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A
Academic Board
A committee appointed by the VUW Council under section 193 (2) (i) of the Education Act 1989, which
(a) advises the Council on matters relating to courses of study or training, awards and other academic matters; and
(b) exercises powers delegated to it by the Council.
Admission
A student is granted admission when it has been confirmed that they are eligible to enrol to study in degree level qualification(s) offered by VUW.
Aegrotat Pass
In certain circumstances an aegrotat pass may be granted if absence or impaired performance in a University examination or other item of assessment has been the result of illness, injury, bereavement or other personal circumstances. The regulations may be found in the VUW Calendar. Contact a Faculty Administration Office for further details.
Ako Pai
Victoria University’s marae on the Karori Campus. The other marae, Te Herenga Waka, is on the Kelburn Campus.
Alumni
Former students and holders of Victoria University of Wellington and Wellington College of Education qualifications, i.e. degrees, diplomas and certificates.
Animal Ethics
All staff and student research and teaching involving animals needs to meet ethical standards. Approval for research involving animals is authorised by the University’s Animal Ethics Committee (internal access only).
Assessment
The means by which course grades are determined. May include either or both internal assessment on the basis of essays, reports, exercises, tests, student presentations or tutorial participation during the course, and a final examination at the end of the course.
B
Bachelor's Degree
A first or undergraduate degree, normally requiring at least three years of full-time study. The programme requires completion of a specified number of points including specified numbers from particular sets of courses or at a particular level.
Banner
The brand name of the software application that manages student information at Victoria University including personal details, course information and academic history.
Blackboard
A web-based software system which is used to support flexible teaching and learning in face-to-face and distance courses. It provides tools and facilities for online course management, content management and sharing, assessment management, and online collaboration and communication.
Bridging Courses
Courses to assist students to prepare for university study in a later academic trimester or year. Bridging courses are offered in subjects such as Chemistry, Mathematics, Music, Science and Information Technology.
C
Calendar
The University’s official publication of important dates, regulations and degree schedules.
Campus
Any property owned or managed by Victoria University of Wellington. It is also used to mean a University area or precinct. The University has four campuses: Kelburn; Pipitea; Te Aro; and Karori.
Certificate of Completion
Verification that a student has completed a course of study. It is not a confirmation of conferment of the qualification.
Certificate of Proficiency
A Certificate of Proficiency is not a qualification like a degree, diploma or another certificate. The term Certificate of Proficiency is reserved for the occasion when a student wishes to take a course at University without crediting it to a qualification, for reasons such as personal interest, to improve the chances of employment or to make progress towards registration for a particular profession.
Certificate of Proficiency in English
A 12-week intensive English course taught at the University’s English Language Institute, designed to assist students with English as a second language.
Certified Copy
A document that has been signed and witnessed as a true copy of the original document by a Solicitor, Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or by any other person authorised to take a statutory declaration.
Charter
The Charter sets out the University's purpose, its distinctive character, mission, values and goals.
Class
Lecture, tutorial, laboratory session, field trip, practicum, supervisory session and other contexts in which teaching is occurring.
Class Reps
Class reps are students who volunteer at the beginning of each course to represent the interests of students in the class to lecturers in charge of that course, as well as highlighting any concerns or problems. The Class Rep system is organised and administered by the Education Co-ordinators and the Education Vice President at VUWSA.
Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
A document which sets out the minimum requirements that education providers must meet in terms of advice and care for international students.
Concurrent Enrolments
Enrolments of students who are studying for two or more qualifications at the same time with one provider or more, or for one qualification which is offered jointly by two or more providers, or for two qualifications at two institutions.
Conditional Offer
An offer for enrolment for students that is dependent on fulfilling either entrance or English requirements. Students must satisfy the admission conditions before they can enrol at Victoria.
Conferment
The granting by the University Council of: a University qualification or honorary degree either at a graduation ceremony or in absentia.
Confirmation of Study
A notification sent to students in response to their returned Offer of Study that acts as the record of their programme of study. This form can be used to make alterations to the programme of study.
Conjoint Programmes of Study
Programmes of study which lead to two or more qualifications, or programmes jointly taught by more than one provider. Conjoint programmes often involve special cross-crediting arrangements which allow students to complete two qualifications in a shorter time than that required to complete each separately.
Corequisite
An additional course that must be studied concurrently (if not already passed) in order for enrolment in a particular course to be approved without special permission.
Council
The Victoria University Council is the governing body of the University, established under section 165 of the Education Act. The powers and duties of the Council are set out in the Education Act 1989.
Course
An individual unit of study towards a qualification, identified by a course code and title and usually carrying a specified points value. (Refer to Course Reference Number). Details of courses are listed in the University’s Course Catalogue and on the University website.
