The purpose of this policy is to instil and mandate a systematic approach to planning Federation University Australia's higher education programs and courses in relation to student workloads. It is also designed to ensure portability of courses between programs and to systemise units of work.

This policy covers all courses included in the University approved higher education courses (diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and masters degrees).

Credit points offer an indication of the estimated work time necessary for a student to perform at a level consistent with that student's ability. A standard system of credit points based on student workload is used for all University approved higher education courses. Sixty (60) credit points is the standard value of one teaching period workload in a course and 120 credit points the standard value of one year workload in a course.

A credit point standard has been established by the University, this being 15 credit points or, in certain circumstances multiples thereof. The credit point value of a course is constant regardless of the program and year of a course in which the unit is taken.

A School may apply for an exclusion to the use of standard credit point values for a course if there is a belief that this policy is unsuitable for a course or impractical to implement under particular conditions. Reasons for variation must be in the Course and Program documentation submitted to Curriculum Committee.

Any course that relates to practical, clinical, practicum, work and teaching experience, and fieldwork will also be expected to conform to the standard credit point value. A School may apply for an exclusion for these courses at the proposal stage or through a Program review. The exclusion would stand until the following review when the School would need to justify a further exclusion of these courses.

In specific circumstances, zero credit point courses will be approved. These courses may only be created for work experience in industry and does not include work undertaken at the University or its associated institutions. In this instance the course will be assessed as a compulsory pre-requisite (eg Hurdle requirements) to undertake a future course or to receive the award.

Academic Board is responsible for monitoring the implementation, outcomes and scheduled review of this policy

Chair, Academic Board is responsible for maintaining the content of this policy as delegated by Academic Board

Academic Secretariat is responsible for the administration support for the maintenance of this policy as directed by the Chair, Academic Board

It is the responsibility of a School's Course Committee to ensure compliance with this policy. Applications for exclusion to the policy will be through the Curriculum Committee

The Standard Credit Points (Higher Education) Courses Policy will be communicated throughout the University via:

The Standard Credit Points (Higher Education) Courses Policy will be implemented throughout the University via:

An Announcement Notice via FedNews website and on the 'Recently Approved Documents' page on the 'Policies, Procedures and Forms @ the University' website to alert the University-wide community of the approved Policy