Student's Guide: English For Academic Purposes
Student's Guide: English For Academic Purposes
Student's Guide: English For Academic Purposes
Brisbane, Australia
TEQSA PRV12079
CRICOS No: 00213J
Student’s
Guide
March 2023 v1
Contents
Glossary .................................................................................................................................................. 1
GIL ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Campus and contacts ............................................................................................................................. 2
Location............................................................................................................................................... 2
Opening hours..................................................................................................................................... 2
P Block ............................................................................................................................................. 2
KG HiQ ............................................................................................................................................. 2
KG Library ........................................................................................................................................ 2
KG Computer labs ........................................................................................................................... 2
Important dates and times .................................................................................................................... 3
Course dates ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Public holidays .................................................................................................................................... 3
Class times .......................................................................................................................................... 3
First day of your course .......................................................................................................................... 3
Students in Australia ........................................................................................................................... 3
Offshore online students .................................................................................................................... 5
Studying at QUT and Australian Academic Culture .............................................................................. 5
Calendars ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Student Support Services .................................................................................................................... 6
HiQ ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
QUT College Expectations ...................................................................................................................... 6
Offshore online students arriving in Australia .................................................................................... 7
International Student Responsibilities .................................................................................................. 7
Attendance.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Absent from class ............................................................................................................................ 8
Maintaining satisfactory academic course progress........................................................................... 8
QUT ELICOS EAP Responsibilities: ................................................................................................... 8
Your Responsibilities: ...................................................................................................................... 8
At-Risk Process Overview ................................................................................................................ 8
Update your Contact Details ............................................................................................................... 9
Technology and systems ........................................................................................................................ 9
Devices (face-to-face students) .......................................................................................................... 9
Devices technology (online students) ................................................................................................. 9
Systems ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Canvas ........................................................................................................................................... 10
OneDrive ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Outlook / QUT Email ..................................................................................................................... 10
Zoom ............................................................................................................................................. 10
EAP Course Information ....................................................................................................................... 10
Where to find information on your EAP course ............................................................................... 10
What is GIL? ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Assessment ....................................................................................................................................... 11
Where to find information on assessments ................................................................................. 11
Face-to-face and online assessment rules .................................................................................... 11
Speaking assessment .................................................................................................................... 11
Submitting assessments - IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ ................................................................... 12
How to submit an assignment on Canvas ......................................................................................... 12
Problems submitting to Turnitin ....................................................................................................... 14
Problems submitting an assignment on time or unable to sit an assessment test .......................... 15
Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 15
What happens if I cannot sit an exam?............................................................................................. 15
Illness or circumstances outside your control .............................................................................. 15
Religious reasons .......................................................................................................................... 15
Late Assignments and Extensions ..................................................................................................... 15
Issues Affecting Academic Performance ............................................................................................. 16
Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Deferred Exams ................................................................................................................................. 16
Special Consideration........................................................................................................................ 16
Grades ................................................................................................................................................... 16
Grades are final ................................................................................................................................. 16
QUT Grading Scale ............................................................................................................................ 17
Final grades ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Date received ................................................................................................................................ 17
Understanding your final grade .................................................................................................... 17
Assessment Viewing Session......................................................................................................... 17
Review of grade ............................................................................................................................ 18
Communication .................................................................................................................................... 18
Expectations ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Emailing the management team....................................................................................................... 18
Sending Appropriate Emails .............................................................................................................. 18
Complaints ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Complaints about sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, harassment or discrimination....... 21
Complaints about teaching, learning, university administration ..................................................... 21
Health and Safety ................................................................................................................................. 22
Fire evacuation & lockdowns ............................................................................................................ 22
First aid.............................................................................................................................................. 22
Security and Emergencies ................................................................................................................. 22
Mobile phones and bags ................................................................................................................... 22
Beach safety ...................................................................................................................................... 22
Staying safe in Australia .................................................................................................................... 23
Welfare and health............................................................................................................................... 23
Culture Shock .................................................................................................................................... 23
Student Support Services .................................................................................................................. 23
Glossary
Criteria sheets Rubrics used to evaluate writing and speaking for assigning grades
Deferred exam An exam within a unit of study which is approved to be done by a specified later
date
EAP English for Academic Purposes
ELP English Language Programs
Formative assessment Does not contribute towards final grade
GIL Guided Independent Learning
GP Gardens Point Campus
IST Integrated Skills Test
Intervention Strategy An action plan to help you if you are at risk of failing to meet course progress
requirements. The aim of an intervention strategy is to help you to improve your
course progress to a satisfactory level.
