University Legislation

Legislation
	Regulations
		Bachelor Degree Regulations
			The Degree | Majors | Minor | Part I Requirements | Part II Requirements | Responsibility for Majors | Enrolment in Units | Assessment | Appeals Against Unit Results | Academic Progress | Honours | Award and Surrender of Degrees | Variations to Requirements

Bachelor Degree Regulations

The Degree
1.	(1)	The following bachelor degrees shall be offered by the University: Bachelor of Animal Science (BAnimSc), Bachelor of Applied Information Technology (BAppIT), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Asian Studies (BAsianSt), Bachelor of Asian Studies (Specialist) (BAsianSt) Bachelor of Business Informatics (BbusInformatics), Bachelor of Chiropractic (BChiro), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Economics (BEcon), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Bachelor of Engineering (Bioprocess Engineering) (BE), Bachelor of Engineering (Metallurgical Engineering) (BE), Bachelor of Environmental Science (BEnvSc), Bachelor of Environmental Management (BEnvMan), Bachelor of Extractive Metallurgy (BExtMet), Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), Bachelor of International Business (BIB), Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bachelor of Legal Studies (BLS) Bachelor of Marketing and the Media (BMM), Bachelor of Digital-Media (BDMedia), Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs), Bachelor of Nursing Conversion (BNursConv), Bachelor of Planning (BPlanning), Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Sports Science (BSportsSc), Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Tourism (BTour), Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS), Juris Doctor (JD)					Requirements to graduate
	(2)	In order to be awarded any ordinary or honours degree of bachelor, a student shall: complete the number of credit points required for that degree (subject to reduction as a result of any credit awarded under Regulation 3); complete the unit requirements stipulated for the major(s) in which the student is enrolled; satisfy the other requirements of these Regulations; and satisfy the requirements of all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University.
2.	(1)	To qualify for the ordinary degree of bachelor a student shall complete three academic years of study (72 points), except where Academic Council determines a different points value.					Points required to graduate
	(2)	One academic year of study shall constitute 24 credit points, except for the 32 point Bachelor of Nursing Conversion which shall combine 2 semesters and one summer teaching period in one year.
	(3)	To qualify for a degree (other than BD/BEd Post-initial/BLittComm/BVMS), a student shall complete studies comprising Part I, representing the first academic year, and Part II, representing the remainder of the ordinary degree. The BD shall comprise Part I, consisting of 12 Part I points, and Part II, representing the remainder of the ordinary degree. The BEd (Post-initial), BLittComm,  BVMS and Bachelor of Nursing Conversion shall be comprised solely of Part II units.
	(4)	To qualify for an honours bachelor degree, a student shall complete one additional academic year of study (24 points), except that for the degrees of BBiot, BEd (Post-initial), BE, BEnvSc, BVMS and LLB the length of studies shall be the same as for the ordinary degree, and for the BD and BTheol an additional 12 points shall be required.
	(5)	Joint degrees shall be undertaken concurrently and awarded together, and may have some reduction in the total points required.
	(6)	Double degrees comprise two individually approved courses undertaken concurrently. Students must complete the requirements for each course and major. The degrees can be awarded together, or when each degree is completed
	(7)	A second degree is an individually approved course undertaken after completion of a Murdoch degree. Students must complete the requirements for the course and major.
	(8)	A double major comprises two individually approved majors undertaken while a student is enrolled in a single course. The requirements of the course in which the student is enrolled and requirements of each major must be completed.
3.	Students may be granted credit towards a degree on the basis of previous studies undertaken at a recognised university or other post-secondary institution or for tertiary-level studies obtained by other means, in accordance with rules approved by Academic Council.						Credit for previous studies
4.	(1)	Notwithstanding the amount of credit which may be granted for studies completed elsewhere, a student shall complete at least 24 points of Murdoch University Part II units in order to be awarded an ordinary bachelor degree with a points value greater than 24, at least 18 such points for an honours bachelor degree, and at least 12 such points for a bachelor degree with a points value of 24. Units offered by other tertiary institutions which are taken while a student of this University cannot be used to satisfy this requirement, except where these units are part of a shared honours arrangement with another university. For joint degrees, this minimum applies to each degree.					Minimum points of Murdoch University units
	(2)	Where the degree is jointly offered with one or more other universities, the minimum Murdoch University Part II points required is reduced to:
		(a)	collaborative awards with one other university - 50% of the total points for that degree;
		(b)	collaborative awards with two other universities - 33% of the total points for that degree;
		(c)	collaborative awards with three or more other universities - 25% of the total points for that degree.
	(3)	Notwithstanding the number of exemptions that a student is granted from the units required by the major, a student must complete at least 12 points of Murdoch University Part II units from the requirements of the major in which the student is graduating, or from related units determined by the Program Chair.
5.	A student shall not be enrolled concurrently for two or more Murdoch University degrees or diplomas (other than approved joint degrees or awards) without the approval of the Enrolments and Fees Officer. Any such approval shall be in accordance with guidelines approved by the President of Academic Council.					Concurrent qualifications
5A.	(1)	The Pro Vice Chancellor (Strategy) has responsibility for ensuring that the University meets its admission targets within agreed tolerance limits, and for determining the minimum entry requirements (such as Tertiary Entrance Rank) for admission to each campus of the University. The Pro Vice Chancellor (Strategy) has whatever authority is necessary to carry out these responsibilities.				Admissions
	(2)	The Director of Prospective Students and Admissions shall decide on the admission of individual students and shall act in accordance with policy on admissions approved by Academic Council; decisions on restricted course quotas and targets; any operational policies and procedures approved by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Strategy); and recommendations of the Executive Dean of the Division on selection into those majors for which Academic Council has approved additional selection criteria.
