Glossary

A person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies themselves as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which they live.

Adjusted attrition rate pertains to commencing domestic undergraduate students. It is the number of students in year (x) who neither complete nor return to study in the following year (x + 1) as a percentage of all commencing, domestic, undergraduate students taking into account students who move to another university.

Adjusted retention rate pertains to the number of domestic students who undertook an undergraduate course in year(x) and continue studying in the following year (x+1) as a proportion of all domestic students who undertook an undergraduate course in year(x) and did not complete a course in year(x) taking into account students who move to another university.

An undergraduate award that provides more specialised knowledge and skills, including theoretical, technical, creative and conceptual skills.

Someone who applies for a Commonwealth supported place at an Australian university.

The course fees shown are a guide to approximately how much a full time student could expect to pay in student contributions or tuition fees for their first year of study.

A series of academic units/subjects that enable students to pursue learning in a coherent way in a single discipline or academic area.

An undergraduate award that provides more specialised knowledge and skills, with depth in some areas. Commonly articulates to bachelor degree programs in the same or closely related fields.

A higher education provider classifies attendance as being full time or part time. This is based on the equivalent full time student load (EFTSL) for the student aggregated across all units of study (including work experience in industry units) for all courses being undertaken by the student in the reporting year.

Attrition rate is defined for commencing domestic / international undergraduate students. It is the number of students in year (x) who neither complete nor return to study in the following year (x + 1) as a percentage of all commencing, domestic / international, undergraduate students.

Awards for the nation’s most outstanding university teachers in their fields and for learning and teaching support programs that make an outstanding contribution to the quality of student learning and experience.

Graduate Careers Australia manages this national survey of newly qualified higher education graduates. The survey collects data about graduates’ study experiences and their destinations after completing their course.

Australian Postgraduate Award scholarships are awarded to students of exceptional research potential undertaking a doctorate or masters degree by research. Higher education providers administer the scheme on behalf of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank indicates a student's position in relation to their Year 7 cohort. It is used by higher education providers (except those in Queensland) either on its own or in conjunction with other selection criteria, to rank and select students for admission to tertiary courses.

A recognised certification of achievement or competence, which may be granted to a student after completion of all the requirements of a higher education course or vocational education and training (e.g. TAFE) course.

The main undergraduate award offered in higher education that provides a broad theoretical understanding of the underlying principles and concepts relating to a specific or general body of knowledge. It prepares students for entry to particular professions, vocations, or postgraduate study.

The main criterion used by higher education providers in granting a student admission to a current course.

The physical location from where a program of study is being primarily delivered. This location may or may not be owned by the higher education provider that enrols the student. For online or other distance education courses, this would be the location where the electronic course material is maintained.

Accommodation that is available on a campus, regardless of whether the accommodation is owned and operated by the higher education provider or privately owned and operated.

A staff member who does not work for a regular, continuous period.

The calendar year that data is collected by the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

A student enrolled in a course for the first time at a university or other higher education provider.

A place at an approved provider that is subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only have to pay ‘student contribution’ amounts for their units of study.

A student who is enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place at an approved provider.

A student who has successfully completed all the academic requirements of a course, including any required attendance, assignments, examinations, assessments, dissertations, practical experience and work experience in industry.

A student who continues their course of study from the reference year to the next year.

This survey forms part of the Australian Graduate Survey and focuses largely on the perceptions of coursework graduates about course quality, self-rated skill levels and their overall satisfaction. Graduate Careers Australia manages this national survey.

The duration of a course is the total Equivalent Full Time Study Loads (EFTSLs). For universities that offer intensive or accelerated learning programs, the duration of the course of study can be reduced.

There are two methods of paying for a course: Commonwealth supported place or fee-paying place.

The normal length of time it takes to complete a course when studying full time 1.00 EFTSL per year (e.g. most bachelor level courses are three or four years).

Studies leading to a higher education award e.g. bachelor degree.

