Academic programme changes 2006

In March 2002, the Vice-Chancellor appointed a Curriculum Commission to consider the University's academic programmes, its teaching and learning structures and practices in relation to the graduate profile, and the composition of the student body. Part of the scope of the Commission's work was the structure of the University's qualifications.

The Curriculum Commission Report (December 2002) recommended that the University move to a system where an equivalent full time student be defined as taking 120 points a year. The key drivers for this recommendation were consistency across the tertiary system and portability for students.

In addition, the Curriculum Commission recommended that the University consider making courses of 'general education' compulsory in all undergraduate degrees and that student workloads be made consistent across the University.

The University was also required to comply with the requirements of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications by the end of 2006.

The Register has the approval of the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee and defines the characteristics and requirements of approved tertiary qualifications across the sector.

It should be noted that, for the Universities, the Register establishes a minimum set of compliance requirements and the University is further bound to work within a framework for qualifications established by the NZVCC Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP). CUAP is the body that approves our qualifications under the Education Act 1989.

The Performance Based Research Fund was an additional context for restructuring postgraduate qualifications. Certain research courses are eligible for allocation of these funds on the basis of student research completions. Such courses are required to be no less than .75 of an equivalent full time student.

In 1999 the University accepted aims for curriculum redesign. These aims included the need to:

• Rationalize the multiplicity of degree and diploma offerings
• Minimize duplication and overlap.

Both aims are still relevant to the University. In the process of the restructure the University moved to effect rationalization and minimize duplication within and between Departments and Faculties.

• The following principles were applied in the restructuring of the University's qualifications:
• The University's course offerings should not be increased as a result of restructuring more than is absolutely necessary.
• Student workloads should not be increased as a result of restructuring.
• Staff workloads should not be increased as a result of restructuring.
• Restructuring should retain flexibility for students to take conjoint programmes, interdisciplinary studies and courses across faculties.
• The re-weighting of individual courses should maintain their academic coherence and integrity.
• Restructuring should not impact negatively on faculty funding.
• Wherever possible, restructuring should lead to the simplification of the administrative and regulatory aspects of qualifications.
• Additional changes, which would prevent the University from working through the restructuring in a timely manner, should be avoided.

All of the qualifications of the University, other than Certificates of Proficiency and the PhD degree, were within scope. The following qualifications were restructured:

• Named Doctorates
• Bachelors Degrees
• Bachelors Honours Degrees
• Masters Degrees
• Diplomas
• Graduate Diplomas
• Postgraduate Diplomas
• Foundation Certificates
• Certificates
• Graduate Certificates
• Postgraduate Certificates.

View further information for postgraduate students
 

The University of Auckland has changed the structure of its academic qualifications. From 1 January 2006, full time students have enrolled in courses carrying a total value of 120 points per year. Students enrolled prior to 2006 have a defined period in which to complete their qualifications under Transition Regulations. The new points structure aligned the University of Auckland qualifications with the majority of other tertiary qualifications offered in New Zealand and facilitates credit transfer for students and provides increased flexibility for the content and structure of qualifications.
 

The governing principles for the transition of students enrolled in University of Auckland qualifications prior to 2006 are:

• Any student enrolled prior to 2006 in a programme in which they continued past 2006, should not be disadvantaged by any changes to the regulations for that programme of study.
• Where ambiguities arise, any changes should work to the student's advantage in the transition to the new regulations.
• The University of Auckland reserves the right to correct errors which may arise in the conversion of an individual student's record during the transitional period.
• The Deans of the Faculties/Heads of Schools, or their nominees, within whose responsibility specific programmes of study lie, have discretion to approve personal courses of study and grant credit and/or concessions to students. This normally occurs in situations which fall outside the scope of specific transitional regulations for particular programmes of study. Such discretion is exercised after taking into account the principle that no student should be disadvantaged by the changes included in the 2006 regulations.
• A letter was sent to all current students enrolled in 2005 advising them of the transitional process. A Transitional Transcript was available on the web to every current student, prior to enrolment for 2006. Completion of enrolment in 2006 meant the acceptance by each student of their Transitional Transcript.

Students who commenced a programme of study before 2006 complete their qualification under the Transition Regulations.

The Transition Regulations allow students to complete their qualifications using courses in the new structure without disadvantage. Transition Regulations are published in a Transition Regulations Handbook and are available for viewing at the Short Loans Library or online at 2006 Transition Regulations Handbook Index.

The Transition Regulations as set out in the Transition Regulations Handbook apply to:

• (i) students who continue enrolment during the transition period in a programme for which they had previously commenced study at this university
  
  and
   
• (ii) students who enrol in a new undergraduate programme in 2006-2009, having commenced but not completed study in an undergraduate programme at this university from 2001 to 2005.

The Transition Regulations apply to most qualifications for four years from 2006-2009 inclusive.
For some programmes which have a longer duration, an extended transition period will apply. The duration of the transition period is specified in the Transition Regulations for each qualification.

The transition regulations for all programmes contain a Commencement and Eligibility clause indicating the transition period for each specific qualification.

The transition period for all students enrolled for a 120 or 240 point qualification was due to expire at the end of 2007. This was extended to the end of 2008 to assist students to complete their qualifications.

The transition period for students who first enrolled for their undergraduate degree prior to 2006 was due to expire at the end of 2009 for most degrees and later for conjoint degrees and some longer programmes. This transition period has been extended for a further year for each qualification to help students to finish under the Transition Regulations. Students who have not completed their degree by the end of the extended transition period will be required to complete under the 2006 regulations.

All students are strongly advised to contact their faculty student centre to check the status of their programme. See the list of faculty student centres.

View the revised transition deadlines

From 2006, undergraduate courses have been taught with values of 10, 15, 20 and 30 new points. Undergraduate degrees in the Faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Science and the School of Theology comprise 15 point courses. The enrolment for full time undergraduate students in these degrees is 8 x 15 point courses in a year. Degrees in other faculties may be based on 10, 15, 20 and 30 point courses with the appropriate content and workload. Courses have been reconfigured so that a full time student workload remains the same.

The courses that a student had passed up to the end of the 2005 academic year were converted on the student's academic record to new points at the conversion rate of 8.57 new points for each old point. Thus, a current 2 point course was valued and recorded as 17.14 new points.

In some cases, this conversion does not allow students to reach the precise number of new points required for their degree. So as not to disadvantage these students, they are required to complete sufficient courses to come within 13 points (if only 15 point courses are available for the degree) or 9 points (if 10 point courses are available for the degree) of the total required for their qualification. The remaining points needed to complete the qualification are credited as 'transition top up points'. Top up points are credited at the point of completion of the qualification. However, students should note that all courses required for majors, minors, core and any other qualification specific requirements, must be completed.

Students who transfer to The University of Auckland from another university after 1 January 2006 are given credit for work passed in the previous university in new points and are required to complete under the new regulations for the qualification.

View top up points conversion tables

The University introduced a General Education programme into its undergraduate degrees with the aim of offering students the opportunity to broaden their studies. Students enrolled at The University of Auckland prior to 2006 are not required to include General Education courses in their degree.

The requirement for General Education applies to students who are admitted to their first undergraduate degree after 2005 or who transfer to The University of Auckland after 2005 from another institution and enrol in an undergraduate degree which is different from the one in which they were previously enrolled.

General Education courses may be available to students completing degrees under the transition regulations if the courses could be taken within the requirements for those degrees or within any broader transition arrangements applying to them.

For more information, see General Education.

For further information please contact either The University of Auckland Call Centre on 0800 61 62 63 or the appropriate faculty student centre.
 

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions for postgraduate students