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Important Student Information

This section of the handbook is intended to give guidance on some matters of common concern to postgraduate students at Macquarie.

The information applies to standard Macquarie course offerings at the North Ryde campus. There may be alternative conditions and arrangements for non-standard offerings, and this information should be clarified with the Student Enquiry Service or the relevant Faculty.

The information below also needs to be read in conjunction with the official University Rules and policy documentation. The Postgraduate Coursework Rules can be accessed from the Policy Central website.

Online Student Administration

Students at Macquarie manage their candidature online through the myMQ Student Portal. You will be provided with details on how to access the myMQ student portal with your initial offer to study at Macquarie.

About myMQ

myMQ is an online portal that allows students to manage and receive information relevant to their studies at Macquarie anytime, anywhere in the world.

The following can be accessed from myMQ:

• student email
• online teaching facility
• library catalogue and reserve systems
• eStudent
• unit home pages.

Student email

All Macquarie students are issued with an official University email account which is accessed from myMQ. It is University policy that the University issued email account is used for official University communication. All students are required to access their University email account frequently.

eStudent

eStudent is accessible from myMQ and is used for the following:

• online enrolment
• change of units
• view academic record
• view debts and pay fees
• update personal information
• obtain results at the end of semester.

IT Help

Student IT Help provides information technology support and assistance to the students and staff of Macquarie University and can help students access the myMQ portal or eStudent.

Location: Building C5C Room 244, Macquarie University
Phone: +61 2 9850 HELP (4357) (option 1)
Freecall: 1800 063 191
Email: 'Just Ask' form accessible from the website
Web: www.library.mq.edu.au/forms/justask/

Hours of Operation:

During term time:

During breaks:

Student Enquiries

The Student Enquiry Service is responsible for providing information and administrative support to current and prospective Macquarie University students.

Location: Lincoln Building, Level 1 (off the main courtyard)
Phone: +61 2 9850 6410
Fax: +61 2 9850 6597
Email: coursework@mq.edu.au
Web: www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/

Hours of Operation (all year):

Admissions

The basic admission qualification for a postgraduate course is completion of a recognised Bachelor degree. More specific admission requirements for each course are contained within the Schedule of Programs.

Applications

Application processes differ from course to course. Students considering applying to study a postgraduate course at Macquarie are strongly recommended to consult the University's Postgrad and Beyond website at www.postgradandbeyond.mq.edu.au. This site contains information on how to apply and information on closing dates for applications, fees and charges and advice on when offers of admission will be made.

International Students

Applicants who are not Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents of Australia should apply through Macquarie International. For more information and application forms visit Macquarie Internationl - How to apply for a Postgraduate coursework degree.

Credit for Previous Studies

Students who have completed units at postgraduate level at Macquarie University or another tertiary institution may receive credit for those units towards their new postgraduate degree (or diploma/certificate).

If the previously completed units formed part of a completed degree/diploma/certificate, the candidate may be granted credit of up to 25 per cent of the total credit points of the new degree/diploma/certificate. If the previously completed units do not form part of a completed degree/diploma/certificate, the candidate may be granted credit of up to 50 per cent of the total credit points of the new degree/diploma/certificate.

Credit can only be granted for units that correspond to units within the new degree/diploma/certificate and this will be assessed by academic staff when the application for credit is made.

Credit can only be granted if the studies have been completed within the previous 10 years. Undergraduate units, professional qualifications and work experience do not attract credit.

Where Macquarie offers a set of articulated awards, candidates who have enrolled in and who have completed requirements for one of the lesser awards in the set may have that award conferred and also receive full credit towards the higher award for relevant studies completed. An example of a set of articulated awards is Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Development, Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development and Master of Sustainable Development. If the lesser award leads to several higher awards, the credit for the lesser award can only be used once.

Applicants should request credit at the time of applying for admission and will require certified copies of full official transcripts of previously completed units as well as other official evidence of the content of previously completed units. Forms to apply for credit for previous studies as well as detailed instructions can be accessed from Postgraduate Studies - Candidature Information.

