Get familiar with common terms used at the Institute.

Jump to A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | W .

A

Academic
An academic is a broad term referring to a person who undertakes research or teaches at AITC (or tertiary institution). Academics have an AITC level of knowledge and hold advanced qualifications.

Academic transcript
An academic transcript is a complete record of all of a student’s academic study undertaken at AITC.

Academic year
The academic year (or academic cycle) is divided into two semesters plus a summer intake. Each teaching period consists of 13 teaching weeks + 1 examination week, making it 14 weeks in total.

Academic record

An official record of a student’s study at the AITC. This includes his/her academic transcript and testamur.

Admission
The process of applying to study at the Institute that incorporates the student’s application that is to be considered.

Agent
A person or organisation within or outside Australia that represents or acts on behalf of the Institute and works with the student in order to facilitate the student’s admission to the Institute.

Alumni

Once a student graduates with a degree from the AITC he/she becomes a member of the AIC alumni community. ‘Alumni’ is the plural form, referring to more than one former student.

Appeal

A student may lodge an appeal against an academic or disciplinary decision made by the Institute. An academic decision is one that affects the student’s academic assessment or progression within his/her award course. Disciplinary decisions are non-academic decisions, including the result of a misconduct investigation.

Applicant

The student is the applicant when he/she is in the process of applying to an award course at AITC, or have received an offer but haven’t yet accepted (this includes deferred offers).

Assessment

The process of measuring your performance in a unit of study. Assessment tasks can include written or practical examinations, assignments, performances, portfolios, designs or constructions.

Assumed knowledge

For some courses or units of study, AITC assumes that the student has reached a certain level of knowledge or has passed a relevant subject – this is called assumed knowledge. It often refers to a Higher School Certificate (HSC) subject, but equivalent subjects in other recognised Year 12 qualifications will be accepted (see also ‘prerequisite’).

Attendance

The student must meet unit of study attendance requirements to continue taking the unit. Attendance requirements vary by unit of study and are outlined in the AITC student handbook or the unit of study outline.

Australia Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR)

The ATAR is a ranking between 0 and 99.95 that is allocated to all students who complete an Australian Year 12 (secondary school) qualification. It is a measure of the student’s overall academic achievement relative to other students who have undertaken an Australian Year 12 qualification. If a student has completed another recognised secondary qualification your results will be translated to an ATAR equivalent to determine whether he/she have met the standard required for admission.

Award course

A course approved by the Institute’s governing bodies that leads to a qualification such as a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree, or the award of a diploma or certificate.

B

Bachelor’s degree
The Bachelor degree is an undergraduate award requiring successful completion of a number of units of study (depending upon the award requirements). A Bachelor degree gives graduates broadly applicable generic skills or specialist professional knowledge which provides initial preparation for careers or postgraduate study. Examples of degrees include: generic degrees such as the Bachelor of Information Technology; a specialist degree such as the Bachelor of Business (Information Systems)

C

Campus
The Institute’s grounds, including laboratories, lecture theatres, administration buildings and recreational areas etc.

Capstone

A substantial, compulsory project that consolidates the learning and demonstrates that the student has acquired the necessary skills and knowledge during his/her studies. The student usually completes it during the final year of his/her course.

Census date

The date when the student’s enrolment in a unit of study becomes final. This means the unit of study will appear on his/her transcript and he/she are liable to pay fees. Census dates are listed on the AITC website.

Certificate of current enrolment

A document that demonstrates a student’s current enrolment at the Institute.

Commencement Date

The date the last of the parties signs this Agreement which date appears on the front page of this Agreement.

Completion letter

A document that proves completion of the student’s qualification. It is available once his/her eligibility to graduate has been confirmed.

Conferral

When a student is awarded his/her award course from the Institute. Award courses are conferred either at a graduation ceremony or in absentia.

Continuing student

When a student is currently enrolled and will be re-enrolling in his/her studies in the next study session.

Core unit

A compulsory unit of study that the student will need to complete to be awarded a particular degree.

Course

A planned and structured sequence of learning and teaching that allows the student to gain knowledge, skills and understanding.

