Enrolment Glossary
Enrolling for the first time can feel like learning a new language. This glossary explains the key terms you'll come across on your enrolment journey at Adelaide University. For everything else, see the full Adelaide University Glossary.
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Advanced Standing | Recognises prior studies in a discipline that satisfies the requirements of prescribed set of foundational courses in a Masters program. Students must demonstrate that they have completed studies in a discipline area at an appropriate level. |
Bad Financial Standing (BFS) | An indicator on your account showing you owe money to the University. It can prevent you from enrolling until the amount owing is cleared. |
Census date | The date your enrolment for a study period is finalised. It's the last day to drop a course without paying for it or having it count towards your study record, so it's an important deadline to check each study period. For Semester 2, 2026, the census date is Friday 4 September 2026. Census Date is the date within each study period (or research period for research degree programs) by which a student's enrolment must be finalised for a course, and applicable fees and charges are incurred. It is the last day that a student can withdraw from a course and have it deleted from their academic record. It is also the deadline for various financial requirements, including submission of request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form; submission of request for FEE-HELP Assistance; payment of any up-front payment of student contribution; obtaining a HECS-HELP loan; or supplying a Tax File Number. |
| Class | A teaching activity within a course, such as a lecture, tutorial, seminar, workshop, practical, or online activity. When enrolling, you select the required class or classes for each course to build your timetable. |
| Class clash | A timetable conflict that occurs when classes you have selected overlap in time. To resolve the clash, select an alternative class that does not conflict with your other scheduled classes. |
| Class number | The unique numerical ID assigned to a specific class within a study period. Recording the class numbers from your timetable planner makes it easier to quickly locate and select your preferred classes when enrolment opens. |
| Commencing student | A student starting a program at the University for the first time. Before enrolling, commencing students need to complete extra setup steps, like activating their account and finishing the enrolment checklist. For some purposes (such as scholarships and government forms), you may still be classified as commencing for up to a year after you start. |
| Common Core | University-wide, interdisciplinary courses that build future-focused capabilities valued by employers and communities. Most undergraduate students complete one Common Core course each year. |
| Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) | An official notice setting out details of your enrolment, your student contribution or tuition fees, any HELP debt you've taken on, and payments made towards them. You'll receive one if you have a Commonwealth supported place or a HELP loan. |
| Commonwealth Supported Student | A student in a Commonwealth supported place, where the government contributes towards your course costs. You pay a student contribution amount rather than full tuition fees, plus the student services and amenities fee. |
| Conditional CoE | A Confirmation of Enrolment issued with conditions you must still meet (for example, providing further documents) before it becomes unconditional. |
| Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) | An official document Adelaide University issues to international students to confirm their enrolment, as required by the Australian Government for student visa holders. Its cancellation can affect your visa. |
| Continuing student | A student progressing in a program they're already enrolled in. Continuing students skip the first-time setup steps and can usually enrol as soon as enrolment opens. Someone who is starting after first year of study. |
| Core Course | A compulsory course that builds the essential knowledge and skills required for your program. |
| Co-requisite | A course you must complete before or at the same time as another course (unless you've already completed it), because the two are designed to be studied together. |
| Course | An individual subject of study with its own learning outcomes and assessment. Courses combine to make up your program. |
| Course outline | A detailed guide to how a course is delivered, including its learning activities, assessment requirements and other expectations for students. |
| Course page | The webpage for a specific course, showing information such as its content, learning outcomes, prerequisites, assessment and availability, including scheduled classes. |
| Credit | Recognition of previous study that counts toward your current program, so you don't have to repeat learning you've already completed. International students with credit may follow a personalised study plan. |
| Credit Precedent | Established when a specific course at another institution has been approved for credit for a course in a specific Adelaide University program. In this case, credit can be approved without re-assessment. Providing there are no changes to courses, credit precedents are normally valid for 3 years. |
| Credit transfer | If you've studied before (at another institution or in a different Adelaide University program), you may be granted credit for that study, so it counts toward your new program. |
| Cross-Institutional Study | Approved study of a course at another institution that counts towards your degree. Your Program Director would need to approve this. |
| Degree | Your qualification, at undergrad or above. AU also offers sub-degree qualifications; sometimes all qualifications offered at AU may be called "programs." |
| Degree Structure | The section of your degree page that sets out the courses required for your program, including the electives you can choose from. It includes study plans, rules and notes, and enrolment advice. |
| Elective/Selective | A course you choose as part of the flexible component of your program. Depending on your program requirements, this may be a program elective or a university-wide elective. |
| Enrol by Date | The date you need to enrol by. This is different for each study period. Check the academic calendar for your study period. |
| Enrolment | The process of officially registering in your courses and classes for a study period. |
| Enrolment advice | Guidance on which courses to take and in what order, found via the Enrolment Advice link in myEnrolment, or in the Enrolment Information section of your degree page. |
| Enrolment checklist | A set of steps in myEnrolment providing and confirming your personal details. You must complete it before you can enrol, so it's best done before enrolments open. |
| Enrolment Confirmation Notice (ECN) | A notice confirming the course(s) you're enrolled in, your enrolment load, the census date, your liability status, and any outstanding debt. |
