discipline.
Session – the period of time during which classes are held. At Charles Sturt, academic calendar is broken into three study sessions per year, starting Session One (February-June), Session Two (July- October) and Session Three (November-February). Note that Higher Degree Research Students are expected to study through the whole year with 20 days recreation leave allowed.
Scholarship – a financial award selected on merit (including academic merit, leadership and community engagement), need and/or other requirements, to assist a student to undertake a program of study over a nominated period of time. Depending on the duration of the scholarship, payment can be made as a one-off or yearly payment to the student, who must meet selection and performance criteria (such as maintaining a specified GPA).
Student portal – a secure and personalised space on the Charles Sturt website used for communication between students and the University. It is referred to as student.csu.
Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) – a fee used to maintain and enhance services and amenities for students, such as counselling, advocacy, legal and financial support, health promotion, welfare, disability, childcare, social inclusion, sports and recreation, employment and careers advice, and student representation. The fee is calculated based on the number of subjects a student is enrolled in for a session.
Subject –an individual unit that a student studies, with a number of subjects making up a course. At Charles Sturt, most subjects are worth 8 points and take one session to complete.
Subject coordinator – an academic staff member in charge of delivering and running a subject. They may also be the person who lectures for the subject or lecturing may be share among a few lecturers.
Subject Coordinator/Lecturer – an academic member of staff who delivers a lecture, usually employed in a substantive or sessional role.
Subject points – a value assigned to each subject to reflect its relative weighting. At Charles Sturt, a standard one-session subject is assigned 8 points.
Transcript of academic record – an official record of a student's complete enrolment history, including a listing of all courses and results.
Tuition fee – the fee charged for a course or program of study.
Tutorial – a period of teaching given to a small group of students, involving discussion and participation.
UAC – Universities Admissions Centre (NSW and ACT) Pty Ltd. All NSW and ACT domestic students apply for full-time on campus courses online through UAC. International students who have completed Year 12 in Australia may be able to apply for undergraduate degrees through UAC International.
Verified – official documents certified or notarised as being a true and accurate copy of the original.
Workplace learning – time spent in hands-on application of learning. This may be in actual workplaces in the community, in Charles Sturt's clinics and enterprises, or in laboratories or specialist facilities on campus. Workplace learning activities may be subject to visa restrictions for international students.