• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Scope
• Section 3 - Policy
• Program and Course Design
• RMIT Delivery of Nationally Recognised Training Package Qualifications and Accredited Courses
• Learning Outcomes
• Program Approval
• Program Review and Improvement
• Program and Course Configuration
• Award Titles
• Qualifying for an Award, Award Level and Grade Point Average
• Masters by Coursework
• Double Degrees
• Associate Degrees
• Joint Awards
• Nested (Exit) Awards and Sequenced Awards
• Research Pathways for Higher Education Disciplines
• University Electives
• Course Requisites
• Program and Course Processes and Guidance Materials
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL)
• Student Feedback
• Industry Advisory Committees
• Student-staff consultative committees
• Coursework Courses Involving Travel
• Global Mobility
• Partnered Delivery of Programs
• Service Teaching
• Coursework Program Design Requirements
• Section 4 - Resources
• Section 5 - Program and Course Tables
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) To ensure program design and delivery at RMIT provides students with a challenging and supportive learning experience and environment, global opportunities to extend their education and breadth of knowledge, and preparation for life and professional work.

(2) The policy provides the rules for design, approval, delivery, review and improvement of programs and courses.

Section 2 - Scope

(3) All programs and courses offered by RMIT Group institutions, except secondary education programs, which are designed and delivered in accordance with the requirements of the relevant secondary education authority (in Victoria, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority)

Section 3 - Policy

Program and Course Design

(4) Staff responsible for program and course design consult students, staff, industry, professional and accrediting bodies and use outcomes from ongoing reviews, external referencing and benchmarking.

(5) Foundation Studies are designed in accordance with the National Standards for Foundation Programs .

(6) Vocational education program design is consistent with training package or accredited course design rules.

(7) Staff designing coursework programs follow the design rules set out in Table 1 – coursework program design elements.

(8) RMIT programs are delivered and assessed in English unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education. (See also the Minimum English Language Entry Requirements)

(9) Award programs comply with the volume of learning in the relevant Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specification.

1. Programs may, however, have a reduced volume of learning where the entry requirement is a qualification for which students would otherwise receive a standard amount of credit.
2. The maximum time periods for completion of programs by students is specified in the Assessment processes .

RMIT Delivery of Nationally Recognised Training Package Qualifications and Accredited Courses

(10) A training and assessment strategy is required for each delivery to a cohort of students, for each RMIT University vocational education program.

Learning Outcomes

(11) The curriculum of higher education programs specifies learning outcomes at program level and for courses.

1. On successful completion of a program, students have:
   1. attained the learning outcomes at the relevant AQF level, and
   2. had the opportunity to develop the RMIT graduate attributes.

(12) Program structures may comprise the following elements:

1. core courses
2. option courses
3. university elective courses
4. majors
5. minors.

(13) The program curriculum also specifies:

1. AQF award level, duration, delivery mode(s) and credit points, load or scheduled contact hours.
2. entry requirements and admission pathways
3. exit awards and pathways to higher qualifications
4. WIL – which may be distributed through several courses
5. research components and research pathways
6. any capstone experience.

(14) Table 1 indicates requirements for:

1. how program elements apply to each award level
2. the AQF volume of learning, years of full-time study (at two semesters a year) and RMIT credit points normally required to qualify for the respective awards.

(15) Credit points and volume of learning for double degrees are determined when the learning outcomes and courses of the two programs are mapped into a single structure for delivery (see provision 10 below).

(16) The same or equivalent core courses are required for a program in any location where the program is offered, except where additional core courses are necessary to satisfy a national registration requirement or local external professional or discipline accreditation requirement.

Program Approval

(17) Table 2: Program approval and discontinuation outlines approval requirements for new, amended and discontinued programs.

(18) Table 3: Course approval outlines approval requirements for new and amended courses.

(19) For further detail on the processes for the approvals described in Tables 2 and 3 below, see the Program and Course Approval Processes.

Program Review and Improvement

(20) All programs undergo regular ongoing review.

(21) All higher education programs undergo comprehensive review every five to seven years.

(22) Ongoing and comprehensive reviews include external referencing and benchmarking.

(23) Each training and assessment strategy for delivery of a vocational education program is reviewed annually.

(24) Vocational education programs are subject to validation on a regular schedule.

(25) The Deputy Vice Chancellor Education may require comprehensive review of other award and non-award programs.

(26) See the Program and Course Review Processes for requirements in relation to program review.

Program and Course Configuration

(27) Detailed requirements for configuration of programs, program plans, program titles, awards, majors and minors, courses, course offerings and classes are determined by the Course and Program Administration unit and documented in the Program and Course Configuration Requirements.

