Study with Open Universities Australia

• OUA Study Period Calendar
• Modes of study
• Role of the tutor
• Textbooks
• Library access
• Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
• Student rights and responsibilities
• Study skills
• Access, equity and disability
• Intention to graduate
• Deferral
• Withdrawals

OUA Study Period Calendar

OUA runs four study periods each year so you can balance study with your lifestyle. Click here to access the OUA Study Period Calendar

Modes of study

Open Universities Australia units may be delivered in a number of modes:

• Print-based
• Online
• Mixed mode (print and online)

Print-based mode

In this mode of study, Distance and Open Learning will provide you with learning material in print format. This may include unit plans and unit guides. Sometimes, audio visual material may be included (if it is relevant to your unit of study). You may also be required to purchase textbooks for the unit.

Online mode

In this mode of study, your learning material is available from a website. You will need to go online to access the material. You may also be provided with other electronic or digital resources to supplement online learning material, for example, a CD-ROM.

Depending on the unit in which you're enrolled, online material may be accessed via the Curtin OASIS Portal (Online Access to Student Information Services).

You will be provided with the website address (URL) of the portal upon enrolment.

Mixed mode

This mode of study makes use of both print-based and online learning material. Distance and Open Learning will provide you with print-based learning material as well as learning resources available from a website.

Some units are delivered in both print-based and online format, so you can opt for one or the other.

Role of the tutor

Your tutor's role is to guide you through the materials provided by Distance and Open Learning, and to provide support and feedback on your progress. Your tutor marks your assignments and will return them to you with comments. You will find this feedback and guidance invaluable.

As a personal introduction, many tutors include a letter with the study material package or send a separate letter after the study period begins. Online Open Universities Australia units often include a section about your tutor. This section will also include your tutor's contact details. However, unless you need to contact your tutor at the outset, you may not be 'introduced' to them until the return of your first assignment.

Don't be afraid to contact your tutor - they are there to assist you and will appreciate the opportunity to put a voice to the written work they receive. Most tutors provide specific contact times. Please try to keep to these contact times unless it is an emergency. If you have any difficulty in contacting your tutor, you can always leave a message at the School Office or contact the Distance and Open Learning Office who will act as a go-between.

Textbooks

Most Open Universities Australia units require a textbook as part of your course material. You can order and purchase your unit textbooks from Unibooks (www.unibooks.com.au).

If the unit textbook is unavailable via Unibooks contact the Curtin University Bookshop (www.bookshop.curtin.edu.au) at:

Building 200
John Curtin Centre
Kent Street
Bentley WA 6102
Telephone: (08) 9266 3469

Library access

All students studying a Curtin unit are required to activate their OASIS account in order to access library services. OASIS is the Curtin student web portal available online at http://www.oasis.curtin.edu.au. For all queries regarding OASIS please refer to the OASIS webpage.

You will need to use your student ID and OASIS password to log in to library functions such as E-Reserve, the library catalogue, library databases and available exam papers. Library notices for those students with items on loan are sent via the Official Communications Channel of OASIS so remember to check this on a weekly basis.

Students living within the Perth metropolitan area are required to come into the library to borrow items, or to photocopy material that is not available electronically.

Students living within the Perth metropolitan area also require a student card before they are able to borrow items. Information regarding obtaining a student card is available from the Student Services website.

Download Generic library information for non-metropolitan students (Word document).

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism means presenting the work or property of another person as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment or referencing. See the Academic Integrity website to download Student guidelines for avoiding plagiarism.

It includes:

• copying of sentences, paragraphs or creative products which are the work of other persons (including books, articles, theses, unpublished works, working papers, seminar and conference papers, internal reports, lecture notes or tapes) without due acknowledgment;
• too closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs or themes without due acknowledgment;
• using another person's work/s (including words, music, computer source code, creative or visual artefacts, designs or ideas) or research data without due acknowledgment;
• submitting work which has been produced by someone else (e.g. allowing or contracting another person to do the work for which you claim authorship);
• copying or submitting computer files, code or website content in whole or in part without indicating the origin of these;
• submitting one's own previously assessed or published work for assessment or publication elsewhere, without appropriate acknowledgement (self-plagiarism);
• in the case of collaborative projects, falsely representing the individual contributions of the collaborating partners.

