Admissions to Coursework Programs Policy

Effective 1 January 2011

1. General principles

2. Eligibility

3. Program quotas

4. Ranking

5. Offers

COURSES

6. Eligibility

7. Course quotas

8. Course prerequisites

9. Designation of course as non-award

RESPONSIBILITIES

10. Eligibility criteria

11. Equivalence

12. Admissions management

13. Courses

AUTHORITIES

DEFINITIONS

OVERVIEW

This policy states the University's approach to the selection of students for admission to University of Adelaide coursework academic programs and courses.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all coursework undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs and courses.

PROGRAMS

1. General principles

The criteria for selecting students into any academic program must

a. reflect the University's commitment to the highest academic standards

b. identify students who are likely to succeed in the University's programs

c. encourage broad access to the University's programs and

d. be applied fairly, consistently and transparently.

2. Eligibility

a. The eligibility criteria for admission to University academic programs are entirely at the University's discretion. These criteria may include, but are not limited to:

i. academic criteria, i.e. formal qualifications or previous studies or prerequisite studies in the secondary, post-secondary, tertiary or higher education sectors

ii. academic or other tests or requirements determined by the University including audition, portfolio, interview/oral assessment, specific knowledge test or aptitude test, work experience, application statement, referee report

iii. English language proficiency

iv. any combination of i, ii and iii.

b. Eligibility criteria may be specified as Standard Criteria for application across a group of programs (e.g. the minimum academic qualification for a postgraduate coursework program is a Bachelor degree), or program by program.

c. The University's admission eligibility criteria for any program may be changed at any time. However, once the eligibility criteria are made public for a specified intake/calendar period, they will not be changed except in exceptional circumstances.

d. It is entirely at the University's discretion whether it specifies minimum standards which must be reached in any of the criteria referred to in 2.a. for any of its academic programs; or whether it specifies criteria which may preclude eligibility for a program.

e. It is entirely at the University's discretion whether a qualification proffered for admission is determined to be equivalent to that which it has specified as a criterion for eligibility or ranking for admission.

f. To broaden access to the University, address perceived disadvantages or encourage studies in particular disciplines, the University reserves the right to:

i. implement special entry schemes, or

ii. implement bonus schemes which may have the effect of improving individual students' performance against one or more eligibility criteria, or

iii. grant exemptions from admission requirements in exceptional circumstances.

3. Program quotas

a. Consistent with any legal requirements, the University may set a quota on the number of Commonwealth-supported, domestic fee-paying or international fee-paying places in any program. Within any quota, the University may set sub-quotas, according to the eligibility category of applicants, as defined by the University.

b. Where a student is eligible for consideration in more than one eligibility category (sub-quota), they will be considered under each applicable category, and their admission will be assessed on the basis of the sub-quota which maximises their opportunity to be admitted.

4. Ranking

Where the number of applicants who meet the admission eligibility criteria exceeds the number of places, the University will rank on merit, i.e. performance in the qualifications and tests referred to in 2.a., and offer places in order of rank. Ranking may occur within sub-quotas as well as quotas.

5. Offers

The University may attach conditions to an offer of a place in an academic program. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, options for deferral, meeting specified health standards, meeting specified police checks, meeting visa and other legal obligations, complying with University policies and rules, and making required fee payments.

COURSES

6. Eligibility

A student who is admitted to an academic program may only enrol in courses which may be counted towards that program. A student may enrol in any course which may be counted towards that program, unless

a. the number of places in that course is limited, or

b. the student does not meet the prerequisites for that course.

7. Course quotas

The University may limit the number of places in any course.

8. Course prerequisites

a. The University may specify prerequisites or co-requisites or assumed knowledge for any course.

b. The University reserves the right to specify the minimum standard which must be reached in any specified prerequisite.

9. Designation of course as non-award

The University may permit some of its courses to be studied on a non-award basis, but this is entirely at the discretion of the University.

RESPONSIBILITIES

10. Eligibility criteria

Responsibility: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)

a. On the recommendation of the Coursework Entry Committee, acting on behalf of Academic Board, review and approve

i. academic qualification and English language proficiency Standard Criteria for application to a group or level of coursework programs

ii. variations from approved Standard Criteria

iii. academic qualification and English language proficiency criteria where there are no approved Standard Criteria

iv. Additional Criteria for eligibility for admission to coursework academic programs

v. the conditions of any scheme designed to broaden access to the University and/or to address perceived disadvantages and/or to encourage studies in particular disciplines, including:

- articulation and twinning arrangements;

- the Bonus Points Scheme;

- the Fairway Scheme;

- the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Access Scheme;

- the Disability Entry Scheme.

