Academic Excellence & Award Abbreviations
Explore the 'with Excellence' and 'with Distinction' awards and award abbreviations across all levels

Recognising UNSW achievements in academic excellence and award abbreviations
Learn about the eligibility criteria and recognition associated with degrees awarded 'with Distinction' and 'with Excellence', and access a complete list of formal post-nominal abbreviations for accomplishments across all levels at UNSW.
See also
Award of Pass with Distinction (Undergraduate)
The award of Pass with Distinction provides formal recognition on the testamur and academic transcript of excellence in overall academic performance in undergraduate Bachelor Pass degree. This award is only valid for programs where an award with Honours is not available. Eligibility criteria as follows:
- Overall Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
- Calculation of WAM
- Credit completion requirement
- Application process
- Additional information
A minimum WAM of 75 must be achieved in all courses completed since enrolment at UNSW that are credited to the relevant award.
This includes courses from other UNSW programs where credit has been granted.
The recognition of other specified levels of academic performance on the testamur for Pass degree programs is not permitted, specifically any award based on levels other than 'with Distinction'.
- Failed courses: All failed courses are included in the WAM calculation
- Exchange and cross-institutional courses: Courses completed on exchange or at other institutions are not included in the WAM calculation.
WAM is not rounded up or down for the purposes of awarding with Distinction.
Students must have completed at least 50% of the requirements of their award through UNSW. Students undertaking courses under exchange or overseas study arrangements will not be disadvantaged.
Students do not need to apply for this award. Eligible students are identified by the Program Authority when checking students for graduation.
It is expected that all eligible programs will award "with Distinction," except in special circumstances where a program authority has the approval of the Academic Board to opt out.
View historical information on Council approvals of Pass with Distinction procedure.
- Overall Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
- Calculation of WAM
- Credit completion requirement
- Application process
- Additional information
A minimum WAM of 80 must be achieved in all courses completed since enrolment at UNSW that are credited to the relevant award. This includes:
- Courses from other UNSW programs where credit has been granted
- Courses completed as part of a graduate certificate or graduate diploma that articulates to the master's program.
The recognition of any specified levels of academic performance on the testamur for coursework master's awards is not permitted; this includes any award based on levels other than ‘with Excellence’.
- Failed courses: All failed courses are included in the WAM calculation
- Exchange and cross-institutional courses: Courses completed on exchange or at other institutions are not included in the WAM calculation.
WAM is not rounded up or down for the purposes of awarding with Excellence.
Students must have completed at least 50% of the requirements of their award through UNSW. Students undertaking courses under exchange or overseas study arrangements will not be disadvantaged.
Students do not need to apply for this award. Eligible students are identified by the Program Authority when checking students for graduation.
- An award ‘with Excellence’ cannot be awarded for Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, or Masters (Extended) programs
- It is expected that all eligible programs will award "with Excellence," except in special circumstances where a program authority has the approval of the Academic Board to opt out.
Award Name Abbreviations
(Post-nominals)
This list of post-nominal letters for Awards can be used as a reference for recent graduates of UNSW. For a list of programs currently available for enrolment, refer to the Handbook.
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Bachelor of Actuarial Studies
BActSt
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op)
BAct(Co-op)
Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Honours)
BActSt(Hons)
Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours)
BAdvSci(Hons)
Bachelor of Architectural Computing
BArchComp
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
BArchSt
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours)
BArchSt(Hons)
Bachelor of Art Theory
BArtTh
Bachelor of Art Theory (Honours)
BArtTh(Hons)
Bachelor of Arts
BA
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
BA(Hons)
Bachelor of Arts and Business
BArts(Bus)
Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours)
BASS(Hons)