	(3)	The manager of admissions may delegate the authority conferred by this regulation, but that authority cannot be further delegated.
Majors
6.	A major is a set of units approved by Academic Council that prescribes up to 12 Part I points (unless Council has granted approval for more) and 24 or more Part II points. All bachelor degree courses include at least one major, except for General Arts, which comprises three minors instead. In these Regulations, all references to ‘major’ include General Arts. A course comprises the requirements of the major, plus the requirements of the degree.
6A.	The academic responsibility for each major and for the students enrolled in it rests with the relevant School Committee, subject to the supervision of the Divisional Board. The Academic Council has overriding responsibility for all majors. The Academic Council shall determine the Division in which each major is located; the Executive Dean, after consultation with the Divisional Board, shall determine the School in which it is located.					Responsibility for a major
7.	In the case of a student enrolled in two majors located in different Divisions, the administrative responsibility for the student shall rest with the Board of the Division in which the first major of the student is based.
8.	The introduction of a new major requires the approval of Academic Council, following a submission from the Board of the Division in which the major is to be based. The availability of honours within a course requires Council approval, following a submission from the Divisional Board.					Introduction of new major
9.	The requirements of each major, and any alterations to them, require the approval of the Divisional Board, on the recommendation of the relevant School Committee. Academic Council may over-rule such a decision where, in its view, this is against the interests of the University overall.					Requirements of each major
10.	To satisfy the requirements of the major for the ordinary degree, a student shall complete each of the unit requirements by obtaining a grade of Pass or higher or by being exempt from the unit in accordance with Regulation 3. A grade of Conceded Pass cannot be credited towards requirements of a major.
11.	Students must fulfil those requirements of a major that were in force at the time they first enrolled in that major. Where a student has taken a break in studies of two or more semesters (other than a formal suspension), the requirements of the major that apply are those operating at the time of readmission. When there is a change in the requirements for a major, the students enrolled in the major shall not be subject to any additional requirements. However, they may elect to meet all the requirements of the new structure of the major, or may seek School Committee approval for other arrangements.
11A.	(1)	Subject to sub-regulations 11A(2) and (3), when a Division decides to discontinue a course, major, minor or unit, it will send written advice (“Advice”) to all students affected by the discontinuance of the course, major, minor or unit, as the case may be.
	(2)	The Division must send the Advice within one month of making the decision to discontinue the respective course, major, minor or unit. The Advice will inform affected students as to their options as a result of the discontinuance.
	(3)	The President of Academic Council may waive the requirement to issue an Advice in respect of any discontinuance of a course, major, minor or unit.
12.	The requirements of a major may be varied by the School Committee in the case of an individual student, except that a change in the total points required for the major shall require the approval of the Divisional Board.
13.	(1)	A student may enrol in two or more majors at the same time, subject to admission being granted to any restricted major. However, Academic Council may prohibit enrolment in two or more majors that have a substantial overlap in content.				Enrolment in more than one major
	(2)	In order to complete two majors, a student shall complete the full requirements of each. Where units can be counted towards the requirements of both majors, a student must complete at least 12 Part II points (core units plus specified elective units) from each major which are not counted towards the other.
14.	The Academic Council may approve a joint degree, which combines two courses but may have  a reduction in the total unit requirements of either or each course.
15.	An undergraduate student enrolled in the University is entitled to transfer to any non-restricted major. Where a major has restricted entry, a student may apply for admission to that major in accordance with procedures approved by the Council.					Transferring between majors
16.	(1)	The Divisional Board shall determine the units to be offered by the Division, including their title, points value and enrolment option(s). The content, prerequisites, and teaching and assessment methods of each unit shall be as approved by the School Committee. All decisions relating to unit title, points value, enrolment option(s), content and pre-requisites for the following year shall be finalised by a deadline set by the President of Academic Council after consultation with the Executive Deans. Any changes after that date (other than those specified in the following sub-regulation) require the approval of the President of Academic Council. Academic Council may over-rule any decision made by a Division on unit offerings where, in its view, this is against the interests of the University overall.				Approval of units and co-ordinators
	(2)	The Executive Dean of the Division may cancel a unit offered by that Division, or cancel an enrolment option for such a unit. Any cancellation shall be in accordance with guidelines approved by Academic Council.
	(3)	The unit coordinator(s) of each unit shall be appointed by the Head of the School offering the unit, or, in the case of Foundation Units, by the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) on the joint recommendation of the Executive Deans. Unit coordinators normally shall be members of the University’s full-time or fractional full-time academic staff. The proposed appointment of any other person as a unit coordinator shall be in accordance with guidelines approved by the Academic Council.
17.	Students may apply to enrol for an Independent Study Contract for credit towards the degree. Contracts shall be based on individual study, and their content shall not otherwise be available as a unit. Each contract shall be approved by the Head of the School, who shall approve a supervisor and determine the title, content, points value, assessment requirements and enrolment option of the contract. The points value for a contract shall be either 2, 3 or 4 points.					Independent Study Contracts
Minor
18.	(1)	A minor is a recognised set of related units with a total points value less than the corresponding major. A minor shall have a total points value of between 11 and 19 points including no more than 9 Part I points and at least 8 Part II points. At least 6 Part II points of a minor cannot be counted towards a major or another minor.
