Degree Abbreviations

Principles and Processes for the issuing and use of Degree Abbreviations

Introduction

1. A course leads to an official degree, diploma or certificate of the University when it is approved by Senate on the recommendation of the Academic Council.  The Senate approves the course’s inclusion in the Schedule of Courses which is available on the web.

2. There are principles and procedures followed by the faculties, Student Administration and the Academic Secretariat to ensure that each course can be identified by name, course code and degree abbreviation and that these elements are used consistently throughout the University.  This document outlines these principles and procedures.

Principles for allocation of degree abbreviations

3. A new single or combined course featuring one or more major(s) is allocated a name, course code and abbreviation according to the procedure outlined later in this document.  It is then represented on the award certificate by that name and the graduate will be entitled to use the abbreviation of that name. e.g. Bachelor of Arts, BA.  If the degree is held with honours the degree abbreviation is BA(Hons).  The major or majors taken are recorded on the transcript of the student's academic record.  A new diploma or certificate will be dealt with in the same way.

4. A combined course leads to two separate award certificates – e.g. a student who completes 5119 – Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science – BA, BSc will be awarded two degree certificates –1011 Bachelor of Arts – BA and 5011 – Bachelor of Science – BSc.  They will list their qualifications as BA,BSc.  The degree certificate will show if the degree was passed with honours.

5. A degree name is not normally followed by another name in brackets. There are two sets of exceptions to this rule:

(a)  Formal approval has been given to the Science Faculties and the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics to use one course code but a different abbreviation for degrees which have specialised programmes.  The name of the specialised programme is put in brackets. For example, the Bachelor of Science (Courses Code 5011) has specialised programmes leading to the award of the Bachelor of Science(Biomedical Science) BSc(BiomedSc) etc. The Bachelor of Engineering also has specialised programmes leading to an individual qualification e.g. Bachelor of Engineering (Applied Ocean Science), BE(AppOceanSc).

(b)  Awards which have separate course codes may be given approval to have a name in brackets. Currently these include the Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies BA(AsSt), the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies BA(ComSt), the Bachelor of Arts in European Studies BA(EuroSt).  The associated combined courses also use these abbreviations.

6. Diplomas and Certificates which share the same course code, but feature a stream or field of study, do not have an individual name or abbreviation e.g. Graduate Diploma in Science (in Anatomical Science) or Graduate Diploma in Science (in Human Biology).  The name that appears on the degree certificate is Graduate Diploma in Science and the abbreviation graduates use after their name is GradDipSc.  The major/major and units taken within the stream or field of study are recorded on the transcript of the student’s academic record.

7. Master’s Degrees which share the same course code but feature a stream or a field of study, do not carry an individual name or abbreviation.  For example, Master of Science (in Anatomy and Human Science) or Master of Science (in Human Movement) are cited only as Master of Science and the abbreviation graduates use after their names would be MSc.  The major/majors and units taken within the stream or field of study are recorded on the transcript of the student’s academic record.

Procedures for issuing of Degree Abbreviations

8. When a faculty wishes to introduce a new course or a new programme, it completes a Proposal for New Courses or Programmes checklist which includes a suggestion for the name of the course and the course abbreviation.  At the time that this checklist is completed, faculties should contact Student Administration to reserve a course code for that award and the Academic Secretariat for endorsement for the suggested name and abbreviation.

9. When considering suggested course names and abbreviations, the Academic Secretariat checks the approved list of degree abbreviations for possible duplications and looks to precedent to suggest how an abbreviation might be expressed.  For example, the abbreviation for science will always be “Sc”, not “Sci”, “Arch” will always be used for Architecture qualifications and “Ed” will always be used for Education.  By their very nature, abbreviations are intended to be short and degree abbreviations will be as short as possible.  Faculties may wish to consult the Schedule of Courses to check for precedent. In general, faculties should aim for consistency in use of abbreviations, clarity and non-duplication.

10. When endorsed by the Faculty or the Faculty Board, the Proposal checklist is forwarded to the Academic Secretariat for inclusion in the Academic Council agenda.  The Academic Council makes a recommendation to Senate that the course or programme, including the abbreviation, be approved.  The Legislative Committee includes the name, degree abbreviation and, for information purposes, the current course code, on the Schedule of Courses which is forwarded to the Publications Unit annually and at such other time as may be appropriate.

11. Unless the faculties are advised otherwise, the degree abbreviation printed in the Academic Council Minutes is the official version which will appear in the Schedule of Courses.  Faculties should check the Academic Council Minutes to be advised of this abbreviation as soon as the course had been endorsed by the Council.

Enquiries concerning abbreviations

12. (a) Enquiries concerning the correct UWA award abbreviation to be used

Enquiries should be directed to the Academic Secretariat.

(b) Enquiries concerning the use of degree abbreviations in publications

These enquiries should be directed to Publications.

Schedule of Courses

13. It is the responsibility of the Legislative Committee to compile the Schedule of Courses. The Legislative Committee will include on the Schedule all current courses and delete any courses which have been discontinued and no longer have students enrolled in them.  At the end of the Rules process, the Schedule is finalised and forwarded to the System Support Group who check the course codes. It is then circulated by the Secretariat to Student Administration and the Graduation Office for information purposes. It is also forwarded to Publications for inclusion in the University Calendar and publication on the web.

Inclusion of degree abbreviations in handbooks and other publications

14. Faculties must include degree abbreviations exactly as approved by Senate in the Handbooks and any other publications where they might be required.

Use of title and letters before degree conferrals

15.(1) A student is not entitled to use the appropriate title or degree abbreviation until the degree has been conferred.  Degree conferrals are mady by Senate at meetings between February and December.  Senate Conferral Dates are listed on the Graduation webpage http://www.studentadmin.uwa.edu.au/page/30443 .  The date which appears on the degree certificate is the date of conferral by the Senate, not the date that the student completed their course of study.

(2) After conferral a student may choose to attend a Graduation ceremony at which the degree certificate will be presented, or have the degree awarded "in absentia".  Where the degree is awarded "in absentia" the degree certificate is mailed to the student on payment of the relevant postal charge.