SAO Accreditation (Please click here for the 2020-2024 accreditation)
Future updates, for 2025 and beyond, should be requested from Swinburne.
The information below is kept for historical purposes.
Accreditation Letters
The two following statements, taken from letters by Ms. T. Kilsby, the
Director of Student Operations of Swinburne University of Technology,
are available for applicants wishing to obtain a
copy of the original letters for certification purposes
(for example, for credit for professional development). Please contact
prospective _at- swin.edu.au for a copy
of either document.
The first letter details the establishment of Swinburne
University of Technology by Act of Parliament in 1992 and summarises
the dates of the accreditation and re-accreditation of our online
astronomy courses. The second letter outlines the number of credit
points and equivalent contact hours for the various graduate courses
in Astronomy at Swinburne University of Technology.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
This is to verify that Swinburne University of Technology is a
tertiary institution established pursuant to the Swinburne University
of Technology Act 1992 (Act No. 44/1992), an Act of the Parliament of
Victoria, a State Parliament within the Commonwealth of Australia.
As a university established by legislation of the Parliament of
the State of Victoria within the Commonwealth of Australia, Swinburne
University of Technology is a recognised university by the Australian
Federal Government and is partially funded by both the Victorian State
and Australian Federal Governments.
Swinburne University of Technology is a body corporate capable of
being sued and suing.
The objects of the University were set out in Section 6 of the
Swinburne University of Technology Act 1992.
The Swinburne University of Technology Act empowers the
University to do all things necessary for the attainment of these
objects within Victoria and elsewhere. This includes the power to
accredit its programs and grant awards. The Master, Graduate Diploma
and Graduate Certificate (Astronomy) courses were first accredited by
the University Council on 13 December 1999 for a period of five years,
concluding 31 December 2004. The courses were re-accredited by
the University Council on the 21 June 2004 for 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2009,
and again on 8 July 2009 for 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014.
T Kilsby
Director, Student Operations
Swinburne University of Technology
10 December 2009
P.S. This was replaced by the
Swinburne University of Technology Act 2010
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
Please be advised that the academic award courses Graduate
Certificate of Science in Astronomy (code SO48), Graduate Diploma of
Science in Astronomy (code SO58) and Master of Science in Astronomy
(code SO68) comprise 4, 8 and 12 subjects (units) respectively. In
accordance with Swinburne University of Technology policy each
subject (unit) is worth 12.5 credit points, or a total of 50 credit
points for the Graduate Certificate, 100 credit points for the
Graduate Diploma and 150 credit points for the Master degree. Each
subject (unit) requires 5 contact hours per week for a minimum 12
week teaching semester, or a total of 60 contact hours per subject
per semester. Up to 4 subjects (units), or 240 contact hours, may be
taken in any one semester.
All three courses are accredited for offering and award until 31 December 2014.
T Kilsby
Director, Student Operations
Swinburne University of Technology
10 December 2009
Program Re-Accreditation: Changes for 2010
In July 2009, the three SAO degree programs were re-accredited by Swinburne University Coucil, and the following changes will effect the program from 2010:
- Graduate Certificate of Science (Astronomy) students will be able to enroll in any four SAO units, subject to prerequities.
- Graduate Diploma of Science (Astronomy) students must complete three core units, plus any 5 elective units (subject to prerequities).
- Master of Science (Astronomy) students must complete three core units plus one Major Project unit, plus any 8 elective units (subject to prerequities).
- The three core units are HET602, HET603, HET624.
