1999 Engineering Handbook - General information

General information

The semester system
Credit points
Full-time and part-time enrolment
Time limit and leave of absence

The semester system

The faculty operates on a semester program. Virtually all subjects are taught, examined and the results published within one semester. Subjects consist of a series of lectures, tutorials and, when appropriate, practical or laboratory classes. The subjects which constitute the engineering courses for the various degrees may be regarded as bricks which build one upon another in such a way that the degree of specialisation in a particular branch of engineering increases as the course proceeds.

Credit points

Each subject is worth a number of credit points. When the subject is passed, these credit points are added to the student's total, and thus by a process of accumulating credit points and satisfying the requirements for 'core' and 'elective' subjects the student progresses towards degree completion. Details of core and elective subjects and the number of credit points required for degree completion in each degree course are set out in the subject lists included in the undergraduate section of this handbook.

Full-time and part-time enrolment

The faculty permits both full-time and part-time enrolment. Subjects to the value of twenty-four credit points constitute a normal full-time enrolment in any semester. There are therefore forty-eight credit points in a normal full-time year.
An overweight enrolment of up to twenty-eight credit points in a semester is permitted.
The faculty believes that full-time enrolment is generally in the best interests of students studying in on-campus mode, but is well aware of the variety of circumstances which may oblige a student to take a reduced load. Part-time enrolment is allowed, provided the student is aware of the maximum time limit for degree completion stated in the regulations for the relevant course.

Time limit and leave of absence

For engineering degrees at Monash the time limit is eight years from initial enrolment except for the double degree in law and engineering where the time limit is ten years. For the BTech degrees, the time limit is six years including an allowance of one year for completion of approved studies at TAFE. For distance education students, the time limit is twelve years.
Where circumstances arise which oblige students to suspend their studies for a time, leave of absence may be sought from the faculty for one semester or one year at a time (but not more). Information about the appropriate steps to be taken is available from the faculty's administration offices on each campus. Students should remember that periods granted as leave of absence are counted as part of their total time limit.