	(2)	The introduction of a minor requires the approval of Academic Council. The requirements of the minor shall be determined by the Divisional Board, in accordance with policy set by Academic Council. Completion of a minor shall be shown on the academic transcript of students, provided the student has enrolled in a minor before completion of the degree.
Part I Requirements
19.	(1)	In order to complete Part I, a student shall:
		(a)	pass a University Foundation Unit;
		(b)	pass the Part I required units of a major in which the student is enrolled; and
		(c)	complete a total of 24 points (which includes any credit the student may have been awarded for previous studies).
	(2)	A student may choose any one of the units designated as University Foundation Units by Academic Council, except that a student enrolled at the Rockingham Campus must enrol in a University Foundation Unit offered at that campus or at the Peel Education and TAFE Campus (unless approval to do otherwise has been obtained from the Program Chair of the major in which the student is enrolled). A student shall not enrol in more than one University Foundation Unit.
	(3)	Where a Part II student transfers to a major for which the Part I requirements have not been met, the student will remain in Part II but shall complete the Part I units required for that major unless these are waived by the School Committee.
	(4)	For the BD degree, the points required to complete Part I shall be 12 points only.
20.	Normally a degree includes 24 Part I points, but a student shall include no less than 18 and no more than 30 Part I points in the degree. For the BD degree, a student shall include no less than 12 and no more 15 Part I points. Bachelor of Nursing Conversion students are exempt from the requirement to undertake any Part I units. For a joint degree with a requirement to complete no less than 119 points, a student shall include no less than 18 and no more than 36 Part I points. Where a student has been awarded Part I credit for previous studies, the number of Part I points which can be taken in the degree shall be reduced by the amount of this credit.					Number of Part I points in the degree
21.	A major shall not specify more than 12 points of required points in Part I, except by resolution of Academic Council.					Part I required units
22.	A Part I student may not enrol in a Part II unit, unless					Enrolment in Part II units
	(a)	the student has been credited with 18 points, including a University Foundation Unit; or
	(b)	the student is entering the fifth semester of continuous enrolment and has been credited with 12 points, including a University Foundation Unit and the Part I required units of a major in which the student is enrolled; or
	(c)	approval is granted by the Executive Officer of the Division in which the student’s major is located.
Part II Requirements
23.	The total points for Part II of a 3-year degree is 48 points. In order to complete Part II, a student shall:
	(a)	complete the Part II unit requirements of a major in which the student is enrolled; and
	(b)	be credited with the total points required for the degree for which the student is enrolled.
24.	The Part II unit requirements for any ordinary major shall be not less than 24 points.
Responsibility for Majors and Minors
25.	Each major and minor shall be administered by the School Committee to which it is assigned by the Divisional Board. A joint degree approved under Regulation 14 may be the responsibility of one or more School Committees, as determined by Academic Council. The School Committee shall exercise the responsibilities specified in Division Regulation 15(i) and in other Regulations.
26.	Rescinded
27.	For each major a Program Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Dean of the Division, following a recommendation from the School Head and relevant School Committee or Sub-Committee. Such appointments shall be for a term normally of two years, which may be renewed. A Program Chair shall be a member of academic staff of the rank of Lecturer level B or above. The School Head can be a Program Chair.					Appointment of Program Chair
28.	The Program Chair shall be responsible for:					Responsibilities of Program Chair
	(a)	recommendations to the Board of Examiners on award of degrees and academic progress;
	(b)	decisions on approval of enrolments and cross-institutional-enrolments; deferred admission; crediting of units from other institutions towards the requirements of the major; unit exemptions; suspension of enrolment;
	(c)	finalising unit results for units offered by staff of the major, where the final date for submission of results has passed and the unit co-ordinator is not available;
	(d)	oversight of any minors administered by the parent major.
	(e)	matters delegated to the Program Chair by the Executive Dean, School Head, or Board of the Division.
29.	Rescinded
30.	Rescinded
31.	Rescinded
Enrolment in Units
32.	It is the student’s responsibility to enrol in accordance with these Regulations, the requirements of the major and such deadlines as may be approved by the President of Academic Council. The enrolment of students in units is subject to the approval of the Program Chair of the major in which the student is enrolled (or of a person delegated by the Chair), and to the requirements of these Regulations.					Approval of enrolment
33.	A student enrolling in a unit shall have passed any unit prerequisite(s) specified for it by the relevant Executive Dean and published in the University Handbook, or have passed a unit equivalent to the prerequisite at another educational institution or been exempted under Regulation 3 from the unit which is the prerequisite. If the unit has a co-requisite, the student shall be enrolled in that unit at the same time, unless the student has passed that unit previously, passed an equivalent unit at another educational institution or been exempted under Regulation 3 from the unit which is the co-requisite. The Program Chair of the major offering the unit may, with the agreement of the Unit Co-ordinator, waive a prerequisite or co-requisite in the case of an individual student.					Unit prerequisites and co-requisites
34.	A student shall enrol in a Foundation Unit in the first semester of Part I enrolment in which such a unit is available, unless:					Enrolment in a Foundation unit
	(a)	the student has been exempted from the requirement to take a Foundation Unit, or
	(b)	permission to delay taking the unit until later in Part I has been granted by the Executive Officer of the Division in which the student’s major is based.