The entry cut-off reported is the published lowest entry cut-off for the previous year’s Year 12 students who received an offer of a Commonwealth supported or domestic fee-paying place in the course through standard admission in the main round of admission for the current academic year, where academic qualifications were the sole criterion for offer of a domestic fee-paying place (except for school subject prerequisites).

A study place may be a desk space and chair or a space in dedicated rooms for group study.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is the lead government agency providing national leadership in education and workplace training, transition to work and conditions and values in the workplace.

A postgraduate award that has an in-depth theoretical focus. Involves an original research project in a particular field of interest within the broader area of interest previously studied. Produces a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding in the chosen field.

The Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education strives to encourage the sustainable growth of Australian industries by developing a national innovation system that drives knowledge creation, cutting-edge science and research, international competitiveness and greater productivity. Under the Machinery of Government changes announced in December 2011, the tertiary education functions previously performed by DEEWR were transitioned to DIISRTE.

An undergraduate award that provides basic knowledge and skills, with depth in some areas. Includes application of theoretical concepts and technical or creative skills.

Support and assistance for students with disabilities.

A mode of study where students can undertake a course of study off campus, using hard copy or online materials.

A domestic student who is not Commonwealth supported for a unit of study. Fee-paying students pay tuition fees. Fee-paying students are also known as ‘non-Commonwealth-supported students’.

A student who is one of the following:

• Australian citizen (including Australian citizens with dual citizenship) or
• New Zealand citizen or a diplomatic or consular representative of New Zealand, a member of the staff of such a representative or the spouse or dependent relative of such a representative, excluding those with Australian citizenship. (Note: includes any such persons who have Permanent Resident status) or
• a permanent humanitarian visa holder or
• a holder of a permanent visa other than a permanent humanitarian visa.

Under the Higher Education Support Act 2003, sections 179-5, 10, 15, 20(c) and the Privacy Act 1988, section 14 (IPP11), it is an offence to release any information that is likely to enable identification of any particular individual. To avoid any risk of disseminating identifiable data, a disclosure control technique called data suppression has been utilised. To ensure privacy, data fields that contain numbers less than five will be represented as ‘D/S and will have the footnote ‘D/S = Data has been suppressed’. Note that true zero values will always be reported as 0 and suppressed data falls within the range of 0 < x < 5.

The score determined by the institution as the lowest score at which any student, whether Commonwealth supported or domestic fee-paying, will be eligible for consideration for a course, excluding special entry.

In Queensland, the score determined by the institution as the lowest score at which any student, whether Commonwealth supported or domestic fee-paying, will be eligible for consideration for a course, excluding special entry.

A course of instruction provided to a person for the purpose of enabling the person to undertake a course leading to a higher education award.

Support programs for students who have a language other than English as their first language.

The Excellence in Research for Australia initiative was developed by the Australian Research Council (ARC). ERA assesses research quality within Australia's higher education institutions at a discipline level using a combination of indicators and expert review committees that comprise experienced, internationally recognised experts. For more information see http://www.arc.gov.au/era/default.htm (link opens new window).

A mode of attendance where the student is studying a course where regular attendance is not required and lesson materials etc. are delivered to the student.

Australian Government loan program to help eligible fee-paying students to pay their tuition fees.

A place in a course which is not a Commonwealth supported place (i.e. not subsidised by the Australian Government) and for which tuition fees are payable.

A domestic student who is not Commonwealth supported for a unit of study. Fee-paying students pay tuition fees.

The field of education classification is used to describe higher education courses, specialisations and units of study with the same or similar vocational emphasis.
The classification provides a hierarchical structure with groupings at three levels:

• Level I: 12 broad fields of education (2 digit code);
• Level II: 83 narrow fields of education (4 digit code including the relevant Level I code) and;
• Level III: 439 detailed fields of education (6 digit code including the relevant Level I and Level II codes).

