Chapter 2 – Student and general information

Student Administration Unit

This information is current as at January 2008. The latest information is available from the Student Administration Unit.

UTS Student Centres
Application requirements
Eligibility for admission
Admission with advanced standing, subject exemption, credit transfer or recognised prior learning
Deferment
Cross-institutional and non-award study
Educational access and assistance schemes
Enrolment
Timetable
Fees and charges
Remissions
Attendance, examinations and progression
Course completion and graduation

The Student Administration Unit is responsible for the administrative processes associated with the UTS Student Centres, admission, enrolment, assessment and progression of all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, non-award and cross-institutional students, and administration of the timetable, student records, student fees and charges and Commonwealth Scholarships. It is also responsible for collecting and distributing a wide range of information for prospective and enrolled students and promoting the University to students generally.

The Unit implements the Student and Related Rules. These rules for students cover all areas of undergraduate, postgraduate and non-award study, including admission, enrolment, fees and charges, student identification cards, academic conduct, attendance and study requirements, examinations, progression, student discipline and appeals, exclusion, leave of absence, internal course transfer, readmission, graduation and awards.

UTS Student Centres

The five UTS Student Centres, at City and Kuring-gai campuses, are the principal areas of contact between students, the public and the central administration, and provide information on and assistance with all student administrative matters.

Application requirements

Applications for most undergraduate and postgraduate courses are processed through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Students are required to lodge a UAC online application. On-time applications close in the last week of September each year.

Application forms for the limited number of postgraduate and undergraduate courses offered by direct application may be obtained from the UTS Student Centres, from August to February for admissions in Autumn semester and from April to July for admissions in Spring semester. Closing dates and application requirements vary for UTS courses and applicants are encouraged to inquire early.

Applications for postgraduate research programs must be lodged with the University. Further information is available from the University Graduate School.

International fee-paying applicants must apply through UTS International

Formerly-enrolled UTS students seeking readmission should lodge a new application during the application period. Currently-enrolled UTS students who wish to transfer to another UTS course must contact the relevant UTS Student Centre for advice on how to transfer courses.

Eligibility for admission

To be eligible for admission to a course at UTS, applicants must satisfy the rules relating to undergraduate or postgraduate admission and be selected in competition with other eligible applicants for that course. Admission may be based on the quota of places available in each course and the number and quality of eligible applicants applying for each course.

Further information is available from the University's Admissions Policy

All students are expected to be proficient in English comprehension and expression. Where the major part of an applicant's previous education was not in English, the applicant may be requested to complete an English test. If requested, they must achieve an overall minimum score of 6.5 (7.0 for teacher education courses and all courses offered by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test. Students should refer to the Minimum English Language Requirements in Schedule A of the Admissions Policy.

Special admission schemes are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants and applicants with high academic potential whose education has been disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control. Information about these schemes may be found in the section on Educational access and assistance schemes.

Note: students in Teacher Education and Nursing, Midwifery and Health courses who are required to complete clinical or teaching placements must undergo criminal records checks before placements. Further information is available from the NSW child protection legislation section in the UTS: Handbook 2008.

Admission with advanced standing, subject exemption, credit transfer or recognised prior learning

Applicants who receive an offer of enrolment from UTS and who have previously completed appropriate subjects at a recognised tertiary education institution or Australian technical college may apply for subject exemptions in their offered UTS course. UTS also recognises that credit may be awarded to other forms of recognised prior learning (RPL) in cases where work experience, life experience or courses undertaken outside the university or TAFE systems are related to assessable components of a UTS course. In some cases, offers with recognised credit transfer will be made.

Admission with advanced standing, subject exemption or credit transfer may be approved by a faculty, subject to the provisions in the Rules of the University and the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Deferment

Admission to all undergraduate courses can be deferred on request, except for Bachelor Honours courses and the Bachelor of Information Technology. Deferred enrolment is approved for up to one year, however, a deferred place will lapse if the student enrols in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, advanced diploma, diploma or associate degree course at post-secondary level during the period of approved deferment. All students must reapply as directed upon completion of their approved deferment period.

Deferment of enrolment in postgraduate courses at UTS is not permitted.

Cross-institutional and non-award study

Cross-institutional study

Students who are currently enrolled at other tertiary institutions may apply to study individual subjects at UTS for credit at their home institution. Approval of both UTS and their home institution is required.

