Glossary

A

Academics – The people who teach and undertake research at the University. Examples of titles of academic staff are professor, associate professor or lecturer.

Academic Calendar – A calendar of key dates at the University. There are two academic calendars – one for higher education and one for vocational and further education.

Academic dress – The official gowns worn by graduates.

Admission(s) – The process through which students enter university. The 'Admissions' team is responsible for this process.

Advanced standing – An assessment process that offers credit towards a course in recognition of equivalent prior study or work experience. (See also credit and recognition of prior learning.)

Airport reception – A service provided for international students arriving at both Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airports.

Alumni – Alumni are graduates of the University.

Articulation – The process of getting credit for subjects completed through a course when moving from TAFE to university.

Assessment – A piece of work which is graded.

Assessment criteria – A basis for deciding how marks are awarded for an assessment or subject.

Assessment level – The Department of Home Affairs' classification assigned to each student visa application, determined by the student's passport and the education sector in which the student will study. Assessment levels are categorised as a low to high immigration risk.

ATAR (Australia Tertiary Admission Rank) – Score that indicates how a student has performed in Year 12 compared to their peers, based on their VCE subject scores. Used to help universities and TAFE institutes select their students. Only some courses at VU use the ATAR as a basis for admission.

Austudy – A Centrelink payment available to eligible students.

B

Bachelor degree – Undergraduate academic qualification awarded on completion of a university course lasting three to six years. Titles of bachelor degrees are often abbreviated; for example, BA stands for Bachelor of Arts, BSc means a Bachelor of Science, and BEng means a Bachelor of Engineering. (See also undergraduate.)

Blended learning – See interactive e-learning.

Block – A four-week period in which one unit of study is delivered in the VU Block Model®.

Breadth minor – A minor (secondary focus area) with units in a different discipline from the student's major. (See minor and major.)

Burst mode – A course that runs for a shorter period of time, but with more-intensive hours.

C

Campus – The grounds in which the University is situated. Victoria University has 11 campuses and sites in Melbourne's central business district and across the western suburbs. We also have a campus in Sydney.

Census date – The date on which higher education student enrolment details must be finalised for each semester. Students enrolled in Commonwealth-supported units after the census date will be liable to pay student contribution/tuition fees and incur a HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP debt if a loan has been requested.

Central business district (CBD) – The centre of the city.

CHESSN – All Commonwealth-supported students are allocated a Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). The CHESSN is a unique ten digit number used by higher education providers to communicate with the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) to provide information about Student Learning Entitlement (SLE), HECS-HELP assistance and other forms of Commonwealth assistance for higher education students. For further information on how to obtain your CHESSN and the information you can access with it, visit Study Assist – Keeping track of your HELP debt.

Class - Non-lab face-to-face teaching sessions.

Clubs and Societies – Social, cultural or sporting clubs run by students for students through VU.

Colleges – The Colleges are organisational structures focusing on particular disciplines, professions and industries. Previously known as faculties, they reflect the distinctive academic specialisations and areas of excellence across Higher Education and TAFE.

Confirmation of Appropriate Accommodation and Welfare (CAAW) – An approved accommodation and welfare assessment letter given to students under 18 years of age by the Department of Home Affairs. See more about Welfare arrangements for students under 18.

CoE – A Confirmation of Enrolment document is issued by the university after the offer of a place is accepted. This document must be submitted with an international student visa application.

Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) – An Australian Government register that lists all Australian education providers and the courses that are available in Australia to people holding student visas.

Commonwealth supported place (CSP) – A place at an Australian university where the government pays part of the fees as a subsidy. Citizenship and residency criteria apply for eligibility. The subsidy does not cover the entire cost of study, and the remainder is paid as fees (either up front or by loan).

Complementary activities – Mandatory extension and support in the VU Block Model® that includes mentoring, academic development, and career advice.

Core unit – Compulsory subject that you must complete as part of your course.

Counselling – Talk therapy with a specialist. At VU, counselling support can cover a wide range of personal or study-related issues. To find out more about this free service, visit the Counselling Services page.

Course – A course is a sequence of subjects which make up a degree or diploma.

