Policy: Academic programs and courses accreditation
Purpose
To describe the standards which underpin the University’s introduction, modification, review and disestablishment of academic programs and courses.
Overview
This policy includes:
- categories of awards
- program design principles
- priorities for the approval of new coursework programs
- coursework program accreditation
- coursework program reaccreditation
- disestablishing coursework programs
- coursework courses
- combined programs
- ANU academic programs design principles
- ANU combined degree design principles
- ANU specialisation design principles
Scope
This policy covers all award programs, majors, minors, specialisations, and courses and all ANU staff with educational responsibilities.
Policy Statement
- ANU accredits and reaccredits programs, majors, minors, specialisations, and courses that:
- align with the strategic directions of the University;
- are consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework; and
- are consistent with the academic standards of the University, as set out in University policies.
Categories of awards
- ANU may offer programs that lead to the following awards:
- Diploma
- Associate Degree
- Bachelor Degree
- Bachelor Honours Degree
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master Degree (Coursework, Extended, and Research)
- Doctoral Degree
Program Design Principles
- ANU programs are consistent with the design principles outlined in Table 1. In rare cases where an exception is required, a case that includes documented evidence of need must be made to the Academic Quality Assurance Committee for coursework degrees and to University Research Committee for research degrees. Each unique award will have only one set of orders, duration, and units required. Multiple awards will not be accredited with the same name.
- In rare cases, University Council may approve the offering of a non-Australian Qualifications Framework award.
Priorities for the approval of new coursework programs
- In the coursework program accreditation process, evidence of alignment with the ANU Strategic Plan, demand, academic merit and of research-led approaches to education is provided in program proposals.
Coursework Program Accreditation
- Academic Board, on advice from the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, accredits new coursework programs and amendments to coursework programs for a maximum period of five years. Program amendments are accredited until a program is due to be reviewed. Professional accreditation is the responsibility of the relevant managing ANU College(s).
- Enrolled students must be informed of an amendment to an academic program by the relevant managing ANU College(s) through the usual University means of communication and must be notified of their options and the transitional arrangements that will be put in place.
Coursework Program Reaccreditation
- Each of the University’s academic programs will be reviewed at least every five years, although the Academic Quality Assurance Committee may trigger a shorter review cycle for particular programs on the basis of evidence relating to viability, quality assurance, or student outcomes or experience. Nested programs (e.g. Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma/Masters), or the Master/Master (Advanced), pass degree/direct-entry Honours/+1 honours, or in-person/online versions of a program may be reviewed in a single review on a single form where the College deems this to be appropriate.
- All program reviews include an independent academic external to the University who is a subject matter expert; and additionally for graduate program reviews an independent expert who is a non-academic practitioner in the area. In rare cases where an appropriate practitioner cannot be identified, AQAC may provide an exemption.
- External experts declare any conflict of interest prior to undertaking the program review. Any identified actual, perceived, or potential conflict of interest is brought to the attention of the Chair of AQAC for decision prior to appointment of the external expert.
- Programs subject to professional accreditation follow the review schedule of the relevant external accreditation body. Academic Board, on advice from the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, reaccredits coursework programs for a maximum period of five years. The Academic Quality Assurance Committee determines the regular review cycle and also recommends programs for early review based on the following criteria:
- evidence of student retention rates under 80%; and
- a majority of the courses within the program with an agreement rate of <50% for overall satisfaction in SELT for the past three years.
Disestablishing coursework programs
- Coursework programs may be disestablished by Academic Board on the advice of the Academic Quality Assurance Committee. If an academic program is to be disestablished, the relevant managing ANU College(s) must investigate any possible adverse effects that the change may have on students currently enrolled in the program, with particular regard to:
- any transitional arrangements required; and
- time-limits on the transitional arrangements.
- Where an academic program is disestablished, students will be assisted to complete the program of study within a designated period or be offered the opportunity to transfer to another program of equivalent nature. Enrolled students must be informed of a disestablished academic program by the relevant managing ANU College(s) through the usual University means of communication and must be notified of their options and the transitional arrangements that will be put in place. The default period for transitioning students out of a disestablished program is the full-time duration of study for the final cohort of students admitted, where an equivalent program for students to transition into can be identified, and the part-time duration of study for the final cohort of students where no equivalent program can be identified.