34A.	(1)	A student shall not enrol in more than 12 points externally in a year, without the approval of the Program Chair of the student’s first major. Where an external unit is being taken in an enrolment option which spans two years, its points value shall be divided equally between the two years when determining the points load.				Enrolment in external units
	(2)	A student enrolled in an external unit which is available in both the one and two semester options, may change between those options before the end of March (if the unit commences in semester 1) or the end of August (if the unit commences in semester 2).
34B.	Enrolment in Workplace Learning units must be in accordance with policy approved by Academic Council.					Enrolment in Workplace Learning units
35.	(1)	The Academic Council may determine that students are excluded from a unit where the content has significant overlap with the content of another unit which the students have passed or in which they are enrolled, where they have passed or been exempted from a higher level unit in a sequence of units, or where they have previous knowledge of the language being taught in a particular unit.				Exclusion from a unit
	(2)	Students may be exempted from units on the basis of previous studies elsewhere, in accordance with rules approved by Academic Council. Students exempt from a unit are also excluded from enrolling in it.
	(3)	A student shall not enrol in more than one University Foundation Unit.
	(4)	A student shall not enrol in a unit that is offered solely as an honours unit, unless the student is enrolled in an honours program of study.
	(5)	A student undertaking a practical placement in a school whose continued attendance at the school is deemed by the Dean of the School of Education to be detrimental to the welfare of the school or its pupils, shall be removed from that school forthwith and be given a fail grade in the unit.
36.	A student shall not enrol in more than 14 points in a semester without the approval of the Program Chair of the major in which the student is enrolled. If the approved structure of that major requires such enrolment, this approval is not required.					Overloads
37.	(1)	A student who has failed a unit may enrol in it for a second time, unless the Executive Dean of the Division in which the student is enrolled directs otherwise.				Repeating a unit
	(2)	A student who has failed a unit twice shall not enrol in it for a third time without the prior approval of the Program Chair of the major offering the unit. Approval shall be granted only in special circumstances. In considering such cases, the Program Chair shall seek the advice of the Unit Co-ordinator.
	(3)	A student who has failed a unit three times shall not be permitted to enrol in it again, unless special approval is granted by the President of Academic Council.
	(4)	Where enrolments in two units are not permitted because of overlapping content, the two units shall be regarded as one unit in determining the number of times a student can enrol in them for the purposes of (1) and (2) above.
	(5)	A student who has passed a unit shall not enrol in it again, unless
		(a)	the student has a Conceded Pass in that unit and is attempting to obtain a higher grade;
		(b)	the unit is designated by Academic Council as a special topics unit, and the topic in which the student enrols is different from that passed previously;
		(c)	the unit is a school experience unit offered by the School of Education;
		(d)	the student has the approval of the Executive Officer of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
	(6)	A student may not be credited more than once with points for the same unit, except where the student has enrolled in accordance with (b), (c) or (d) of the preceding sub-Regulation.
	(7)	A student who twice fails and/or withdraws after the unit census date from a unit with a substantial workplace experience component or practical placement unit shall not enrol in further units in workplace learning or practical placement unless approval has been granted by the Head of that School.
38.	(1)	A student may apply to enrol in an internal unit up to the end of the second week of the unit. The application may be refused if the Unit Co-ordinator believes the enrolment will disrupt teaching in the unit, otherwise disadvantage students already enrolled in it, or might be academically disadvantageous to the student.				Late enrolment in a unit
	(2)	A student may enrol in an external unit up to three weeks before the start of first semester, or two weeks before the start of second semester. Enrolment after then shall not be permitted, unless approval has been given by the Director of the Office of Student Services.
	(3)	Enrolment in a unit, and change between an internal and an external enrolment option in a unit, shall not be permitted after the second week of the unit unless approval has been given by the Executive Officer of the Division in which the student’s major is based.
38A.	The President and Education Vice President of the Guild of Students, during their term of office, are enrolled students even if not enrolled in units.
38B.	Enrolment intermission must be applied for when students require a break in studies of one year or more. Students may apply for intermission due to serious illness or other exceptional personal circumstances which might prohibit them from continuing their enrolment. This may include but is not limited to, personal / family reasons, employment, sporting, cultural, legal or military duties.   Enrolment intermission requires the approval of the Fees and Enrolments Officer in the Office of Central Student Administration.					Enrolment intermission
39.	(1)	A student may withdraw from a unit before the last date for Withdrawl by completion of the appropriate steps on the University's student information system. The last date for Withdrawl will be approved by the Enrolments and Fees Officer and published on the University website.				Withdrawal from units
	(2)	Unit withdrawals shall be recorded on the student’s academic transcript as follows:
		(a)	withdrawals before the census date—no record of the enrolment shall appear;
		(b)	after the census date but on or before the last date for Withdrawl of the semester in which the unit is to be completed—withdrawal recorded.
	(3)	Census dates shall be no earlier than 20% of the way through the period during which the unit is taken, including the assessment and examination periods. Census dates for the year will be approved by the Enrolments and Fees Officer and published on the University website.
	(4)	The Enrolments and Fees Officer may approve a retrospective withdrawal with respect to any individual unit enrolment. Any such approval shall be in accordance with policy approved by Academic Council.
