Master of Intercultural Studies (Standard Pathway)

Summary of changes

• The course admission requirements have changed, to allow graduates of non-theological qualifications to enter the course for the first time.
• The Volume of Learning is reduced for graduates of prior theological qualifications.
• The course now consists of three levels of units (7, 8, 9) rather than just one level (700).
  Units completed at 700 level prior to 2020 are deemed to be completed at Level 8.
  Projects and Capstone enrolments completed at 700 level prior to 2020 are deemed to be completed at Level 9.

Transition arrangements

• All existing credit achieved by existing students will be multiplied by three to transition to the new credit point structure.
• Students who entered the program in 2019 or who have already enrolled the program in 2018 or earlier were advised via ACT website and ACT handbook that the course structure was changing from 1/1/2020 and required 36cps of units at Level 9. All students who continue into 2020 and beyond will need to complete 36cps at Level 9 or the remainder of the credit points required for their course at level 9, whichever is lower. In addition, these students would be all given an exemption from the requirement of completing 48cps at Level 7 units (a new course requirement coming into effect in 2020 permitting entry for new students without a prior theological qualification).
• Existing students who are enrolled in the “standard pathway” will receive block credit for 60 credit points at Level 7, taking the place of the 2020 course requirement of the required 48cps at Level 7 and 12cps of elective units from any unit field. This credit is to be granted based on the fact that all students currently enrolled in the “standard pathway” will necessarily already hold a bachelor degree in ministry or theology.
• As a transitional arrangement for these students, students enrolled in the “standard pathway” course prior to 2020 will have their credit point values multiplied by 3 (as with all other students), and in addition to the above will be given block credit at the following rate, with block credit granted to students under this arrangement to be at AQF8. This transition is to reflect the differences in volume of learning (VOL) between 2019 and 2020 units for students enrolled in the current “standard pathway”, so as not to require those students to complete more units than anticipated:
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 1-6cps (up to 18cps 2020) will receive 42cps block credit, and have approximately 7 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 7-12cps (up to 36cps 2020) will receive 36cps block credit, and have approximately 6 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 13-18cps (up to 54cps 2020) will receive 30cps block credit, and have approximately 5 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 19-24cps (up to 72cps 2020) will receive 24cps block credit, and have approximately 4 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 25-30cps (up to 90cps 2020) will receive 18cps block credit, and have approximately 3 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 31-36cps (up to 108cps 2020) will receive 12cps block credit, and have approximately 2 x 12cp units remaining.
  • Students who by 31/12/2019 have achieved 37-42cps (up to 126cps 2020) will receive 6cps block credit, and have approximately 1 x 12cp units remaining.
• Capstone experience units and project enrolments completed prior to the end of 2019 at 700 level are deemed equivalent to Level 9.
• All units completed prior to the end of 2019 at 700 level are deemed equivalent to Level 8.

Questions?