1.

The provisions of Statute No. 8 – Interpretation apply to these regulations.

2.

Words appearing in italics in these regulations are defined terms and have the meanings detailed in column two of the Dictionary (schedule 1).

7.

The minimum points required to complete a postgraduate coursework qualification are:

• Masters by Coursework degrees - 24 points.

• Postgraduate Diplomas - 24 points.

• Postgraduate Certificates - 12 points.

8.

The following point level requirements apply:

8.1

72 point Masters by coursework qualification:

At least 48 points at 600 level, up to 24 points at 500 level..

8.2

48 point Masters by coursework qualification:

At least 24 points at 600 level, up to 24 points at 500 level. Students who receive 24 points of advanced standing towards a 48 point Masters must complete the outstanding course requirements for a 24 point Masters.

8.3

36 point Masters by coursework qualification:

At least 24 points at 600 level, up to 12 points at 500 level.

8.4

24 point Masters by coursework qualification:

At least 16 points at 600 level and up to 8 points at 500 level.

8.5

Masters may include a dissertation, project or report component, which shall not be greater than 12 points.

8.6

24 point Postgraduate Diploma qualification:

All units must be at least 500 level.

8.7

12 point Postgraduate Certificate:

All units must be at least 500 level.

9.

Postgraduate coursework qualifications must not include 100 - 400 level units unless specifically approved with details of how individual learning requirements of students are being addressed.

10.

A student may be granted credit on the basis of previous studies undertaken at a recognised university or other postsecondary institution at an appropriate level, in accordance with rules on credit and exemption approved by Academic Council.

11.

Notwithstanding the amount of credit which may be granted for studies completed elsewhere, to complete the requirements for a Murdoch University postgraduate coursework qualification a student must complete at least half of the required points for a Murdoch University award as Murdoch University points.

12.

Where the course is collaboratively offered with one or more other universities in accordance with a signed agreement, the minimum number of points required by way of units at Murdoch University is:

12.1

courses with one other university – 50% of the total points for that qualification

12.2

courses with two other universities – 33% of the total points for that qualification

12.3

courses with three or more other universities – 25% of the total points for that qualification

13.

Course structures are approved by Academic Council on the recommendation of the Academic Policy Committee, the relevant Divisional Board and relevant School Committee. Curriculum content is approved by the relevant School Committee, subject to the supervision of the Divisional Board.

14.

The Program Chair or School Committee may approve individual course variations for students subject to:

14.1

the requirement as to the total number of points for the course must not be varied; and

14.2

at least half of the points required for the course must be obtained in accordance with the approved course structure.

15.

Academic Council has overriding responsibility for all courses and may over rule any decisions where in its view, it is against the interests of the University overall. Academic Council shall determine the Division in which a course is located. The Executive Dean, after consultation with the Divisional Board, shall determine the School in which it is located.

16.

A student must have the opportunity to fulfil those requirements of a course that were in place at the time they first enrolled in that course. Where a student has taken a break in studies of more than twelve (12) months (other than a formal suspension), the course requirements that apply are those operating at the time of readmission.

17.

Students must not be disadvantaged by amendments to courses or discontinuation of courses.

18.

A student may undertake one Academic Council approved specialisation within a postgraduate course. The core unit points value within the specialised set of units must be greater than 50 per cent of the total points required to complete the course.

19.

A student must not enrol in more than one course at a time at Murdoch University, unless:

19.1

enrolment in another course is as part of a second qualification for which approval has been obtained from the Manager Enrolments and Fees; or

19.2

they were invited into a concurrent postgraduate coursework qualification

20.

Divisional Boards shall determine units to be offered by the Division in line with Divisional Regulations. All decisions relating to unit codes, unit titles, 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 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.

21.

Independent Study Contracts and Workplace Learning Units must only be implemented in accordance with policies approved by Academic Council.

22.

The Executive Dean of the Division may cancel a unit offered by that Division, or cancel an enrolment option for such a unit. Any such cancellation must be in accordance with policy approved by Academic Council.

23.

Unit coordinator(s) shall be appointed by the Head of the School offering the unit. 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 must be in accordance with policy approved by Academic Council

24.

For each course a Program Chair shall be appointed by the Executive Dean of the Division, following a recommendation by the Head of School. Such appointments must 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 Head of School can be a Program Chair.