| Expulsion | Expulsion means the cancellation of enrolment of a student of Adelaide University or a Legacy University and termination of all rights and privileges as a student of Adelaide University including the right to re-enrol as a student and right to enter or to be on Adelaide University grounds or premises. |
| Leave of Absence | An approved break from your studies for a set period, after which you return to your program. |
| Major | A structured sequence of undergraduate courses that develops depth of knowledge and expertise in a particular study area. Majors usually appear on your academic transcript and parchment and show your area of specialisation. Not all degrees offer majors. |
| Multi-factor authentication (MFA) | A login security step that requires a second form of verification (via an authenticator app such as Okta Verify) in addition to your password. |
| myAdelaide / Student Portal | The online student portal where you access University systems and services, including myEnrolment. |
| myEnrolment | Adelaide University's online enrolment system. You use it to complete your checklist, manage your enrolment, select classes, and view your timetable. |
| Non-Award | Enrolment in courses that don't count towards a program. Non-award study attracts tuition fees and isn't eligible for Commonwealth support. |
| Personalised study plan | A study plan tailored to your individual circumstances — for example if you've transitioned from foundation university, have credit, or have received specific advice from your Program Director or Student Assist that requires a new study plan required for you. |
| Preclusion | The cancellation of your enrolment in a program, together with a ban on re-enrolling in that same program for two years. Preclusion of a student from a program means cancellation of that student's enrolment and prohibition from re-enrolment in that program for two years. |
| Prerequisite | A course you must successfully complete before enrolling in another course because it provides required knowledge or skills. Check the course page for prerequisites when planning your classes. |
| Principal Program | Where your student visa covers more than one program, this is your highest — and usually final — program of study. |
| Program | The overall set of courses and requirements you are admitted to and complete to earn your qualification, such as a bachelor degree. Your program defines which courses are core, where you have choices, and how many you need to pass. |
| Program Director | The academic leader of the program of study who's responsible for the oversight of learning and progress. They may give you specific enrolment advice or a personalised study plan. |
| Program Elective | A course you choose from a defined list of options approved for your program, major or specialisation. |
| Quota / Sub-Quotas | A cap on the number of places in a program. Sub-quotas split those places into categories (such as Year 12, higher education, or TAFE) so you compete against applicants with a comparable qualification type. |
| Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) | The process of assessing your relevant prior learning — formal, informal, or non-formal — to determine credit that may be granted towards your Adelaide University award program. |
| Related Classes | The different class types that make up a single course — for example a lecture and a tutorial — where you select one of each type. |
| Requirement Group | A rule reserving certain class seats for particular groups of students. You may see a message that available seats are reserved, meaning those spaces aren't open to you. |
| Selective | A course you choose from a specified group of options to meet a particular requirement of your program, major or specialisation. |
| Specialisation | A structured sequence of postgraduate courses that develops advanced knowledge and expertise in a particular study area. |
| Standard study plan | The default study plan that applies to your circumstances (such as part-time study), unless you've been given a personalised plan or specific enrolment advice. Found on your degree page or through myEnrolment. |
| Student | Anyone enrolled at Adelaide University — in an enabling program, award or non-award study, a research program, or a short course or microcredential. |
| Student Assist | The University's support service for anything holding up your enrolment — account holds, course clashes, credit transfer, or visa rules affecting your study load. Available Monday to Friday, 8:30am–6:00pm. |
| Student ID | Your unique University identifier, sent in your Welcome email and used to activate your account and log in to University systems. |
| Student visa | The visa international students hold to study in Australia. It depends on a valid Confirmation of Enrolment, so changes to your CoE can affect it. |
| Study load | The total amount of study you are enrolled in for a given study period or year, measured in units. Your study load determines whether you are considered full-time or part-time. |
| Study period | The time over which a course runs — the umbrella term covering semesters, terms, trimesters, and intensives. You enrol in courses for the study periods that make up your academic year, and select the correct one in myEnrolment. |
| Study plan | A personalised list of the courses you need to complete for your program, in suggested order. Commencing students can find a standard study plan on their program page; transitioning students should use the personalised study plan they were sent. In myEnrolment, 'My Enrolment Advice' shows your plan so you know what to enrol in for each study period. |
| Suspension | The cancellation of your enrolment and the pausing of your student rights for a set time, including the right to re-enrol or to be on University premises. |
| Term / Semester | Specific types of study period in which courses are taught, enrolment happens, and fees are charged. The exact periods can vary depending on your area of study. |
| Timetable | The schedule of your classes. After checking your study plan, you plan your timetable by choosing the class times that suit you, then enrol. |
| Timetable planner | A downloadable tool (PDF or Excel) for building a draft timetable, spotting clashes early, and noting the class numbers you'll need when enrolment opens. |
| Transitioning student | A student moving across to Adelaide University from the University of Adelaide or UniSA. Transitioning students may follow a personalised study plan and log in to the study plan app with their existing credentials. |
| University wide elective | An open or free elective that allows you to choose from a broad range of courses across the University, provided the course fits your program requirements and you meet any prerequisites, restrictions and other enrolment conditions. |
| Unsatisfactory Academic Progress | A status applied when you're not passing key parts of your program - for example, failing a course for the second time, or failing 50% or more of your courses in a review period. |
| Welcome email | The email sent to new students containing the Student ID needed to activate your account. |