Course Fee

The tuition and other fees for Courses set by the Institute as published in the International Schedule of Programs and Fees.

Course transfer

When the student changes from one course to another, either within the Institute or between institutions.

Credit for previous study

The recognition of previous studies, either at AITC another institution, that can be granted as specific or non-specific credit towards his/her current course. Credit for previous study is also called ‘advanced standing’ or ‘transfer credit’. Also, see ‘recognition of prior learning’.

Credit point

A credit point is the value that each unit of study (single subject) contributes towards the completion requirements for your course.

CRICOS

The education providers and the courses they offer on a full-time basis to international students need to be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). For more information, visit the Australian Government’s CRICOS website.

D

Degree

A bachelor, honours, master or PhD qualification (does not include graduate diploma or graduate certificate).

Diploma

Diplomas are typically of a lower academic status than an undergraduate award such as a Bachelor’s degree.

Domestic student

A domestic student if he/she is an Australian or New Zealand citizen (including dual citizens), a permanent resident of Australia or hold a permanent Australian humanitarian visa.

E

Elective unit

An elective unit of study is one that can be taken outside of a major or minor. Electives allow you to explore interests outside of your primary field(s) of study.

Enrolment

The process that secures the student’s place in a course at the Institute. It includes accepting the Institute’s conditions of being a student and selecting units of study for the coming semester or year. For research students, the process involves selecting his/her program of research to be undertaken and start date.

ESOS Act

The Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 including its regulations;.

F

Fees

An amount of money that a student is required to pay for tuition and/or student services and amenities. Tuition fees are calculated based on his/her residency status, year of study and the course or units of study that the student is enrolled in.

Financial liability

The student’s financial responsibility for tuition fees or student contributions.

Full-time study

The amount of study for a particular Program which is approved by the accrediting body for the Program, or in cases where the accrediting body gives no such approval, means the 20 contact hours per week, as defined in paragraphs 13.1 and 13.2 of the National Code.

G

Grade

The outcome the student will receive for a unit of study based on the assessments completed. His/her grades are displayed on his/her academic transcript.

Graduand

A student who has completed the requirements for his/her award course but the award has not yet been conferred at a graduation ceremony.

Graduate

A student who has completed the requirements for their award course and had the award conferred on them at a graduation ceremony.

Graduation

The formal conferring of awards either at a ceremony or in absentia (if the student cannot attend a ceremony).

H

I

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

An internationally recognised United Kingdom-based test of a person’s English abilities. The IELTS assesses a person’s listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.

International student

An international student is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen (or dual citizen of Australia or New Zealand), a permanent resident of Australia or a holder of a permanent Australian humanitarian visa. To enrol at AITC, international students need to hold an appropriate visa that allows them to study in Australia.

Institute

“Institute” means Australia Institute of Technology and Commerce.

L

Lecture

A lecture is an oral and audio-visual presentation, usually given by a content expert, intended to convey critical information, history, background, theories and equations to students enrolled in a course of study. Students are expected to listen carefully and take their own notes with little guidance from the lecturer in identifying what should be recorded.

Lecturer

Lecturers are instructors or presenters who deliver information to groups of students in a lecture or seminar setting. Most lecturers also tutor.

M

Major

A defined sequence of units of study that deepens the student’s experience in a field of study. Majors are recorded on his/her academic transcript. Requirements for majors are outlined in the student handbook.

Marketing Material

Marketing Material is defined as any material, both print and electronic, that a Prospective Student may have access to prior to enrolment. This includes print and electronic advertising, print and electronic brochures, web pages and links, business cards, merchandising material, and signage.

N

National Code 2018

National Code 2018 is the Code which forms part of the ESOS Act pertinent details.

Non-award course

Studies undertaken that do not lead to an award from the Institute. Non-award courses include professional development programs.

O

Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

A document issued to international students by the Institute and used in the application for a student visa. If the student needs to extend your student visa, he/she should request an extension of his/herr CoE.

Orientation

Orientation sessions held before the start of each trimester give the student:

• essential and valuable information about Institute services and resources
• opportunities to meet students and staff, enjoy social activities and discover student organisations and sporting facilities.