The University regards any acts of cheating or dishonesty by way of plagiarism very seriously. There are strong penalties for breaches, including annulment of results or termination/expulsion from the University.

See the University Statement on Plagiarism.

As a student of Curtin you should be familiar with the requirements of the University's copyright provisions.

Student rights and responsibilities

Curtin is a public university, subject to a regime of compliance including the requirement to operate within appropriate legislative and accountability frameworks.

In respect to the Curtin unit that you are undertaking, you will be subject to Curtin University of Technology's academic policies, procedures and by-laws. The following websites will assist you in understanding your rights and responsibilities as a student:

Curtin student rights and responsibilities
Policies of Curtin University of Technology

Study skills

If you'd like tips and guidelines to help you study more effectively, why not visit the Curtin StartUp Study Skills website. You will find strategies for dealing with assessments and examinations, writing skills, assignment guidelines, time management and reading techniques at this site.

Alternatively you could look at How to win as an Open learner - A Student's Guide to Tackling an Open Learning Course. A free booklet by Prof Phil Race [pdf 62pp 308kb].

Access, Equity and Disability

Open Universities Australia is committed to providing educational opportunities for students with special needs:

If you have any disabilities that may affect your study, let Open Universities Australia know by completing Question 17 of your registration form. Open Universities Australia will communicate these details to Curtin who will be able to advise you of assistance that is available at the university. For more information on Curtin Disability Services, visit their website.

Open Universities Australia is happy to negotiate the conversion of units into a more accessible format. This will take time and Open Universities Australia will need to be notified of your needs one study period before you intend to begin studying.

For assistance, direction and guidance with any access issues, please contact the Open Universities Australia Disability Liaison Officer on:

Telephone: +61 3 8628 2555
Fax: +61 3 8628 2955
Email: advisers@open.edu.au

Intention to Graduate

If you wish to complete a degree course at Curtin you should register your intention after completing at least two units. To register your intention you need to complete a Registration of Intent to Complete a Degree at Curtin University of Technology form and submit it to Distance and Open Learning Services at Curtin along with the registration fee. The registration fee (which can be found here) varies between the different courses offered at Curtin. The form should be submitted to:

During the study period in which you are completing your final units, you must contact Distance and Open Learning Services to arrange graduation. There is a fee of $350 (2008) to graduate. Please note this fee may increase in subsequent years.

For important dates and deadlines for graduation, please visit the Graduations website.

Deferral

According to the new Open Universities Australia deferral policy, students will not be able to defer study from Study Period 1, 2008 onwards. For more information regarding this policy change, please refer to the Open Universities Australia website.

Withdrawals

If you decide to withdraw from a unit, you will need to complete a 'Request for Study Program Swap Form' (available from the Open Universities Australia website) and send it to Open Universities Australia as soon as possible, otherwise you risk incurring a fail grade on your academic record.

Changing and withdrawing from units
You can change your study program (by replacing units or withdrawing) until close of enrolment for each study period at no cost. There is a penalty of $50 per unit from after close of enrolment until the start of the study period. For changes made after the start of the study period but before the census date, see the Open Universities Australia website, opening 'study with OUA' then scroll down to 'changing your study program' and open 'Penalties for dropping units'.

The census date for each study period is listed in the Open Universities Academic Calendar, which can be found in the Open Universities Australia Handbook or on the Open Universities Australia website.

If you withdraw after the census date you will not be eligible for a refund of fees or be eligible to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited.

Special Circumstances

Special circumstances are circumstances beyond your control that did not make their full impact until after the Census Date and made it impractical for you to complete the study requirements of your units.

To apply for a refund or to have your FEE-HELP balance re-credited under Special Circumstances, contact an Open Universities Australia Student Advisor on 1300 363 652. You will be required to provide documentation to support your application.