Non-award study

Non-award study is available to students who wish to enrol in single subjects not as part of an award program. Non-award study is also available to students to complete extra subjects at the conclusion of their degree. Full subject fees apply and prospective applicants should be familiar with the subject area. This mode of study is not available to international fee-paying students.

Availability of places for cross-institutional and non-award students is determined after the enrolment of UTS award students.

Closing dates apply and further information on cross-institutional and non-award study is available from the UTS Student Centres.

Educational access and assistance schemes

inpUTS Educational Access Scheme

The inpUTS Educational Access Scheme is designed to assist UTS undergraduate applicants who have academic potential and whose education has been disadvantaged over a substantial period of time by circumstances beyond their control. Such disadvantages may include:

  • disrupted schooling
  • severe family disruption
  • excessive family responsibilities
  • English language difficulty
  • attending a disadvantaged or rural/isolated school
  • financial hardship
  • adverse study conditions
  • personal illness or disability.
  • Application forms are available from August each year at the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and the UTS Student Centres. Applicants must submit their applications, with relevant documentation, to UAC by the end of September.

    Inquiries

    Equity and Diversity Unit
    CB01.17.22, City campus
    telephone +61 2 9514 1084
    fax +61 2 9514 1883
    http://www.equity.uts.edu.au

    Admission program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

    Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning (Jumbunna IHL) offers access and participation programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people studying at UTS.

    Prospective applicants who are considering tertiary education are encouraged to apply through Jumbunna IHL's Alternative Admissions Program, which is held annually in early December.

    Jumbunna IHL assesses all applications to determine whether supplementary studies are required to provide ongoing academic and cultural support.

    Inquiries

    Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning
    CB01.17, City campus
    telephone +61 2 9514 1902
    or tollfree 1800 064 312
    fax +61 2 9514 1894
    http://www.jumbunna.uts.edu.au

    Special admissions

    The following special admission schemes are also available to eligible students.

  • Special admission — educational disadvantage
  • Special admission — refugees
  • Special admission — elite athletes and/or performers.
  • Inquiries

    Further information is available from alternative entry.

    Enrolment

    New students receive offers of enrolment by post or online for Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and UTS internal course applicants. Each successful applicant must enrol as indicated in the information provided with the offer or contact UTS to make alternative arrangements.

    The main enrolment period each year for new students is from late January to mid-February. A shorter enrolment period in July follows any mid-year offers and also caters for students returning from leave.

    Continuing students are required to re-enrol annually online during Spring semester. Information about enrolment, subject registration and available electives is made available to all continuing students in September/October. Continuing students who enrol in subjects in November/December for the following year are required to check, after the release of examination results, that subject prerequisites have been satisfied and if necessary adjust their programs accordingly.

    Continuing students become formally enrolled and incur fees and charges upon selection of subjects for the relevant year. Students must apply for a leave of absence or formally withdraw from the course if they decide not to study for a semester.

    Students should be aware that it is their responsibility to ensure that their:

  • personal details are correct in My Student Admin and that the University is informed of any changes as they occur
  • enrolment details are correct and that their subject choices can be credited towards the award in which they are enrolled.
  • Timetable

    The University timetable for all teaching periods (except Summer session) is published online in early November each year for the coming year. The Summer session timetable is usually published in mid-October each year.

    Fees and charges

    The payment of fees and charges is covered by the Rules of the University.

    Registered students who have not paid all due fees and charges by the published final date for payment will:

  • have their access to UTS online services blocked
  • be unable to amend their Study Plan
  • have their examination results withheld
  • not be permitted to graduate.
  • Students who do not comply with both the rules for tuition fee payments and the Higher Education Support Act 2003 may also have enrolment in their course and enrolment in their subjects cancelled immediately. No grades will be issued. Students wishing to be readmitted to the University will need to apply through a formal competitive admissions process in the next available semester. Readmission is not automatic.

    International and domestic fee-paying students must pay all course fees by the required date to ensure continued enrolment. A late payment fee may be levied if course fee accounts remain outstanding after the due date.

    Commonwealth-supported students

    Student contribution amounts for Commonwealth-supported places (CSP) are determined within ranges set by the Australian Government under the Higher Education Support Act 2003. Most undergraduate award students and some designated postgraduate award students occupy these places.

    The Student Learning Entitlement (SLE) applies for all CSP students under the Higher Education Support Act. The SLE gives all CSP students access to a Commonwealth-supported place for seven years of equivalent full-time study load.

