Award Course Nomenclature and Issuance Policy

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Purpose | Scope | Principles | Policy statements | Roles and responsibilities | Definitions | Approval information | Version history | References

1. Purpose

1.1 The Award Course Nomenclature and Issuance Policy (the policy) provides a set of principles and standards for the naming of award courses, including their course names, award titles and award abbreviations. These principles and standards must be applied consistently across UTS award courses.

1.2 The policy also outlines the classification and grading of award courses and the issuance of testamurs.

2. Scope

2.1 This policy applies to all:

  1. levels of award courses as identified in Rule 13.7, Student Rules, and
  2. staff and affiliates involved in the development and management of award courses. 

3. Principles

3.1 All UTS award courses must have a course name, an award title and an award abbreviation (also postnominal) approved by the Provost in line with this policy.

3.2 Course names, award titles and award abbreviations at UTS must:

  1. accurately reflect the course level under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) (refer AQF qualifications)
  2. accurately reflect the course content and the principal field of study
  3. be easily understood and recognised by prospective students, current students, employers and other stakeholders, including industry and the community
  4. be effective in the marketplace
  5. be concise and meaningful
  6. be consistent with the nomenclature being used at the higher or lower degree level, and
  7. be consistent with national, international and professional standards and use.

3.3 All award course nomenclature must comply with the requirements of this policy and the provisions outlined by the AQF in the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy.

3.4 The Provost approves the criteria for the classification and grading of award courses in line with Rule 13.7.

3.5 Any exceptions to the nomenclature outlined in this policy must be approved by the Provost (refer Approvals and exceptions).

4. Policy statements

4.1 Award courses may be given a generic name or a specific name.

  1. A generic name comprises a broad term that reflects the field of study, for example, Bachelor of Engineering, Master of Science.
  2. A specific name comprises a distinct field of study, for example, Bachelor of Design in Interior Architecture, Master of Professional Accounting.

4.2 Award abbreviations must be:

  1. meaningful, consistent and effective in identifying the course
  2. clear and simple to avoid misinterpretation.

4.3 The course name and award title are usually the same. They must reflect both the level of award and the field of study. For example, the Bachelor of Business, where bachelor is the level of award and business is the field of study.

4.4 A course may have a course name and award title that are different. This is to reflect the further division of a specialisation offered as a major. For example, the course name of the Bachelor of Engineering is different from the award title, which includes the major of specialisation, for example, Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering.

Generic names and abbreviation requirements

4.5 A generic name must align with the requirements outlined in principle 3.2.

4.6 For bachelor honours degrees, (Honours) must appear in both the course name and award title immediately after the field of study. Honours must also be reflected in the abbreviation (refer also statement 4.27 for classification and grading of bachelor honours degrees). For example: 

  1. Bachelor of Business (Honours) is the course name and award title, and 
  2. BBus(Hons) is the abbreviation. 

4.7 For combined degrees involving an international study or a creative intelligence and innovation component, the professional component of the degree should precede the Bachelor of International Studies or Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation in the course name. For example:

  1. Bachelor of Engineering Bachelor of International Studies, and
  2. BE BIS is the abbreviation.

4.8 For all masters degree (research) degrees, (Research) must appear in both the course name and award title immediately after the field of study. Research must also be reflected in the abbreviation. For example: 

  1. Master of Science (Research) is the course name and award title, and
  2. MSc(Res) is the abbreviation.

4.9 Doctor of Philosophy is the generic name for doctoral degrees and is abbreviated as PhD.

4.10 Doctor of (generic field of study or specific field of study) is the generic name for professional doctorates, for example, Doctor of Education.

4.11 Generic names are not usually used for graduate diplomas and graduate certificates. Award titles at these levels reflect the specific market for the award and the course content and design. 

Specific names and abbreviation requirements

4.12 The Provost may approve a specific field of study in the course name and award title where no generic field of study obviously reflects the subject matter of the course. The course name, award title and award abbreviation must reflect both the level of award and the specific field of study. For example:

  1. Master of Professional Accounting where master is the level of award and professional accounting is the specific field of study, and
  2. MProfAcc is the abbreviation.

4.13 Descriptors may be approved as part of the course name and/or award title to reflect a specialisation or major (and are included using ‘in’). Descriptors are not reflected in the award abbreviation. For example:

  1. Bachelor of Design in Interior and Spatial Design is the course name and award title, BDesign is the abbreviation
  2. Master of Engineering is the course name, Master of Engineering in Robotics and Master of Engineering in Structural Engineering are the different award titles, MEng is the abbreviation.

