Common course sizes
The University of Canterbury is moving to a common course size of 15 points (or multiples of 15 points) for all undergraduate courses. All undergraduate courses will have the new points values from 2011 onwards, with some courses changing to the new points values in 2010.
What does the introduction of common course sizes mean?
From 2011 all undergraduate courses will be 15 points, or multiples of 15 points. This means that all courses for bachelor's degrees, certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas will be 15 points or multiples of 15.
Why is the University making this change?
Currently the University offers just under 2000 undergraduate courses, which come in 31 different sizes ranging from 2 to 85 points:
- This makes programme (degree) planning more complicated than it needs to be.
- It makes transfer of credit between degree schedules more difficult than it needs to be.
- It makes transfer of credit between institutions more difficult than it needs to be.
Why 15 points?
- This is the most common course size across New Zealand universities, in the polytechnic sector and in the international universities from which we gain many of our exchange students.
- This size aggregates into a full-time year of study of 120 points easily, providing an equal workload across both semesters (four courses per semester).
- This size aggregates into current degree sizes and structures easily.
- This size will at the same time facilitate breadth (more courses, particularly at 100-level) and depth (students can take more advanced courses with an equal points value).
Will degrees change?
- Degree sizes will remain the same, ie, 360 points for a three-year degree; 480 points for a four-year degree.
- Students will do more courses but they will not do more points in total.
- Some minor adjustment will be needed to degree structures to accommodate common course sizes but these will approximate the existing structure as shown in the tables below, using the Bachelor of Arts as an example:
Bachelor of Arts — current degree structure (2009)
| 100-level | 200-level | 300-level | Total | |
| Courses | 8 x 18 points | 6 x 22 points | 3 x 28 points | 17 courses |
| Total points | 144 | 132 | 84 | 360 |
Bachelor of Arts — new degree structure (from 2011)
| 100-level | 200-level | 300-level | Total | |
| Courses | 9 x 15 points | 9 x 15 points | 3 x 30 points | 21 courses |
| Total points | 135 | 135 | 90 | 360 |
Will students already enrolled prior to the change be penalised?
No student will be penalised. The only disadvantage a currently enrolled student might be likely to perceive would be an increase in majoring or 300-level requirements. Any student whose programme of study does not match the graduating requirements exactly must make an appointment with the relevant College Student Advisor to discuss their final year programme of study, prior to enrolment.
Will student workload change?
Where existing courses are reduced in size (eg, from 18 to 15 points) the student workload per course has been reviewed to ensure that course workload is appropriate to the size of the course and that workload does not increase as a result of there being more courses in a programme of study.
When is this happening?
All undergraduate courses will have the new points values from 2011 (apart from BE(Hons) Second and Third professional years), with some courses changing to the new points values in 2010. For more information on how the introduction of common course sizes affects each qualification follow the links in the table below. Other programmes which are comprised of undergraduate degree courses, eg, certificates, diplomas, graduate diplomas, will also be affected by the change.
Timeline for introduction of common course sizes
| Programme | 2010 | 2011 |
| BA | Courses in some subjects changing — check subject list | Remaining courses |
| BCom | All 100-level courses, some 200 and 300-level courses. (Note: also introducing a set of core 100-level courses in 2010). | Remaining courses |
| BE(Hons) | Intermediate Year | First Professional Year only (Second and Third professional years being phased over 2012 and 2013) |
| BEd/GradDipTchLn(Secondary) | — | All courses |
| BFA | — | All courses |
| BForSc | Year 1 and 2 courses only | Year 3 and 4 courses |
| BSc | All 100-level courses, most 300-level courses, some 200-level courses | Remaining courses |
| BSLT | Some 100-level Intermediate Year courses — check subject list. All professional years courses. | Remaining courses |
| BSpC | All courses | (All courses) |
| BSW | Some Psychology courses | All courses |
| BTchLn(EarlyChildhood), BTchLn(Primary) |
All courses | (All courses) |
| LLB | Some 100-level non-Law courses may change — check subject list | All courses |
| MusB | — | All courses |
Subjects with some or all undergraduate courses moving to the common course size in 2010
- Accounting and Information Systems
- Antarctic Studies
- Astronomy
- Biochemistry
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical and Process Engineering
- Chemistry
- Communication Disorders*
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Electronics*
- Engineering
- Engineering Mathematics
- Finance*
- Forestry
- Geography*
- Geology
- History and Philosophy of Science*
- Linguistics
- Management
- Management Science
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Psychology
- Science and Entrepreneurship*
- Science, Maori and Indigenous Knowledge*
- Soil Science*
- Sport Coaching*
- Statistics*
- Teacher Education*
*All undergraduate courses moving to the common course size in 2010.
Contact
For more information contact the Liaison Team (new students) or a College Student Advisor (advancing students).