Study guide

As a visiting student at ANU you may enrol in any course offered provided you have the required prerequisites. Law and Engineering units may only be taken if you are registered in these majors at your home institution. Music and Visual Arts courses also have special requirements.

Some courses, particularly at the postgraduate level, may have restrictions on exchange students and you should check this with us before applying.

What will the classes be like?

Your time at the University will be divided between organised classes and private study. The teaching system, like those of other Australian universities, is a combination of lectures, tutorials and, particularly in the Sciences, laboratory classes. The amount of time you spend in classes will vary depending on the course. As a full time student you should be prepared to put in the equivalent of a full working week i.e. 40 to 45 hours of study.

Classes in most courses will be divided into large lecture or laboratory classes and smaller “tutorial” or “workshop” groups. Lectures provide information on the course content. Tutorials are small, less formal learning groups that encourage critical analysis of course material.

Courses in Engineering and Information Technology and the Sciences normally include laboratory or field work. Courses in Law, Arts, Asian Studies, Economics and Commerce include lectures and tutorials with students expected to make frequent presentations and contributions to tutorials and to engage in more extensive private study. Courses in the Institute of the Arts include performance, rehearsal and workshop sessions.

How will I be assessed?

Course assessment can take a variety of forms. While there may still be final exams within a course, assessment items may also take the form of essays, lab reports, reviews, presentations, and participation in tutorial and workshop classes. Usually the mode of assessment is discussed at the beginning of each course and may be open to negotiation. The infamous “pop quiz” tends to be a rarity!

Course structure and assessment at the ANU is designed to develop a student’s research and analytic skills within a variety of environments and projects. Courses are intended to promote organised, independent thinking and critical analysis in students, and lecturers expect students to take responsibility for assessment pieces and deadlines. They will, of course, be available for consultation in case of emergency or external problems.

How do I get credit for my studies?

To make sure that you get full credit transfer for your studies here you should ensure that you get approval for the courses you enrol in from both your home institution and The Australian National University.

On completion of your studies we will send a copy of your transcript either to you and your home institution or, if you
have agreed, to your sponsor. Your home institution or sponsor will, however, determine how much credit you will be given.

How many courses do I need to do?

Australian student visa regulations require all international students to undertake a full time study load.

A normal full time load for a visiting student is usually four courses or 24 units per semester (each course carries 6 units), the same as for Australian students. Please note that our second and third year courses are clearly upper division courses.

Visiting students may not enrol in more than four courses (24 units) per semester. A minimum full-time load is 75% of a full-time load (three courses or 18 units). For each semester you will be well advised to select up to six classes/courses for consideration.

What is the Internships workload?

If you intend to enrol in the Australian National Internships Program , you will normally enrol in a 12 or 18-unit option offered by the Internships Program and at least one other 6-unit course offered by the University, to carry a full time load. You should also have completed at least two years of study prior to enrolling in the Internships Program.

What prerequisites do I need?

Take particular note of prerequisites. Our International Student Academic Adviser will advise you whether you are eligible to enter selected courses. Formal enrolment will only take place when you arrive so do not expect to “pre-register”. Providing you have the prerequisites there is usually no problem in enrolling in classes. You may change your enrolment up to the second week of classes.

Visiting students will be asked to check with the Academic Adviser if they intend to take courses which require prerequisites. The Academic Adviser will need to have detailed information about previous studies before students are allowed to take such units.

Entry to Language units is usually determined by a placement test or an assessment of previous knowledge.

What grading system is used?

The University has a uniform grading system for all courses. A suggested American equivalent is also included in the table below. Please note the table is presented only as a guide. It is not and should not be regarded as an official equivalency table. The final decision on grade and credit transfer is a matter for your home institution.

Jargon

Before you apply you will need to be familiar with some of the terms and practices of Australian Universities.

Course — a class, a semester or academic year’s work in a subject. Each course carries a designated number of units.

Unit — the number of units in a course reflects course contact (including laboratories) and preparation time. A standard course comprises 6 units.

Faculty — an academic division within the University headed by a Dean, within which undergraduate teaching is undertaken.

Mark — a grade, a number indicating your performance in an assessment activity or a course.

Prerequisite — this usually refers to courses which must be completed satisfactorily before enrolment is permitted in a specified course.

Program — a structured academic program of study, undertaken in one or more of the faculties, research schools or centres of the University, normally leading to the award of a degree, diploma or certificate. If you are a visiting student you will be taking courses (subjects).

Semester — in each academic year there are two semesters (First and Second Semester), normally of 13 weeks duration divided into two teaching periods, with a non-teaching period of two weeks between each of the two teaching periods.

Semester Course — a course (subject) offered during First or Second Semester.