Academic

Can anyone help me choose my units for the rest of the year?

Can I credit study from elsewhere towards a course at OUA?

On campus university students who want to credit Open Universities Australia units towards their qualification should seek written approval from their university. We do not process refunds (beyond standard policy) should you discover you are unable to obtain credit for a unit you have already enrolled in.

TAFE students who believe they are eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) should contact their Course Coordinator. RPL evaluates the skills and competencies you have gained through education, work and life experience. There are a range of products available to help you prepare a RPL portfolio, and some providers include a RPL service.

Can I do more than one course at once?

OUA doesn't offer double degree courses, as our enrolment procedures and criteria are different to those of most traditional universities. If you are interested in pursuing two separate qualifications, you should speak to a Student Advisor.

Can I use OUA units towards a degree I'm already studying elsewhere?

Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis.

On campus university students who want to credit Open Universities Australia units towards their qualification should seek written approval from their university. We do not process refunds (beyond standard policy) should you discover you are unable to obtain credit for a unit you have already enrolled in.

Do I have to go to classes?

There are no on-campus requirements for most Open Universities Australia students. Exceptions include nursing and education units that require practical experience, laboratory based science units and capstone units in courses such as the MBA.

Does Open Universities Australia offer short courses?

Open Universities Australia does not currently offer courses shorter than 13 weeks except for a few selected bridging units. For students not wishing to undertake a full degree, it is possible to study our 13-week undergraduate units individually. Entry to some units is restricted; check the unit page for more information.

Postgraduate courses are restricted and have an application process, and units within them may generally only be studied as a part of the course, unless special permission is sought from the university.

How can I access my enrolment and payment statements?

Your enrolment and payment statements can be downloaded from the My study centre section of OUA's website. First, log into My study centre. Then follow the link to My courses and units and the Results and Statements page. From there you can select the kind of statement you require.

You can view and download your up-to-date enrolment statements back to January 2008. For payment statements, you can view and download your up-to-date documents back to July 2008.

If you need enrolment or payment statements from years prior to these, you can request them using the Online Enquiry Form. Just select "Request an enrolment or payment statement" on the form and supply the required information. The statements can be emailed to any email address you nominate, or posted out to you as hard copies.

How can I get help with my assessments?

OUA offers a wide range of academic support services to help you achieve the best possible results. Our learning skills units are online modules designed to help you develop strong study techniques in areas such as time management and assessment preparation. It's also worth checking out the Gateway to Academic Literacy, a step-by-step writing guide explains the conventions of academic writing.

Of course, sometimes you just need one-on-one support, which is why OUA offers you, for each eligible unit, four free hours of SMARTHINKING- an online, on-demand tutoring support service. You can use SMARTHINKING to get feedback on draft essays, book online chat sessions with tutors, or get a detailed response to a specific question.

You can also get in touch with your fellow students by visiting the student community discussion forums. A lot of OUA students form online study groups this way.

To access all of these services, just sign in to My study centre.

How do I get a copy of my record of results?

Your record of results (also known as an Academic Transcript) can be downloaded from the OUA website as a PDF. In order to download a copy, simply log in to My study centre, select Completed units and select the link for the kind of statement you require. You can also find information about requesting a hard copy of your Record of Results there.

As well as downloading a copy of your record of results from the site, you can request that OUA directly email a copy to a third party. This may be useful in situations where you need to provide evidence of your academic results, such as when seeking credit for your studies from a university, or when applying for employment.

How do I withdraw from a unit?

If you wish to withdraw from a unit, it's important that you contact a Student Advisor as soon as possible. Either call the Student Advisor office on 1300 363 652 or request a call-back using the Online Enquiry Form. Please note that withdrawing after the Census Date for your Study Period or Session may incur financial or academic penalties.

How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?

Studying through OUA may be different to your previous study experiences, and it can take time to develop the skills you need to be an independent online learner.

We offer access to a range of units and qualifications that are taught by our shareholder universities and other academic providers. You can complete single units for interest, or follow a course structure to work towards a specific qualification. Units are offered in four Study Periods a year (or in three Sessions for some postgraduate courses) and you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.

OUA handles enrolment and some administration. The provider universities send your study materials, handle all academic matters and are responsible for your assessment and graduation. If you decide to complete a course, you will graduate from the university offering that course, for example Monash or Griffith. Your testamur (degree certificate) will be identical to those received by on-campus students, and will not state that the course was taken online or through Open Universities Australia.