Assistance offered to students on general financial matters that may include student loans, assistance with budgeting and equity-based scholarships and grants.

A student is classified as full time when their student load aggregated for all courses they are studying in the reporting year is 0.75 of an EFTSL or more.

Staff resources associated with a member of staff or a group of members of staff holding a casual work contract, expressed in terms of the number of full time staff who would be required in a full year to perform equivalent duties.

A staff member who works a minimum of 35 hours per week for a regular, continuous period.

Positional or geographical data such as latitude and longitude coordinates of a physical location.

Graduate Careers Australia produces a range of graduate-related publications and research that informs a variety of audiences about graduate outcomes.

A postgraduate award that provides specialisation by developing or broadening vocational knowledge and skills or recognises some practical experience in a particular field of interest through an understanding, application and critical examination of principles, theories, models and methods.

The Graduate Destinations Survey forms part of the Australian Graduate Survey, which is a national survey of domestic students. The results provide measures such as percentage of graduates in full time study and percentage of graduates in full time employment.

A postgraduate award that extends graduate specialisation by developing or broadening vocational knowledge and skills in a new or existing field of interest through understanding, application and critical examination of principles, theories, models and methods. Develops practical experience in a chosen professional activity.

The proportion of domestic, bachelor degree graduates who were available for full time work and who were working full time four months after completion of their course. The data used to calculate the proportion is restricted to Australian residents and excludes questionnaires completed by relatives or from administrative data.

The proportion of domestic, bachelor degree graduates who were studying full time four months after completion of their course. The data used to calculate the proportion is restricted to Australian residents and excludes questionnaires completed by relatives or from administrative data.

An Australian Government loan program that helps eligible students to pay their student contributions, tuition fees and overseas study expenses. These loans are repaid through the Australian tax system.

An Australian Government loan program that helps eligible Commonwealth supported students to pay their student contribution amounts. Before 2005 this was known as ‘HECS’.

An organisation established by, or recognised by, the Commonwealth, a state, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory. The provider has to be approved by the Minister for Education before it can receive grants or its students can receive assistance from the Commonwealth.

Assistance offered to students with their off-campus housing needs. This may include a help desk that provides information on private accommodation options and renting advice.

Assistance offered to students on matters related to Centrelink payments, Youth Allowance or other types of government-funded income support.

A mode of attendance where the student physically attends the higher education provider on a regular basis.

A student who is not included in the definition of domestic student. International students include students who have a temporary entry permit or are a diplomat or a dependent of a diplomat (except New Zealand) and reside in Australia during the unit of study, and students who are not a domestic student and are residing outside Australia during the unit of study.

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships are awarded to exceptional international students to help them undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia. Higher education providers administer the scheme on behalf of the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Intervarsity sports competitions are organised to provide openings for social contact amongst students.

A building or room fitted out with equipment for carrying out scientific research, experiments, tests etc.

Awards given to academic, general and sessional staff, and institutional associates who have made significant contributions to student learning in a specific area of responsibility over a sustained period.

This includes legal centres and general legal advice services.

The indicator of students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds is based on the department’s higher education interim indicator of socioeconomic status (SES). It is expressed as a percentage of all domestic undergraduate students with a permanent home address in Australia. It is based on a weighted combination of (1) an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation (IEO) component measure at the Census Collection District (CD) level and (2) a Centrelink student payments component measure. The low SES interim indicator is only calculated for domestic undergraduates enrolled in Table A universities.

A postgraduate award that has an in-depth theoretical focus, usually involving coursework and/or research, in a particular field of academic interest or the enhancement of professional and vocational skills.

The median graduate salary level of bachelor degree graduates who were working full time four months after completion of their courses. The data used to calculate the median is restricted to Australian residents and excludes questionnaires completed by relatives or from administrative data.

A classification for the way a student is undertaking a unit of study i.e. internal, external or multi-modal.

A mode of attendance where the student is studying a course which is undertaken partially on an internal mode of attendance and partially on an external mode of attendance.