Course chair (previously known as course coordinator) – The staff member who oversees a particular course.

Course requirements – Elements needed to apply for a course. Prerequisites and extra requirements are 'course requirements'. Prerequisites refer to subjects and study scores. Extra requirements may include additional forms, interviews, folios and auditions.

Credit – The recognition for having completed a unit, used to determine if enough study has been completed for graduation. Credit may be granted for prior learning or work experience equivalent to a course unit. (See also advanced standing and recognition of prior learning.)

Credit transfer – Exemptions from parts of the new course for unit/s already studied. A credit transfer may apply when switching from one course to another. The existence of a credit transfer arrangement between two courses does not mean that students can automatically move from one course into another. Students must apply for, and secure a place in a course before application for credit transfer can be made. (See also credit.)

CSP – see Commonwealth supported place

G

Graduate diploma – A graduate diploma is a specialised postgraduate qualification which can be completed following a related undergraduate degree. Graduate diplomas are usually one to two years in length.

Graduation – Following successful completion of a course, students attend a graduation ceremony where their degree is conferred upon them.

Guardian – A person who is legally responsible for a student under 18 years of age.

H

HECS HELP – This is a loan available to eligible students enrolled in Commonwealth-supported places. A HECS-HELP loan will cover all or part of the student contribution amount of your fees. If you receive a HECS-HELP loan, the Australian Government pays the loan amount directly to your higher education provider on your behalf. A HECS-HELP debt is recorded for you with the Australian Tax Office against your Tax File Number.

Higher education – Post-Australian Year 12 or equivalent studies leading to awards including bachelor degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diploma, masters degrees and doctorates.

Host – A returning student who volunteers their time for assist with the orientation of first year students.

Hybrid (delivery mode) – Part of your unit will be delivered in person on the campus you have enrolled in, with the remainder delivered in an online mode. The timetable will state which classes or activities in the unit will be delivered on campus and which classes or activities will be online, in either real-time or self-paced mode.

I

ID number – The student identification number printed on your student card. You keep the same ID number throughout your studies at VU.

Incoming students – Study Abroad or Exchange students who travel to Melbourne to complete a semester of study at VU. Credit for studies at VU is applied to their home institution's course or program.

In person (delivery mode) – Your unit or classes will be delivered on the campus you have enrolled in. The timetable will display “On Campus” and provide the room where the classes will be held and you will physically attend those classes. All learning activity delivered on campus will continue to be run under strict COVID-19 safe practices.

Intake – The students taken into the University at a particular time, for example at the start of a semester or block.

Interactive e-learning – A learning model where studies are undertaken through online delivery of content and instruction, and face-to-face classroom teaching (previously referred to as blended learning).

International education agent – An offshore educational representative of VU who is authorised to recruit international students to VU on our behalf.

International Baccalaureate (IB) – An internationally recognised two-year secondary-school program that is aimed at students of 16 – 19 years of age to help prepare them for university.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – An internationally recognised and standardised test that evaluates a person's English language proficiency.

International partner campuses – An education institution located outside of Melbourne which has been approved to deliver VU courses on their campuses.

International student – A student who travels from another country to study at VU in Melbourne or who attends classes overseas at a partner institution. Students from more than 30 countries study at our onshore campuses, and at partner institutions across Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India.

You are considered an international student, and are subject to international full-fee tuition, if you:

• are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and
• do not hold a permanent Australian humanitarian visa, and
• are not a New Zealand citizen, and
• hold a temporary visa.

International Student Support (ISS) – A part of VU that offers assistance and advice to all our international students.

L

Lab - Laboratory and/or practicals associated with a unit.

Leave of absence – Sometimes called an 'intermission', students may apply to stop studying for a duration without losing their place in their course. Leave of absence applications must be approved by an authorised college officer. Applications will only be considered if students have completed at least one semester of their course and satisfactory progress has been determined.

Lecture – Large, formal classes in which lecturers present course material to all students enrolled in a given subject.

Libraries – The University has library branches available to students on all campuses. Visit our Library page for information on operating times, locations and other services.

LOTE – This acronym means languages other than English.