Award Titles

(28) Award titles are consistent with the requirements of the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy and RMIT Awards Regulation. Refer also to the Schedule of award title abbreviations.

Qualifying for an Award, Award Level and Grade Point Average

(29) The Dean/Head of School or, at a campus outside Australia, head of centre is responsible for approval of the list of students who have qualified for a coursework award and the level of the award.

(30) The Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Training and Development approves the list of students who have qualified for a research award and the level of the award.

(31) The following types of award are awarded unclassified (pass only):

1. an award for a nationally recognised training package qualification or accredited vocational education course
2. doctor of philosophy.

(32) The following types of award are awarded as a pass with distinction where the student has achieved a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above for all courses in the program, or as a pass where the student has achieved a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0.

1. associate degree*
2. AQF level 7 bachelor degree (see, however, the rules for double degree award level calculation in provision 10 below)
3. graduate certificate
4. graduate diploma
5. masters by coursework.
   
   * The rule that associate degrees are awarded with distinction applies to students who commenced their enrolment in an associate degree from 1 January 2016 onwards. For students who commenced their associate degree enrolment before 1 January 2016, the degree is awarded unclassified (pass only).

(33) Bachelor honours degrees are awarded with the following levels of honours, or as a pass only, where the weighted average mark (WAM) of candidates’ courses is within the ranges stated. (See, however, the rules for double degree award level calculation in provision 10 below.) In four-year bachelor honours degrees, the WAM calculation includes only the courses identified as to be used in the calculation. * For further detail see the WAM guidance materials.

1. WAM of 80 or more, Honours First Class (H1)
2. WAM of 70 – 79, Honours Class 2A (H2A)
3. WAM of 60 - 69, Honours Class 2B (H2B)
4. WAM of 50 – 59, pass.

(34) * This section applies only to students who commenced their enrolment in a bachelor honours program from 1 January 2016 onwards. For students who commenced their bachelor honours enrolment before 1 January 2016, the process stated in the previous Awarding degrees with honours or pass with distinction policy applies.

(35) Masters by research degrees are awarded with the following award levels where candidates’ mark in the research project is within the ranges stated below.*

1. 80% to 100%, High Distinction (HD)
2. 70% to 79%, Distinction (D)
3. 60% to 69%, Credit (C)
4. 50% to 59%, pass (P).
   
   * This section applies only to students who commenced their enrolment in a masters by research program from 1 January 2016 onwards. For students who commenced their masters by research enrolment before 1 January 2016, the degree is awarded unclassified (pass only).

Masters by Coursework

(36) The Admission and Credit Policy provides details for reductions in the volume of learning based on prior completion of AQF awards at level 7 or above.

(37) Masters by coursework programs include a minimum of 96 credit points of courses deemed to have AQF Level 9 learning outcomes.

(38) Masters by coursework programs include components of research principles and methods and a component of independent research, project work, practice-related learning or an equivalent piece of scholarship.  These components of the program total a minimum of 12 credit points.

1. To constitute a research pathway under provision 14 below, however, a masters by coursework must provide students with the option of completing a research component comprising at least 24 credit points of courses deemed to be at AQF level 9.

Double Degrees

(39) A double degree combines two existing bachelor programs. A separate curriculum and program structure is approved for each double degree offering.

(40) The curriculum design of a double degree states the learning outcomes of both component single degrees.

(41) The program structure includes all core program requirements of both component single degrees.

(42) The program structure does not require full-time students to overload by more than one course in any teaching period, and preferably not to overload in consecutive teaching periods.

(43) The work integrated learning (WIL) courses provide the learning outcomes of the core WIL courses of both component single degrees.

(44) The program meets requirements for external accreditation of the component single degrees where relevant.

(45) When students complete double degree programs, the award level for each component single degree is determined separately.

(46) On successful completion of double degree requirements, students have attained the learning outcomes of each of the two bachelor awards.

Associate Degrees

(47) Associate degrees lead to vocational and/or paraprofessional outcomes, and are closely aligned with industry needs through industry participation in design and delivery. Wherever possible, they include workplace learning.

(48) Associate degrees normally provide a pathway into one or more related bachelor degrees (vertical articulation), and are also designed to be attractive to students, and valued by employers, as a stand-alone award.

(49) Associate degrees use relevant national industry and professional standards as reference points for the specification of vocational outcomes, and may be mapped to nationally recognised vocational qualifications at AQF levels 5 and 6 to facilitate transfer between qualifications and flexible exit points.

