Levels of study

Whatever stage of life you're at, you can improve your mind through further study. Selecting the right course is a vital step. CSU offers a wide range of course levels to suit your study needs.

Undergraduate study

Undergraduate study is a student entry level at university. While most undergraduate study is at Bachelor degree level, students may also complete or exit with a University Certificate or Associate Degree from some courses.

University Certificate

A University Certificate is equivalent to eight standard subjects and usually completed in one year of full-time study (or equivalent).

Associate Degree

A broad-based undergraduate degree that is usually completed in two years of full-time study (or equivalent). An Associate Degree is often articulated with a Bachelor degree, and students gain credit in the Bachelor degree for all subjects studied.

Bachelor degree

A Bachelor degree is awarded to a student who has completed studies at undergraduate level and, is usually completed in three or four years of full-time study. Many Bachelor degrees also incorporate a year of Honours study, usually in the fourth year. A student can enhance their career opportunities by completing a double degree, which integrates studies in two complementary areas resulting in the award of two degrees, usually after four years of study.

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Honours study

Honours is an additional year of study during which a student will produce a specialist work of research. Honours may be integrated within an undergraduate course, usually from the third of fourth year of study, or may be a separate year of study that can be enrolled in after the completion of a Bachelor degree. Honours can enhance a student's career prospects, and is often a pathway to further postgraduate study.

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Graduate and Postgraduate study

Graduate and postgraduate study is normally undertaken after a Bachelor degree has been successfully completed.

Through study at these levels, students have the opportunity to build their knowledge in a specific area through a program of study involving coursework and/ or research, resulting in the completion of a thesis for Master or Doctoral awards.

Graduate degrees include:

• Graduate Certificate
• Graduate Diploma

and usually require no previous study in that discipline area.

Postgraduate degree levels include:

• Postgraduate Certificate
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Master
• Doctorate (PhD)

For postgraduate awards, students are required to have previous study or experience in the same discipline area as the award.

Higher degree by coursework

If you're studying a Master degree, you can combine coursework or independent study (at least one third of your program) with a dissertation.

Higher degree by research

If you're studying a PhD, you can spend two-thirds or more of your time on a thesis based on your own original and significant research.

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Where to go next:

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