25.

The Program Chair shall be responsible for:

25.1

recommendations to the Board of Examiners on academic progress and award of qualifications;

25.2

in consultation with the Director of the Prospective Students and Admissions Centre (PSAC Director) for domestic students or the Director of Murdoch International for international students, or their delegates:

25.2.1

decisions on admission of students;

25.3.1

crediting of units from other institutions towards the course requirements; and

25..3.2

unit exemptions.

25.4

approval of variations to individual student enrolments and cross-institutional-enrolments;

25.5

finalising unit results for units offered by staff of the course, where the final date for submission of results has passed and the unit co-ordinator is not available;

25.6

matters delegated to the Program Chair by the Executive Dean, Head of School or Board of the Division.

26.

All postgraduate coursework qualifications must have their admission requirements approved by the Committee on University Entrance (CUE).

26.1

CUE may approve additional admission requirements and selection criteria for any course.

26.2

The PSAC Director has responsibility and authority for ensuring that the University meets its admission targets within agreed tolerance limits.

26.3

The PSAC Director for domestic students and the Murdoch International Director for international students will decide on the admission of individual students and will act in accordance with:

26.3.1

decisions on quotas, targets and any operational policies and procedures approved by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Enterprise and International);

26.3.2

any additional selection criteria approved by Academic Council for a particular postgraduate coursework qualification; and

26.3.3

recommendation by the appropriate Executive Dean on the selection of each course.

26.4

If the PSAC Director forms a reasonable view that admission of an individual applicant into Murdoch University may be prejudicial to the interests of, or bring disrepute upon, the University and/or the applicant , subject to providing that applicant with the opportunity to respond to this view, admission into Murdoch University may be refused. Any decision to refuse to admit an applicant under this regulation shall be made by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic). Any applicant refused entry under this clause has the right to appeal the decision with the Vice Chancellor, whose decision will be final.

26.5

The PSAC Director and Murdoch International Director may delegate the authority conferred by this regulation, but that authority cannot be further delegated.

27.

A student enrolling in a postgraduate coursework unit must have passed any unit prerequisite(s) specified for it, or have passed a unit equivalent to the prerequisite at another educational institution, or been exempted from the unit which is the prerequisite. If the unit has a co-requisite, the student must enrol 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 from the unit which is the co-requisite. The Program Chair of the course 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.

28.

Subject to meeting the requirements of Clause 26.1 to be eligible for admission into a Masters by Coursework qualification a student must at a minimum have at least one of the following:

28.1

completed a Bachelors degree or its equivalent at this university or another university which in the opinion of CUE is of an equivalent standard; or

28.2

completed a Postgraduate Diploma in the discipline area of the course; or

28.4

in the case of a 24 point Masters course, completed the equivalent of not less than 96 points of study, including not less than 16 points at 400 level or higher, at least 8 points of which is in a relevant area, except where Academic Council directs otherwise. The Committee on University Entrance or Director responsible for Admissions may determine international equivalencies on a system or an individual basis.  Graduates from the British system with an honours grade of 2nd Class or better will be considered to have completed the equivalent of an Australian four year qualification or;

28.5

in the case of a 36 point Masters qualification:

28.5.1

completed a four year Bachelors degree or its equivalent at this university or another university which in the opinion of CUE is of an equivalent standard; or

28.5.2

completed a three year Bachelors degree or its equivalent at this university or another university which in the opinion of CUE is of an equivalent standard and have at least one year relevant work experience; or

28.5.3

completed a Graduate or Postgraduate Diploma; or

28.5.4

following consultation with the relevant Head of School and Program Chair, in the opinion of the Chair of the Committee on University Entrance (CUE), had satisfactory preparation for the course through studies and/or work experience.

29.

Subject to meeting the requirements of Clause 26.1 to be eligible for admission into a Postgraduate Diploma a student must have at a minimum at least one of the following:

29.1

completed a Bachelors degree or its equivalent, at this university or at another university which in the opinion of CUE provides satisfactory preparation for the postgraduate diploma; or

29.2

have work experience which in the opinion of CUE is of equivalent standard; or

29.3

following consultation with the relevant Head of School and Program Chair, in the opinion of the Chair of CUE have satisfactory preparation for the course through studies and/or work experience; or

29.4

been invited to undertake a concurrent postgraduate award.