(50) For the availability of credit from associate degrees towards bachelor degrees, and from diplomas and advanced diplomas towards associate degrees, see the Admission and Credit Policy.

Joint Awards

(51) RMIT may enter into an agreement with an approved partner institution to deliver an award jointly.

(52) The joint award agreement with the partner defines responsibilities for delivery and issuance of the joint award.

Nested (Exit) Awards and Sequenced Awards

(53) Where a lower level award fulfils a subset of the requirements for a higher award, the lower award is nested within the higher award, and students may opt to exit the program with the lower award.

1. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education may approve sequenced awards as an exception.
2. Nationally recognised training package qualifications are nested or sequenced in accordance with the requirements of the training package, accredited course and/or funding contract.

Research Pathways for Higher Education Disciplines

(54) Each discipline that offers higher education programs will offer an appropriate program with the option of undertaking a research component of at least 24 credit points, as a pathway to research study in the discipline.

University Electives

(55) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education may exempt a program from the university electives requirement in Table 1 where they are satisfied that:

1. professional accreditation requirements prevent electives being offered within the normal program duration, or;
2. in a double degree program, requirements for meeting prescribed learning outcomes within a reduced volume of learning prevent electives being offered.

Course Requisites

(56) Students must meet some types of course requisite specified in the course curriculum as a condition of enrolment in the course. Included in the Program and Course Configuration Requirements [link] are detailed rules on types of course requisite, requirements for recency of study to meet these, and waivers of course requisites.

Program and Course Processes and Guidance Materials

(57) The Academic Registrar maintains the program and course procedures, processes and guidance materials for coursework programs and courses, including research components in coursework programs.

(58) The Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Training and Development maintains the program and course processes and guidance materials for research programs and courses.

(59) The Assistant Director, Careers and Employability maintains the work integrated learning processes and guidance materials.

(60) The Executive Director, Vocational Education maintains the vocational education compliance processes.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

(61) The following types of program include WIL experiences comprising at least the minimums of units or courses and credit points stated:

1. certificate III, certificate IV, diploma or advanced diploma programs other than apprenticeships or traineeships: one unit of competency or cluster of units
2. undergraduate diploma, associate degree, graduate diploma, masters by coursework: 12 credit points
3. bachelor degree, bachelor honours degree other than one year bachelor honours degree: 24 credit points
4. double degree comprising bachelor degrees and/or bachelor honours degrees, 24 credit points. The WIL courses in double degrees must, however, provide the learning outcomes of the core WIL courses of both component single degrees.
5. For higher education programs, where WIL activities are spread across more than the minimum courses and credit points required, WIL activity comprises 50% or more of their assessment.
6. For vocational education programs where WIL activities are spread across more than the minimum of units of competency or cluster of units, WIL activity comprises 50% or more of their assessment.

(62) WIL agreements must be used for all WIL placements and industry engaged project activities with a partner organisation, must have the appropriate RMIT sign-off as set out in the RMIT Delegations Policy and be stored in the InPlace WIL management system.

(63) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education can approve exemptions from the above requirements of WIL components in programs where:

1. professional accreditation requirements prevent WIL being offered within the normal program duration or
2. the program is primarily intended as a credit pathway to a higher program that meets the WIL requirements in the previous section, or
3. the program is designed to provide a specific skill such as a language rather than an employability outcome or
4. progressive learning of professional skills requires that WIL placements be distributed as an assessment component weighted at less than 50% in numerous courses or
5. in a dual or double degree, requirements for meeting prescribed learning outcomes within a reduced volume of learning prevent WIL experiences being offered.

(64) For detailed requirements for delivery of WIL and responsibilities of staff and students in relation to WIL, see the Work Integrated Learning Procedure and the WIL resource materials.

Student Feedback

(65) All students enrolled in a program have an opportunity to provide feedback on their experience of the program.

(66) Student feedback is gathered on each offering of each course, including courses delivered with partners in accordance with the partnership agreement.

(67) Deans/Heads of School are responsible for:

1. nominating a student feedback coordinator for the school, and;
2. informing students of improvements in response to their feedback.
3. See the Program and Course Review Processes for further detail regarding student feedback.

Industry Advisory Committees

(68) Each coursework program has an Industry Advisory Committee. A single Industry Advisory Committee may be convened to support all programs in a discipline. (See the terms of reference for Industry Advisory Committees in the Program and Course Review Processes).

Student-staff consultative committees

(69) Deans/Heads of School or, for programs managed by a campus outside Australia, heads of centre, are responsible for ensuring that student-staff consultative committees (SSCCs) are convened for all coursework programs.

