Academic careers
Undergraduate career
This career refers to a program of study that is described as:
- Bachelors pass degree
- Bachelors honours degree
- Bachelors graduate entry
- Sub-degree level programs or
- Any other award program of the University designated as undergraduate
Students undertaking undergraduate programs are designated as being in a Undergraduate career.
Postgraduate career
This career refers to a program of study that is described as:
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Coursework Masters or
- Coursework Doctoral programs
Students undertaking Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, coursework Masters or coursework doctoral programs are designated as being in a Postgraduate career.
Research career
This career refers to a program of study that is described as:
- Research Masters
- Research Doctoral programs
Students undertaking research Masters or research Doctoral programs are designated as being in a Research career.
Non-award career
Under the Higher Education Funding Act, the University is able to enrol students in individual courses who are not proceeding towards a degree. Non-award students undertake individual courses for reasons of general or specific interest, knowledge and skills update, career development, preparation for university study or upgrade of entry qualifications.
Non-award, Miscellaneous and Continuing Education are essentially equivalent terms, indicating students undertaking study at the University but not enrolled in a University award program. Non-award is the generic term indicating all such students. Miscellaneous is used for students undertaking one or more individual courses of their own choosing. Continuing Education is for students taking a particular type of non-award study (the continuing education certificate).
Miscellaneous students are approved to undertake one or more courses on the basis that they are judged to have sufficient background to enable them to undertake the course successfully.
Non-award students are subject to the policies of the University and have the same access to services as award students. Non-award students receive an official transcript of their grades and will receive credit where applicable for courses successfully completed as a non-award student if they subsequently are admitted to a degree.
Academic levels
The University offers programs at the following academic levels:
Bachelors degree
The Bachelors degree is a program of three or more years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, designed to equip graduates with specialist professional and/or broadly applicable graduate or generic skills, for which the University grants the award of Bachelor of X. The Bachelors degree may be awarded with Honours (see Bachelor Honours Degree policy).
- Admission information for a Bachelors degree | Bachelors degree with Honours
Graduate Certificate
The Graduate Certificate is a program of one semester of full-time study or part-time equivalent, designed to equip graduates with specialised knowledge and skills following an undergraduate program or relevant prior work experience, and to prepare graduates for further postgraduate study, for which the University grants the award of Graduate Certificate in X.
- Admission information for a Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
The Graduate Diploma is a program of two semesters (one year) of full-time study or part-time equivalent designed to provide ongoing professional development and to prepare graduates for further postgraduate study, for which the University grants the award of Graduate Diploma of X.
- Admission information for a Graduate Diploma
Masters degree
The Masters degree is a program of at least two semesters (one year) of full-time study or part-time equivalent, designed to provide enhancement of specific professional or vocational skills and to equip graduates with in depth understanding in a specific area of knowledge, for which the University grants the award of Master of X.
A Masters degree may be designated as a coursework Masters degree or research Masters degree, in accordance with the current Government guidelines and the University's policy on the classification of programs as research higher degrees (see Policy for the Award of Masters Degree other than the Master of Philosophy).
A Masters degree may be awarded with Honours.
- Admission information for a Coursework Masters degree | Research Masters degree
Doctoral degree
A Doctoral degree is a program of three or more years of full-time study or part-time equivalent, which requires the student to make a substantial original contribution to knowledge through research and/or advanced critical reflection on professional theory and practice, for which the degree Doctor of X is awarded.
A Doctoral degree may be designated as a coursework Doctoral degree or research Doctoral degree, in accordance with the current Government guidelines and the University's policy on the classification of programs as research higher degrees (see Professional Doctorate policy).
- Admission information for a Research Doctoral degree | Coursework Doctoral degree
Sub-degree awards
The University may establish undergraduate programs at sub-degree level in specific circumstances. The designation of such awards, their length and their purpose is approved on a case by case basis, with due regard to the guidelines of the National Qualifications Framework, the practices of other institutions in the naming of similar awards, and the views of the industry, profession or employer for which the award is designed.
Continuing Education Certificates
A specific combination of courses on a particular theme (totalling 40 credit points) may be designated as a Continuing Education Certificate, the "Certificate in X". Continuing Education Certificates are not accredited awards of the University.
- Admission information for a Continuing Education Certificate
More information
Award programs: The Structure and Requirements of Degrees Awarded by Griffith University policy prescribes the definitions, general elements and structural features which apply to all degrees offered by Griffith University.
Non-award study: The Guideline on Continuing Education Certificate and Non-award Students policy will provide you with further information.