    Domestic award fee-paying students

    Approved fees for UTS courses are listed in the Annual Fees Schedule. Tuition fees are reviewed annually.

    Undergraduate fees

    http://www.sau.uts.edu.au/fees/undergrad/domestic.html

    Postgraduate fees

    http://www.sau.uts.edu.au/fees/postgrad

    International students

    Tuition fees for international students vary between courses and are reviewed annually. Tuition fees must be paid in advance each semester.

    Further information is available from the International Fees Schedule.

    Annual fee increases

    Fees increase annually and students should anticipate a fee increase each year. Fees are set annually both by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations for Commonwealth-supported places and by the University for full-fee-paying places. Any projections regarding the tuition fee cost of obtaining a degree need to incorporate annual fee increases. As the University's costs increase each year, fees are adjusted annually to ensure a high standard of teaching and to enhance the student experience while keeping the cost to students as affordable as possible.

    Payment Allocation Schedule

    The University allocates payments received in accordance with the Payment Allocation Schedule.

    Refund of fees

    Course fees and charges

    Students who formally withdraw from their course, take leave of absence or withdraw from any unit(s) of study, and who apply before the census date in each semester or session, are eligible for a refund of all or part of any tuition fees already paid for that semester or session. Variation of study programs or other actions requested after the census date will forfeit fees already paid.

    Further information is available from the refund procedures.

    International students

    Information on refunds for international students is available from the policy on fees.

    Refunds are not granted if a student withdraws after the census date.

    Remissions

    Students who do not withdraw before the census date, but are unable to successfully complete subjects due to special circumstances, may apply to have a:

  • remission of HECS-HELP balance
  • remission of FEE-HELP balance
  • re-credit of Student Learning Entitlements (SLE) where applicable
  • refund of up-front student contribution payments.
  • Further information on what constitutes 'special circumstances', the remission application process and application forms is available from the refunds, remissions and SLE procedures.

    Attendance, examinations and progression

    Information about the University's assessment policies, procedures and guidelines is available in the Coursework Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual.

    Course and subject variation

    Students wishing to add or delete subjects must apply through My Student Admin.

    Specific dates apply (see the Calendar of dates for 2008) and course fees apply after the census date for each teaching period.

    Academic transcripts will indicate a withdrawn/fail result against subjects in cases where students have not withdrawn by the due date.

    Examinations and results

    Onshore centrally-conducted examinations are held at the end of each semester and Summer session.

    The provisional examination timetable is published five weeks before the commencement of an official examination period and late December for Summer session. Students who have more than one examination scheduled at the same time or have scheduling difficulties with these provisional timetables (e.g. three examinations scheduled within 24 hours) must notify a UTS Student Centre immediately.

    The final examination timetable showing dates, times and locations is published two weeks before the beginning of the examination period.

    Students who have a physical disability or students in their first year of study who have difficulties with English are required to submit an application for special conditions with supporting documentation (medical certificates, counsellor's assessment, via the Special Needs Service for students with a disability or a medical condition, or approval from the ELSSA Centre for students from non-English speaking backgrounds) at least six weeks before the beginning of examinations. If applications are approved by the faculty's academic liaison officers or ELSSA Centre, students are informed of the special conditions under which they will sit their examinations (e.g. extra time, dictionaries, separate rooms).

    Students who believe that their performance during an examination or other assessment task is affected by illness or other circumstances beyond their control, either on the day of the examination or during the semester, may request that these circumstances be taken into account in their assessment. Requests for special consideration are forwarded to the student's faculty. The student is informed of the outcome by the time results are released.

    Students who, through illness or other circumstances beyond their control, are unable to attend an examination must apply for a special examination no later than two working days after the date of the examination. They must be available for a special examination at the designated time.

    Semester results are available in late July and late December each year. Summer session results are available from late February. Results can be obtained through My Student Admin or via the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system (Autumn and Spring semester results only) on:

    telephone 1300 656 887

    Supplementary examinations may be awarded for 'borderline' results, if the assessment pattern for the subject has a final examination component. Formal supplementary examinations are held on the date indicated in the examination guide. Students must make themselves available on that date.

    Centrally-conducted examination inquiries or concerns regarding results must be sent in writing to the Registrar. Initial inquiries may be made in person at a UTS Student Centre.

    All students are advised to carefully read the rules relating to examinations.

    Review of assessment results

    Students may lodge an application for review of assessment results at the relevant UTS Student Centre. Applications that have met the specified criteria are considered by the relevant faculty's Student Assessment Review Committee.