I haven't studied for a while, where should I start?

The most important thing is to start slowly, perhaps taking only one unit in your first Study Period. This will give you the opportunity to get into a proper study routine without the pressure of multiple due-dates.  

Most courses have recommended study paths. Please check the course page of the course you are interested in.

OUA also has bridging units to better equip students for the learning demands of tertiary education. These units focus on the development of skills in, for example, online learning, academic writing and reading and time management. They will help you to understand and respond to academic expectations. Some should be taken before commencing formal study, others together with your first units.

I need a hard copy of my record of results. How do I get one?

I think I want to change courses. Who can help me do this?

I'm not sure what to study. Who can help me?

Our Student Advisors are familiar with our entire course catalogue and can help you choose the right qualification. Depending on your previous study experience, career goals and areas of interest, a Student Advisor can suggest the perfect study path.

Choosing the right course is only part of selecting your study path. There are other aspects of your study path that a Student Advisor can help you with, like preparatory units to help you develop good study habits, or electives that may help you with your specific career aspirations. Contact a Student Advisor by submitting an Online Enquiry Form.

Is there a graduation ceremony?

Students who complete the requirements for a course are able to graduate with other students at their awarding university. Each university has different procedures concerning graduation; however the first step for students enrolled through Open Universities Australia is to notify their provider university that they intend to complete a course. For more information, contact the course coordinator listed on your chosen qualification outline.

What are Graduate Attributes?

Graduate Attributes describes the qualities or characteristics that graduates of undergraduate courses are expected to acquire as a result of their study. These attributes are the responsibility of the academic providers and award granting institutions. The Graduate Attribute goals of our shareholder universities are described at:

• Curtin University of Technology
• Griffith University
• Monash University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• University of South Australia

What can I do if I disagree with my mark?

If you wish to query a mark you receive,  or any other academic decision, your first point of contact should be the unit provider's representative, such as your unit tutor, coordinator or academic provider. Most of these situations should be resolved through discussion between yourself and the provider university for the unit.

If you are unable to reach a satisfactory outcome with the unit provider's representative, you should follow the academic complaints process of the unit provider. Information on this process will be available in your study material or on your provider's website.

What does my record of results contain?

What is a payment statement?

What is a Statement of Attainment?

What is an enrolment statement?

What is the cut-off date for swapping a unit?

You can request to swap one unit for another until the Close of Enrolment at no cost. Late swaps may be requested up to three working days after the Close of Enrolment. For all undergraduate and postgraduate units a penalty of $50 per unit applies to all swap requests submitted after Close of Enrolment. If you would like to swap a unit, or have concerns about your study load, contact a Student Advisor using the Online Enquiry Form as soon as possible.

What's a unit?

Units are subjects offered at undergraduate, postgraduate, and TAFE levels. Undergraduate, (and some most postgraduate), units last for 13 weeks plus exams, and are offered in Study Periods. TAFE units are offered on a continuous basis, and differ in their duration. An undergraduate degree is made up of 24 units.

What's an invigilated exam?

An invigilated exam is an examination supervised by an invigilator. The invigilator is responsible for ensuring that you sit the exam under university conditions.

Invigilated exams are arranged by OUA Exam Services and conducted in one of the many approved exam venues worldwide.

When are results available?

When is the cut-off date for enrolment?

You can check the enrolment cut off dates for upcoming Study Periods and Sessions by visiting our Key Dates page.

When will I get my study materials?

Your provider university will usually send out print study materials the week before or during the first week of the Study Period. Email instructions on how to sign in to your online materials are sent around the same time, but you may not be given access until after the Study Period has begun.

If you haven't received your materials or sign in instructions on your first day of the Study Period, don't panic - especially if you have received your confirmation of enrolment letter.

Who can help me put together a Study Plan for my course?

Will I have to do exams?

Exams are a part of many units, and with a bit of planning and preparation, you can go into your exam relaxed and confident. Don't leave your exam preparation until the last minute - you won't do your best if you stay up cramming the night before. Your study materials will guide you on which aspects of the unit to concentrate on. Look for unit, topic, and lesson outcomes and use them as a starting point for preparation.