30.

Subject to meeting the requirements of Clause 26.1 to be eligible for admission into a Postgraduate Certificate a student must have at a minimum at least one of the following:

30.1

completed a Bachelors degree or its equivalent, at this university or at another university which in the opinion of CUE provides satisfactory preparation for the postgraduate diploma; or

30.2

work experience which in the opinion of CUE is of equivalent standard; or

30.3

following consultation with the relevant Head of School and Program Chair, in the opinion of the Chair of CUE have satisfactory preparation for the course through studies and/or work experience; or

30.4

been invited to undertake a concurrent postgraduate award.

31.

A student must not enrol in more than 14 points in a standard teaching period without the approval of the Program Chair of the course in which they are enrolled, except where the approved structure of that course requires such enrolment. For trimesters, the maximum is enrolment in up to 16 points per trimester, and for concurrent postgraduate award students in the summer and winter terms the maximum is enrolment in up to 8 points per term.

32.

Repeating a unit

32.1

A student who has failed a unit (other than a Masters by coursework dissertation) may enrol in it for a second time, unless the Head of School, of the School in which the student is enrolled directs otherwise. In considering such cases, the Head of School shall seek the advice of the Unit Co-ordinator and the Program Chair.

32.2

Students who fail a Masters by Coursework dissertation may not enrol in it for a second or subsequent time.

32.3

A student who has failed a required unit twice may be excluded from the course in accordance with the Academic Progress Rules for Postgraduate Coursework Qualifications.

33.

For all units:

33.1

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;

33.2

a student may enrol in an external unit up to the Friday before the start of the teaching period. Enrolment after then may be permitted, if approved by the Director of the Office of Central Student Administration, or their delegate;

33.3

enrolment in a unit, and change between the internal and external enrolment option in a unit, shall not be permitted after the second week of the unit unless approval has been given by the Divisional Executive Officer in consultation with the Director of the Office of Central Student Administration, or their delegate.

34.

For units of 11 weeks duration or shorter:

34.1

students must be enrolled at least three weeks prior to the enrolment deadline set by the Director of the Office of Central Student Administration and published on the University website;

34.2

no changes between the internal and external enrolment option in a unit will be considered after that time.

35.

Withdrawal from units

35.1

Postgraduate unit withdrawals shall be recorded on the student’s academic transcript as follows:

35.1.1

withdrawals on or before the census date—no record of the enrolment shall appear and students will not have to incur a tuition fee liability;

35.1.2

after the census date—withdrawal recorded and students will have to incur a tuition fee liability;

35.2

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 Manager Enrolments and Fees and published on the University website.

35.3

The first date for withdrawal with a tuition fee liability will be approved by the Manager Enrolments and Fees and published on the University website.

35.4

The Manager Enrolments and Fees may approve a retrospective withdrawal with respect to any individual unit enrolment. Any such approval must be in accordance with policy approved by Academic Council.

37.

Students must make satisfactory academic progress in each progression period in accordance with the requirements prescribed in the Academic Progress Rules for Postgraduate Coursework Students.

38.

Staff and students must satisfy all requirements of the University’s Assessment policy as approved by Academic Council.

38.1

In addition to this the following also apply:
Ungraded Pass

38.1.1

A result of ungraded pass shall be reported only where:

38.1.1.1

the School Committee has determined that the unit shall be assessed on this basis; or

38.1.1.2

the unit is offered by another institution and the student has enrolled in it for credit towards the Murdoch University qualification (cross institutional enrolment).

38.1.2

However, where a unit offered by another institution (i) is required by the course 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.

38.1.3

Where an ungraded pass is reported for a cross institutional enrolment, the academic transcript shall also record the name of that institution and the result awarded by it.

39.

Staff and students must act in accordance with Examination Rules approved by Academic Council.

40.

Where a Postgraduate Coursework qualification includes a dissertation, the School Committee shall appoint two persons to examine each dissertation and provide written reports. It shall also appoint a sub-committee that shall be responsible for finalising grades for dissertations. Where both examiners recommend the same grade, the Program Chair may finalise the grade on behalf of the sub-committee.

41.

Appeals must be lodged in accordance with the University’s appeals procedures. - Under review. Please refer to Student Appeals policy

42.