[Approved Standard Criteria must be recorded in a Related Document linked to the Admission for Coursework Programs Policy (as per A1).]

b. Approve exemptions for individuals from admission requirements when the circumstances, in the opinion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic), are exceptional.

11. Equivalence

Responsibility: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)

On the recommendation of the Coursework Entry Committee, acting on behalf of Academic Board, review and approve

a. equivalence of local, interstate and international academic qualifications to approved academic qualification criteria for admission

b. equivalence of other English language proficiency qualifications and/or experience to approved English language proficiency criteria for admission.

12. Admissions management

Responsibility: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)

a. Approve timing of admission rounds for some or all coursework academic programs.

b. In consultation with Faculty Executive Deans, approve quotas and/or sub-quotas for entry into each coursework academic program in each admission round, by category of student (domestic Commonwealth-supported place, domestic fee-paying or international) and/or by eligibility category, as required.

c. In consultation with Faculty Executive Deans, approve offers of admission for coursework academic programs (except end-on Honours programs), in accord with approved eligibility criteria.

d. Approve variations to approved eligibility criteria for individual students in exceptional circumstances.

e. Approve conditions attached to offers of admission, by program or category of student.

Responsibility: Executive Deans

f. Approve offers of admission for end-on Honours programs, in accord with approved eligibility criteria.

13. Courses

Responsibility: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)

a. Approve a limit on the number of places in individual courses, in consultation with Executive Deans.

b. Approve prerequisites for courses in the commencing year of a program, and/or standards of achievement in prerequisites, on the recommendation of the Coursework Entry Committee, acting on behalf of Academic Board.

Responsibility: Executive Deans

Approve courses available for Non-Award Study on a fee-paying basis .
[Note: fees must be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic), as required by the Fees for Award Programs and Courses Policy].

AUTHORITIES

Key	Authority Category	Authority	Delegation holder	Limit
Academic	Admissions	Approve all eligibility criteria for all coursework programs, including any special admission schemes, and approve equivalence of other qualifications or experience to approved admissions criteria	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	On recommendation of Coursework Entry Committee, acting on behalf of Academic Board
Academic	Admissions	Approve exemptions for individuals from admission requirements	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Academic	Admissions	Approve timing of admission rounds for some or all coursework academic programs	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Academic	Admissions	Approve quotas and/or sub-quotas for entry into each coursework academic program in each admission round	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	In consultation with Faculty Executive Deans
Academic	Admissions	Approve offers of admission for coursework academic programs (except end-on Honours programs)	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	In consultation with Faculty Executive Deans
Academic	Admissions	Approve offers of admission for end-on Honours programs	Executive Dean or Head of School
Academic	Admissions	Approve variations to approved eligibility criteria for individual students in exceptional circumstances	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Academic	Admissions	Approve conditions attached to offers of admission	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	On recommendation of Coursework Entry Committee
Academic	Admissions	Approve a limit on the number of places in individual courses	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	In consultation with Executive Deans
Academic	Admissions	Approve prerequisites for courses in the commencing year of a program, and/or standard of achievement in prerequisites	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)	On recommendation of Coursework Entry Committee, on behalf of Academic Board
Academic	Admissions	Approve courses available for Non-Award Study on a fee-paying basis	Executive Dean of relevant Faculty

DEFINITIONS

Additional Criteria includes, but is not limited to,

For any programs

Specification of additional entry requirements such as audition, portfolio, interview/oral assessment, specific knowledge test or aptitude test, work experience, application statement, or referee report

Specification of prerequisite courses/subjects for admission

Restriction on applicability of any academic qualification or English language criteria

For postgraduate programs

Specification of a minimum standard, such as credit level, in prior academic qualification

Specification of discipline of prior academic qualification.

A1

STANDARD CRITERIA for the purposes of Responsibilities 1.a) and b) under the Admissions to Coursework Programs Policy are as follows:

Approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) on [date] on recommendation of the Coursework Entry Committee

Postgraduate Programs: The minimum academic criterion for admission to a postgraduate coursework program is a Bachelor degree.

Please use the following URL instead of linking to individual documents:
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/227