University terminology

While reading about your university options you may come across some terms that may be unfamiliar to you.

ATAR

Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank. An indicator of how well a student has performed relative to other students who have qualified for a university aggregate.

ATAR Selection Rank

The lowest rank of an applicant to which an offer of a place was made in the relevant year (including the consideration of any adjustment factors the applicant may have been eligible for).

AUSTUDY/Youth Allowance

Commonwealth Government allowance for tertiary study.

Award

A recognised Australian qualification (such as a bachelor degree) that is granted to you after you have successfully completed a Flinders University course.

Bachelor degree

Normally the first undergraduate degree.

Colleges

The academic structure of the university is based on Colleges, which are: College of Business, Government and Law; College of Education, Psychology and Social Work; College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; College of Medicine and Public Health; College of Nursing and Health Sciences; College of Science and Engineering.

Commonwealth supported student

This means that the cost of your study is shared between the Australian Government and you. You are required to pay a student contribution amount and the Australian Government pays the balance of your course costs.

Credit

Credit is sometimes given for relevant topics or units previously studied or for which a student is given an exemption.

Deferment

Delaying the start of a course for which you have been offered a place by one year. Your place is guaranteed for the following year, though you must formally reapply through SATAC.

Diploma

A formal qualification usually requiring the equivalent of two years of full-time study.

External student

A student undertaking all of their study by correspondence on either a full-time or a part-time basis and who is enrolled as an external student.

Graduate

A person who has been awarded his or her degree.

HECS-HELP

HECS-HELP is a government scheme that assists eligible students pay their student contribution amount.

Honours degree

Awarded to students who choose to complete an additional year of study or, in some cases, perform particularly well during their degree.

Postgraduate degree/diploma

Students must normally have an undergraduate degree to begin studying any postgraduate course.

Semester

The academic year is divided into two semesters. These normally run from late February to mid-June and late July to November.

SATAC

The South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre, which handles most university applications.

Undergraduate degree/diploma

A first degree or diploma.