Understanding your degree options

Undergraduate study

Undergraduate study is designed for students who have not already completed university study and follows on from secondary school or vocational training.

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), provides a clear guideline to the level of various qualifications under a national system of educational recognition. The AQF levels range from 1-10, and Murdoch University courses range from 7-10.

Under the AQF, undergraduate study or “Bachelor” level degrees fit within the below framework.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
Qualification Type
AQF Level
Senior Secondary Certificate of Education
Certificate 1
1
Certificate 2
2
Certificate 3
3
Certificate 4
4
Diploma
5
Advanced Diploma / Associate Degree
6
Bachelor Degree
7
Bachelor Honours Degree / Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma
8
Masters Degree
9
Doctoral Degree
10

Bachelor is the level and the name of the qualification you get for completing a first degree at university, so when you graduate you will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts or Science (for example), depending on your course.

While you can undertake more undergraduate study even if you already have a degree, most people would go on to Postgraduate study, which, for admission to a course, generally requires that you to have completed an undergraduate or Bachelors’ degree.

For further information regarding the Framework, visit www.aqf.edu.au.

Studying for Honours

As well as completing your undergraduate degree, you may wish to study “Honours” which is an additional year of study on top of your Bachelor degree. This allows you to pursue your own research project and complete a thesis. This is especially good for people who want to go on and complete further research.

To be eligible to apply to take an Honours year, you need to have previously completed a Bachelors’ degree or be in your final semester so you don’t need to apply until you actually get started at uni.