Students wishing to apply for credit for previous studies are also strongly advised to consult the Postgraduate Rules—Coursework.

Deferment and Re-admission

Postgraduate offers cannot be deferred to a later date and candidates wishing to defer their studies or their offer must re-apply for admission in accordance with the admission processes applicable to the period of study in which they wish to commence. Cut-off dates for lodgement, application forms and detailed instructions are available from the Postgrad and Beyond website.

Fees and Charges

For Australian and New Zealand citizens, postgraduate courses are either fee-paying or Commonwealth supported. Fee assistance is also available from the Commonwealth Government through the FEE-HELP loan scheme for eligible applicants.

Postgraduate fee information including information on FEE-HELP and HECS-HELP, course fees, fee sponsorship vouchers or authorities and how to pay your fees is available from the Postgrad and Beyond website.

International students should refer to Macquarie International for details on the fees and charges applicable to their course.

Fees are payable online through your eStudent account where the 'check my finances' tab provides information on outstanding debts and due dates. Note that there are financial penalties for failure to pay fees by the due date specified.

Course Transfer

Students who wish to transfer from one postgraduate course to another are required to lodge a new application form. This includes students wishing to transfer to another degree within a set of articulated awards (for example Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainable Development, Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development and Master of Sustainable Development). The cut-off dates for lodgement of applications and detailed instructions are available from the Postgrad and Beyond website.

Transfer from Double Degree to Single Component

Students enrolled in a double degree can transfer to either component single degree by lodging a transfer form available from Postgraduate Coursework Forms.

The cut-off dates for lodgement of applications and detailed instructions are available from the Postgrad and Beyond website.

Enrolment

All new and continuing students enrol online via eStudent. The dates for enrolment and other enrolment requirements and instructions are available on the enrolment website. Students are also encouraged to check their eStudent account regularly, noting that there are penalties for not enrolling within the specified period.

Adding and Withdrawing from Units

Once enrolled, students can add new units to their program up to the end of week 2 (for internal offering) or week 1 (for external offering) of the official University semester.

Once enrolled in a unit, it is extremely important that students advise the University (via the eStudent withdrawal process) if they wish to discontinue a unit. This must be done by the Commonwealth designated Census date. Non-attendance at classes does not constitute discontinuance.

If a student does not advise of discontinuance prior to the Census date they will incur fees for the unit and have the unit recorded on their academic transcript. The unit will be denoted on the transcript as either 'W' withdrawn (if withdrawn within four weeks after the Census date) or 'F' fail (if withdrawn more than four weeks after the Census date).

Standard Census dates for discontinuance of a unit of study in 2010 are:
Semester 1: 31 March 2010
Semester 2: 31 August 2010

Note that while the dates listed above will apply to the majority of courses, there are courses with Non-Standard Census dates. Students should check unit census dates.

Progress During Candidature

Candidates in postgraduate coursework programs are expected to maintain a satisfactory level of progress throughout their candidature. The relevant Faculty should be contacted for details specific to each program.

Assessment

Postgraduate units are assessed in accordance with the University policy and procedure on Assessment which can be accessed from Policy Central. Specific requirements for completion of a postgraduate unit are outlined in the unit's 'Unit Outline' which is available to students at the commencement of the unit.

Examinations

Official examinations are held at Macquarie at the conclusion of each semester. Many postgraduate units have examinable components which will be examined in accordance with the University policy on Examinations available from Policy Central. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure they are familiar with the protocols for the conduct of examinations that are outlined in this policy.

Examination Timetables

The official examination periods for standard courses in 2010 are:

• Semester 1: 9 June 2010 to 25 June 2010
• Semester 2: 17 November 2010 – 3 December 2010

It is the responsibility of each student to be available for the entirety of the official examination period.

A draft examination timetable is published approximately eight weeks prior to commencement of the official examination period. The final examination timetable is published approximately four weeks prior to commencement of the official examination period. The final timetable also contains details of the location of the examination and student seat allocation numbers. It is the responsibility of each student to check the time and location of examinations for each unit if applicable. Timetables and other information on timetable clashes, exam locations and seat allocations are accessible from the timetables website.

