When you’re new to uni life, some common terms such as roles and titles can be a little confusing. Below is a list of key terms and definitions that will help you during your student journey.
If you need help understanding a university term or process, or just need general help, you can stop by a myMurdoch Advice location and speak to an advisor.
Browse University Terms
A
Academic chair
The academic chair is a member of academic staff responsible for leading and overseeing a course, major, co-major or minor.
Attendance mode
How your study is delivered and attended, such as on campus, online or a mix of both. Course level attendance modes include Face to Face, Online and Mixed Mode. Unit level modes include Face to Face, Online Flexible, Online Scheduled and Mixed Mode. View more information about our Attendance Modes.
Attendance Type
Whether you study full-time, part-time or through another approved study arrangement.
Australian Qualifications Framework
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is Australia’s national policy for regulated qualifications delivered in all education sectors. Murdoch University offers qualifications at AQF Levels 7 to 10.
Award courses
A recognised qualification that is granted to you after you have successfully completed a relevant course. Awards can include degrees, diplomas and certificates.
B
Bachelor degree
A Bachelor degree is an award conferred by the University after successful completion of a Bachelor award course. A Bachelor degree is a type of undergraduate award.
C
Census date
A census date is the last date you can withdraw from a unit within a particular teaching period without incurring fees or having the unit appear on your academic transcript.
It is also the last date to make full payment or complete a Commonwealth assistance form.
Class
The collective term for teaching activities, including lectures, tutorials, laboratories, workshops and seminars.
Classes are for internal students and form part of your attendance for your units. You need to sign up for classes after you have enrolled in a unit.
Code
A unique combination of letters and numbers used to identify a course, major, co-major, minor or unit. If you know the code of the item you are looking for, you can use it directly when searching the Handbook.
College
A broad grouping of related study areas. Murdoch's Schools are organised into five Colleges, which you can use to browse courses on the Handbook home page or via the Advanced Search. The Handbook also includes courses managed by Research and Innovation and the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education).
Co-major
A unit set that requires fewer credit points than a major, but more than a minor. Co-majors typically require between 18 and 21 credit points for completion. Students gain specialised knowledge with less depth than a major.
Combined degree
A combined degree is two courses combined and studied at the same time. This is different from a double major which is two separately approved majors undertaken while enrolled in a single course.
To find out more about combined degrees see personalise your course.
Co-requisites
A unit that you must take simultaneously with another unit or have completed that unit previously.
Course
A sequence of study that leads to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate. Courses are organised into components, such as Course Core, Major, Discovery Study, and/or Options to make clear what you have to do and to guide your choices.
Course core
A set of required units and specified electives that form part of the completion requirements in some courses. The course core might take up the entire credit point value of your course or may be designed to support studies across a range of majors.
Credit points
The value assigned to a course, major, co-major, minor or unit. You must complete the required number of credit points to finish your course.
D
Degree
A degree is an award conferred by the University as the result of successfully fulfilling the requirements of an award course. The two most common types of degrees are:
- Undergraduate degrees, also known as Bachelor awards, typically require three years of full-time study or up to five years for combined degrees.
- Postgraduate degrees, which include Masters and Doctoral degrees. They vary from one to four years of full-time study.
Disciplines
A specific area of study or academic subject, such as Criminology, Management, or Information Technology.
Discovery Study
A part of most undergraduate courses designed to help build key skills for university, explore new areas of study, and develop critical thinking and social responsibility.
Double major
A double major or additional major is two separately approved majors undertaken while enrolled in a single course. This is different from a combined degree which is for two courses.
To find out more about double majors see personalise your course.
E
eduroam
eduroam is a service that allows easy access to the wireless network at all Murdoch campuses and participating institutions. Access is provided using your Murdoch ID and password.
Enrolment
At the start of each study period you need to enrol in your units and classes. You may also hear the term ‘re-enrolment’ which is any enrolment that happens after your first semester.
Enrolment rules
A requirement that must be satisfied to be permitted to enrol in a unit.
F
Face to Face
In a face to face course, major, minor, co-major or unit, teaching and learning activities are delivered mostly face-to-face. Regular on campus attendance is required. There may also be a requirement for some online study, assessment and/or examinations.
G
General electives
Units you can choose from a wide range of study areas, outside your main course requirements. These are available within the Options section of your course.
Graduate award
A qualification conferred by the University as the result of successfully fulfilling the requirements of a graduate award course such as a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma.
Graduate research director
The graduate research director looks after a group of research students within a discipline.
H
Honours course
An advanced level of undergraduate study that includes specialised coursework and a research project.
I
IRMA
Integrated Research Management Applications (IRMA) is Murdoch’s research management system, covering publications, grants, ethics and higher degree by research reporting.
L
Lecture
A presentation made by your teacher. This is where you’ll learn the main information for your units. Depending on the unit, you normally have from one to three lectures per unit each week.
M
Major
An extended sequence of units in a specialised area of study that is recognised on your University Testamur (degree certificate) and Transcript.
Minor
A short sequence of units in a particular area of study that is available as an Option in some courses and recognised on your University Transcript.
Mixed Mode
In a mixed mode course, major, co-major, minor or unit, teaching and learning activities are delivered both face-to-face and online, with scheduled or flexible learning times.
Murdoch ID and password
Your Murdoch ID or username is your student number. When you activate your student account you will set up your password.
You can use your Murdoch ID and password to access to a number of student systems, including eduroam, myMurdoch, myMurdoch Learning and others.