The higher education provider has not provided the data to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

Not elsewhere classified.

If a student is enrolled with a provider in a subject or unit that may be undertaken as part of a course of study, course of instruction or tuition and training program, but the unit, course or program is not being undertaken as part of a course of study, then the enrolment is on a non-award basis.

A domestic student who arrived in Australia less than 10 years prior to the reporting year and who comes from a home where a language other than English is spoken.

Non-sporting clubs that are physically located on the campus of the university.

The number of applications made by domestic, undergraduate students to a Tertiary Admissions Centre or directly to a university for a Commonwealth supported university place in the first semester of an academic year. After reviewing the application, the university may make an offer to the student.

The number of offers a higher education provider has made to domestic, undergraduate students for a Commonwealth supported university place in the first semester of an academic year.

A campus of an Australian higher education provider, through which a program of study is being delivered, which is located outside Australia.

A facility provided by a higher education provider that is not a laboratory e.g. photography studio.

An approved, registered Australian higher education provider that is not a university established or recognised by or under the law of the Commonwealth, a state, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory that offers FEE-HELP higher education courses.

Overall position (OP) indicates a student’s state-wide rank and is only used in Queensland for admission to tertiary courses. There are 25 OP bands from 1 (highest) to 25 (lowest).

The proportion of bachelor graduates that were satisfied with the overall quality of their course. The data used to calculate the proportion includes both domestic and international students.

Any student who is not a domestic student.

A staff member who works fewer than 35 hours per week for a regular, continuous period.

A student is classified as part time when their student load aggregated for all courses they are studying in the reporting year is less than 0.75 of an EFTSL.

A measure of the level of satisfaction with generic skills acquired among bachelor graduates. The data used to calculate the proportion includes both domestic and international students.

A measure of the level of satisfaction with good teaching among bachelor graduates. The data used to calculate the proportion includes both domestic and international students.

PhD is an abbreviation of ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ and is the main type of doctoral degree in Australia (see definition of doctoral degree). A PhD involves original research and can be undertaken in any field.

A course of study that leads to the award of a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters degree or doctorate.

Postgraduate research includes master’s degrees by research and doctoral degrees, but exclude master’s degrees by coursework.

Universities and higher education providers listed in subdivision 16-B of the Higher Education Support Act 2003, as determined by the Minister for Education.

The student’s postcode of permanent home residence is mapped to regional/remote categories using the Ministerial Council of Tertiary Education classification. These codes are derived from the Australian Standard Geographical Classification. It includes domestic students with a permanent home residence in Australia only.

‘Research students’ refers to those who are undertaking a master’s degree by research or a doctoral degree. It excludes those undertaking a master’s degree by coursework.

Retention rate measures the percentage of students enrolled in one year who are enrolled in the subsequent year. Students completing a course and not continuing on to another course are not included in the calculation.

The subject area list is a tool that allows users to obtain statistical information that is specific to their area of interest. The list of 45 subject areas was derived by analysing comparable websites both in Australia and overseas. It also involved analysing data from the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education data collections and Graduate Careers Australia survey data. The subject area list is based on the field of education classification system from the Australian Standard Classification of Education. This system is used by higher education providers to describe their higher education courses and is used to ensure courses with the same or similar emphasis are classified with the same field of education.

Student to staff ratio is calculated as the sum of student EFTSL (excluding work experience in industry) divided by sum of staff full time equivalence (FTE) in teaching and teaching/research functions, including actual casual staff. It does not include students or staff at campuses outside of Australia.

A state-based central office that receives and processes applications for admission to participating higher education providers.

All domestic and overseas students in undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

A course of study that leads to the award of a diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or a bachelor degree (pass, honours or graduate entry).

A higher education provider that is established as a university or recognised as a university, by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a state, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory, and meets nationally agreed criteria for a university.

The year the institution was established as a university.

The year that students are applying to study a course.