4.14 The following must be considered in the approval of specific names and descriptors:

  1. extent of specialisation in the course compared with the full requirements of the course, in terms of objectives, learning outcomes, structure and duration
  2. professional or employment demands
  3. possibility of misunderstanding and/or misinterpretation by students and employers
  4. life expectancy of the name, especially if it is market driven at a particular time
  5. use of the name from a national and international perspective
  6. number of specific names already in use by UTS
  7. assessment of the full impact if the proposed name is not approved, for example, its effect on any agreements with external partners. 

Naming conventions 

4.15 For bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees, the field of study must be shown by using 'of'. For example:

  1. Bachelor of Science
  2. Master of Laws. 

4.16 For diplomas and certificates, the field of study must be shown by using ‘in’. For example:

  1. Graduate Certificate in Legal Studies
  2. Graduate Diploma in Engineering
  3. Diploma in Innovation. 

4.17 Descriptors must be shown by using ‘in’. For example:

  1. Bachelor of Design in Architecture
  2. Graduate Certificate in Data Science in Quantitative Finance. 

4.18 Course names, award titles and award abbreviations must not include:

  1. punctuation marks (a hyphen is allowed only if it is part of commonly accepted practice or discipline area)
  2. acronyms (unless approved by the Provost)
  3. location of offer (for example, Shanghai)
  4. mode of delivery (for example, distance)
  5. study pattern (for example, full-time)
  6. payment arrangements (for example, fee-paying, scholarship)
  7. admission standards/requirements (for example, graduate entry), and
  8. the language of instruction or range of languages of instruction (these will be included in the academic transcript and the AHEGS). 

4.19 The only information that can be shown in parentheses in course names is:

  1. (Honours) for honours degrees
  2. (Research) for masters degree by research 
  3. where there is a further division of a specialisation of a generic name, for example, Bachelor of Communication (Journalism).

4.20 There are no spaces in the award abbreviation, for example, BBus, BEngSc. There is a space between the 2 awards for combined degrees, for example, BSc BIS, BE(Hons) BSc.

Use of descriptors Advanced and Extension

4.21 The Courses Accreditation Committee, for advice to the Provost, determines whether the use of descriptors ‘Advanced’ and ‘Extension’ are suitable for particular courses. 

4.22 'Advanced' can be used in the course name, award title and award abbreviation. For example:

  1. Master of Engineering (Advanced) (abbreviation ME(Adv)), and
  2. Master of Advanced Nursing (abbreviation MAdvN).

4.23 ‘(Advanced)’ is allowed where a:

  1. shorter version of the course exists, for example, Master of Engineering and Master of Engineering (Advanced), and
  2. case can be made by the faculty that the additional length of the advanced course involves more advanced study, knowledge and skill acquisition than the shorter version of the course, possibly through research options or more advanced subjects, either in terms of a higher level of knowledge and/or greater depth in the specialisation.

4.24 'Advanced' is allowed where:

  1. a case can be made that the design and coverage of knowledge and skills in the course are at a level higher and of a greater depth than if a non-advanced course were offered, even if UTS does not offer the standard masters degree, or
  2. the masters degree is no longer than the standard masters degree (between 48 and 72 credit points), but the course design clearly demonstrates that the majority of content aligns with an advanced degree.

4.25 Where ‘Advanced’ is allowed the:

  1. degree may or may not include a research pathway, but, where it does, it might be a clear differentiator of the advanced claim, and
  2. advanced claim may be on the basis that the degree is clearly positioned to deliver a higher value learning and qualification outcome than industry and/or sector expectations of a standard masters degree.

4.26 ‘(Extension)’ can be used in the course name, but cannot be used in the award title and award abbreviation. The use of (Extension) is allowed where:

  1. a shorter version of the course exists, for example, Master of Finance and Master of Finance (Extension), and
  2. the greater length of the masters degree is about increased breadth of study (for example, more subjects at a similar level, or additional specialisations, or more general options) rather than more advanced study, knowledge and skill acquisition.

Classification and grading of awards

4.27 Award courses must be classified and graded in accordance with the levels of award outlined in Rule 13.7. Criteria for award classification, and any changes to these criteria, must be approved as part of the course name and award title nomenclature approval.