Course Catalogue
Publication provided to students, staff and external agencies listing all courses (undergraduate and graduate), course prescriptions and timetabling information. Is available online. This document is used by students when completing an Enrolment Application and is a companion document to the Calendar.
Course Codes
Each course has two identifiers. One contains four letters identifying the subject and three numbers, the first of which identifies the level, e.g. INFO 101. The other identifier is known as the Course Reference Number (CRN). The CRN distinguishes between identical courses taught in different trimesters or different modes (e.g. lecture and distance), or between different streams of the same course in a particular trimester, and must be included on an enrolment application.
Course Co-ordinator
The person responsible for the organisation, content and administration of a course, often - but not always - the principal lecturer.
Course of Study
A set of courses undertaken by a student towards a degree, conjoint or double degree, diploma or other qualification(s); and the requirements with which a student must comply to gain that qualification(s). May also be referred to as a “programme (of study)”.
Course Outline
A document supplied to each student at the beginning of each course which accurately describes the content and assessment of the course as well as explaining general University requirements. This document forms the basis of a legal contract between the University and the student.
Coursework
The work undertaken by a student over the duration of the course. Also used as “Master's by coursework”, denoting a master's programme comprising a number of courses rather than a thesis.
Cross Credits
The reduction in total points allowed for a student taking a double degree programme or studying for a second (or third) undergraduate degree.
D
Dean
A Dean provides academic leadership within a Faculty and chairs the Faculty Board. The Faculty Board is a sub-committee of the Academic Board.
Diploma
A qualification at the undergraduate or non-degree level with a total value of not less than 1 EFTS, which may build on defined prior qualifications or experience. See also graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma.
Direct Entry
A student with very good Year 13 results may be exempt from some first-year courses and be admitted to 200-level courses by ‘direct entry’.
Discretionary Entrance
A category of admission to university for certain students under 20 years of age without a New Zealand university entrance qualification.
Distance Learning
A mode of delivery for students who do not attend on-campus courses. Courses are delivered by correspondence, telecommunications, internet and web-based media, or combinations of media, and may include short periods of on-campus attendance.
Domestic Student
A student who is a New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of New Zealand residing in New Zealand, or regarded as a domestic student for funding purposes, and who is enrolled in approved courses leading to a qualification at a recognised New Zealand tertiary education provider.
Double Degree
A programme of study that leads towards two degrees, eg, BA/LLB.
E
Education Office of VUWSA
The Education Office is run & funded by VUWSA. It is staffed by two part-time Education Co-ordinators, who are independent from the University. The Education Office is the contact point for the class representative system, faculty delegates, academic problems, student guide and advocacy for students.
EFTS – Equivalent Full-Time Student
A unit of measurement of a student’s enrolment (corresponding to 120 points).
English Language Tests
Four English language proficiency tests are accepted by Victoria University for consideration for admission as an International student: TOEFL, IELTS, CPE, CAE.
Enrolled Student
A student who has completed the Victoria University enrolment process as defined in the enrolment regulations, according to the Education Act 1989.
Enrolment
The collective term used to describe the process of enrolling at VUW. This involves the student submitting an enrolment application, course approval, and payment of tuition fees. All of these steps are required before a student can be deemed to be enrolled and officially registered in courses.
Enrolment Guide
A booklet included in the Enrolment Pack explaining how to complete the Enrolment Application and the enrolment process.
Enrolment Pack
This pack contains everything required to apply to enrol at Victoria, including the Enrolment Application, Enrolment Guide and the Course Catalogue. Packs are available from Student Administration Offices, the Enrolment Office, or Student Recruitment and Course Advice, from mid October each year.
Exchange Student
A student studying at Victoria for one or two trimesters as part of a reciprocal exchange programme with an overseas institution. Also a VUW student studying for one or two trimesters at an overseas institution. Exchange students pay fees and gain credit at their home institution for the courses passed.
F
Faculty
Each Faculty is responsible for a range of programmes (degrees, diplomas and other qualifications) in which students enrol. Victoria University has seven faculties: Architecture & Design, Commerce & Administration, Education, Engineering, Humanities & Social Sciences, Law, and Science, each of which is headed by a Dean.
Toihuarewa, a separate pan-University Faculty equivalent, is the Māori academic forum. All Māori academics may elect to become members, and non-Māori academics teaching courses or undertaking research with a significant Māori content may be invited to be part of Toihuarewa.
Foundation Courses
Courses which are designed to enable students to gain the necessary background knowledge and skills in order to undertake tertiary study.
Full-time Student
A full-time year of study is 120 points, 1 EFTS. For Student Allowance purposes, a full-time student is one studying at least 0.8 EFTS or 96 points in a full year or at least 48 points in a trimester.
