A Credit Point System for UTS Coursework Award Courses

A credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. The UTS credit point system, introduced in 1992, provides a uniform measure of total student coursework workload, in all of its various forms across all undergraduate and postgraduate award courses of the University. This uniform approach facilitates consistent and equitable access for students to subjects across the University.

Faculties should be mindful that there may be special requirements for DEST reporting. These requirements may change from time to time. Faculties should consult the Academic Programs Office and/or CASS in considering the appropriate requirements for a proposed course.

Characteristics

2.1 The UTS system is based on a standard measure of 48 credit points for one academic year of full-time study. Faculties can vary this pattern if necessary from one year to the next within the course structure provided that the credit points required for completion of a course is N x 48, where N = the full time course length in years. The variation should be constrained within the range 44–52 credit points per year.

2.2 The normal full-time study pattern of 24 credit points for one semester is based on a student workload averaged over a semester of 48 hours per week. It is understood that there will be variation in the actual student workload, given the varying ability, previous educational experience and level of achievement of students in a course.

2.3 For all UTS subjects, the credit point value should be a whole number. All subjects must be offered within the same semester only and not extend beyond more than one teaching period.

2.4 In determining the credit point value for each subject, faculties will take account of student load in the form of the various teaching and learning requirements of the subject including projects, essays, independent and library study, and any other teaching/learning strategies appropriate to the given discipline or subject.

2.5 Credit points associated with industrial training, work experience and/or professional experience subjects must conform to DEST guidelines. University supported Work Experience in Industry (WEI) subjects, as defined by DEST, should be allocated a credit point value. A WEI subject is deemed to be 'supported' if all of the following are performed by UTS staff or persons engaged by UTS:

• interaction between the supervisor and the student, which may include site visits, and
• organisation of student placements, and
• ongoing monitoring of student work and progress, and
• assessment of the student learning and performance during the placement.

*Note that the University cannot charge a student contribution amount or tuition fee for 'unsupported' WEI subjects which do not have a credit point value.

2.6 The usual course credit point requirement at UTS is as follows:

• a Bachelor degree is of 3, 4 and 5 years duration and is 144, 192 or 240 credit points respectively
• a Bachelor combined degree is between 5 and 6 years duration, and is between 240 and 288 credit points
• a Bachelor Honours degree is one year following an undergraduate degree and is 48 credit points
• a Graduate Certificate can be 24, 30 or 36 credit points
• a Graduate Diploma can be 36 or 48 credit points
• a Coursework Master degree can be 48, 72 or 96 credit points.

Coursework component of graduate research degrees

3.1 Some graduate research degrees have a coursework component which must be no greater than one third of the total course requirements. Thus for a graduate research degree with a duration of 3 years full-time study, the coursework component should be no greater than 48 credit points in total (i.e. the equivalent of one full-time year of study).

3.2 The coursework component will consist of subjects that have credit points allocated in the normal way. The research component will consist of a time-based subject that has an allocation of time rather than credit points as a measure of workload.