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Enabling Program Schedule

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Section 1 - Introduction

(1) This schedule supports the implementation of the Awards and Graduation Policy. The policy lists each of the qualification types offered by the University. This Schedule applies to the programs approved by Academic Senate which are listed under Clause 8 List of Approved Programs of this Schedule.

(2) In the event of an inconsistency between lower level policy documents and a Rule(s) or Schedule to the Rule(s), the Rule(s) made by Council prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

(3) In the event of an inconsistency between an Academic Senate policy document and a Faculty policy, procedure or guideline, the policy document of Academic Senate prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

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Section 2 - Program Structures

(4) For individual program requirements, refer to the official program documentation approved by Academic Senate.

Part A - Program Structure – Open Foundation

Model E1 – Open Foundation

AQF Level Non-AQF
Total Units 40 units
Volume of learning (Duration) 0.5 years minimum. Part time Open Foundation is run over the whole academic year beginning in semester 1. Part time Open Foundation may be undertaken via on-campus study or Online Education or as a combination of on-campus and Online Education.

Full time (Intensive) Open Foundation is run over one semester full-time beginning in semester two and may only be undertaken via on-campus study.

Open Foundation must be completed within two consecutive calendar years.
Available Modes of Study On-Campus at Newcastle (Callaghan) and Central Coast (Ourimbah) campus or Online.
Structure A sequence of directed courses as approved by Academic Senate.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for admission applicants must:
a. be aged 20 years of age or more in the year of enrolment;
b. be an Australian citizen or have Australian permanent residency status;
c. not currently hold a degree or currently have good standing in a degree program; and
d. meet any other admission criteria prescribed at the time of application.
Additional Requirements This clause has been intentionally left blank.
Credit Maximum of 20 units of credit may be awarded for previous completion of University of Newcastle enabling courses only, subject to Appendix 12 of the Program Management Procedure Manual – Faculty Credit Variances.
Requirements for program completion To meet the requirements of the program a student must pass 40 units of approved courses within two consecutive calendar years.
Grading of the Qualification The qualification is ungraded.

Part B - Program Structure - Newstep

Model E2 – Newstep

AQF Level Non-AQF
Total Units 80 units
Volume of learning (Duration) 1 year minimum.

Newstep must be completed within four consecutive semesters.
Available Modes of Study On-Campus at Newcastle (Callaghan) or Central Coast (Ourimbah) campus.
Structure A sequence of core and directed courses as approved by Academic Senate.
Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for admission applicants must:
a. be 18 to 20 years of age in the year they commence Newstep (18 to 20 years of age from 2014);
b. be an Australian citizen or have Australian permanent residency status; and
c. meet any other admission criteria prescribed at the time of application.
Additional Requirements Applicants must be able to provide documentary evidence that:
a. they have not been able to complete Year 12 due to adverse circumstances or disadvantage during senior schooling; or
b. they have completed Year 12 but not met the requirements for entry to a degree program; or
c. they have completed a post-secondary qualification.

Applicants who have not completed Year 12 or a post-secondary qualification will be assessed for admission based on documentary evidence that they meet equity criteria or have experienced adverse circumstances during senior schooling, together with evidence of the impact these circumstances have had on their education.

Equity Criteria:
- Low income background or socio-economic disadvantage
- Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background
- Non-English speaking background
- Arrival in Australia as a refugee
- Schooling in a rural or isolated region
- Attendance at a high school in an area of significant socioeconomic and educational disadvantage as per the NSW Department of Education Resource Allocation Model (RAM) and average Family Occupation and Education Index (FOEI)

Adverse circumstances:
- Disability or chronic illness
- Interstate transfer
- Adverse circumstances, e.g. a family or personal crisis
- Other special circumstances
Credit Maximum of 40 units credit may be awarded for previous completion of University of Newcastle enabling courses only, subject to Appendix 12 of the Program Management Procedure Manual – Faculty Credit Variances.
Requirements for program completion For students commencing the program in 2016 and beyond: To meet the requirements of the program a student must pass a minimum of 80 units of approved courses within four consecutive semesters.
Grading of the Qualification The qualification is ungraded.

Part C - Program Structure – International Foundation (discontinued 2014)

Model E3 – (model deleted)

(5) The International Foundation program has been discontinued, with no further intake into the program from 2014. Program model E3 has been removed from this Schedule on the basis of Academic Senate resolution (AS14:087) on 18 June 2014 for immediate implementation.

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Section 3 - Program Structure – Yapug

Model E4 – Yapug

AQF Level Non-AQF
Total Units 80 units
Volume of learning / Duration 1 year minimum.

Yapug must be completed within four consecutive semesters.
Available Modes of Study On-Campus at Newcastle (Callaghan) campus.
Structure A sequence of core and directed courses as approved by Academic Senate.
Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for admission applicants must:
a. be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person;
b. be at least 18 years of age in the year they commence Yapug; and
c. meet any other admission criteria prescribed at the time of application.
Additional Requirements This clause has been intentionally left blank.
Credit Maximum of 40 units credit may be awarded for previous completion of University of Newcastle enabling courses only, subject to Appendix 12 of the Program Management Procedure Manual – Faculty Credit Variances.
Requirements for program completion For students commencing the program in 2017 onwards:
To meet the requirements of the program a student must pass a minimum of 80 units of approved courses within four consecutive semesters.
Grading of the Qualification The qualification is ungraded.
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Section 4 - Relaxing Provision

(6) To provide for exceptional circumstances arising in any particular case, the President of Academic Senate, on the recommendation of the Director, English Language Foundation Studies Centre, may relax any provision of this Schedule.

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Section 5 - Reporting

(7) The President of the Academic Senate will report all applications of the relaxing provision of this Schedule to the Academic Senate.

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Section 6 - List of Approved Programs

(8) List of approved programs:

  1. Open Foundation  (Model E1)
  2. Newstep (Model E2)
  3. International Foundation (Model E3) (program discontinued 2014, Resolution [AS14:087])
  4. Yapug (Model E4)