Assessment
40.	All students in a unit shall be provided with a written statement of the assessment requirements, including assessment methods and weighting, by no later than the end of the first week of the unit.					Notification of assessment methods
41.	The Unit Co-ordinator of each unit will lodge assessment results for students by the deadline set by the manager with responsibility for central student administration. Staff teaching in the unit will provide student results to the Unit Co-ordinator in sufficient time for him or her to meet that deadline. The Unit Co-ordinator will at the same time lodge in the appropriate Divisional Office details of the marks or grade obtained by each student in each assessable component of the unit, and of the weighting attached to each component.					Provision of results
42.	(1)	Assessment results in all units shall be reported according to the following system of letter grades:				Grading system
		final grades
		HD	high distinction
		D	distinction
		C	credit
		P	pass
		UP	ungraded pass
		N	fail
		DNS	fail, did not submit: (did not participate in any assessments after HECS census date)
		interim grades
		G	good standing
		NA	not available
		Q	deferred assessment
		S	supplementary assessment
	(2)	(a)	A result of ungraded pass shall be reported only where:
			(i)		the School Committee has determined that the unit shall be assessed on this basis; or
			(ii)		the unit is offered by another institution and the student has enrolled in it for credit towards the Murdoch University degree (“cross enrolment”).
		(b)	However, where a unit offered by another institution (i) is required by the major or listed as part of it, and (ii) the grading system is the same as that of Murdoch University, an ungraded pass shall not be recorded. Instead the grade awarded by the other institution shall be recorded as the Murdoch University grade.
		(c)	Where an ungraded pass is reported for a cross enrolment, the academic transcript shall also record the name of that institution and the result awarded by it.
	(3)	A result of good standing shall be reported only at the end of the academic period where all results in that enrolment option of the unit are not due to be completed until the end of a semester or trimester of the following year.
	(4)	A result of not available shall be reported only where a delay is caused by the unavoidable absence of the Unit Co-ordinator, where an examination script has yet to be received by the University, where the Executive Dean has approved assessment in that unit taking place after the academic period for that unit, or where the repeat of practical work or placement cannot reasonably be arranged within that academic period.
	(5)	A result of deferred assessment shall be reported only where deferred assessment has been approved in accordance with Regulation 46.
	(6)	Deliberately blank.
	(7)	Where a result of S, Q or NA has been reported, the Unit Co-ordinator shall report a final grade no later than six weeks after the end of the assessment period (eight weeks for second semester units). For units having a substantial project, practical or placement component which makes the arrangement of additional work required impractical within this time frame, the deadline shall be extended to the end of the semester or trimester (whichever applies to that unit) immediately following the unit assessment period.
43.	(1)	Students sitting for examinations must act in accordance with the Examination Rules approved by Academic Council on the recommendation of the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic).				Availability of examination scripts
	(2)	Students may inspect their marked examination scripts and discuss the marking with the Unit Co-ordinator or nominee within fourteen days of the posting of results. Unit Co-ordinators may require reasonable notice or set aside specified times when the scripts will be available for inspection and discussion. Unit Co-ordinators will retain examination scripts until the end of the following semester.
44.	(1)	Deliberately blank.				Conceded passes
	(2)	Deliberately blank.
	(3)	Deliberately blank.
44A.	A student who has been excluded from an engineering or veterinary major after failure in a unit of 9 points or more, shall be awarded credit points for any teaching components of that unit which were passed. The points awarded shall reflect the weighting of these components. The student’s academic record shall record this as a P grade pass for a separate unit.					Partial pass
45.	(1)	Where a Unit Co-ordinator reports a grade of S, the Co-ordinator shall at the same time post to the student at the student’s registered correspondence address a letter giving details of any extra work required and the date for the submission of any such work and of any supplementary examination. The letter shall also advise the student that the award of supplementary assessment is subject to confirmation by the Board of Examiners.				Supplementary assessment
	(2)	After supplementary assessment a student shall receive a final grade of either P or N. If a pass, the percentage mark recorded will be 50. If a fail, the percentage mark recorded will be 49 or the composite mark for the unit (whichever is less).
46.	(1)	A student may be granted deferred assessment in a unit or units on the grounds of serious illness or other exceptional personal circumstances which seriously impair the student’s performance.				Deferred assessment
	(2)	For deferred assessment to be approved, the student shall have been up-to-date with the assessment requirements of the unit at the time the circumstances requiring deferred assessment arose.
	(3)	Any application shall be submitted no later than the end of the final period of teaching of the relevant academic period or, in the event of circumstances arising after that date, before the examination (if the unit does not have an examination during the assessment period, then before the end of the assessment period). Applications lodged after then shall not be considered, unless they fall within guidelines adopted by Academic Council. Any application shall be in writing addressed to the Director of Student Services and shall include a statement of the reasons for seeking deferment, together with supporting evidence (including a medical certificate if the application is based on medical grounds).
	(4)	Deferred assessment requires the approval of the Director of Student Services, acting within guidelines approved by Academic Council. A student may appeal to the Chair of the Student Appeals Committee against rejection of her or his application. Any such appeal must be lodged: within seven days of the date of the letter notifying rejection of the application, or, if the examination is within that period, before the examination—if that is not feasible, then within seven days.