- The relevant managing ANU College(s) must seek to identify potential enrolments or potential student cohorts in pathways programs who may be affected by the decision to disestablish an academic program and notify them of their options and any transitional arrangements that will be put in place.
Major, Minor, and Specialisation Accreditation
- Academic Board, on advice from the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, accredits new majors, minors, and specialisations for a maximum period of five years. Professional accreditation is the responsibility of the relevant managing ANU College(s).
- All majors, minors, and specialisations are managed and taught by one or more of the Colleges. They cannot be managed or taught outside one of those academic structures.
- Academic Board, on advice from the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, approves amendments to the admission requirements for Honours Specialisations; the host ANU College will approve all other amendments to majors, minors, and specialisations.
Major, Minor, and Specialisation Reaccreditation
- Majors, Minors, and Specialisations are reviewed as part of the review process for each program for which they are listed in the program orders.
Disestablishing majors, minors and specialisations
- Majors, Minors, and Specialisations may be disestablished by Academic Board on the advice of the Academic Quality Assurance Committee. If a Major, Minor, or Specialisation is to be disestablished, the relevant managing ANU College(s) must investigate any possible adverse effects that the change may have on students currently enrolled in the program, with particular regard to:
- any transitional arrangements required; and
- time-limits on the transitional arrangements.
- The disestablishment of a major, minor, or specialisation automatically removes it from the program orders of all programs in which it is listed. A program amendment proposal is not required.
Coursework Courses
- All courses are governed and taught by one of the Colleges. Courses are not owned or taught outside of those academic structures. For clarity, micro-credentials are not courses for the purposes of this policy.
- New courses are approved by the relevant ANU College for a period of five years. Amendments to a course are approved for the period to the next review date of the course. The relevant ANU College may disestablish a course that is not listed in the orders of any program, major, minor, or specialisation; if a course is listed, its removal must be approved before the course can be disestablished. The course disestablishment date cannot be before the effective date of its removal from any program, major, minor, or specialisation. Disestablishment of courses is permanent on approval.
- Each taught course (that is, excluding administrative codes, codes for exchange, etc), other than special topics courses, must be taught at least once over each three calendar year period. Each year, Planning and Service Performance (PSP) will provide a list of such courses to Colleges. If a course is not taught at least once in a three calendar year period, it is to be disestablished as at 01 January of the year following that period unless the College Education Committee in rare instances approves a case as to why the course should not be disestablished. A list of any retained courses together with the rationale for retention of each provided by Colleges is to be tabled at the second meeting each year of AQAC for discussion. For clarity, co-taught courses are not aggregated for this process.
- A shorter review and reaccreditation cycle for courses may be triggered by the ANU College Education Committee or equivalent on the basis of evidence relating to viability, quality assurance, or student outcomes or experience.
- Proposals to establish, modify or disestablish courses that involve either the academic content or resources of another ANU College must include documentary evidence of consultation with that ANU College. Applications for the reaccreditation of courses are approved by the ANU College Education Committee or equivalent according to ANU College processes.
- Colleges will report their list of new, reaccredited and disestablished courses to the Academic Quality Assurance Committee once a year.
- Alpha codes for coursework courses are University-wide, discipline based codes, and are not exclusive to particular programs, contractual arrangements, or organisational structures.
- The creation of new alpha codes must be approved by the Registrar.