KG Kelvin Grove campus
Overseas Student Health Compulsory health insurance, which is purchased by international students for
Cover (OSHC) the duration of their study in Australia.
Plagiarism Representing another person's ideas or work as one's own by copying or
reproducing without appropriate acknowledgment of the source.
SRB Student Resource Book
Summative assessment Contributes towards final grade
Turnitin an Internet-based plagiarism detection programme
Unit Outline A description of the organisation and content of your course. Unit outlines
include details on the objectives and content of the course, the teaching and
learning modes to be employed, information on assessment, and other relevant
information.
GIL
• GIL pre and post lesson activities
These are compulsory activities which students need to be completed before and after each
lesson
• Quizzes and Reflections
These are formative assessments and account for 5% of EAP Standard final grade
• Teacher-Supervised GIL
These are online drop-in sessions where students can go if they have any language or course
related questions. The Zoom link and times are on Canvas.
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Campus and contacts
Location
Classes are in P Block on the Kelvin Grove campus.
Opening hours
P Block
Monday to Friday: 7.30am to 8pm
KG HiQ
Monday to Friday: 7am to 7pm
Saturday: 9am to 4pm
KG Library
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
KG Computer labs
Visit the QUT website for details
*These days and times are only applicable for this EAP teaching block and may be subject to change.
Key contacts
Public holidays
There are no classes on the following dates:
Class times
*These GIL sessions are non-compulsory. You can join online and get help with any language or technical issues you may
have. The GIL homework is compulsory. The Zoom link for these sessions is on Canvas.
Students in Australia
1. Login to HiQ/QUT website
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2. Go to Study
4. Go to My graphical timetable
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Offshore online students
Calendars
• EAP Assessment calendar: Details of assessment dates are on Canvas
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• Academic Calendar
o Dates of EAP courses
o Dates of EAP orientations
o Public holidays
This can be found on the QUT Website. The EAP calendars are under the QUT College
header. There is also a link on Canvas under Syllabus.
HiQ
HiQ is a one-stop shop for services relating to your studies activities
at QUT.
These include:
• General enquiries
• Student ID Cards
• IT information such as accessing Wi-Fi and QUT
email/username
• Managing your personal information, including change of address and contact telephone
number
• Accessing your academic history and unit results
• Link to QUT Canvas, email and QUT Library
• You can access HiQ:
o Online: http://student.qut.edu.au
o Via email: askqut@qut.edu.au
o Via phone: 07 3138 2000
o On campus: R Block, Level 2
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Offshore online students arriving in Australia
If you are not yet in Australia, but will arrive during your EAP course, you must inform the college.
• Do not travel to Australia during assessment times. If you miss an assessment due to
travelling to Australia, you will receive zero for the missed assessment and won’t be able to
retake it at a later date
• You must email the APM-EAP and QUT College Administration (see Campus and Contacts
section for email addresses)
• You should complete your study within the duration of your electronic Confirmation of
Enrolment (eCOE).
• You must maintain satisfactory academic course progress.
• You must maintain your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay in
Australia.
• You must inform QUT if you change your address within seven days of arrival or changing your
address.
• QUT College students must also maintain satisfactory attendance. Students must attend at least
80% of all timetabled classes.
• If your enrolment is terminated by QUT as a result of unsatisfactory academic progress
(exclusion) or unsatisfactory attendance, you are in breach of student visa condition 8202. This
breach carries serious implications for your student visa and future study possibilities in
Australia.
Attendance
You must attend at least 80% of the scheduled contact hours for your program.
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Your attendance will be recorded at each class or teaching session, and our administration team will
make sure you are meeting the minimum attendance requirements.
If you do not meet attendance requirements, we may need to report your unsatisfactory attendance
to the Department of Home Affairs. You will receive a written statement of our intention to report
for non-compliance with attendance requirements. This letter will include information on how to
appeal the report.
If you are absent for medical reasons or for other reason outside your control for extended periods,
you should get a medical certificate or other official documentation. You may be asked to produce
these if your attendance drops below 80%.