Special Consideration for Unavoidable Disruption to Study

Macquarie recognises that there may be circumstances where a student is prevented by unavoidable disruption from completing unit requirements in accordance with their ability.

The University defines serious and unavoidable disruption to studies as resulting from an event or set of circumstances that:

• could not have reasonably been anticipated, avoided or guarded against by the student; and
• was beyond the student's control; and
• caused substantial disruption to the student's capacity for effective study and/or the completion of required work; and
• substantially interfered with the otherwise satisfactory fulfilment of unit or course requirements; and
• was of at least three (3) consecutive days duration within a study period and/or prevented completion of the formal examination.

Students have the right to apply for Special Consideration to be given to the assessment of their academic performance in a task or examination if they believe they have suffered from serious and unavoidable disruption.

A student who has suffered serious and unavoidable disruption must fill out an application for Special Consideration and lodge it with the student enquiry service by 5.00pm within five calendar days after the due date of the associated assessment task or formal examination.

Forms and further instructions on submission are available at www.reg.mq.edu.au/Forms/APScons.pdf. Students wishing to apply for special consideration are also strongly advised to consult the University policy and procedure on Special Consideration available at Policy Central.

Results

Student results are accessible from each student's eStudent account. In 2010, results for standard units will be published from the following dates:

• Semester 1: 13 July 2010
• Semester 2: 17 December 2010

Grading

Postgraduate coursework units are graded in accordance with the Postgraduate Coursework Rules and the University policy and procedure on Assessment accessible from Policy Central.

The basic numerical structure of grades awarded is as follows:

Grade Code	Grade	Mark
HD	High Distinction	85-100
D	Distinction	75-84
Cr	Credit	65-74
P	Pass	50-64
PC	Conceded Pass	45-49
F	Fail	0-44
S	Satisfactory (used for units where grading is only on a pass/fail basis)

Work prepared and presented as a single entity and in which contributions of individual students cannot be identified (also known as group work) is graded only on a pass/fail basis unless that work comprises less than 30 per cent of assessable content of the unit.

Appeals Against Grades

Appeals against grades awarded for postgraduate coursework units are handled in accordance with the University policy on Grade Appeal accessible from Policy Central.

Students have six months from the published result date of the relevant unit in which to lodge a grade appeal.

Before an official grade appeal is submitted, a student must undertake a grade review in accordance with the processes established by the relevant Faculty. A grade review ensures that there has been no clerical error in the grade determination and allows a student to review their examination paper (if the unit includes an examination). The relevant Faculty should be contacted for details on the grade review process.

A grade appeal can only be submitted following a grade review and must be submitted on an official grade appeal form with written evidence. Exact deadlines, detailed instructions and an official form for submission of a grade appeal are available from the Student Enquiry Service.

Academic Honesty (Plagirism)

The University requires that all students and staff undertake academic work honestly and expects that students acknowledge the ideas of others appropriately. Commonly known as plagiarism, academic dishonesty is a serious offence with serious consequences and students should be aware that any piece of academic work submitted by a student can be checked for academic dishonesty.

Further details on the definition of academic dishonesty and related remedial and penalty frameworks are contained in the unit guide for each unit as well as in the University policies on plagiarism and academic honesty accessible from Policy Central.

Degrees and Diplomas Offered by Coursework

Degree of Master (by Coursework)

The Degree of Master is usually undertaken by coursework in specified fields of study. It may include a dissertation on a special topic. The basic admission requirement is normally the possession of a Degree of Bachelor from a recognised university or other tertiary institution with major studies in the appropriate field. In many cases relevant work experience is also required.

A number of the coursework programs may be undertaken on a distance education basis with attendance at intensive on campus sessions.

Postgraduate Diplomas

The admission requirements for postgraduate diplomas are normally the possession of a Degree of Bachelor from a recognised tertiary institution and experience in the relevant field. There is provision in exceptional cases for the admission of applicants with professional qualifications other than a Degree of Bachelor. Postgraduate Diploma programs are generally offered part-time over two years and/or full-time over one year.