- The first digit of the numerical component of course codes is determined by the overarching principle that learning outcomes must demonstrate the appropriateness of the coding to a particular level. Specific course-level principles are:
1000‐level courses |
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2000‐level courses |
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3000‐level courses |
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4000-level courses |
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5000-level code | Reserved for future strategic use. No new courses are to be coded at this level until its strategic use has been agreed. For clarity, courses coded at this level as at 01 October 2019 may continue to use this level until a future strategic use has been incorporated into policy. |
6000-level courses | Any graduate level course that shares any teaching events, other than special events such as guest lectures by non-ANU staff or staff research seminars, with 1000-, 2000- and/or 3000- level courses must be coded at 6000-level. Graduate level courses that do not share any teaching events, other than special events such as guest lectures by non-ANU staff or staff research seminars, with 1000-, 2000- and/or 3000- level courses must not be coded at 6000-level but must be coded at 7000-level or higher. |
7000-level courses |
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8000-level courses | Either build on the knowledge and skills of the discipline, sub-discipline, or field, and the generic knowledge and skills, developed through completion of at least one of:
OR build on both;
And
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8900R-coded courses | Restricted to students enrolled in a Master of Philosophy |
9000-level courses | Restricted to students enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy |
- All course credit codes must begin with the word “Credit:” and refer to the course-code level at which the credit is awarded.
- All exchange codes must begin with the word “Exchange:”
- Co-teaching is where any course shares any teaching events, other than special events such as guest lectures by non-ANU staff or staff research seminars, with any other course.
1000‐level courses | May only be co-taught with other 1000-level courses and/or, for language courses or in rare instances with 6000-level courses that are intended as introductory courses for students from a non-cognate background except that 1000-level courses that are designated as Honours Pathway Courses either in the course description or by the addition of the letter H to the end of the code may be co-taught with 1000-level, 2000-level and/or 6000-level courses. |
2000‐level courses | May only be co-taught with other 2000-level courses and/or with 6000-level courses, except that 2000-level courses that are designated as Honours Pathway Courses either in the course description or by the addition of the letter H to the end of the code may be co-taught with 2000-level, 3000-level and/or 6000-level courses. |
3000‐level courses | May only be co-taught with other 3000-level courses and/or with 6000-level courses. |
4000-level courses | Those that require (directly or indirectly) the completion of a pass degree prior to enrolment may only be co-taught with other 4000-level courses and/or with 8000-level (including 8900R-level) and 9000-level courses. Those in embedded honours programs that do not require the completion of a pass degree prior to enrolment may only be co-taught with 4000-level courses, and/or:
For clarity, 4000-level courses must not otherwise be co-taught with 1000-level, 2000-level, or 3000-level courses |
6000-level courses | May only be co-taught with other 6000-level courses and/or with 2000-level, 3000-level courses or in rare instances with 1000-level courses; they may also be co-taught with 4000-level courses if those 6000-level courses are not additionally co-taught with 1000-level, 2000-level, or 3000-level courses. The description, learning outcomes and assessment of 6000-level courses co-taught with 1000-level courses are to be designed cognisant of students already having the generic skills developed from completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent. |
7000-level courses | May only be co-taught with other 7000-level courses. |
8000-level courses | May only be co-taught with other 8000-level courses and/or with 4000-level, 8900R-level, and/or 9000-level courses. 8000-level courses of less than 6 units are not co-taught except with 9000-level courses. |
8900R-coded courses | May only be co-taught with other 8900R-level courses and/or with 4000-level, 8000-level, and/or 9000-level courses. |
9000-level courses | May only be co-taught with other 9000-level courses and/or with 4000-level, 8000-level, and/or 8900R-level courses. |
Combined Programs
- ANU offers combined programs on its own, and in partnership with universities of outstanding reputation, both at undergraduate and graduate level (table 2).
- In order to graduate with two awards from a combined degree program the core requirements of both individual awards must be met in their entirety.
- The minimum length of an undergraduate combined degree program must be at least as long as the longest of the two component award courses plus 48 units. The minimum length of a double Master program must be at least as long as the longest of the two component degree courses plus 24 units, or at least 96 units, whichever is longer. No degree in a double Master program will be shorter than 48 units.
