Frequently Asked Questions 

 

• How do I enrol in tutorials/seminars/workshop/computer labs?
• How do I find a lecture/tutorial room or office?
• What are lectures and when do they start?
• What are tutorials and when do they start?
• What do the subject codes mean?
• What are core subjects?
• What are credit points?
• What is a major?
• What is a minor?
• Are there any deadlines I need to be aware of?
• Who do I see about advanced standing (credit transfer, exemptions)?
• My enrolment in one of my subjects shows "provisonal". What does this mean and how do I have it removed?
• What is a prerequisite?
• What is a co-requisite?
• Who do I see if I have to get a waiver of a prerequisite?
• Where can I get copies of subject outlines?
• What is plagiarism and why is it important for me to understand what it means?
• What is copyright and how does it affect me?
• Where can I go for assistance with my studies?
• How much maths is involved in a Bachelor of Commerce/Business/Economics and Finance degree?
  

 How do I enrol in tutorials/seminars/workshops/computer labs?

The Faculty of Commerce utilises the University SMP OnLine Tutorial System for enrolling in tutorials, seminars, workshops and/or computer labs. If your Commerce subject is not listed in SMP, enrolment in tutorials will usually take place at the first lecture.

Back to top

 How do I find a lecture/tutorial room or office?

Rooms at the University are coded according to a building, floor and room number. For example:

• 14.G01 is located in Building 14 on the Ground Floor in Room 1
• 67.104 is located in Building 67 on the First Floor in Room 104, and
• 40.224 is located in Building 40 on the Second Floor in Room 224.

Back to top

 What are lectures and when do they start?

Lectures are large, formal classes in which lecturers present course material to all students enrolled in a given subject. They commence in Week 1 of session immediately following Orientation Week.

Lectures in Commerce subjects are generally 2 hours in duration for undergraduate subjects and 3 hours for postgraduate subjects.

Depending on the size of an undergraduate class, lectures in the Faculty of Commerce may be scheduled as:

• a 2 hour lecture weekly and a 2 hour repeat lecture covering the same material scheduled at another time in the same week, or
• 2 x 1 hour lectures weekly with repeat 2 x 1 hour lectures covering the same material at another time in the same week, or
• one 2 hour lecture weekly.

Back to top

 What are tutorials and when do they start?

Tutorials are small classes of usually between 20 and 25 students in which material from lectures and readings can be discussed in more detail.

Tutorials start in Week 2 of session, and are conducted by tutors who may not be the lecturer for the subject.

Back to top

 What do the subject codes mean?

All subject codes at the University of Wollongong are alpha-numeric. This means that they have either 3 or 4 letters followed by 3 numbers. You can identify which discipline and School or Faculty a subject belongs by the letters in the subject code:

The numbers in the subject code signify the level of study:

You can see all the subjects being offered by a School or Faculty in the Subject Database.

Back to top

 What are core subjects?

There are 9 subjects which make up the core of the Bachelor of Commerce. These subjects are compulsory and common to all students studying a BCom:

Back to top

 What are credit points?

Credit points are gained by successful completion of subjects. Most Commerce subjects are worth 6 credit points. Students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce degree must complete a minimum of 144 credit points.

 What is a major?

A major is a sequence of subjects which make up the main area of study in a degree. Majors consist of 8 subjects totalling 48 credit points. The majors available in the Bachelor of Commerce are:

Accountancy
Business Innovation
Business Law
Economics
Finance
Financial Planning
Human Resource Management
International Business
International Economics
Management
Marketing
Public Relations
Quantitative Analysis in Economics
Supply Chain Management

Back to top

 What is a minor?

A minor is a sequence of subjects which make up a secondary area of study in a degree. Minors in the Faculty of Commerce consist of 4 subjects totalling 24 credit points. There are 17 minors available in the Faculty of Commerce.

The University also offers a minor in International Studies.

Back to top

 Are there any deadlines I need to be aware of?

All students should familiarise themselves with key dates throughout each session. For example, there are deadlines relating to:

Back to top

 Who do I see about advanced standing (credit transfer, exemptions)?

On enrolment day:

All issues relating to advanced standing should be discussed with the Commerce Sub-Dean.

Following enrolment:

International students should initially ask at Commerce Central.

Domestic students should initially see the Sub-Dean. In some cases the Sub-Dean may refer students to the relevant School.

In all cases, the Sub-Dean must authorise any recommended advanced standing.

Back to top

My enrolment in one of my subjects shows "provisional". What does this mean and how do I have it removed?

Many second and third year subjects offered by the Faculty of Commerce have prerequisites. Students who have enrolled in a subject but do not meet the prerequisites for that subject will show a "provisional" enrolment status. In order to have the provisional status removed from your academic record, you should either withdraw from the subject or, if you wish to apply for a waiver of the prerequisite, seek approval from the relevant Associate Head of School. The appropriate form for a waiver is an Academic Approval Form.

Back to top

 What is a prerequisite?

Some subjects have prerequisites. A pre-requisite is a requirement which must be completed before enrolling in the next level of subject eg completing ACCY111 or ACCY100 before progressing to ACCY112.

Back to top

 What is a co-requisite?

A corequisite is a subject that must be taken at the same time as another subject.

Back to top

 Who do I see if I have to get a waiver of a prerequisite?

You must complete an Academic Approval Form and have it approved by the relevant Associate Head of School, e.g., for a ACCY subject, you need to seek approval from the Accounting Associate Head of School

Back to top

 Where can I get copies of subject outlines?

Subject outlines are available online and some are provided at lectures.  You may obtain a copy from the Commerce Central website.

Back to top

 What is plagiarism and why is it important for me to understand what it means?

Plagiarism means using the ideas of someone else without giving them proper credit. There are penalties for plagiarising so you must be aware of what it means and how to avoid it. More information can be obtained from http://www.uow.edu.au/about/policy/UOW058648.html.

Back to top

 What is copyright and how does it affect me?

Staff and students must comply with copyright laws. It is important that you are aware of what you can copy and how much you can copy. More information can be obtained from http://www.library.uow.edu.au/copyright/.

Back to top

 Where can I go for assistance with my studies?

The University provides a number of services for students experiencing difficulties or requiring assistance with their studies. If you are experiencing problems, you are encouraged to seek advice from any of the following services:

• Peer Assisted Study Session (PASS)
• Learning Development Centre
• Student Support Advisers (SSA)
• Disability Advisors
• Counselling services

Back to top

How much maths is involved in a Commerce/Business or Bachelor of Economics degree?

It is a common misunderstanding that studying business is all about maths which is just not true. Our degrees are about application, not just the maths. In our lectures, we concentrate on common scenarios faced by individuals, businesses and industry, analyse that problem using common statistical tools, then come up with solutions. Even students studying accounting , involved 30% numeracy while the other 70% is about logic and analytical thinking. Dr Sam Jebeile, Senior Accounting Lecturer at UoW, says, “Most accountants aren’t mathematicians. Once you learn the principals of accounting, those principals are applied to business finances. Mostly accounting is about planning, organising and performance on improving every aspect of business.
We focus on the social function of accounting and how it plays in the context of government, business and not for profit environments. Accounting is more focused on interpretation of numbers, rather than the calculation of them.”

Back to top