The awarding of a postgraduate qualification with a class of honours, or with distinction/merit, is initially determined by the length of time taken to complete the qualification and then by the Grade Point Average (GPA) that you achieve.
Calculating GPA
- Each letter grade is assigned a grade point value, on a 0 – 9 scale, with fail grades assigned a point value of 0, and A+ grades a point value of 9
- The grade point value is multiplied by the credit value of the course, to give a weighted grade point value
- The weighted grade point values are summed; this summation represents the numerator. The credit values of all courses contributing to the qualification are summed; this summation represents the denominator
- The numerator is divided by the denominator to yield the GPA
Class of Honours/Distinction/Merit
- GPA 7.00 or higher First Class Honours, or Distinction
- GPA between 5.50 and 6.99 Second Class Honours, Division I or Merit
- GPA between 4.00 and 5.49 Second Class Honours, Division II
- GPA less than 4.00 Third Class Honours (For Honours Degrees only)
Note: Courses that are graded Pass/Fail and Aegrotat passes are excluded from the GPA calculation.
In circumstances where the academic record contains an aegrotat pass, a fail grade, credit from other universities, and/or more than the minimum number of credits for the qualification, additional rules for the calculation of GPA are required.
Aegrotat grades
Where the academic record contains an aegrotat grade(s), it is treated in the same way as a pass grade. That is, the credits associated with the course are credited to the qualification, but the aegrotat grade is not assigned a grade point value. The grade does not contribute to the numerator of the GPA formula, and the credits associated with the course do not contribute to the denominator of the GPA formula. Thus, the student is neither advantaged nor disadvantaged.
Fail grades
Where the academic record contains a fail grade(s), with fail defined as D, E, F, or DNC, the credits associated with the course contribute to the denominator of the GPA calculation but not to the numerator.
Credit from other tertiary institutions
Where a student has transferred credit from an incomplete qualification at another institution to a Massey postgraduate qualification, the credits awarded are credited to the qualification, but the grade(s) obtained at other institutions are not used in the calculation of the GPA. This parallels the treatment of aegrotat and pass grades.
Credits above minimum requirements
Where a student passes more than the minimum number of courses required for completion of a qualification, all compulsory courses, together with those courses with the highest grades, shall be used in the calculation of the GPA.