M

Major – The subject area that you will specialise in during your degree, comprising a set of units within a particular discipline. For example, a business degree has majors such as marketing and banking & finance. At Victoria University a major is made up of 96 credit points (equivalent to 8 units). (See also minor and specialisation.)

Minor – A subject area that is the second focus of a degree, comprising a smaller set of units than a major within a particular discipline. At Victoria University a minor is made up of 48 credit points (equivalent to 4 units). (See also breadth minor, major and specialisation.)

O

Offer – An invitation to study at a university, sent to you when you have been accepted into a course. The offer may have conditions that need to be met before you can enrol; these vary according to the entry requirements of the course. Once you accept an offer, you are committed to undertaking the course.

Offering – Combination of days and sessions scheduled for each unit in the VU Block Model®.

Online real-time (delivery mode) – Your unit or classes will be delivered online using Zoom. The timetable will display “Online Real Time (ZOOM)” and you will attend scheduled classes remotely through Zoom classrooms.

Online self-paced (delivery mode) – You will participate in learning activities online over that period but not at a set time. You will be able to conduct these activities at a time that suits you, providing those activities are completed by the required time. Your timetable will display “Online Self-Paced”.

Open day – An open day is held each year on a Sunday in August, and is a chance for prospective students to find out more about the courses and services and campuses at VU.

Orientation – The process of welcoming new students to the university. During orientation you will be introduced to your campus, receive an overview of your course, meet teaching staff, fellow students and most importantly, have fun! We encourage all new students to attend orientation – it is a great opportunity to meet lots of new people, become familiar with your campus and learn more about your course.

T

TAFE (Technical and Further Education) – Government-owned providers of Vocational Education and Training courses, which focus on providing practical skills for work. TAFE education at Victoria University is provided by VU Polytechnic.

Transfer – Students can apply to move from one course to another within the University.

Tutorial or 'tute' – Usually less formal than a lecture, tutes are small classes where material from lectures and readings can be discussed in more detail.

U

Undergraduate – A level of university study usually undertaken prior to your first graduation, such as a diploma or bachelor degree. (See also postgraduate.)

Unique Student Identifier – Every tertiary education and training student needs a USI to apply for Commonwealth financial assistance. From 1 January 2023, every student will need a USI to graduate and attain their award.

Unit of study – A term used for individual subjects. Each course is made up of a number of units of study.

University Council – The governing body of the University.

V

VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) – This is an alternative to the standard VCE. The VCAL focuses on hands-on learning and vocational education.

VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) – The VCE is awarded to students who successfully complete their secondary education in Victoria. It is recognised internationally, and provides pathways to employment and to further study at university or TAFE.

VET – See Vocational Education and Training

VETiS (Vocational Education and Training in Schools) – VETiS courses can be completed by students in Years 10, 11 and 12 and are counted towards their ATAR. Completion of a VETiS course provides a qualification or partial completion of a Certificate II or III. (See also Vocational Education and Training.)

Vice-Chancellor – The most senior administrative staff member of the University. The current Vice-Chancellor is Professor Adam Shoemaker.

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) – VTAC processes applications for degree courses and many TAFE courses. VTAC provides a link between universities, TAFE institutes and independent tertiary colleges. VTAC does not select applicants for courses.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) – Courses that focus on providing practical skills for work. At VU, our vocational education is delivered by VU Polytechnic, our TAFE division. (See also TAFE.)

VU Block Model® – Our study is delivered in single-unit blocks. Each unit is studied within four weeks, so students complete one unit at a time, including all assessment, before moving onto the next. In some cases, two full-time units (or one part-time) are delivered over eight weeks.

VU English – A division of Victoria University that delivers English language courses to international students. We offer English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) programs. You may have heard us referred to by our previous name of English Language Institute (ELI).

VU Guaranteed – Year 12 students in Melbourne’s west can apply for courses through our new early offer program, VU Guaranteed. You will be guaranteed a place at Victoria University.

VUHQ – The student service centre at Victoria University, which provides information, assistance and advice.

VUSU – The Victoria University Student Union, which represents and supports all VU students.

VUPA – Victoria University Postgraduate Association

Y

Youth Allowance – A Centrelink payment for eligible students under 25.