    Progression, academic caution and exclusion

    Students will be excluded from their course if they do not make satisfactory academic progress. The duration of the period of exclusion is two semesters. Students may appeal against exclusions based on unsatisfactory progress. Requirements for satisfactory progression, the basis upon which students can be placed on academic caution or excluded and the appeals process are available from the academic progression rules.

    Further information is available from the academic progression procedures.

    Readmission after exclusion

    Students can reapply for the course from which they were excluded following the specified period of exclusion. Readmission is not automatic and students must compete with other eligible applicants for that course during the given admission period. Local undergraduate students must reapply through the Universities Admissions Centre and all other students as directed in the notice of exclusion.

    Postgraduate research discontinuation of registration

    Students at Master's or Doctoral level may have their registration discontinued for unsatisfactory progress.

    Further information is available from the graduate research study rules.

    Course completion and graduation

    Students must complete the total credit points required for their course and pay any outstanding debts to be eligible to graduate. Students must have displayed a course status of 'passed' on My Student Admin by one of the following dates:

  • 27 February for April ceremonies at Kuring-gai campus
  • 27 February for May ceremonies at City campus
  • 6 August for September ceremonies at City campus.
  • Details of online registration are sent to potential graduands approximately six weeks before the ceremonies.

    Further information, including details of mid-year international ceremonies held in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, is available from Graduations.

    Academic dress

    Graduates of the University are entitled to wear academic dress appropriate to the level of award obtained.

    All diplomates and graduates to the level of Master's wear a black gown in the traditional Cambridge style. It is worn with a black trencher with black tassel on the right front quadrant.

    Diplomates are denoted by a tucked sash of faculty colour on the outside, lined with cream and finished with a tassel of faculty colour.

    Graduates to the level of Master's wear a hood that wraps around the shoulders with tucked ends invisibly fastened at centre front.

    Bachelor-level graduates are denoted by a hood of black, with a border and lining of the faculty colour which continues through to tucked ends invisibly fastened at centre front and a single black stripe.

    Graduate Diplomates are denoted by a hood of black, with a border of the faculty colour which continues through to tucked ends invisibly fastened at centre front, lined with cream and a single black stripe.

    Master's-level graduates are denoted by a hood of black, with a border of the faculty colour which continues through to tucked ends invisibly fastened at centre front, lined with cream and two black stripes.

    The faculty colours are:

    Business

    Eau de Nil, PMS 5483

    Design, Architecture and Building

    Chartreuse, PMS 457

    Education

    Jade, PMS 327

    Engineering

    Scarlet, PMS 186

    Humanities and Social Sciences

    Uluru, PMS 1675

    Information Technology

    Electric Blue, PMS 3015

    Law

    Amethyst, PMS 2735

    Nursing, Midwifery and Health

    Fuchsia, PMS 247

    Science

    Wattle Yellow, PMS 123

    The style of the University's doctoral and festal gowns is based upon the original unique design of the New South Wales Institute of Technology gowns rather than the Cambridge style. Each has its own distinct colour and trim as indicated below.

    The PhD gown is red with white satin facings on the front, finishing in a square collar at the back. It is worn with a black velvet soft bonnet with gold cord and tassel on the right side.

    The Higher Doctorate gown is red with gold silk facings and collar. It is worn with a black velvet soft bonnet with gold cord and tassel on the right side.

    The Honorary Doctorate gown is red with ultramarine blue satin facings and collar. It is worn with a black velvet soft bonnet with gold cord and tassel on the right side.

    The gown worn by Fellows of the University is navy blue, with white satin facings and square collar with a piped edge of ultramarine blue. No cap is worn.

    The Chancellor, Deputy-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellors wear black gowns with facings and collar of ultramarine blue satin, and with differing grades of gold and silver braid and Sydney wattle embroidery in gold and silver. Black velvet mortarboards decorated with gold or silver braid and tassel are worn with these gowns.

    The members of the University Council wear black festal gowns, with ivory satin facings and collar embroidered with Sydney wattle in two shades of teal (PMS 321). No cap is worn.

    Academic dress worn at University graduation ceremonies and other formal events was designed by staff of the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building.

    Inquiries

    Graduations
    Governance Support Unit
    CB01.26, City campus
    telephone +61 2 9514 1329
    fax +61 2 9514 1232
    email graduations@uts.edu.au
    http://www.gsu.uts.edu.au/graduation

     

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