How your tertiary qualifications are assessed

UAC uses a 7-point numeric scale, where 7 represents the highest level of achievement and 0 represents the lowest level of achievement. Using this scale, the following numeric values are applied to the following common grading systems (examples only):

* Refers to the University of Melbourne’s standard grading system and should not be taken to mean that an honours degree will automatically derive the GPA (numeric value) shown next to each level.

The GPA is the sum of the credit/load value for each subject multiplied by the numeric value of the grades, divided by the sum of the credit/load values for all grades. The GPA can be expressed mathematically as:

GPA = ∑ (credit/load value x grade)
∑ credit/load value

This calculation results in a number (the GPA) between 7 and 0, and is usually taken to two decimal places. Where credit points/loads are not assigned to subjects it is assumed all subjects are of equal value.

In UAC’s methodology, ungraded passes are not included in the calculation of a GPA except:

• where these advantage the student (ie when the student has a GPA of less than 4). In this instance the GPA is recalculated including the value of the ungraded pass(es).
• when more than 50% of the load presented comprises ungraded passes. In this instance, the GPA would be calculated with the ungraded passes included in the calculation.

UAC assigns a numeric value of 0 to all academic fail grades. A load value is also assigned.

If the official record obtained by UAC does not include the load value for the failed subject, UAC will assign the most common load value in the transcript.

If the failed subject is successfully repeated, UAC will assign the same load value to the failed subject as the load value shown when the subject was repeated.

Academic fails will always be included in the GPA calculation, even if these do not appear on your official transcript or have no load recorded against the subject on your record. This is because transcripts may show a record of successful study only. To ignore any academic fail grades achieved would be to mispresent your full academic history.

Sample transcript

Using the above transcript, the GPA can be calculated as follows:

Sample calculation

* The academic fail grade F in the above example does not attract a credit value on an academic record. However, a load value will be assigned to the academic fail grade and will be included in the GPA. Refer to the ‘Academic fail grades’ section for more information.

To calculate a GPA on the 7-point numeric scale, a grade average value is first derived on the local scale. When calculating a GPA:

• any subject loading is factored into the calculation
• any grade that is considered a fail on the local scale is counted as 0, regardless of home-country practices
• the GPA is calculated on all grades reported over the entire degree, regardless of home-country practices.

Once a grade average has been derived, this is converted to an equivalent value on the UAC's point numeric scale. The conversion is linear and does not consider individual factors, such as course difficulty or low/high marking systems, in line with the policies agreed to by participating institutions.

An example of the mapping for a per cent scale (50% pass) is below.

On this basis, a grade average per cent mark in the range of 70–79% derives a GPA between 5.0 and 5.99 on the 7-point numeric scale. Mapping is adjusted accordingly to match whatever scale is used.

For the purposes of calculating a GPA, a combined degree (eg Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws) will be treated as one qualification. This means that all subjects completed will be used to calculate a single GPA.

Under no circumstances will individual subjects be grouped in a way that facilitates calculation of a separate GPA for each degree. The nature of combined degrees is such that this is not possible. Where only one of the two degrees has been awarded, all subjects completed at the time of assessment will be included in the calculation. This applies even if you do not intend to complete the second degree.

Academic results from different institutions are generally not combined.

Academic results from multiple records which, in their entirety, clearly contribute to a current or awarded course, may be combined in the following scenarios:

• cross-institutional study which has been fully credited
• non-award study which has been fully credited (such as Open Universities Australia study)
• studies which are a continuation of the same course and can be fully combined into a later period of study (eg where a student has returned to continue a course after a break). The course code or name may vary slightly but it must be a continuation of the same course.
• combined bachelor degrees.

Academic results will not be combined where unspecified credit or only partial credit or advanced standing from a different course has been noted on the academic record.

The following courses are not assessed by UAC:

• Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificates I and II
• Statements of Attainment
• TAFE Statements
• courses delivered by Australian private providers that are not accredited. Only those courses accredited under the AQF, or by the relevant state/territory accreditation authority, will be taken into account. Qualifications undertaken with private providers will not be assessed without proof of accreditation for the particular course
• short courses run by a university (eg Project Management Essentials)
• other short courses such as first aid certificates.