4.28 The grading of an award course must be indicated in the award title on the testamur, and not in the course name or award abbreviation. The level of honours or grading will appear at the end of the award title, for example:

  1. Bachelor of Science (Honours) with First Class Honours
  2. Master of Engineering with Distinction.

Issuance of testamurs

4.29 Testamurs at UTS are issued in line with the Academic Records Policy. Testamurs show the award title, including grading and any honours (refer also statement 4.28). 

4.30 For combined degrees, 2 testamurs are issued. For example, for the Bachelor of Business Bachelor of International Studies, graduates receive a testamur for the Bachelor of Business and a testamur for the Bachelor of International Studies. Where the award course is not offered as a stand-alone degree, for example, the Bachelor of International Studies, both award courses must be completed before both degrees can be awarded.

4.31 For dual programs of study, UTS issues a testamur for the UTS award course only.

4.32 For doctoral degrees completed under a cotutelle agreement, a doctoral award from each of the 2 participating institutions is awarded. The UTS testamur and official academic record states that the degree was obtained under a cotutelle agreement with the named institution.

Approvals and exceptions

4.33 The Provost approves course names, award titles and award abbreviations and classifications of awards for award courses in line with this policy. 

4.34 Any exceptions to the principles and requirements of this policy may be approved by the Provost in consultation with the Courses Planning Committee. The University Academic Programs Office (UAPO) must report all approved exceptions to Academic Board each year as part of the annual report on curriculum approvals.

5. Roles and responsibilities

5.1 Policy owner: The Provost is responsible for policy enforcement and compliance, ensuring that its principles and statements are observed. The Provost is also responsible for approval of any associated university-level procedures.

5.2 Policy contact: The Head, University Academic Programs Office is responsible for the implementation of this policy and acts as a primary point of contact for advice on implementing its provisions.

5.3 Implementation and governance roles

Faculty boards endorse proposed course names, award titles, award abbreviations and classifications for award courses for submission to the Provost for approval in accordance with this policy.

Courses Accreditation Committee assesses and advises the Provost whether the use of Advanced or Extension in the course name, award title and award abbreviation is suitable for a particular course.

Courses Planning Committee assesses the strategic and commercial soundness of a course proposal, and endorses course names, award titles, award abbreviations and the classification of award for all award courses in accordance with this policy and the Award Course Approval Policy.

The Provost approves course names, award titles, award abbreviations and the classification of award for all award courses in accordance with this policy and the Award Course Approval Policy.

University Academic Programs Office maintains, updates and publishes the register of abbreviations for courses and subjects. The UAPO is also responsible for reporting all approved award course nomenclature exceptions to Academic Board each year.

6. Definitions

The following definitions apply for this policy and all associated procedures. These are in addition to the definitions outlined in Schedule 1, Student Rules. Definitions in the singular include the plural meaning of the word.

Articulation is defined in the Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Award abbreviation (also postnominal) means the official abbreviation for the award, as approved by the Provost, used by graduates when displaying their academic credentials after their name.

Award title (also testamur title or testamur award title) means the name of the award that appears on the testamur and the AHEGS. 

Course name means the official name given to the award course and used in official correspondence, including the academic transcript, the UTS Handbook and the AHEGS. The course name is usually identical to the award title and is recorded in CASS as the 'Full Title' for the course. 

Dual program of study is defined in the Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Generic name means the broad discipline area or field of study of the course name and award title, which may apply to the nomenclature of several course names and award titles (for example, Bachelor of Business and Master of Science).

Nomenclature refers to a system of names used by UTS, including course names, award titles, award abbreviations and, where applicable, criteria for classification and grading of award. 

Specific name means a distinct field of study or specialisation as part of a course name and award title (for example, Bachelor of Accounting and Master of Professional Accounting). 

Approval information

Policy contactHead, University Academic Programs Office
Approval authorityAcademic Board
Review date2026
File numberUR23/825
Superseded documentsCourse Name and Award Title Nomenclature Policy (UR18/2483) 
Course Name and Award Title Nomenclature Approval Procedure (UR19/1043)

Version history

VersionApproved by (resolution number)Approval dateEffective dateSections modified
1.0Academic Board (23-2/36)24/05/202316/06/2023New policy following a full review of the Course Name and Award Title Nomenclature Policy and Procedure.
1.1Deputy Director, Corporate Governance (Delegation 3.14.2)20/06/202403/07/2024Amendments to reflect new Education Portfolio.

References

Academic Records Policy

Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy

Australian Qualification Framework

AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy

Award Course Approval Policy

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.