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

The minimum level of private health insurance international students are required to purchase as a condition of their student visa for study in Australia.

P

Postgraduate

A course leading to the award of a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master’s degree or doctorate. A postgraduate award usually requires previous completion of a relevant undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree or diploma. It can also refer to a student studying a postgraduate course.

PRISMS

The Providers Registrations and International Students Management System (the electronic system that hold CRICOS and the electronic confirmation of enrolment).

Programs

The full time registered programs offered by the Institute and registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Progression

If a student is enrolled in an award course, he/she need to meet the progression requirements for that course. This means he/she need to satisfy all course requirements and faculty rules within the maximum completion time allowed. Ongoing unsatisfactory progression may lead to exclusion from the award course.

Prospective Student

A prospective student (whether within or outside Australia) who intends to become, or who has taken any steps towards becoming a student or an ‘overseas student’ as defined by the ESOS Act.

R

Recommencing student

When a student has has been on a break from his/her studies (such as leave) and are returning in the next study session.

Re-enrolment

The process that current students undertake at the end of each year to maintain their place in their course. This includes accepting the Institute’s conditions of studying and enrolling in units of study for the following academic year.

Recognition of prior learning

If a student has completed previous studies in a related area or have relevant work experience, he/she can apply to have this credited towards his/her studies at AITC may reduce his/her study load or the time it takes to complete his/her course.

Results notice

Once results have been released, a student can view his/her results notice online through AITC’s portal. This unofficial document shows the results for each of his/her units of study.

S

Scholarship

A form of support, usually financial, provided to assist in the student’s continued education. Scholarships are usually granted on the basis of academic achievement and/or financial need.

Special arrangement

An arrangement that is made if an essential commitment affects the student’s ability to complete an assessment. This may need an extension of time to complete the assessment task.

Special consideration

You may apply for special consideration if the student suffers from an illness, injury or misadventure that significantly affects his/her performance in an assessment item (or multiple assessment items). This will be taken into account when assessing his/her performance. If consideration is not granted, yhe/she have the right to appeal this decision.

Specialisation

The disciplinary or professional expertise developed for a profession or career in a professional or specialist bachelor’s degree or postgraduate degree.

Student

A student holds a current CoE and is enrolled in an award course. This includes if he/she is enrolled in non-award units.

Student card

A student card is issued once he/she enrols and identifies you as a student of AITC.

Student Identification Number (SID)

A unique nine-digit number that identifies a student at the Institute. His/her SID remains the same throughout his/her studies at the Institute.

Student visa

An international student must hold a valid visa that allows him/her to study in Australia. Information on student visas can be found on the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs website.

Suitable Prospective Student

A person wishing to undertake a study with the Institute to meet the entry requirements (meeting competent English standards expected of at the relevant AQF level programs and minimum qualification prior to undertaking the respective AQF level programs as offered by the Institute).

T

Thesis

The whole assessable work submitted for examination after a period of supervised independent research. A thesis is usually required for a masters by research degree or a PhD.

Transcript

A complete record of a student’s studies at AITC. It includes all units of study (attempted and completed) and your grade for each.

Transfer (internal)

A student may be able to arrange a course transfer from one course to another within the Institute.

Transfer (external)

A student may be able to arrange a transfer to another Higher Education Provider in Australia.

Tutor

A tutor is an academic staff member who supervises practicals and tutorials for small groups of students.

Tutorial

A tutorial is a smaller and less formal learning setting than a lecture. Students are guided by a tutor, and can ask questions and have group discussions.

U

Undergraduate

A course leading to a diploma or a bachelor degree, or a student studying at this level.

Unit

An individual subject is part of the student’s degree. It is the smallest stand-alone component of a course that can be recorded on his/her academic transcript, and has a credit point value (usually 6, except where approved by the Academic Board). Units of study can be core (mandatory) or elective (optional).

W

Waiver

When a student is exempt from taking a specific unit of study that is a core requirement of your course. Waivers are usually granted on the basis of previous learning or experience. Credit is not available for a waived unit.