Bachelor of Aviation
BAv
Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)
BBiotech(Hons)
Bachelor of Building Construction Management
BBCM
Bachelor of Business
BBus
Bachelor of Business (Honours)
BBus(Hons)
Bachelor of City Planning (Honours)
BCP(Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce
BCom
Bachelor of Commerce (International Studies)
BCom(InSt)
Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies)
BCom(Liberal Studies)
Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op)
BCom(Co-op)
Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) (Honours)
BCom(Co-op)(Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours)
BCom(Hons)
Bachelor of Commerce (International Studies)
BCom(InSt)
Bachelor of Computational Design
BCoDe
Bachelor of Computational Design (Honours)
BCoDe (Hons)
Bachelor of Computing and Cyber Security
BCompCybSec
Bachelor of Computing and Cyber Security (Honours)
BCompCybSec (Hons)
Bachelor of Construction Management and Property
BCMP
Bachelor of Construction Management and Property (Honours)
BCMP(Hons)
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice
BCCJ
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours)
BCCJ(Hons)
Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions
BDataSci
Bachelor of Design
BDes
Bachelor of Design (Honours)
BDes(Hons)
Bachelor of Economics
BEc
Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
BEc(Hons)
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
BEd(Sec)
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)(Honours)
BEd(Sec)(Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering
BE
Bachelor of Engineering Master of Engineering
BE ME
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
BE(Hons)
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Master of Engineering
BE(Hons) ME
Bachelor of Engineering Science
BEngSc
Bachelor of Environmental Management
BEnvMgmt
Bachelor of Exercise Physiology
BExPhys
Bachelor of Fine Arts
BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours)
BFA(Hons)
Bachelor of Industrial Design
BIndDes
Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
BIndDes(Hons)
Bachelor of Information Systems
BIS
Bachelor of Information Systems (Co-op)
BIS(Co-op)
Bachelor of Information Technology
BIT
Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)
BIT(Hons)
Bachelor of Interior Architecture
BIA
Bachelor of Interior Architecture (Honours)
BIA(Hons)
Bachelor of International Public Health
BIPH
Bachelor of International Studies
BInSt
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
BLArch
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (Honours)
BLArch(Hons)
Bachelor of Laws
LLB
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
LLB(Hons)
Bachelor of Life Sciences
BLS
Bachelor of Media
BMedia
Bachelor of Media (Honours)
BMedia(Hons)
Bachelor of Media Arts
BMA
Bachelor of Media Arts (Honours)
BMA(Hons)
Bachelor of Medical Science
BMedSc
Bachelor of Medical Studies
BMed
Bachelor of Medical Studies Doctor of Medicine
BMedMD
Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry (Honours)
BMedChem(Hons)
Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery
MB BS
Bachelor of Music
BMus
Bachelor of Music (Honours)
BMus(Hons)
Bachelor of Nanoscience (Honours)
BNano(Hons)
Bachelor of Optometry (Honours)
BOptom(Hons)
Bachelor of Planning
BPlan
Bachelor of Psychological Science
BPsychSc
Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
BPsychSc(Hons)
Bachelor of Psychology
BPsychol
Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
BPsych(Hons)
Bachelor of Science
BSc
Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) (Honours)
BSc(AdvMath)(Hons)
Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
BSc(Adv)
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
BSc(Hons)
Bachelor of Science (International)
BSc(International)
Bachelor of Science (Medicine) Honours
BSc(Med)Hons
Bachelor of Science and Business
BSc&Bus
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy
BSRP
Bachelor of Social Research and Policy (Honours)
BSRP(Hons)
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
BSW(Hons)
Bachelor of Town Planning
BTP
Bachelor of Vision Science
BVisSc
-
Diploma in Science
DipSc
Diploma of Engineering
DipE
Diploma of Language Studies
DipLang
Diploma of Professional Practice
DipProfPrac
-
Doctor of Clinical Research in Optometry
DClinResOptom
Doctor of Cyber Security
DCybSec
Doctor of Engineering
Doctor of Engineering
Doctor of Information Technology
ITD
Doctor of Juridical Science
SJD
Doctor of Letters
DLitt
Doctor of Medical Science
DMedSc
Doctor of Philosophy
PhD
Doctor of Project Management
DProjMgt
Doctor of Public Health
DrPH
Doctor of Public Management
DPM
Doctor of Science
DSc
Doctor of Social Work
DSW
Doctor of Systems Engineering
DSysEng
-
Graduate Certificate
GradCert
Graduate Certificate in Education
GCED
Graduate Certificate in Engineering Science
