Glossary

Admission
The process by which a student applies, and is approved, for entry to the University and to a University qualification.

Alumni
A name given to graduates who have attended the University and the staff who have worked for the University.

Bachelors degree
A Bachelors degree is usually the initial programme of study a student completes at university. Each Bachelors degree consists of a certain number of required points, as well as required subjects and combinations of courses. Some Bachelors degrees take three years full-time, some four or even five years, depending on the programme.

Campus
A geographical location where The University of Auckland qualifications are taught, eg, City Campus, Epsom Campus, Grafton Campus, North Shore Campus, Tamaki Campus, Tai Tokerau Campus.

Class
A component of a course - for example, a particular lecture stream (see Lecture).

Conjoint
A conjoint degree consists of degrees studied concurrently under a conjoint programme. There are a wide variety of options offered for conjoints.

Corequisite
A course that should be taken in the same semester as another unless it has previously been satisfactorily completed.

Course
Courses are the specific topics you study. Most courses are taught and assessed over one semester and can consist of lectures and tutorials, lab workshops, assignments, tests and an examination. Each course has its own alphanumeric code by which it is identified. For example, BIOSCI 101 is a course you can study under the subject of Biology in a Bachelor of Science degree. It is a Stage I course because it has a 100 level number.

Degree
A degree is a qualification awarded by The University of Auckland after completing the requirements for that particular programme.

Double degree
A double degree consists of two separate degrees studied concurrently or consecutively. Double degrees are not to be confused with conjoint degrees. There is no reduction of points in a double degree so they take the same time to complete as two normal degrees. There is the possibility, however, of cross-crediting some points from one to the other if one is completed first.

Electives
A defined set of courses from a diploma or degree from which a student may make a choice.

Enrolment
The process by which a student, having gained admission to the University and to a qualification, selects and gains entry to courses and classes.

Examination
Formal assessment under supervision occurring after the teaching in a course has been completed.

Faculty
Faculty is the generic term used to differentiate each domain taught at the University. For example, the Faculty of Science is the overall term used to describe the organisation surrounding all Science qualifications at the University, the Faculty of Law covers all law qualifications and so on.

Graduation
A celebratory event where your degree is officially awarded and at which the University acknowledge the successes of students who have successfully completed their qualification.

Laboratory
A teaching session of a practical nature.

Lecture
A basic unit of instruction for a course. Lecturers are those who teach the courses. They will give you all the information you need regarding course content, laboratories, tutorials etc.

Major
A required component of a degree, including a specified number of points in a subject at the most advanced level.

Minor
A component of a degree including a specified number of points above Stage 1 in a subject. A minor has fewer requirements to fulfil than a major, in terms of points and compulsory courses.

Orientation
A programme of events aimed at helping new students become familiar with the social and academic support available on campus.

Paper
The word that used to be used for a course.

Point(s)
A value is assigned to a course or other work to indicate its weighting within The University of Auckland's certificates, diplomas and degrees. For example, the Bachelor of Arts degree will require 360 points under the new points system that has been in effect since 2006.

Prerequisite course
A requirement that must be met before commencement of study for a particular course or programme. For example, if you wish to study any Stage 2 Management and Employment Relations courses, you are required to have completed MGMT 101, a Stage 1 course (see Stage below).

Programme
A prescribed set of one or more courses or other work which on satisfactory completion leads to the award of a University of Auckland certificate, diploma or degree.

Semester
A period of about 15 weeks which includes about 12 teaching weeks and about three weeks for study and examinations. In addition there is a mid-semester break of up to two weeks.

Specialisation
A coherent group of related courses from different subjects.

Stage
The academic level of study in a subject. Most undergraduate programmes comprise three stages. Stage 1 is the introductory level, Stage 2 the intermediate level and Stage 3 the advanced level.

Subject
An area of learning which may be provided by a school or a department, or by departments offering related courses.

Summer School
A six-week period during which a selection of courses is taught and assessed. You may take a Summer School course to progress through your programme quickly, compensate for a poor performance in a previous semester, or spread a heavy workload.

Tutorial
A small group-learning session.