Guidance notes: Principle 4 Subject Point System and Identification Coding

Principles

4.1   Subjects are allocated a point weighting, with one point equivalent to between 17.5 to 20 hours volume of learning.
  4.1.1   A standard subject is weighted at eight points.
  4.1.2   A subject weighting of eight points is equal to 0.125 equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL).
4.2   Each subject code comprises a three-letter prefix and three digits.
  4.2.1   The level of a subject is indicated by the first digit in the subject code, which indicates how advanced the subject is.
4.3   The scale for undergraduate subjects is:
  4.3.1   Level 000: bridging, enabling or other non-award subject (non-AQF).
  4.3.2   Level 100: introductory (AQF Level 5).
  4.3.3   Level 200: building on level 100 (AQF Level 6).
  4.3.4   Level 300: building on level 200 up to the outcome level of a three-year undergraduate degree (AQF Level 7).
  4.3.5   Level 400: the outcome level of a four-year undergraduate degree, an integrated four-year bachelor (honours) degree, and one-year bachelor (honours) degree (AQF Level 8).
4.4  The scale for postgraduate coursework subjects is:
  4.4.1   Level 400: the outcome level of a postgraduate course of study that goes beyond undergraduate outcomes (AQF Level 8).
  4.4.2   Level 500: a component of a masters course other than a research component of a master by research course (AQF Level 9).
  4.4.3   Level 600: a research component of a masters course (AQF Level 9).
  4.4.4   Level 700: a coursework subject contributing to a professional doctoral course (AQF Level 10).
  4.4.5   Level 800: a subject contributing to the research component of a doctoral course (AQF Level 10).
4.5   Charles Sturt University will move to an eight-character subject coding system.

Rationale/Policy link

  • 4.1. & 4.1.1 are adopted from Course and Subject Design (Coursework) Procedure, Glossary and Subject design requirements sections, respectively.
  • 4.1.2 This alternative expression is added to aid in calculations of load for course design and descriptions in these principles related to the volume of learning. One advantage of this system is that a points system can be applied that captures load for the purpose of Commonwealth funding arrangements.
  • 4.2, 4.2.1 and 4.3 are adopted from the Course and Subject Information Procedure, Subject codes section
  • For 4.3, the scale has been divided into UG and PG sub-principles to differentiate the purposes for Level 400 subjects. as per the procedure, the level “does not indicate the ‘year level’ within a course, though it may coincide with the year level”.
  • 4.3.1 is adopted from the Course and Subject Information Procedure, Award names section. Non-AQF is added to reinforce that these subjects are not shown on transcripts or testamur.
  • 4.4.1 – 4.4.4. As above are adapted from the Course and Subject Information Procedure, Subject codes section. The scale has been divided into UG and PG sub-principles to differentiate the purpose for Level 400 subjects. The section has been expanded to include coursework components of Level 600 and 700.
  • 4.4.4 Included for completeness, not commonly used in coursework courses.
  • 4.4.5. Level 800 refers to coursework subjects and placeholder subjects in Research Doctorates.

Other guiding information

  • 4.5 is an aspirational principle that will require further discussion

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