Academic Excellence & Award Abbreviations

Explore the 'with Excellence' and 'with Distinction' awards and award abbreviations across all levels

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Graduation 2024

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.

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:

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.

Award with Excellence (Postgraduate)

The award of ‘with Excellence’ provides formal recognition on the testamur and academic transcript of outstanding performance in Masters (coursework) programs. Eligibility criteria as follows:

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.

  • 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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