Your Responsibilities:
• meet the course progress requirements
• let us know if your circumstances change, such as if you become ill or experience other
issues that affect your studies.
• postal address
• phone numbers
• personal email addresses in our records (these are used to verify your identity when you
contact us from a personal email account)
• emergency contact details.
To make a change, in the 'Contact details' tab select 'Update my contact details' (or navigate to the
‘Personal Details' tab in eStudent).
Devices should not have browser extensions such as ad blockers installed as they can prevent
assessments and other QUT systems from loading properly.
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o MS Teams
o Microsoft Office 365 (free for QUT students)
o QUT VPN
• no ad blockers or other extensions installed (these can prevent assessments from loading
properly)
• the language set to English so any screenshots of issues can be understood
• a fast and stable internet connection
Devices should not have browser extensions such as ad blockers installed as they can prevent
assessments and other QUT systems from loading properly.
Systems
Canvas
Canvas is the LMS used by QUT. You can access Canvas by going to https://canvas.qut.edu.au/. There
is information about Canvas on the QUT HiQ website.
Canvas is where:
OneDrive
MS Teams and OneDrive is where you will
Zoom
Zoom is used for conducting lesson for students who are learning online and also for speaking
assessments for all EAP students.
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o Content
What is GIL?
Guided Independent Learning refers to the following:
Assessment
Where to find information on assessments
• Unit Outline: Canvas (Modules – About Assessments – Assessments overview)
o Assessment task information
▪ Description of assessment
▪ Weighting (what %)
▪ Due date
▪ Task details
▪ Related program outcomes
▪ Objectives
▪ Timing and/or length
o Assessment Criteria
• Assessment Schedule: Canvas (Syllabus)
o Dates, times, deadlines etc
Speaking assessment
• Speaking assessments are done on Zoom
• Students need to have:
o a device such as a laptop (mobile phones are not suitable)
o good internet connection
o a quiet area to do the assessment (students can come to campus for the
speaking assessment but are responsible for finding a quiet location and device)
• Speaking assessments will run all day (from approximately 10am – 5:30pm) and you will
be given the time of your individual assessment on the day.
The week before the speaking assessment, there will be a Canvas announcement which gives
information on:
On the morning of the speaking assessment, you will receive an email with:
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• the Zoom room you need to join.
o The Zoom links will be on Canvas
You must read this email carefully and join the correct Zoom link. Students who
miss their scheduled time will receive zero.
• You must submit by the deadline: Late submissions will receive zero.
➢ Do not leave submitting your assignment until just before the
deadline in case you experience any problems.
• You must submit to the correct location: Assessments submitted to the
wrong location will receive zero.
➢ You are responsible for ensuring you submit successfully and
correctly.
• These rules apply to all students for all assessments.
1. Navigate to your course unit in Canvas, click on Assignments and fine the assignment you
want to submit.
Make sure you select the correct assignment submission location. If you submit to
the wrong place, the assignment will receive ZERO.
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2. Click on Upload.
3. Drag or upload your assignment.
4. You should see your assignment with a green tick.
5. Click the Agreement box.
7. If you submitted successfully, you should see your assignment, the date and time you
submitted as well as your Turnitin score.
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8. If permitted, assignments can be resubmitted by using the button in the bottom left
corner. Once submitted, you cannot delete your submission. You can view previous attempts
using the drop-down field.
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Problems submitting an assignment on time or unable to sit an assessment test
Overview
If you wish to apply for any of the below, you will need to give a full explanation and supply
evidence.
Documents will need to be translated into English by an official translator if they are in
another language.
If you are unsure, please email the EAP Coordinator & ELP Coordinator
Religious reasons
You have the right to take the exam on another day, if the examination day is on the same day as a
religious holiday.
• Send an email request to QUT College Administration within 14 days of the final
timetable being released. Cc the EAP Coordinator in your email
• Explain with documentation that supports this claim on organisational letterhead
from a religious leader.
On the QUT website there are details on how to apply for an extension. This does not
apply for EAP courses. Extensions applied for via this page will not be valid or
considered.
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If you are sick or there are circumstances beyond your control which prevents you from submitting
an assignment on time, you can apply for special consideration. Please see Special Consideration for
more details.
