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 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.
Each subject (with the exception of the bridging courses at Clayton) 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.
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, with the exception of the first year of the BE at Clayton, where the normal enrolment is eleven subjects only, totalling forty-four credit points; this enables students who need to take a bridging course to do so without overloading.
An overweight enrolment of up to twenty-eight credit points in a semester (twenty-four credit points if a bridging course is included) is permitted.
The faculty believes that full-time enrolment is generally in the best interests of its students, 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.
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. Where circumstances arise which oblige students to discontinue 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.
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