Study Abroad in Sydney & Fiji: Academics

Admission standards at Macquarie University are high. Entrance requirements for foreign students permit AIFS to enroll only students who have already completed their freshman year at an American college or university. Students must have a 2.5 GPA to be considered.

The Australian academic system is a combination of the American and European systems. As in the U.S., Australian academic life is a mixture of lectures and seminars with individual work in labs and libraries. As in the European tradition, students specialize early on, studying one or two disciplines for three or four years. At Macquarie, as in the best liberal arts universities in the States, most assessment in the social studies and humanities relies on essay work. While there are some large lecture courses, many classes are based on the British tutorial system where a small group of students take a seminar with one professor.

AIFS students benefit from a full range of courses offered in:

Aboriginal Studies Geography
Anthropology Geology
Australian Studies Law

Biology

 Linguistics

Business

 Mathematics
Chemistry Modern Languages
Chinese Philosophy
Communications Physics
Economics Political Science
Education Psychology
English Literature Sociology
Finance  

Course load

Australian universities offer 3-year degrees in courses of specialized study. Students begin at the equivalent of the U.S. sophomore level with no introductory courses offered.

Macquarie has offered the following guidelines:
100 level at Macquarie = 200 level U.S.
200 level at Macquarie = 300 level U.S.
300 level at Macquarie = 400 level U.S.

AIFS students are fully-matriculated students of the University and can choose from many of the courses offered to undergraduates as long as they fulfill the prerequisites. Some courses may have enrollment restrictions. The average course load is three courses for 3 or 4 credits each. The workload per course is much heavier than in the U.S. Therefore the International Office recommends that students take 3 courses as a full-time load. The absolute maximum is 4 courses, but this can lead to a very demanding schedule.

Student advising

On enrollment day, international students are given advice on subjects such as the Australian academic system, teaching methods, assessment, regulations and the enrollment process. Enrollment in courses is done in advance by Student Advisors. Students can add courses up to the end of week one, and drop courses up to the end of week two. Students register for classes on the Internet - they are given instructions on how to do this before arrival and are provided with further assistance on arrival if needed. Students complete administrative procedures and obtain student ID cards.

Transcripts and grades

Official transcripts are issued by Macquarie University. Hours, credit points or grades cannot be equated exactly between U.S. institutions and Macquarie. However, equivalences can be indicated for credit purposes:

Macquarie University
Standardized Numerical
GPA Weighting
High Distinction (HD)
85-100
4
Distinction (D)
75-84
4
Credit (C)
65-74
3
Pass (P)
50-64
2
Pass Conceded (PC)
45-49
1
Fail (F)
F
0

Macquarie does not award + or - grades as a final grade or award percentage grades. If you require percentage grades you must ask your professor prior to leaving Australia. He or she will be able to write a letter with your letter grade as well as your percentage grade. There is no equivalent to the U.S. grade “D.”

Definition of grades

High Distinction (HD): Performance that meets all course objectives in such an exceptional way and with such marked excellence that it deserves the highest level of recognition.

Distinction (D): Performance that clearly deserves a high level of recognition as excellent achievement in the course.

Credit (C): Performance that is substantially better than would normally be expected of competent students in the course.

Pass (P): Performance that satisfies course objectives.

Pass Conceded (PC): Performance that meets course objectives only marginally and is therefore unlikely to be adequate preparation for study in this area.

Distribution of grades

Each year approximately 12 percent of students in a course receive HD and D grades; about 24 percent receive C grades; about 43 percent receive P grades; and about 6 percent receive PC grades, though there are variations from course to course and from level to level.

No AIFS participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a letter grade. Pass/Fail grade options are not available.