In exceptional circumstances the Program Chair in consultation if necessary with the Head of the School in which a students course is based may credit a student with additional points by way of general credit to complete the requirements for a qualification:

42.1

in the case of a qualification requiring 36 or 48 points not more than two additional points;

42.2

in the case of a qualification requiring 24 points not more than one additional point.

43.

No general credit is available for a 12 point qualification.

44.

Any award of general credit must be in accordance with Rules approved by Academic Council, and shall be recorded on the academic transcript of the student.

45.

A student enrolled in a postgraduate coursework qualification who has met the requirements for any corresponding intermediate awards may elect to discontinue the qualification they were enrolled in and be awarded the intermediate award(s) instead.

46.

A student enrolled in a qualification, which has a corresponding intermediate award will, upon successful completion of that qualification, be eligible to receive a testamur for each corresponding intermediate award(s).

47.

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.

A change to improve or edit a Course, or Unit offered by Murdoch University.

The means by which progress or achievement in a unit is evaluated. This can include assessment methods such as diagnostic assessment, assignments, examinations, project work, seminar papers and tutorial participation.

A combination of coherent units approved by Academic Council that leads to a particular qualification. In the case of all postgraduate courses, the course and the qualification are equivalent.

The academic requirements of a course.

A reduction in the points required to complete a Murdoch course on the basis of recognised prior learning. It usually shortens the time required to complete the course.

The permanent removal of a course or unit offered by Murdoch University. Once a course or unit is discontinued no further enrolments shall be accepted into it.

Units designed for students to study on their own without the requirement for on campus attendance.

An approved interim postgraduate course, to officially acknowledge a student’s achievements whilst studying towards an enrolled higher degree.

Units which require at least some on campus attendance.

This includes the Masters by coursework, Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diplomas.

ProgS1
For Semester based courses with any teaching period with an end date within the period 1/1 – 30/6.

ProgS2
For Semester based courses with any teaching period with an end date within the period 1/7 – 31/12.

ProgT1
For non Semester based courses, including the teaching periods Trimester 1 and Summer

ProgT2
For non Semester based courses, including the teaching periods Trimester 2 and Winter.

ProgT3
For non Semester based courses, including the teaching periods Trimester 3.

The title of the degree granted to a student who has completed the requirements of their chosen course. For example Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate.

An area of particular focus within a course

Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer Term, Winter Term, Trimester 1, Trimester 2, Trimester 3, Straddle year (H) and Full Year (Y).

A break in studies approved by the University upon request by the student.

Postgraduate coursework qualifications offered by Murdoch University

Master of Advanced Nursing (MAdvNurse)
Joint Master of Applied Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy (MAppPsych/PhD)
Master of Applied Psychology (MAppPsych)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Counselling (Mcounsel)
Master of Education (MEd)
Master of Education Studies (MEdSt)
Master of Electronic Business (MEB)
Master of Electronic Commerce (MEC)
Master of Engineering (ME)
Master of Health Management, Quality and Leadership (MHMQL)
Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM)
Master of Midwifery (MMid)
Master of Ministry (MMin)
Master of Natural Systems Engineering (MNatSysEng)
Master of Network Management and Security (MNetManSecur)
Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
Master of Plant Biosecurity (MPlantBiosec)
Master of Science (MSc)
Master of Science in Environmental Architecture (MScEnvArch)
Master of Sports Science (MSportsSc)
Master of Transport Studies (MTransSt)
Master of Veterinary Studies (MVS)
MBA in Aviation Management (MBAAvnMan)
MBA in Health Services Management (Nursing Leadership) (MBAHSM)
MBA in International Business (MBAIntBus)

Master of Arts (MA)

in Asian Studies
in Asian Sustainable Development
in Sustainable Urban & Regional Planning
in Development Studies
in Ecologically Sustainable Development
in Globalisation and Governance
in Local Governance
in Public Policy
in Theological Studies

Graduate Diplomas in:

Accounting (GradDipAcc),
Applied Economics (GradDipAppEcon)
Computer Studies (GradDipCompSt)
Creative Arts (GradDipCA)
Education (GradDipEd)
Education Studies (GradDipEdSt)
Extractive Metallurgy (GradDipExtMet)
Forensic Science (Courtroom Practice) (PgDipForSc)
Human Resource Management (GradDipHRM)
Information Technology (GradDipIT)
Mathematics and Statistics (GradDipMathsStats)
Plant Biosecurity (GradDipPlantBiosec)
Physics (GradDipPhys)
Transport Studies (GradDipTransSt)