(70) Program managers keep a record of feedback from the SSCC and report in each semester or trimester on how the feedback has been acted on to SSCC members and the Dean/Head of School or, for programs managed by a campus outside Australia, the head of centre. (See the terms of reference for SSCCs in the Program and Course Review Processes).

Coursework Courses Involving Travel

(71) Coursework courses may involve travel away from students’ primary location of study in their program, in order to complete assessment tasks. This travel may be a requirement of the course or course offering, or it may be an option available to some students in the course or course offering.

(72) For further detail including curriculum requirements and information to be provided to students in such courses, see the Courses involving travel guidance materials.

Global Mobility

(73) Students have the opportunity of a global mobility experience in bachelor programs, except where professional accreditation requirements mean that this cannot be accommodated in the program structure.

Partnered Delivery of Programs

(74) RMIT award programs offered via partner institutions will normally also be offered at an RMIT campus. Where it is necessary to deliver a program solely via a partner that is not also offered on a campus, the program proposal will provide a rationale for this.

(75) RMIT programs delivered via partners must provide a student experience consistent with that of other RMIT students.

(76) RMIT programs delivered via partners should be consistent with one of the approved teaching models described in the Partnered delivery guidance materials. [link]

(77) The Dean/Head of School that manages the program approves the selection of partner teaching staff in accordance with the partnership agreement.

Service Teaching

(78) A service teaching agreement must be in place before service teaching commences: negotiations for this should start well in advance. The agreement, between the discipline or academic unit managing the program or course and the discipline or academic unit providing service teaching in the program or course, includes:

1. arrangements for sharing of revenue with the service teaching discipline
2. the process for collaboration in development/review of the curriculum.

Coursework Program Design Requirements

(79) In designing a program, the designers must define the academic and other inherent requirements, so that:

1. prospective and current students can make an informed decision as to whether they are capable of completing the program, and
2. discussions with students about reasonable adjustments to accommodate disability or long-term physical or mental health conditions are based on a clear definition of the program’s inherent requirements.

(80) Award programs are structured to:

1. deepen students’ learning and skills as they progress through the program
2. ensure a positive student learning experience,
3. achieve program learning outcomes,
4. ensure efficiency of delivery and administration, and
5. enable students to enrol online independently.

(81) To enable students to enrol online independently, minimise timetable clashes and avoid the need for specialised program advice to students, programs are structured as simply as possible: for more detail, see the Program and Course Approval Processes for the relevant RMIT Group institution.

(82) Programs are designed to meet entrants’ need for discipline and employment-related literacies, numeracy and information literacy.

1. Associate degree and bachelor degree programs include at least one course in each year of the program structure, in which at least 20% of the assessment assesses students’ discipline/employment-related communication skills.
2. Where one program is a pathway to another, both programs are designed so that students acquire the skills they need to succeed in the second program.

(83) Career Development Learning (CDL) provides students with the knowledge, skills and attributes to manage their career and development throughout their life. CDL is a developmental process and therefore must be scaffolded across early, mid and the late stages of every program:

1. Early program: Explore possible career options in relation to personal motivations, skills and interests.
2. Mid program onwards: Apply knowledge and skills in a real world context and reflect on experiences and understandings to help formulate career goals.
3. Late program: Integrate program learning, graduate attributes and professional experience to construct a professional identity and prepare evidence to secure and create employment opportunities.

(84) Vocational education programs include these same reflective career planning elements as a specific objective in the training and assessment strategy.

(85) Award programs at AQF level 6 and above, other than advanced diplomas, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates, have courses that include a capstone experience.

1. Courses with capstone experiences include summative assessment tasks that evidence program level learning outcomes and graduate attributes, including relevant communication skills.
2. Capstone experiences may include work integrated learning.
3. More than one course may contribute to the capstone experience.

Section 4 - Resources

(86) Refer to the following documents which are established in accordance with this policy:

1. Courses Involving Travel Guideline
2. Partnered Delivery of Coursework Awards Guideline
3. Program and Course Approval Processes
4. Program and Course Configuration Requirements
5. Program and Course Review Processes
6. Weighted Average Mark Guideline
7. Work Integrated Learning Procedure

(87) The Awarding Degrees with Honours or Pass with Distinction Policy applies to students who commenced their bachelor honours enrolment before 1 January 2016.

Section 5 - Program and Course Tables

Table 1 – Coursework Program Design Elements

Table 2 – Program Approval and Discontinuation

Table 3 - Course Approval