GradCertEngSc
Graduate Certificate in Information Technology
GradCertIT
Graduate Certificate in Public Relations and Adve
GradCertPRA
Graduate Certificate in The Built Environment
GradCertBEnv
Graduate Certificate in Urban Policy and Strategy
GCertUPS
Graduate Certificate in Change Management
GradCert
Graduate Certificate in Construction Project Man
GradCertCPM
Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership
GradCertEdLead
Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Built Enviro
GradCertSBEnv
Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering
GradCertSysEng
Graduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases Intelligence
GradCertIDI
Graduate Certificate in Pharmaceutical Medicine
GradCertPharmMed
Graduate Certificate in Advanced City Policy and Practice
GCACP
Graduate Certificate in Arts
GradCertArts
Graduate Certificate in Business
GradCertBus
Graduate Certificate in Capability Management
GradCertCapMgt
Graduate Certificate in City Analytics
GradCertCA
Graduate Certificate in City Planning
GCCP
Graduate Certificate in Cultural Leadership
GradCertCL
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security
GradCertCybSec
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Operations
GradCertCybSecOps
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy
GradCertCSSD
Graduate Certificate in Design
GradCertDes
Graduate Certificate in Development Studies
GradCertDevStudies
Graduate Certificate in Health Data Science
GradCertHDS
Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies
Indigenous Studies
Graduate Certificate in Logistics Management
GradCertLogMgt
Graduate Certificate in Management
GradCert
Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics
GradCertOcTher
Graduate Certificate in Operations Analysis
GradCertOA
Graduate Certificate in Petroleum Engineering
GradCertPetEng
Graduate Certificate in Project Management
GradCertProjMgt
Graduate Certificate in Property and Development
GCertPD
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
GradCertPH
Graduate Certificate in Space Engineering
GradCertSpaceEng
Graduate Certificate in Space Operations
GradCertSpaceOps
Graduate Certificate in Strategic People Management
GradCertStratPMgt
Graduate Certificate in Sustainment Management
GradCertSustMgt
Graduate Certificate in Teaching
GradCertTeaching
Graduate Certificate in Urban Renewal and Housing
GCURH
Graduate Certificate in Journalism and Communication
GradCertJournComm
-
Graduate Diploma
GradDip
Graduate Diploma in Advanced Flying
GradDipAdvFly
Graduate Diploma in Aviation Management
GradDipAvMgmt
Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice and Criminology
GDCJC
Graduate Diploma in Dispute Resolution
GDDR
Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Communication
GradDipJournComm
Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership
GradDipCL
Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies
GradDipDefStud
Graduate Diploma in Human Rights Law and Policy
GradDipHRLP
Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice
GDLPP
Graduate Diploma in Project Management
GradDipProjMgt
Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising
GradDipPRA
Graduate Diploma in Systems Engineering
GradDipSysEng
Graduate Diploma (Research)
GradDip(Research)
Graduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases Intelligence
GradDipIDI
Graduate Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine
GradDipPharmMed
Graduate Diploma in Arts
GradDipArts
Graduate Diploma in Arts By Research
GradDipArts
Graduate Diploma in Business
GradDipBus
Graduate Diploma in City Analytics
GradDipCA
Graduate Diploma in City Planning
GDCP
Graduate Diploma in Design
GradDipDes
Graduate Diploma in Development Studies
GradDipDevStudies
Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science
GradDipEngSc
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy
GradDipELP
Graduate Diploma in Flying
GradDip(Flying)
Graduate Diploma in Food Science
GradDipFoodSc
Graduate Diploma in Health Data Science
GradDipHDS
Graduate Diploma in Information Technology
GradDipIT
Graduate Diploma in International Law and International Relations
GDILIR
Graduate Diploma in Law
GDL
Graduate Diploma in Law, Media and Journalism
GDLMJ
Graduate Diploma in Management
GradDipMgmt
Graduate Diploma in Mining Engineering
GradDipMinEng
Graduate Diploma in Public Health
GradDipPH
Graduate Diploma in Urban Policy and Strategy
GDipUPS
Graduate Diploma in Urban Renewal and Housing
GDURH
Graduate Diploma of Business Law
GDBL
Graduate Diploma in Engineering Science
GradDipEngSc
Graduate Diploma in Sustainable Built Environment
GradDipSBEnv
-
Juris Doctor
JD
-
Master of Applied Linguistics
MAppLing
Master of Applied Taxation
MAppTax
Master of Architecture
MArch
Master of Art
MArt
Master of Art Administration (Honours)
MArtAdmin(Hons)