Table 1: ANU Academic Programs Design Principles
Award | AQF Level | Units Required | Typical Volume of Learning | Pathways can include | Exit Qualifications can include | Structural Requirements |
Diploma | 5 | 48 | 1 year | Senior Secondary Certificate of education or equivalent | Must be structured to provide a pathway program for particular cohorts who do not have a senior secondary certificate or equivalent. The Diploma is not available as an exit option for the Bachelor Degree. | |
Associate Degree | 6 | 96 | 2 years | Senior Secondary Certificate of education or equivalent | Diploma | Must be structured to provide a pathway program for particular cohorts who do not have a senior secondary certificate or equivalent The Associate Degree is not available as an exit option for the Bachelor Degree. |
Bachelor Degree | 7 | 144 or 192 | 3–4 years | completion of Senior Secondary Certificate of education or equivalent | A Bachelor degree major consists of 48 units in a field of study or discipline. A Bachelor degree minor or specialisation consists of 24 units in a field of study or discipline. A Bachelor degree must permit a maximum of 60 units at 1000-level, unless professional accreditation requirements mean a different maximum is required. Bachelor degrees of three years or more normally permit students to take a minimum of 48 units of electives, including units from other ANU College offerings and
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Bachelor Honours Degree | 8 | 192, either as 144+48 or embedded in 192 | Minimum 48 units at AQF Level 8 (4000-level) with as one year following a Bachelor degree or embedded in a bachelor degree that is longer than 3 years | Bachelor degree with an average of at least the minimum mark required for a Distinction grade (70% at ANU) in the discipline for 48 unit programs; completion of senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent for 192 unit programs | Bachelor degree | Honours grading schema must be used for overall grade (H1, H2A, H2B, H3) Must include a research training minimum equivalent to 12 units of summative assessment tasks at a minimum of AQF Level 8. Research training may be in courses dedicated solely to research training or may be embedded as one component in each of one or more courses. Must include a research project equivalent to a minimum of 12 units of summative assessment tasks at a minimum of AQF Level 8. . Research project/s may be in courses dedicated solely to a research project or may be embedded as one component in each of one or more courses.
All Honours components listed in program orders for 1 year honours plans are coded at 4000-level. Honours components listed in program orders for embedded honours should be coded at 4000-level. For 1 year Honours plans, the final Honours mark will include all courses taken towards the plan and be calculated as follows: Σ (mark x units) / Σ units, giving NCN and WN a nominal mark of zero For embedded Honours plans the WAM will be approved by Academic Board. NCN and WN will have a nominal mark of zero. PhB (Hons) and Advanced programs may integrate research throughout the degree in line with agreed outcomes for these programs. |
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) (PhB) and Bachelor of Engineering (Research and Development) (R&D) | 8 | 192 | 4 years | Senior Certificate of Education or equivalent | Bachelor degree | The structure of ANU undergraduate research programs includes clearly identifiable components that provide the research experience. These components are advanced study courses (ASC) that are stand-alone research projects, and advanced study extension (ASE) courses that are standard courses with an additional module for PhB or R&D cohorts. For PhB programs that typically follow the 3+1 Honours model, the program includes a minimum of: Years 1-3 18u ASC plus 18u ASE or ASC Year 4 minimum 24u Honours research project For R&D or other programs that typically follow the embedded honours model, the program includes a minimum of: Years 1-2 24u ASE or ASC Year 3 12u ASC Year 4 12u ASC |
Graduate Certificate | 8 | 24 | 0.5–1 year | Bachelor degree | A graduate certificate must consist of 6000-, 7000-, and 8000-level courses. The only exception is that 1000, 2000 and 3000 level courses for learning a language other than English may be included in the orders, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the global requirement. | |
Graduate Diploma | 8 | 48 | 1–2 years | Bachelor degree; or Graduate Certificate | Graduate Certificate | A Graduate Diploma must consist of 6000-, 7000-, and 8000-level courses. The only exception is that 1000, 2000 and 3000 level courses for learning a language other than English may be included in the orders, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the global requirement. |
Master Degree (coursework) | 9 | Cognate entry: 48, 72, or 96 Non-cognate entry: 72 or 96 | 1-2 years | Bachelor degree Bachelor Honours degree Graduate Certificate Graduate Diploma | Graduate Certificate Graduate Diploma | [To assist with reading, this is included at the end of this document] |