This secure single sign on is sometimes referred to as Murdoch Authentication and Identification System, or MAIS.
MyAnswers
MyAnswers is a student support tool with the answers to many University administration questions. You can also ask a question or submit a request through the ‘ask a question’ enquiry form.
MyFeedback
MyFeedback is a student survey tool to gather feedback about units, to improve the quality of the learning experience for you and your peers. You will receive an email inviting your feedback when you complete a unit.
myInfo [Profile]
myInfo is your online student information system where you can manage all your student details including your profile and contact details, enrolments, classes and fees. At the end of the semester you can view your unit results.
myMurdoch
myMurdoch is the place for you to get notifications, find the latest news and events, and access student information. You can also access your profile, enrolment details, calendar, support requests, student systems and other student essentials.
myMurdoch Advice
myMurdoch Advice locations are places you can drop by to get advice about your study, your wellbeing or getting the most out of university.
Find your closest advice location.
myMurdoch Learning
myMurdoch Learning, sometimes referred to as LMS or Moodle, is Murdoch’s learning management system. It is an online virtual classroom containing unit information and learning guides, lecture recordings, lecture slides, discussion forums and other electronic resources.
N
Non-award courses
Study that does not result in an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) award qualification. Non-award courses may include individual units or micro credentials taken for professional development, personal interest or skill development.
O
Online
In an online course, major, co-major or minor, teaching and learning activities are delivered primarily online, with scheduled or flexible learning times.
Online Flexible
In an online flexible unit, teaching and learning activities are delivered online with no face-to-face requirements. You can complete your learning at a time most convenient to you. There may be a requirement for scheduled assessments and/or examinations. If in person attendance is required, this will be identified in the Unit Information published in the Handbook.
Online Scheduled
In an online scheduled unit, teaching and learning activities are delivered online with no face-to-face requirements. You have a requirement to attend online at specific times for scheduled activities. There may be a requirement for scheduled assessments and/or examinations. If in person attendance is required, this will be identified in the Unit Information published in the Handbook.
P
Placement
In a unit using this attendance mode, teaching and learning activities are delivered in person on campus or at another venue to provide you with a real-life work placement experience. Your Unit Coordinator or supervisor will communicate with you about the specific attendance requirements of your placement, and it will be identified in the Unit Information published in the Handbook
Postgraduate
A level of study you begin after completing an undergraduate degree, including qualifications such as master’s degrees and doctorates.
Postgraduate research chair
The postgraduate research chair looks after a group of research students within a discipline.
Prerequisite
A unit that must be completed before you can enrol in a particular unit. Prerequisites help ensure you have the knowledge and skills needed for more advanced study.
R
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning refers to credit that is awarded for previous study or experience. It is sometimes known as credit for prior learning or recognition for prior learning.
You can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning at any time during your course.
To find out more about Recognition of Prior Learning see recognition of prior learning.
Required unit
A unit that you must complete to meet the requirements of your course, major, co-major or minor.
Requisites
Any specific conditions for enrolment, including prerequisites and co-requisites.
S
School
An academic community within a College that is responsible for related courses and study areas. Each School has its own area of focus and academic expertise.
Selection rank
A ranking system where you score between 99.95 and zero, used to assess your admission score. Your selection rank could include your ATAR, previous university study, STAT result or enabling program entry.
Special topic units
Special topic units comprise advanced study in particular areas, and the range of topics available (if any) varies from year to year. Details of topics on offer can be seen in the handbook.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
Special Tertiary Admissions Test is a national test and is used to assess competencies generally considered important for successful tertiary study. It provides an avenue of entry for people who don’t have the formal entry requirements.
Specified electives
Units that you choose from an approved list within your course, major, co-major or minor.
Study level
The academic level of a major, co-major, or minor, such as Undergraduate, Honours or Postgraduate.
Study load
The credit point value enrolled in during a teaching period or academic year. Study load can be:
- full-time – 9 credit points per trimester, or 12 credit points per semester
- part-time – less than 9 credit points per trimester, or less than 12 credit points per semester
Student visa holders are required to study full-time, except under special circumstances.
Find out more at changing your study mode.
T
Teaching periods
A teaching period is the timeframe for when a unit is being offered. See all teaching periods.
Tutor
Tutors are assigned for each unit you are enrolled in and they are your first point of contact. Tutors facilitate classes and provide guidance on your assignments.
Tutorial (Tute)
A practical class which is usually less formal than a lecture and smaller in class size. They provide the opportunity to discuss material from lecturers and readings in more detail.
U
Undergraduate
An award course leading to a bachelor's degree or certain diploma or associate level qualifications before postgraduate study, often taken as your first qualification at university.Unit - The subjects that you study within your course. Units are usually worth three credit points. Full-time students typically complete four units each semester.
Unit
A unit is an individual subject that is studied within a course. Units are the basic elements of courses.
Units are usually worth three credit points. Full-time students typically complete four units each semester.
While many units are studied in a standard semester or trimester, some are studied over two semesters or in non-standard teaching periods.
Unit coordinator
The academic staff member responsible for a unit, including its content, delivery and enrolment decisions.
Unit offering
Unit offerings indicate how, when and where you can study. Unit offering options include campus location, study load, attendance mode and teaching period.
Unit set
A group of related units that makes up part of a course, for example a major or minor.
W
Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
Work Integrated Learning is learning that combines your studies with real-world experience, such as placements, internships or industry projects.
Contact us
For personalised support and advice, contact myMurdoch Advice.