G
Graduate
A graduate of the University is someone who has had a qualification conferred either at a graduation ceremony (held by the University in May and December each year), or in absentia (i.e. conferred by the University Council, with certificates dispatched directly to the recipient).
Graduate Diploma
A qualification open to graduates or to those who have been able to demonstrate equivalent practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind, comprising a coherent programme with a total value of not less than 1 EFTS, which includes the requirement that one half or more of the courses or other work prescribed shall be at the 300 level or higher.
Graduate Guide
A listing of the University's postgraduate and post-experience programmes, including enrolment information, closing dates and contact details.
H
Hall Resident
A resident in a Hall of Residence that has a formal agreement with the University, whether or not the resident is a student at the University.
Higher Degree
There are five higher degrees: Doctor of Literature (LitD); Doctor of Music (DMus); Doctor of Science (DSc); Doctor of Laws (LLD); and Doctor of Commerce (DCom). The degrees are awarded to graduates of Victoria University for substantial published work that has made an original contribution of special excellence in the specified field.
Honorary Doctoral Degree
Honorary doctoral degrees in Literature (LitD), Music (DMus), Law (LLD), Science (DSc) and Commerce (DCom) are awarded by the University Council in recognition of the recipient's outstanding contributions to the goals pursued by the University, either through the achievement of national or international distinction in their chosen field or field of relevance to the academic programmes of the University, or through significant support for the academic interests and programmes of the University over a sustained period. By convention, recipients do not use the title “Dr” before their name.
Honours Degree
The term ‘Honours degree’ is used to describe Bachelor's degrees which require advanced or distinguished study. There may be either a discrete one-year programme following a three-year Bachelor's degree, or a four (or longer) year Bachelor's degree which requires a particular level of achievement.
Human Ethics
All staff and student research and teaching involving human participants needs to meet ethical standards to ensure no harm occurs to the participants. Approval for research involving human participants is authorised by the University’s Human Ethics Committee (internal access only).
Hunter Fellow
The Hunter Fellowships were instituted in 2003 for award by the University Council in recognition of outstanding contribution to the advancement of Victoria University.
I
IAE - International Application for Enrolment
A form that is completed by each international student for enrolment, listing the courses they wish to study.
International Student
An international student is defined as a foreign student studying in New Zealand on a student permit from the New Zealand Immigration Service.
L
Lecture
The main method of instruction at the University. Usually a 50-minute oral teaching session in which all students enrolled in a course are taught by a lecturer. Courses with a large number of students are divided into groups or “streams” (refer also to stream).
Limited Entry Course/Qualification
A course or qualification where a limitation has been put on the number of students that can be accepted. Limited entry courses have an earlier application closing date.
M
Major
The subject in which a student specialises to 300-level in a general degree. A double major is one where the appropriate requirements are met in two subjects under the one qualification.
Mandatory Requirements
Formerly known as “terms”, these are the requirements (other than obtaining an overall C grade or better) that must be met in order to pass the course, e.g. participation in tutorials, practical work, etc., to a satisfactory level.
Master's Degree
An advanced degree taken by a student who already holds a Bachelor's degree or, in some cases, has extensive experience. May be by research (involving a thesis) or by coursework. Master’s degrees normally have a value of between 1 and 3 EFTS.
Mentoring Programme
The University has developed mentoring programmes to assist Māori and Pacific students integrate into University life and to provide academic and social support. Mentors are students who have already completed their first year of study and can assist with course-related tasks. Manaaki Pihipihinga is the Māori and Pacific Students Mentoring Programme for students enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Commerce and Administration; Te Rōpū Āwhina Pūtaiao (Āwhina) is the group offering support for Māori and Pacific students in the Faculty of Science.
Minor
A smaller concentration in one subject area than a major. You can do minors in the BA, BCA, BSc and BDI degrees.
N
Ngāi Tauira
The Association of Māori students at Victoria University, affiliated to VUWSA.
O
Offer of Study
A notification sent to a student in response to an enrolment application to inform the student of the qualification(s) and course(s) the University is offering them. This notification must be signed and returned by the student in order to complete the enrolment process.
Orientation
A programme of events organised at the beginning of the year to introduce new students to University life.
P
Part-time
An expression which can apply to either the qualification or the student. A qualification offered part-time involves the same work but is studied over a longer period of time than its full-time equivalent. A student may elect to study a full-time qualification on a part-time basis, by enrolling in fewer courses than the normal full-time workload. For Student Allowances purposes a part-time student is one studying no more than 0.8 EFTS or 96 points in a full year or 48 points in a trimester.
Personal Course of Study
The particular combination of courses or other units of study which an individual student undertakes in compliance with the relevant regulations in order to achieve a qualification or qualifications.