Master Degree (extended) | 9 | 144 or 192 | 3–4 years | Bachelor degree Bachelor Honours degree | Graduate Diploma | Masters degrees are constituted by 6000-, 7000-, and 8000-level courses only. The only exception is that 1000, 2000 and 3000 level courses for learning a language other than English may be included in the orders, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the global requirement. The use of the title ‘Juris Doctor’ is permitted for a Masters Degree (Extended) for legal practice. The use of the title ‘Doctor of ...’ is permitted for a Masters Degree (Extended) for five professions: medical practice; physiotherapy; dentistry; optometry and veterinary practice. |
Masters Degree (Research) | 9 | 48 - 96 | 1.5–2 years | Bachelor degree Bachelor Honours degree | 1.5 years following a Bachelor Honours degree 2 years following a Bachelor degree A combination of supervised research and Masters level coursework where the research component is two-thirds or more of the qualification. Master of Philosophy | |
Doctoral Degree (including professional doctorates) | 10 | 96 - 192 | 3–4 years | Bachelor Honours degree, Master degree | A combination of supervised research and/or professional practice, doctoral level coursework and skills training. No more than one third of the qualification must be coursework and/or skills training. |
Table 2: ANU Combined Degree Design Principles
Award | AQF Level | Units Required | Typical Volume of Learning | Pathways can include | Exit Qualifications can include | Structural Requirements |
Double Bachelor Degree (two testamurs) | 7 | Longest degree + 48 units | 4–6 years | Bachelor degree, Associate Bachelor degree | Bachelor degree | Students must complete the core requirements of both degrees. Typically structured as 96:96 units or 96:144 (for combinations with Law). The maximum number of 1000-level courses that may be permitted in a single component of a Double Bachelor degree is 48 units. Maximums of less than this amount are permitted. |
Vertical Combined Degree | 7+8, 7+9 | No more than one third of units from the higher award can be cross credited to the lower award | 4–6 years | Diploma, Associate Bachelor Degree, Bachelor degree, Bachelor Honours degree | Bachelor degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma | Students must complete the core requirements of both degrees. Typical configurations: bachelor+master; graduate certificate+graduate diploma; graduate certificate or diploma+master Students must complete the core requirements of both degrees |
Combined Masters Degree (coursework) | 9 | Longest degree + 24 units, or at least 96 units, whichever is longer. | 2–3 years | Bachelor degree Bachelor Honours degree | Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master of Studies | Students must complete the core requirements of both degrees |
Master Degree (Coursework) Structural Requirements
- Masters degrees (coursework):
- are constituted by 6000-, 7000-, and 8000-level courses. The only exception is that 1000, 2000 and 3000 level courses for learning a language other than English may be included in the orders, up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the global requirement.
- must require completion of at least 24 units (non-Advanced) or 48 units (advanced) of courses that are not co-taught with 1000-, 2000-, or 3000-level courses (to meet this requirement, all standard teaching events must be separate, but special events including guest lectures may be co-taught).
- A Master degree must require students, amongst other things, to “demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship” (Australian Qualifications Framework: Addendum to the Second Edition January 2013, p. 6).
- A Master (Advanced) degree includes a thesis of at least 24 units.
Graduate Coursework Admission Requirements
- Admission will normally be available directly into a 48 unit Master’s degree that requires cognate entry; or into a 72 or 96 unit Master’s degree that either does or does not require cognate entry.
- The cognate requirement may be met by a Bachelor degree, Bachelor Honours degree, Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Diploma, or equivalent professional experience. Cognate disciplines must be specified for each Master degree at the time of accreditation.
- Graduate coursework programs have admission requirements that specify at least the first line in Tables 3 to 6. The GPA and length of professional experience specified in Tables 3 to 6 are minimums, exemptions in place with different minimum GPA as at 01/01/2019, or a different minimum professional experience as at 01/01/2021 are grandfathered until the next review.
- Unless academically justified, admission requirements that include informal or non-formal learning are expressed as “full-time equivalent years of professional experience at ANSCO Skill Level 1 in [a field related to the program]”, where the bracketed text may be replaced with a more program-specific reference. In Tables 3 to 6, ‘years…’ should be read to refer to this statement.
- Graduate coursework programs may specify additional admission requirements.