	(5)	The timing of deferred assessment may be at any stage within the period indicated in regulation 42(7), as determined by the Unit Coordinator. In cases of extended illness, the head of Student Administration may approve a further extension of time which shall not be later than the end of the academic period following that in which the unit would ordinarily have been completed.
	(6)	Deferred assessment is not normally available for units in which the student has been granted supplementary assessment.
47.	(1)	Each Division shall have a Board of Examiners, unless the Divisional Board establishes separate Boards of Examiners for different parts of the Division. Where a Division has more than one Board of Examiners, each Board shall have all the functions of a Board for that part of the Division. Boards of Examiners shall meet at or after the end of each semester (or trimester, where results are reported on a trimester basis).				Boards of Examiners
	(2)	The functions of the Board(s) shall be:
		(a)	to recommend to Academic Council on the award of degrees and diplomas to students who have completed majors and courses based in the Division and have also completed the other requirements for award of the qualification recommended;
		(b)	to review academic progress and take any of the consequential actions specified in Regulation 51;
		(c)	to review the assessment statistics for that semester or trimester of units coordinated by staff in that Division, and, in exceptional circumstances, either itself or the Executive Dean on its behalf vary the distribution of grades in any such unit after consultation with the Unit Co-ordinator;
		(d)	Deliberately blank.
		(e)	to award those prizes offered within the Division, following a recommendation from the Program Chair.
	(3)	In performing these functions, the Board of Examiners shall act in accordance with any rules approved by the Divisional Board.
	(4)	The membership of the Board of Examiners shall consist of all the full-time and fractional full-time academic staff of the Division (or of that part of the Division, if there is more than one Board of Examiners), plus any other persons who may be appointed in a personal or ex officio capacity by the Divisional Board.
	(5)	Any Unit Co-ordinator of a unit in the Division (or of that part of the Division, if there is more than one Board of Examiners) for which results were due that semester or trimester, shall be required to attend or to arrange for another member of staff attending the meeting to be provided with details of assessment results in that unit.
	(6)	The Board of Examiners shall be chaired by the Executive Dean or nominee, or, in the case of a Board established for a single School, by the Head of that School. In the absence of the Chair, the Board shall appoint one of its members to chair the meeting.
	(7)	The quorum for a meeting of a Board of Examiners shall be ten members, or half of its members, whichever is less. If a quorum is not obtained, the Chair shall act on its behalf.
	(8)	Unless the Board determines to meet again after its usual meeting at or after the end of the semester or trimester, its functions with respect to students whose results are outstanding at that time shall be performed by its Chair on its behalf, when these results are available.
48.	After results have been officially released, any change to a result requires the approval of the Executive Dean of the Division responsible for the unit. All such approvals shall be reported to the President of Academic Council.					Changes to results
Appeals Against Unit Results
49.	(1)	A student may appeal to the Student Appeals Committee ("Committee") against the final grade awarded in any unit. Any appeal must be submitted in writing to the secretary of the Committee within 15 working days of the posting of the result on the MyInfo section of the University website. Where exceptional circumstances apply, the Chair of the Committee may allow additional time for submission of the appeal.
	(2)	Each submission will state the grounds for appeal. The Committee will not accept an appeal which does not state any grounds, or which states grounds listed as unacceptable in guidelines published by Academic Council. In such cases the student will be advised by email or in writing and given the opportunity to submit a revised appeal within 7 calendar days of notification being sent.
	(3)	The Committee will deal with all appeals under this regulation. The membership of the Committee is specified in the Student Appeals Committee Regulations.
	(4)	Before making a decision, the Committee will seek written comments from the Unit Co-ordinator and from the Program Chair responsible for the unit.
	(5)	The Committee will provide the student with access to these written staff comments on her or his appeal. Access will be provided by email, unless the student requests access by an alternative method which, in the view of the Chair, is not unreasonable. The student may provide the Committee with a written response, but such response must be submitted within 3 calendar days of the date on which she or he is given access to the comments, or where exceptional circumstances apply, such greater time as the Chair of the Committee may allow.
	(6)	In its determination of any appeal, the Committee may:
		(a)	dismiss the appeal and confirm the grade; or
		(b)	allow the appeal in whole or in part. In so doing, it may vary the grade, or cancel the grade and direct that the student's performance be assessed again following such additional performance or assessment as it may require.
	(7)	The Committee's decision on the merits of the appeal will be final.
	(8)	The Committee will provide written reasons for its decision. Copies will be sent to the student, the Unit Co-ordinator, the Program Chair and the Head of the School offering the unit.
	(9)	The Chair of the Committee may embargo release of information about the Committee's decision on any particular appeal, until the student and relevant staff have been officially notified by the secretary or Chair.
	(10)	Where the Committee upholds an appeal on grounds which it believes are applicable to some or all other students in that unit in that semester, it will recommend to the Executive Dean that he or she review whether the grades of those students should also be changed. The Executive Dean will consult the Head of School and the Unit Co-ordinator before reaching a decision on the case, and will advise the Committee of the decision.
	(11)	The Committee will report to the Assessment Committee of Academic Council at least twice a year on any assessment policy issues arising from consideration of appeals. The Committee will also advise Executive Deans and School Heads of any issues concerning assessment and teaching practices arising from appeals concerning their Division/School.
