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General Information

On this page you will find information for:

Timetables
Student Responsibilities
Who to Contact for Assistance
Assessment Information

Timetables

The University has now moved to a Central Timetabling system for the scheduling of lectures and tutorials. This is to assist in providing students with the broadest possible choice of options. The timetable is available at http://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/subjects.pl.

Student Responsibilities

In the course of their studies, students:

must make themselves aware of the Department’s guidelines for assessment,
must be aware of the requirements and due dates for each of the components of assessment (including examination times),
should regularly consult the subject noticeboard, and
should seek assistance if things go wrong.

Who to Contact for Assistance

If you are experiencing problems with any aspect of your studies, do not hesitate to contact your tutor during his/her consultation hours, which will be displayed on their office doors. Alternatively, you can arrange a time that is convenient to you both. If your tutor is not available, contact the lecturer-in-charge of your subject. If you would rather see someone else, try the Head, the Deputy Head or the Departmental Manager.

Board Posting of Assessment Details

Assessment details are posted on the 'Assessment Noticeboard' in the West Tower at the beginning of each semester. Each notice will include details on components of assessment and the weighting of each component; due dates for each piece of assessment; attendance or threshold requirements; advice about obtaining an extension; information on late submission and penalties for late submission.

Weighting of Components of Assessment

The relative importance of each item of assessment is indicated by the weighting towards the final mark of each component of assessment. This will be detailed in subject assessment statements, in reading guides and on the relevant notice boards.

Faculty Policy on the Award of Grades

Students are advised that the Faculty of Arts has a policy on the award of marks that is aimed at promoting fairness and consistency in grading across all departments. The grading of student work is ‘criteria-based’ (i.e. students are assessed according to their performance against the assessment criteria) and ‘norm-referenced’ (i.e. students are also ranked according to their performance among peers). Faculty policy requires departments to maintain a specified average mark and a distribution of grades across their entire cohort at each year level

The point of central tendency (defined as the average of marks between 0% and 100%) in the awarding of grades in any department should be:

• 70% for the first-year cohort,
• 73% for the second/third-year cohort.

A ‘year cohort’ is defined as all students at a particular year level within the one discipline or department.

The Faculty’s marking scales and grade definitions are as follows:

0%-49% N Fail - not satisfactory

Work that fails to meet the basic assessment criteria
Work that contravenes the policies and regulations set out for the assessment exercise

50%-64% P Pass - satisfactory
Completion of key tasks at an adequate level of performance in argumentation, documentation and expression.

Work that meets a limited number of the key assessment criteria
Shows substantial room for improvement in many areas

65%-69% H3 Third-class honours - competent
Completion of key tasks at a satisfactory level, with demonstrated understanding of key ideas and some analytical skills, and satisfactory presentation, research and documentation.

Work that meets most of the key assessment criteria
Shows room for improvement in several areas

70%-74% H2B Second-class honours level B - good
Good work that is solidly researched, shows a good understanding of key ideas, has some critical analysis, good presentation and documentation.

Work that meets most of the key assessment criteria and performs well in some
Shows some room for improvement

75%-79% H2A Second-class honours level A - very good
Very good work that is very well researched, shows critical analytical skills, is well argued, with scholarly presentation and documentation.

Work that meets all the key assessment criteria and exceeds in some
Shows limited room for improvement

80%-100% H1 First-class honours - excellent
Excellent analysis, comprehensive research, sophisticated theoretical or methodological understanding, impeccable presentation. Work that meets these criteria and is also in some way original, exciting or challenging should receive marks in the high eighties or above.

Work that meets all the key assessment criteria and excels in most.

Tutorial / Class Attendance

Attendance at all lectures and tutorials is expected. Apologies for absence, especially from tutorials, are also expected. At present, there is no overall Department lecture attendance requirement, but students should make themselves aware of any attendance requirement in individual subjects which will be detailed in assessment notices and in subject reading guides.

Tutorial / Class Participation

Students should be aware of what is expected of them in tutorials - this should be discussed in the first tutorial. As a minimum, students are expected to attend (see hurdle requirement under no. 8), undertake weekly readings and contribute to discussion. Also, students are required to give a class presentation in order to pass the subject. This will not be assessed and will constitute a hurdle requirement.

Hurdle or Threshold Requirements

A 'hurdle' or 'threshold' is a requirement, which must be fulfilled before a student is eligible for final assessment. The Department has as a threshold requirement for the acceptance of work for evaluation, the satisfactory attendance at tutorials. This constitutes a minimum of 60 per cent attendance, unless a higher attendance has been stipulated by the lecturer in charge. Also, students are required to give a class presentation in order to pass the subject. This will not be assessed and will constitute a hurdle requirement.

Weighting of Components of Assessment

The relative importance of each item of assessment is indicated by the weighting towards the final mark of each component of assessment. This will be detailed in subject assessment statements, in reading guides and on the relevant notice boards.

Due Dates

Faculty policy prohibits assessment in the swot-vac period each semester and requires that the final piece of assessment be due during the assessment (examination) period at the end of each semester. Generally, for subjects with more than one item of assessment, due dates would be timed so that students have some feedback on their performance (via a returned piece of assessment) well before their 'final' piece of assessment is due in the assessment period.

