Glossary of academic terms
- Program - An Award in which you are enrolled, eg Bachelor of Arts.
- Course - A component of study within a program (previously known as a ‘subject’).
- Unit - A value assigned to a course which measures the amount of work involved in that course. Full-time students normally undertake 36 units of study per year (18 units per study period).
Undergraduate
Bachelor degree - A program of three or more years’ duration (or part-time equivalent). Bachelor degree programs provide the relevant qualifications for many professions.
Honours - An additional year of study in a bachelor degree during which students specialise in a chosen area of study.
Postgraduate
Graduate Diploma - An award for completing a postgraduate program of at least one year in duration (or part-time equivalent).
Master degree - A postgraduate degree undertaken after completion of a bachelor degree (normally with honours) which focuses on one area of specialisation.
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs normally extend over three years (or parttime equivalent) and involve significant research work.