Academic Progress
50.	(a)	The Academic Council shall make and publish academic progress rules stipulating minimum performance requirements for continued enrolment at the University or in a course/major. Students who fail to meet the requirements of these rules may be excluded from further study at the University or from the course/major in which they are enrolled, for a period of two semesters, after which time they may apply for readmission.
	(b)	The relevant School Committee may make additional rules for continued enrolment in a course/major. Students who fail to meet the requirements of these rules may be excluded from that course/major. Any such rules shall be made available to students enrolled in that course/major.
51.	At the end of each semester:
	(a)	the progress of each student for whom results are due that semester shall be reviewed by the relevant Board of Examiners;
	(b)	students shall be informed of their performance in each unit completed that semester;
	(c)	students shall be entitled to receive on request information about their own performance in each assessed component of a unit for which the results have been officially released, and on the distribution of grades awarded in that unit;
	(d)	a student whose progress is deemed by the Board of Examiners to be unsatisfactory shall be so informed and the Board may also, at its discretion,
		(i)	require the student to repeat specified units or to transfer to other approved units, or otherwise attach conditions to the student's enrolment;
		(ii)	require the student to transfer to another course/major; or
		(iii)	where the requirements of the academic progress rules have not been met, exclude the student from further study at the University for a period of two semesters, after which time the student may apply for readmission.
Honours
52.	There shall be three kinds of honours offered by the University:					Kinds of honours
	(a)	that which requires an additional period of study -- to which Regulations 53-62 apply;
	(b)	that which does not require an additional period of study, but which requires a thesis or research project of at least 6 points—to which Regulations 54-58 and 63 apply;
	(c)	that which does not require an additional period of study, nor a thesis or research project of at least 6 points -- to which Regulation 63 applies.
53.	(a)	A student admitted to honours shall have completed the requirements for the corresponding ordinary degree of this University or of another institution considered to be equivalent, unless Academic Council determines otherwise in respect of a particular course or applicant. The results obtained by the student in these earlier studies shall also have been at a level acceptable for admission to honours studies.				Admission to honours
	(b)	The Head of a School may recommend students for admission to an honours course administered by the School Committee, on the advice of the Honours Sub-Committee Chair and subject to the availability of places.
54.	For those degrees where honours constitutes 24 points distinct from the requirements for an ordinary degree, the honours course shall be completed within two semesters on a full-time basis, four semesters on a part-time basis, or one semester enrolled full-time and two semesters enrolled part-time. In exceptional circumstances an extension to the period of an individual student’s honours program of study may be approved by the Head of the School on the recommendation of the Honours Sub-Committee Chair.					Honours course
55.	An honours course shall consist of studies at fourth year level, except that up to four points may be at second or third year level and up to eight points at masters level. An honours course shall include a thesis with a points value of at least 8 points.
56.	Each honours student shall have an approved honours program of study detailing the thesis topic area, length, submission date and supervisor; details of any coursework, including points value, enrolment option, method(s) of assessment, and supervisor; and when each such honours component will be taken. An honours program of study shall be approved by the Head of School following recommendations from the appropriate Honours Sub-Committee not later than the end of the third week of the first semester of the student’s honours enrolment. The student shall be given a copy of the approved honours program of study in writing no later than seven days after its approval. Any change to the approved honours program of study requires the approval of the Head of School.
57.	For any year in which there are students taking honours in that School, the School Committee shall appoint a School honours sub-committee, or an honours sub-committee for each course with one or more honours students. Two or more Schools may choose to appoint a joint honours sub-committee. The sub-committee shall consist of at least three persons, but not a student.					Honours sub-committee
58.	(1)	Each honours student shall submit three copies of the thesis for examination in a format approved by the Academic Council. After examination, the Divisional Executive Officer shall lodge one of these copies with the University Librarian (unless honours are not awarded), provide one copy to the supervisor and return the third copy to the student.				Examination of honours
	(2)	An honours sub-committee shall appoint at least two persons, one of whom may be the thesis supervisor, to examine the thesis of each honours student and to provide a detailed written report to the honours sub-committee. Where the examiners provide conflicting recommendations, the sub-committee may appoint an additional examiner.
59.	(1)	When considering the award of honours to an individual student, the honours sub-committee shall consider the student’s total performance in her or his honours program of study, but shall not consider the student’s performance in units preceding the honours program of study, and shall make one of the following recommendations to the Board of Examiners:
		(a)	that the honours degree be awarded with a class of honours which is one of: First Class Second Class (Division A) Second Class (Division B) Third Class;
		(b)	that the honours degree not be awarded but that the student be permitted to submit a revised thesis;
		(c)	that the honours degree not be awarded.
	(2)	Any student who is permitted to resubmit a thesis shall not be awarded a class of honours higher than Second Class (Division B), and shall not be permitted to submit the thesis for a third time.
	(3)	A student may appeal to the Student Appeals Committee against the overall class of honours, if the grounds of appeal fall within guidelines set by Academic Council. The Committee may reaffirm the class of honours, recommend a different class, or appoint an additional examiner. If an additional examiner is appointed, the Honours Sub-Committee, after considering that examiner’s report, shall recommend to the Board of Examiners a class of honours.