• Homesickness
• Relationship issues
• Illness
• The course is too difficult
It is important you let us know and any issues before they affect your academic performance. The
university may have services to help you with your problems.
Deferred Exams
If you are sick or there are circumstances beyond your control, you may be granted a Deferred
Examination, but you must follow the following rules:
1. Complete the online application (links and instruction on Blackboard under Assessments)
2. With your application, you must provide relevant supporting documents by scanning or
photographing the documents and uploading them with your application.
Applications will not be processed until your documentation is received.
The original supporting documentation must be available to be produced on request.
3. You must also email the EAP Coordinator.
4. You must apply for a deferred exam before or within three working days of the exam date.
Special Consideration
If you believe your performance in an assessment item was adversely affected by illness or other
special circumstances, you may apply for special consideration. Instructions and links for how to do
this are on Canvas under Modules / About Assessment / Assessment Policy
1. Submit your application for special consideration prior to, or normally no more than three
working days after, the date of the examination or the submission date of the assessment
item.
2. You need to provide supporting documentation to verify your claim. See Examples of valid
evidence.
3. You must also email the EAP Coordinator.
Grades
Grades are final
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• Students who receive zero for any reason (including submitting to the
wrong place or submitting late) should not approach teachers and/or
coordinators asking for their grade to be reconsidered.
• The same rules apply to all students and exceptions cannot be made.
• If you believe there were exceptional circumstances which affected your
performance and/or submission you may be able to apply for special
consideration.
However, generally this needs to be done before or soon after
an assignment is due (see special consideration for more
information).
• Pleading with your teacher or a coordinator will not change your grade
and is unacceptable
This scale can be used to understand the grade of individual assessments. However, for
your final grade this can be misleading. Please see Understanding your Final Grade
Final grades
Date received
Final grades are released on the Wednesday after you finish your EAP Standard course.
• If you have achieved the required grade to progress to your next course
depends on the percentage score and not the Qualitive Descriptor.
• The percentage score you need to progress to your next course is stated in
your Letter of Offer.
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reading and listening tests or GIL quizzes). Details of these sessions will be given after the results
have been released.
Review of grade
If you are dissatisfied with your final grade, you should first attend the assessment viewing session
for clarification on the reason for your grade. If you still wish for your grade to be reviewed, you can
apply for a review of grade. Information on doing this is on Canvas under Assessment.
Communication
Expectations
Exceptions will not be made if you miss important information that was
communicated via an email or a post.
If you send an inappropriate email, you may be told to read these instructions again and to
rewrite appropriately before receiving a response.
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The following are examples of inappropriate emails:
• No subject
• Inappropriate opening
• Name not capitalized
• No full name, student number, course, class.
• Not enough information: one short sentence. Which assignment? What is the problem
submitting?
• Impolite
• Inappropriate subject
• Which level of EAP? Which class?
• Email is emotive and pleading
• Emojis
• Exclamation points (!!!)
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You can use the following as a template when sending emails:
Dear ,
FAMILY NAME, First name (English name). Student number. Course. Class
Kind regards,
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Complaints
If you want to make a disclosure or complaint, there is help and information on the HiQ website.
To make a complaint, contact the relevant person/department by phone, email or in person. We'll
confirm your complaint has been received and let you know when it will be reviewed.
Most problems and complaints can be resolved informally. You should contact the relevant person in
the table below as soon as possible.
If you want more information or support on how to make a complaint, or your problem is
unresolved after a level 1 complaint, you should speak to HiQ or the QUT Student Ombudsman.
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Health and Safety
First aid
• For any injuries or accidents that occur during your studies,
report to administration and they will contact a first aid officer in P block or security.
• For any accidents, or potential accidents in P block, a form
must be completed with an HSE Advisor (Rebecca Axelson)
Beach safety
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Staying safe in Australia
Remember: Australia is generally a very safe country!
Culture Shock
Remember: Adjustment takes time
Accommodation: https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/student-life/accommodation-and-
living-in-brisbane
LGBTIQA+: https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/student-life/lgbtiqa-students
To learn more about the services QUT offer, contact Student Services at
studentservices@qut.edu.au
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The Queensland Student Hub Network offers a range of support services for students living in
Queensland
https://www.studyqueensland.qld.gov.au/live-in-queensland/student-support
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