Style Guides, Essay/Report Writing Guides

The Department produces an Essay Writing and Style Guide that deals with expected style and presentation, citation and referencing requirements.

Word Limits

Essays must not exceed the word limit set by individual subject coordinators. Please note especially that whilst footnotes are not included in the essay word count, quotations are. When submitting assessment, you will need to state the word length on the Essay Cover Sheet. Students are not penalised if their work is under or over the specified word limit by 10% However, if students' work exceeds this limit they are liable to be penalised 2% per 100 words over (excluding the 10% leeway) deducted from the result of that piece of work.

Submission of Work

Your essay should be typed in double-spacing in 12 point font on one side of the sheet only, and with a margin of at least 4 cm on the left hand side of the page. The pages should be firmly stapled, together with an Essay Cover Sheet (also available from the reception area of the Political Science Department Office). Your essay should then be placed in the essay box at the reception area of the Political Science Department General Office by 5.00pm on the day specified as the due date. Essays will be date stamped, electronically recorded and passed on to the relevant tutor/lecturer. Do not hand essays directly to tutors, and never leave essays under office doors. Essays will not be accepted by fax or e-mail. Make sure you keep a copy of submitted work.

Extension Policy and Late Submission of Work

Students are able to negotiate a short-term extension for written work (i.e. less than one week) with tutors. Longer terms can only be approved by the subject coordinator. Extensions are not normally granted after due dates have passed. An extension of time beyond a deadline will be given only for a reason that falls within the guidelines for Special Consideration. A specific date will then be agreed upon and enforced unless evidence for additional Special Consideration is produced. To apply for an extension, students must complete an Extension Application Form available from the Departmental office and submit it there (along with any supporting documentation where possible) prior to the submission date. Students will then be notified of the outcome of the application.

Penalty for Submission of Late Work

Students who submit late work without having been granted a formal extension will incur a 2% penalty per working day up to a maximum of 5 working days after which the piece of assessment will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. The final deadline for submission of all work to be assessed is the last day of the examination period for that particular semester. After this date, work will not be accepted or assessed.

Special Consideration

Students can apply for special consideration via the Student Information System website https://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/special-consideration.pl. If you are experiencing difficulties and are not sure whether to apply for special consideration, it is important you discuss the matter with your lecturer, tutor or the undergraduate support officer.

Plagiarism & Collusion

Plagiarism is a copyright offence, which the University regards as cheating and it is punished accordingly. Be careful to guard against it occurring consciously or unconsciously in your essay writing. It is therefore important that you spend time ascertaining how your own work differs in its assumptions and methodology from that of the critics you have read or engaged with (including your lecturers and tutors!). You should not repeat material you have used for another piece of work in the same subject or in any other subject that you have studied, as this also constitutes plagiarism in the terms of the University’s guidelines. Students should refer to the Department's Essay Writing and Style Guide which provides clear guidelines for referencing. Any identified cases of potential cheating are taken very seriously by the Department. The Faculty’s policy on plagiarism establishes an informal process for identifying and resolving cases of plagiarism within the department. This policy does not supersede formal university requirements. The Faculty's plagiarism policy is displayed on the Assessment Notice Board in the Department. For more information on plagiarism, including practical advice to students, consult the University’s plagiarism website http://academichonesty.unimelb.edu.au/policy.html

Double Marking of Work

University and Departmental policy requires the double marking of failed work. Each component of assessment that is failed must be double marked. The Department also double marks any work assessed as H1 to ensure the ‘validity’ of such grades.

Feedback after Correction of Work/return of work

Students are entitled to feedback about their progress, and for this reason assignments other than the final assessment (assessment conducted during the assessment period of the semester) would usually be returned within two weeks of the submission date of the piece of work. Feedback will include criticism of the work and provide students with an indication of the relative quality of the piece of work.

Return of Work

Marked essays will be returned to you in a designated tutorial unless your tutor makes other arrangements. In order to have your final essay returned to you after the assessment process is completed, attach it to an A4 sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope. Provide at least $1.00 postage. FINAL ESSAYS WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO YOU UNLESS AN ENVELOPE IS ATTACHED AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION.

Access to Marks and Component Marks

A student has the right to know what the final mark for each component of assessment was after the final overall marks are calculated. Students requesting access to component may be permitted to see them by the subject coordinator.

Appeals Against Awarded Grades / Request for Second Marking

Students who wish to appeal against a mark must make a case in writing to the Head of Department within a month of the official release of results. The Head (or subject coordinator) may dismiss the appeal if s/he believes the case for remarking has not been made, but a written response will be provided to the student. The Head may appoint a second examiner (bearing in mind that all failed work and preferably most H1 work would be second marked as a matter of course) who will make an independent assessment of the work and provide a mark, grade and report. The Chair of Examiners will then act as the arbitrator of the appeal process, with access to the work, the student’s letter of appeal and all examiners’ reports. The original mark will then be confirmed or adjusted. Any reduction in grade as a result of an appeal will be reported to the Academic Board. Students retain the right of appeal beyond the department to the Associate Dean Academic Programs or the Dean of the Faculty, and beyond that to the Academic Board. It should be noted that such appeals will only address procedural matters and not questions of academic judgement.

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