PhD
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy, a higher degree than an Honours or Master's degree, involving at least two and a half years of supervised research resulting in a thesis. PhD graduates may call themselves “Dr”.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as if it were your own, whether you mean to or not. ‘Someone else’s work’ means anything that is not your own idea, even if it is presented in your own style. It includes material from books, journals or any other printed source, the work of other students or staff, information from the Internet, software programs and other electronic material, designs and ideas. It also includes the organization or structuring of any such material. Refer to the Statute on Student Conduct for further information on disciplinary action (the link will open as a PDF file).
Points
The measure of value assigned to each course. One point nominally equates to 10-12 hours of student work, whether in class or not. 120 points equates to one full-time academic year of study and 1 EFTS unit.
Postgraduate Diploma
A qualification which builds on attainment in the prior degree, open to graduates or to those who have been able to demonstrate extensive practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind, comprising a coherent programme with a total value of not less than 1 EFTS, which includes the requirement that the papers or other work prescribed shall be in advance of the 300 level.
Postgraduate Study
Study at a level above a Bachelor’s degree.
Prerequisite
Any course that must have already been passed or any condition required before enrolment in a particular course can be approved without special permission.
Prescription
A brief description of the content of a course. Prescriptions are published in the Course Catalogue.
Programme (of study)
A set of courses undertaken by a student towards a degree, conjoint or double degree, diploma or other qualification(s); and the requirements with which a student must comply to gain that qualification(s). See also Course of Study.
Prospectus
A publication produced by an academic school or discipline essential for all enrolled students within the school or a particular programme. A prospectus includes information about staff, general and administrative information and detailed course information.
Provisional Entrance
A category of admission to university for certain students under 20 years of age without a New Zealand university entrance qualification.
Q
Qualification
A degree, diploma or certificate.
Qualification Assessment
A way to gain admission to Victoria University for those with a qualification gained outside the New Zealand secondary school system. Also know as ad eundem admission.
R
Restricted Enrolment
The provisions that restrict the enrolment of students not making satisfactory academic progress. (Refer to the Academic Progress Statute - the link will open as a PDF file).
Restriction (against a course)
A course may be restricted against another course with similar content. If a student has passed one course, they cannot also gain credit for a course that is restricted against it.
S
Salient
Victoria’s student newspaper, published weekly during trimesters 1 and 2.
Schedule
A list of courses that are offered for a particular qualification. The schedule forms part of the statute for the qualification.
School
Schools are operational units of the University which carry out teaching, research and scholarship functions.
Statute
A university regulation made under the authority of the Education Act 1989, stating policy and procedures on a particular matter, usually relating to the administration of the University or the requirements for a qualification.
Statute on Student Conduct
The Statute on Student Conduct (the link will open as a PDF file) reflects the expectation that students are entitled to work, study and socialise in an environment of safety and respect. This statute outlines acceptable standards of conduct and sets out the procedures that apply in the event that a student is alleged to have breached these.
Stream
Some courses are divided into two or more groups, referred to as streams.
Student
Any person enrolled at the University, or a person who is currently studying at the University under an exchange agreement with another institution.
Student Allowances and Student Loan Schemes
The schemes implemented by StudyLink, a division of the Ministry of Social Development, which provide eligible students with financial assistance.
Student Contract
A contract that defines the responsibilities and obligations of the University and students undertaking programmes of study at Victoria University.
Study Abroad Student
A student from overseas who is completing part of their degree programme at Victoria University, receiving credit and paying full fees.
T
Te Hui Whakapūmau
The marae graduation ceremony held in December each year.
Te Marae o Te Herenga Waka
Victoria University’s marae on the Kelburn Campus. The other marae, Ako Pai, is on the Karori Campus.
Thesis
A substantial report which contains the result of research undertaken for either a Master’s degree or a PhD.
Trimester
The standard period of teaching and assessment for courses at Victoria, usually of 12 to 13 weeks. The year is divided into three trimesters, the first from March to June, the second from July to October, and the third from November to February. The third trimester is also referred to as the summer trimester. [1+2/3] denotes a course taught over the first two trimesters, [1/3] the first trimester, [2/3] the second and [3/3] the third.
Tutorial
Small group teaching sessions led by a tutor for discussion and the provision of individual assistance.
Twinning Student
A student who has completed part of their tertiary qualification at an approved partner institution before coming to Victoria University to complete that qualification.
V
VicNews
Victoria’s provides regular news articles for staff.
VUWSA – Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association
The official representative body for students studying at Victoria University. VUWSA provides a range of services and promotes the interests and welfare of students.
W
Warden
The person with managerial responsibility for a Hall of Residence (sometimes also known as Master or Manager).