Master of Art Theory
MArtTh
Master of Arts
MA
Master of Arts (Extension)
MA(Extn)
Master of Aviation Management
MAvMgmt
Master of Biomedical Engineering
MBiomedE
Master of Building
MBuild
Master of Business
MBus
Master of Business Administration
MBA
Master of Business Administration (Change)
MBA(Change)
Master of Business Administration (Executive)
MBA(Exec)
Master of Business Administration (Extension)
MBA(Ext)
Master of Business Administration (Operational Excellence)
MBA(OpEx)
Master of Business Administration (Social Impact)
MBA(SocImp)
Master of Business Administration (Technology)
MBA(Tech)
Master of Business And Technology
MBT
Master of Business Law
MBL
Master of Capability Management
MCapMgt
Master of City Analytics
MCA
Master of City Analytics (Extension)
MCA(Ext)
Master of City Planning
MCP
Master of Clinical Optometry
MClinOptom
Master of Commerce
MCom
Master of Commerce (Extension)
MCom(Extn)
Master of Construction Project Management
MCPM
Master of Construction Project Management in Professional Practice
MCPM(ProfPractice)
Master of Counselling Social Work
MCSW
Master of Criminal Justice and Criminology
MCJC
Master of Cross-disciplinary Art and Design
MCDArtDes
Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership
MCCL
Master of Cyber Security
MCyberSec
Master of Cyber Security Operations
MCyberSecOps
Master of Cyber Security, Strategy and Diplomacy
MCSSD
Master of Decision Analytics
MDA
Master of Design
MDes
Master of Design (Honours)
MDes(Hons)
Master of Development Studies
MDS
Master of Dispute Resolution
MDR
Master of Education
MEd
Master of Educational Leadership
MEdLead
Master of Engineering
ME
Master of Engineering Science
MEngSc
Master of Environmental Law and Policy
MELP
Master of Environmental Management
MEM
Master of Finance
MFin
Master of Financial Mathematics
MFinMath
Master of Fine Arts
MFA
Master of Forensic Mental Health
MFMH
Master of Health Administration
MHA
Master of Health Management
MHM
Master of Health Management (Extension)
MHM(Extn)
Master of Health Professions Education
MHPEd
Master of Human Rights Law and Policy
MHRLP
Master of Indigenous Studies
MIndigS
Master of Infectious Diseases Intelligence
MIDI
Master of Information Technology
MIT
Master of International Public Health
MIPH
Master of International Business
MIB
Master of International Law and Security
MILS
Master of International Law and International Relations
MILIR
Master of International Public Health
MIPH
Master of International Public Health (Extension)
MIPH(Extn)
Master of International Relations
MIR
Master of Interpreting
MInt
Master of Journalism and Communication
MJournComm
Master of Landscape Architecture
MLArch
Master of Law, Media and Journalism
MLMJ
Master of Laws
LLM
Master of Logistics Management
MLogMgt
Master of Marine Science and Management
MMarScMgt
Master of Materials Technology
MMatTech
Master of Mathematics
MMath
Master of Medicine
MMed
Master of Mine Geotechnical Engineering
MMineGeotech
Master of Mining Engineering
MMinEng
Master of Music
MMus
Master of Music Education
MMusEd
Master of Optometry
MOptom
Master of Pharmaceutical Medicine
MPharmMed
Master of Philosophy
MPhil
Master of Planning
MPlan
Master of Policy Studies
MPS
Master of Pre-Doctoral Business Studies
MPBS
Master of Project Management
MProjMgt
Master of Property and Development
MPD
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
MPsychol(Clin)
Master of Psychology (Forensic)
MPsychol(For)
Master of Psychology (Organisational)
MPsychol(Org)
Master of Public Health
MPH
Master of Public Health (Extension)
MPH(Extn)
Master of Public Leadership and Policy
MPubLdPol
Master of Public Policy and Governance
MPPG
Master of Public Relations and Advertising
MPRA
Master of Reproductive Medicine
MRMed
Master of Science
MSc
Master of Security and Defence Management
MSecDefMgt
Master of Social Science
MSocSc
Master of Social Work
MSW
Master of Space Engineering
MSpaceEng
Master of Space Operations
MSpaceOps
Master of Special Operations
MSpecOps
Master of Statistics
MStats
Master of Strategic People Management
MStratPMgt
Master of Strategy and Security
MStratSec
Master of Surgery
MS
Master of Sustainable Built Environment
MSBEnv
Master of Sustainable Built Environment (Extension)
MSBEnv(Extension)
Master of Sustainment Management
MSustMgt
Master of Systems Engineering
MSysEng
Master of Taxation
MTax
Master of Teaching (Primary)
MTeach(Prim)
Master of Teaching (Secondary)
MTeach(Sec)
Master of The Built Environment
MBEnv
Master of Town Planning
MTP
Master of Translation
MTran
Master of Translation and Interpreting
MTI
Master of Urban Development and Design
MUDD
Master of Urban Development and Design (Extension)
MUDD (Ext)
Master of Urban Policy and Strategy
MUPS
Master of Urban Renewal and Housing
MURH
Master of War Studies
MWarStudies
Master of Women's Health Medicine
MWomHMed
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