Postgraduate Certificates

The admission requirement for postgraduate certificates is normally the possession of a Degree of Bachelor. There is provision in exceptional cases for the admission of applicants with professional qualifications and experience other than a Degree of Bachelor.

Postgraduate Certificates comprise coursework units at the same standard as the corresponding Postgraduate Diploma or Master Degree and articulation to higher awards is possible in many cases.

Graduate Diplomas

Graduate diplomas are offered in a range of areas of studies for graduates who wish to train in another discipline. They consist wholly of undergraduate units in a particular discipline. Further information about the Graduate Diplomas offered is available in the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies.

Admission enquiries for the Graduate Diplomas should be directed to the Student Enquiry Service, Lincoln Building, phone +61 2 9850 6410.

Preliminary or Qualifying Programs

Applicants for some coursework programs may be required to undertake a preliminary or qualifying program before admission to candidature for a master by coursework degree or postgraduate diploma or certificate. Completion of such a program does not guarantee automatic admission to the award program. Preliminary or qualifying program candidates must apply for admission to the award program by the normal closing date.

Graduation

Qualification - Expectation to Complete

Postgraduate coursework qualifications are administered by the Academic Program Section.

Students who satisfy requirements for a postgraduate award at the meetings of Academic Senate held on 17 December 2009 or 9 February 2010 will be eligible to graduate in April 2010. If you are unsure of your April qualification and graduation status, you must contact the Academic Program Section before 5 February 2010.

Note: Students completing Summer Session or Vacation Program units and students with late resolution of results or qualifications will not be eligible to graduate until Saturday 22 May 2010.

Students who satisfy requirements for a postgraduate award at the meetings of Academic Senate held on 9 July and 3 August 2010 will be eligible to graduate in September 2010. If you are unsure of your September graduation status, you must contact the Academic Program Section before 30 June 2010.

For more information contact: apsinfo@mq.edu.au.

Qualification - Results

Macquarie University adheres to a formal qualification and graduation process. Students are not eligible to graduate until their award (qualification) has been approved at a meeting of Academic Senate. The last qualification Senate for April graduation will be held on 9 February 2010 and the last qualification Senate for September graduation will be held on 3 August 2010. Students qualifying after 3 August 2010 will not graduate until 2011 (Hong Kong and Beijing students excepted). Qualified students will be able to view their award (qualification) and graduation allocation details on eStudent after the examination results are released. If you have viewed your results and are not sure of your qualification or graduation status, please email apsinfo@mq.edu.au or graduation@mq.edu.au within the time frames advertised.

Graduation

April graduation information will be posted 12 January with a return date of 19 February 2010.

September graduation information will be posted in late July with a return date of mid-August 2010. When you receive your graduation information, you must check the name of your award carefully as it will not be possible to alter the award after it has been conferred at a graduation ceremony. If the award shown on the Conferring of Degrees Form is incorrect, please contact the Academic Program Section immediately. Graduating students must ensure that their mailing and email details are kept current at all times. All name changes, requests to defer graduation and requests to graduate at one of our overseas ceremonies must be made in writing and received by the Graduation Unit by the relevant deadline. Incomplete or late requests will not be processed.

All graduation communication is conducted by mail and email. Therefore you must update your mail and email details via eStudent before the end of your final examination period. This is particularly important for international students returning to their home country at the end of semester.

Overseas Graduation

The University conducts graduations at various locations overseas. Information regarding overseas graduations will be made available on the Graduation Unit website. Local students intending to graduate overseas must submit the Request to Change Graduation Date or Venue form, available on the website, by the relevant deadline.

Outstanding Debts

In accordance with University Council Fee Rule 12(c) students who are indebted to the University shall not be permitted to graduate until such debt is cleared. Students with outstanding financial liabilities will not be allocated to a graduation ceremony. All debts must be paid prior to the closing date for the relevant graduation series. Students who pay after the closing date will be allocated to the next available ceremony.