James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2002

FRAMEWORK FOR POSTGRADUATE COURSES

Categories of graduate level courses

Graduate level coursework qualifications are offered in the following categories:

Objectives

Number of units for coursework offerings

Information regarding the number of units required for each category of coursework is to be found in the section Postgraduate Award Requirements.

All masters by research, PhD and professional doctoral (by research) students shall be admitted as provisional enrolments until they have successfully completed their confirmation of candidature.

Level of Subject Offerings

Transfer between categories of postgraduate coursework

Students who undertake a diploma course after completing an appropriate certificate course may surrender their certificate and have the units credited to the diploma, subject to the approval of the relevant Executive Dean.

Students who undertake a coursework Masters degree after completing an appropriate certificate or diploma course may surrender their certificate or diploma and have the units credited to the degree, subject to the approval of the relevant Executive Dean.

Number of coursework units allowed in each category of research degree

Information regarding the number of coursework units allowed to be taken by students enrolled in each category of research degree is to be found in the section Postgraduate Award Requirements.

Admission requirements

Category of offering Minimum Admission Requirements
Graduate Certificate Approved Bachelor’s degree of adequate standard or post-secondary study plus work experience as approved by the Executive Dean.
Graduate Diploma Approved Bachelor’s degree of adequate standard.
Postgraduate Certificate Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of adequate standard or approved equivalent qualification.
Postgraduate Diploma Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of adequate standard or approved equivalent qualification.
Masters by Coursework Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of adequate standard or approved equivalent qualification which may require a bridging subject, or as determined by the faculty.
Masters by Research Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with I, IIA or IIB honours, or Postgraduate Diploma in a related field at a level specified by the faculty including a research project of at least 6 units at a standard of credit or above, or an approved qualification deemed to be equivalent by the Head of School and the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
PhD Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with I or IIA honours, Masters degree with at least 50% research; or an equivalent qualification as approved by the Dean, Postgraduate Studies.
Professional Doctorate As specified in degree requirements. Typically Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with I or IIA honours or Masters degree with at least 50% research; or an equivalent qualification as approved by the Head of School and Dean, Postgraduate Studies, plus professional experience as specified in the award requirements.

Reporting Requirements

Reporting requirements for coursework offering shall be determined by the relevant faculty.

Masters by research and PhD students shall be required to complete the following:

Thesis examination

Examination procedures for coursework offerings, including dissertations, shall be determined by the Academic Board and administered by the relevant faculty.

The examination of all Masters degree by research, PhD degrees and professional doctorates shall be administered under the following procedures:

Award of degree with honours or distinction

The option of awarding the following shall be at the discretion of the Academic Board:

1.  “Cum Laude” – thesis awarded Cum Laude (with Distinction)

A masters thesis will normally be considered “Cum Laude” (equivalent to Honours I) on the recommendation of both examiners and after consideration of both examiners’ reports by the Board of Postgraduate Studies Committee in consultation with the Head of School.

2.  A PhD thesis will normally be passed “Cum Laude” (with distinction) only on the recommendation of two external examiners and after consideration of all examiners’ reports by the Board of Postgraduate Studies Committee.

Transfer from a research degree to a coursework degree and vice versa

Students who are enrolled in a research degree and who wish to transfer to a postgraduate coursework diploma or degree should expect to pay fees from the date of transfer. Students who wish to transfer from a graduate coursework program to a research degree shall be subject to the quota restrictions for research students at this University.