Faculty of Architecture and Design

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

On this page:

Enrolment and Fees Payment

How do I Enrol?

It is possible to enrol in most courses online. For specific enrolment enquiries visit the enrolment webpage or contact the Enrolment Office:

E-mail: address
Phone:  04 463 5250
0800 VICTORIA
0800 842 867

You cannot enrol online if:

  • you are an international student beginning either undergraduate or postgraduate study
  • you are applying for an exchange programme
  • you are applying for thesis-based study.

If you are ready to enrol online, visit the Online Enrolment page.

Student advisers at the Faculty of Architecture and Design Office can help with specific enquiries regarding course selection.

How do I Pay My Fees?

You can pay your fees in a number of ways. More details are here.


Adding or Withdrawing Courses

How do I Add or Withdraw from a Course?

To make any changes to your course of study, you will need to visit the Faculty Student Administration Office and complete an Add/Drop form. If the course is a late addition you will need to get the form signed by the course coordinator.

How Long do I Have to Add a Course?

As a general rule, you should add courses by the end of the first week. Courses may not be added after the end of the second week of a trimester, unless in exceptional circumstances. However, that does not mean that you are free to add courses at any time during the first two weeks. Once classes have started, you will need the permission of the course coordinator. If the lecture/tutorial rooms are full, then there may be no place for you, and if you have missed too many of the lectures, then you may be declined permission on academic grounds.

How Long do I Have to Withdraw from a Course?

Courses may be dropped with a full fees refund at any time during the first two weeks of a regular trimester (special dates apply in the summer trimester). After that, you are free to withdraw from a course taught over 12 weeks without having the course recorded as a fail (but without a fees refund) until the end of the ninth week of classes. If you are withdrawing by means of a Change of Course form, no signatures are needed.

Once the ninth week is over, withdrawals are possible only with the permission of the Associate Dean (Teaching, Learning and Students) and only if the conditions below are met:

  • you must have been achieving well enough to pass the course
  • your withdrawal must be due to unexpected circumstances which arose after the withdrawal deadline.

You must complete a Late Withdrawal Form and take it to the Faculty Student Administration Office.

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Degree Planning

How do I Plan a Degree?

Course and degree advice is available from our student advisers located at the Faculty of Architecture and Design Office on level 1, Te Aro Campus. The advisers will help you make informed decisions for planning courses and at any stage of your degree.

How do I Know How Many More Points I Need for My Degree?

This is called a degree audit. Come to the Faculty Office and ask your student adviser to audit your degree for you. This is also done automatically at mid-year for all final year students, and then again at the end of the year. Degree audits can also be completed for you upon request.

How do I Change My Degree or Specialisation?

To change your degree or specialisation you need to get an Add/Drop Form from the Faculty Student Administration Office. Your completed Add/Drop Form must be signed by either a student adviser or the Associate Dean (Teaching, Learning and Students).

If you are considering changing your degree or specialisation you should first discuss your options with a student adviser.

How do I Apply for Credit Transfer?

To apply for recognition of study from another tertiary institutions towards your Victoria University qualification, come to the Faculty Student Administration Office with an original or certified copy of your academic transcript and for completed qualifications, an original or certified copy of your Certificate of Completion.

How do I Apply for an Exemption from Course Prerequisite / Degree Regulation?

If you are applying for exemption from a prerequisite or corequisite, complete an Application for Exemption Form and take this to the relevant course coordinator for approval. Then send or deliver the form to the office for processing. If you are applying for an exemption from a specific course requirement, or permission to substitute an approved course, you can simply take the completed form to the Faculty Student Administration Office.


Examinations and Graduation

More information regarding aegrotats, student ID for examinations and sitting examinations at another time or place are available here.

How do I Apply for Authorisation to Take a Dictionary into an Examination?

Dictionary use in examinations is only permitted for students who do not have English as their first language.

You can request a dictionary form from the Faculty Student Administration Office, which will be signed and a copy given to you to take to the examination. The exam supervisor will check both the form and your dictionary before the start.

Note: Only foreign languages to English dictionaries are permitted. Electronic dictionaries are not permitted.

How do I Apply for a Reconsideration of Assessment?

Examination scripts or written items of assessment can be reassessed if they are worth 25% or more of the total marks for a course. You should consult with the relevant course coordinator as a first step. If this does not lead to a resolution, a formal application for reconsideration can be made. Complete the Application for Reconsideration of Assessment/Examination Script Form and send or deliver it to the Faculty Student Administration Office for processing. The fee is $40 per course.

Reconsideration cannot lead to a lower grade. If the reconsideration results in a higher grade, this amount will be refunded.

Note: Any attempt to submit work which has been changed for reconsideration after being returned to you will be treated as misconduct under the Student Conduct Statute.

How do I Apply for Graduation?

Once you have completed your qualification you will be sent an email about the graduation process. It is therefore important to keep your contact details in Student Records up to date. You can do this by accessing your my victoria account at www.myvictoria.ac.nz. The email will give you instructions on how to apply to have your qualification granted.

You may apply to graduate in person at a graduation ceremony or in absentia (when you are not present) at a meeting of the University Council. You must apply within 12 months of completing your qualification to attend either a graduation ceremony or graduate in absentia at a council meeting. Your qualification will be granted in absentia if the Graduation Office does not hear from you within 12 months.

Which Graduation Ceremony do I Take Part in?

If you complete your qualification at the end of the second trimester, you would normally graduate at the May ceremonies of the following year. If however, you complete mid-year (at the end of the first trimester), you would normally graduate at the December ceremonies. You can apply to graduate at a subsequent ceremony as long as it is within 12 months of completing your qualification.

What is Advanced Graduation?

Some students who complete a qualification at the end of the year can graduate at the December ceremonies of the same year. This is called advanced graduation. Only the following students are eligible for advanced graduation:

  • International students returning home
  • Students leaving New Zealand to take up a Scholarship overseas (Note: supporting documentation must be provided)
  • PhD and Masters students
  • Students facing exceptional circumstances
  • Any Māori students who wish to attend the Toihuarewa Faculty Graduation at the Michael Fowler Centre. These students are also eligible to attend Hui Whakapūmau, an additional celebration organised by the Marae. (Note: these students must have previously declared themselves as Māori on the student records system)

A written application outlining your circumstances must be made to the Associate Dean (Students), by completing the Application for Advanced Graduation Form obtained from the Faculty Student Administration Office.

Your application to graduate at one of the December ceremonies must be made by 1 September. Students completing a qualification over the summer trimester and PhD and Masters students, may apply for advanced graduation at one of the May ceremonies. Application must be made before 1 March and are subject to the conditions outlined above.

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Where Can I Find out More?

Timetable information on lectures, tutorials, and studio times?

2012 Timetable information for courses taught at the Faculty of Architecture and Design can be obtained from the Faculty Student Administration Office.

What are the key University dates and times?

Victoria's home site contains approved dates and deadlines for trimesters, withdrawals and holiday breaks. This is also in the front of the School’s prospectuses.

Where can I find the University policy information for students?

Students should familiarise themselves with the University's Student Policies and Statutes. You should particularly note the:

  • Academic Grievance Policy
  • Student Conduct Statute and the Staff Conduct Policy (an outline of right to report improper staff conduct)
  • Meeting the Needs of Students with Impairments.

Other Information

Students also need to be aware of Victoria's Plagarism Rules.

Every effort is taken to inform students of the support and services offered by Victoria. Take some time to familiarise yourself with these services and remember to ask questions if you are unsure.