Postgraduate Diplomas in:

Advanced Mental Health Nursing <specialisation>
Advanced Nursing (PgDipAdvNurse)
Asian Studies (PgDipAsianSt) Asian Sustainable Development (PgDipAsSDev)
Business Administration (PgDipBusAdmin)
Community Development (PgDipCommDev)
Consultancy Psychology (PgDipConsultPsych)
Counselling (PgDipCounsel)
Education (PgDipEd)
Energy and the Environment(PgDipEnEnv)
Energy Studies (PgDipEnSt)
Environmental Forensics (PgDipEnvFor)
Environmental Impact Assessment (PgDipEnvImpAss)
Environmental Management (PgDipEnvMan)
Extractive Metallurgy (PgDipExtMet)
Games Technology (PgDipGamesTech)
Health Management, Quality and Leadership (PgDipHMQL)
Health, Safety and the Environment (PgDipHSE)
Human Resource Management (PgDipHRM)
Information Technology (PgDipIT)
Internetworking and Security (PgDipIntwkSecur)
Journalism (PgDipJour)
Media Production (PgDipMedProd)
Mental Health Nursing (PgDipMHNurs)
Midwifery (PgDipMid)
Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation (PgDipNeurRehab)
Pharmaceutical Health Science (PgDipPharmHS)
Pharmacy Entry (PgDipPharmEnt)
Policy Studies (PgDipPolSt)
Professional Accounting (PgDipProfAcc)
Professional Experience (fieldname) (PgDipProfExp[fieldname])
Psychology (PgDipPsych)
Public Management (PgDipPubMan)
Public Relations (PgDipPR)
Sports Chiropractic (PgDipSportsChiro)
Tourism (PgDipTour)

Graduate Certificates in:

Applied Statistics (GradCertAppStats)
Asian Languages (GradCertAsLang)
Creative Arts (GradCertCA)
Dispute Resolution (GradCertDispRes)
Drama Teaching (GradCertDramaTeach)
Early Childhood Education (GradCertEarlyChildEd)
Economics (GradCertEcon)
Education Studies (GradCertEdSt)
Ethics (GradCertEthics)
Human Resource Management (GradCertHRM)
Law (GradCertLaw)
Mathematics Teaching (GradCertMathTeach)
Philosophy (GradCertPhil)
Plant Biosecurity (GradCertPlantBiosec)
Religion (GradCertRel)
Science Teaching (GradCertScTeach)
Special Needs Education (GradCertSpecNeedsEd)
Tertiary and Adult Education (GradCertTerAdEd)
Transport Studies (GradCertTransSt)

Postgraduate Certificates in:

Asian Sustainable Development (PgCertAsSDev)
Business Administration (PgCertBusAdmin)
Community Development (PgCertCommDev)
Counselling (PgCertCounsel)
Chinese Law (PgCertChinLaw)
Criminal Investigations (Commercial Crime) (PgCertCrimInv)
Education (Specialisation) (PgCertEd)
Energy Studies (PgCertEnSt)
Environmental Impact Assessment (PgCertEIA)
Environmental Management (PgCertEnvMan)
Forensic Science (Courtroom Practice) (PgCertForSc)
Gifted and Talented Education (PgCertGiftTalEd)
Health Management, Quality and Leadership (PGCertHMQL)
Health, Safety and the Environment (PgCertHSE)
Human Resource Management (PgCertHRM)
International Small Animal Practice (IntPgCertSmallAniPrac)
Journalism (PgCertJour)
Information Technology (PgCertIT)
Media Production (PgCertMedProd)
Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation (PgCertNeurRehab)
Organisational Human Resources and Safety (PgCertOHRS)
Pharmacy Entry (PgCertPharmEnt)
Policy Studies (PgCertPolSt)
Psychology Teaching (PgCertPsychTeach)
Public Relations (PgCertPR)
Security, Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies (PgCertSecurTerr)
Veterinary Conservation Medicine (PgCertVetConsMed)
Veterinary Studies in Small Animal Practice (PgCertVS)