Table 3: Admissions Requirements for 48, 72 and 96 unit Masters degrees
Formal learning | Informal / Non-formal Learning | (for 48 unit Masters degrees requiring professional experience) | (optional) | ||||
Volume | (requiredfor 48u degrees, optional for 72u and 92u degrees) | Level of Achievement | |||||
1. | Bachelor | (in a cognate discipline) | with a min GPA of | 5/7 | and 5 years … | (additional academically justified elements) | |
2. | 4/7 | and 3 years … | |||||
3. | Bachelor (Hons) | ||||||
4. | Bachelor and GC | ||||||
5. | GC | and 3 years … | |||||
6. | GD | ||||||
7. | Masters | ||||||
8. | 48 units of PG courses | ||||||
9. | PhD | ||||||
10. | 10 years … | ||||||
Table 4: Admissions Requirements for 48, 72 and 96 unit Masters degrees with compulsory honours requirement
Formal learning | Informal / Non-formal Learning | (optional) | ||||
Volume | (required for 48u degrees, optional for 72u and 96u degrees) | Level of Achievement | ||||
1. | Bachelor (Hons) | (in a cognate discipline) | with a min GPA of | 5/7 | (additional academically justified elements) | |
2. | 4/7 | and 3 years … | ||||
3. | Bachelor and GD | |||||
4. | Masters | |||||
5. | PhD | |||||
6. | 15 years … | |||||
Table 5: Admissions requirement for Masters Advanced degrees
Formal learning | (optional) | ||||
Volume | (optional) | Level of Achievement | |||
1. | Bachelor | (in a cognate discipline) | with a min GPA of | 6/7 | (additional academically justified elements) |
2. | Bachelor (Hons) | 5/7 or 2A hons | |||
3. | Masters | ||||
4. | 48 units of PG courses | ||||
5. | PhD | ||||
Table 6: Admissions Requirements for Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma degrees
Formal learning | Informal / Non-formal Learning | (optional) | |||||
Volume | (optional) | Level of Achievement | |||||
1. | Bachelor | (in a cognate discipline) | with a min GPA of | 4/7 | (additional academically justified elements) | ||
2. | Bachelor (Honours) | ||||||
3. | GC | ||||||
4. | GD | ||||||
5. | Masters | ||||||
6. | 24 units of PG courses | ||||||
7. | PhD | ||||||
8. | 5 years … | ||||||
ANU Specialisations Design Principles
- ‘Specialisation’ is a type of approved sub-plan of at least 24 units that indicates depth of specialist knowledge of the discipline or field identified by the name of the specialisation and that is distinct from and sits within a broader program. As such, a program of 24 units or less cannot include a specialisation. Specialisations are not listed on testamurs, but for programs of at least 48 units are listed on academic transcripts and the Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).
- A specialisation must be listed in the orders of at least one program.
- A 48-unit specialisation is available only in honours plans that are one year following completion of a Bachelor degree.
- A 24-unit specialisation is available only in the program types specified in Table 7 and consists of courses at the two most advanced levels, as indicated by numeric coding, that are available within the program type, including a minimum of 12 units at the most advanced level.
Table 7: Design Principles for ANU Specialisations
Program type | AQF Level | Specialisation Unit Value | Principles |
Bachelor | 7 | 24 |
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Bachelor Honours: one year following completion of Bachelor | 8 | 48 |
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Bachelor Honours: embedded throughout program | 8 | 24 |
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Master | 9 | 24 |
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Information |
Printable version (PDF) |
| Title | Academic programs and courses accreditation |
| Document Type | Policy |
| Document Number | ANUP_000360 |
| Version | 46 |
| Purpose | To describe the standards which underpin the University’s introduction, modification, review and disestablishment of academic programs and courses. |
| Audience | Staff-Academic, Students, Staff-Professional |
| Category | Academic |
| Topic/ SubTopic | Teaching & Learning |
| Effective Date | 20 Jul 2022 |
| Next Review Date | 20 Jul 2027 |
| Responsible Officer: | Registrar, Student Administration |
| Approved By: | Academic Board |
| Contact Area | Division of Student Administration and Academic Services |
| Authority: |
Governance Rule 2020 Governance Order 2020 Coursework Awards Rule 2020 |
| Delegations | 30, 31 |
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On 9 April 2021, the ANU Council assigned authority to approve academic policy to the Academic Board.
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