60.	A student who has withdrawn from an honours course is not permitted to enrol again in an honours course in the same disciplinary area, unless the withdrawal took place before the end of the first semester of the course (for a part-time enrolment, before the end of the second semester).					Withdrawal from honours
61.	A student may apply to enrol in a joint honours course, which shall combine two honours courses but with a reduction in the total points requirement (which shall be at least 24 but no more than 48 points). If the two honours courses are administered by two different Committees, these Committees shall be responsible jointly for recommendations on the content of the honours course, for the appointment of examiners, and for recommending the class of honours. The Board of the Division in which the two courses are based (or, if the courses are in different Divisions, both Divisional Boards) shall approve the total points value of the course as well as its content.					Joint honours
62.	Rescinded
63.	For those degrees where Regulation 2(5) stipulates that the length of the honours degree shall be the same as for the ordinary degree, the Academic Council may approve the provision of honours of one or both of the following kinds on such terms and conditions as it sees fit:					Honours which do not require additional studies
	(a)	where a student is required to submit a thesis or individual research project of 6 points or greater—Regulations 54-58 apply except that:
		(i)	admission to honours shall take place at a stage specified by the School Committee, but no later than when the student commences the honours thesis;
		(ii)	the thesis shall have a points value of at least 6 points;
		(iii)	when considering the award of honours, the honours sub-committee shall make one of the following recommendations: that the honours degree be awarded with a class of honours which is one of: First Class Second Class (Division A) Second Class (Division B) that the student be awarded the ordinary degree. that the honours degree not be awarded, and that the student be required to complete an additional unit or units before award of the ordinary degree.
	(b)	where a student is not required to submit an honours research project of 6 points or greater. In such cases, when considering the overall performance of a student who has completed the ordinary degree, the Board of Examiners shall make one of the following recommendations: that the student be awarded the ordinary degree; that the honours degree be awarded with a class of honours which is one of: First Class Merit Honours Second Class (Division A) Merit Honours Second Class (Division B) Merit Honours
Award and Surrender of Degrees
64.	(1)	The Head of the School in which the student’s first major is based may credit a student with additional points to complete the requirements for a degree: in the case of a degree requiring more than 24 points—not more than two additional points; in the case of a degree requiring 24 points—not more than one additional point.				General credit
	(2)	General credit cannot be used to satisfy requirements of a major. Any award of general credit shall be in accordance with guidelines approved by Academic Council, and shall be recorded on the academic transcript of the student.
65.	(1)	A student proceeding to honours level studies on completion of the requirements for the corresponding ordinary degree shall not have the ordinary degree conferred, but on successful completion of the honours course shall be awarded the corresponding honours degree. If an honours degree is not awarded, the ordinary degree for which requirements have previously been completed shall be conferred.				Ordinary degree not conferred if proceeding to honours or to BBiot, BEnvSc, or BPsych
	(2)	A student proceeding to fourth year studies in the BBiot, BEnvSc or BPsych on completion of the ordinary degree of BSc or BA shall not have the BSc or BA conferred, but on successful completion of the four year degree shall be awarded that degree. If the four year degree is not successfully completed, the degree for which requirements have previously been completed shall be conferred.
66.	A student who holds a bachelor degree of this University or any other tertiary institution shall be required to complete an approved course of at least 24 points at Part II level to be eligible for the award of an additional bachelor degree (at ordinary or honours level) of this University, except where:					Double degrees
	(a)	the first degree is surrendered before the award of the second degree, in which case no additional points are required provided the student has met the course and points requirements of the second degree, or;
	(b)	the second degree requires more than 72 points, in which case the number of points required shall be at least that number less 48 points. This sub-regulation does not apply if the degree is taken as one of the following sequences:
		Bachelor of Asian Studies (Specialist), taken by a student who has previously been awarded the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Asian Studies.   Bachelor of Environmental Science, taken by a student who has previously been awarded the BSc in Environmental Science. Bachelor of Extractive Metallurgy, taken by a student who has previously been awarded the BSc in Mineral Science. Bachelor of Psychology, taken by a student who has previously been awarded the BA in Psychology Bachelor of Theology, taken by a student who has previously been awarded the BA in Theology. Bachelor of Engineering (Software Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, or Industrial Computer Systems Engineering), taken by a student who has previously been awarded the Bachelor of Technology in Engineering (Computing stream, Instrumentation and Control stream, or Industrial Computer Systems Engineering stream) respectively.
67.	Rescinded
68.	A student already holding an ordinary degree of another tertiary institution shall, after successful completion of an honours course consisting solely of Murdoch University studies, be awarded the appropriate honours degree.					Honours degree for graduates of other institutions
69.	(1)	Students enrolled in a four year concurrent Teacher Education major leading to the joint award of a bachelor degree and GradDipEd shall be permitted to apply for the award of the appropriate degree when they have completed 72 points and the requirements of at least one major, and to continue their enrolment in the concurrent course.				Early award of concurrent qualification
	(2)	If the student's total academic record upon completion of 96 points indicates that the appropriate bachelor degree is a different one to that awarded on completion of 72 points, the student shall be required to surrender the first degree as a condition for the award of the new degree and GradDipEd.
Variations to Requirements
70.	Academic Council may grant exemptions from Regulations in individual cases, subject to any conditions it may specify. This is in addition to any discretionary authority conferred in individual Regulations. In exceptional circumstances where the decision is urgent and cannot await the next meeting of Academic Council, the President may approve variations on behalf of Council, with such decisions to be reported to its next meeting.

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The information contained on this page was correct as at 6 September 2006 but is subject to amendment without notice.