Frequently Asked Questions:
University Merit Awards and Chancellor's Letters of Commendation
- When are the University Merit Awards and the Chancellor's Letters of Commendation awarded?
- How do I know if I qualify for a University Merit Award or a Chancellor's Letter of Commendation?
- If I received one of these awards in previous years and have the same, or a higher program GPA for last year, will I receive the award again?
- Will the award appear on my transcript?
- Can I receive both of the awards?
- What can I do if I didn't receive one of the awards, but think I'm eligible?
- Where do I send enquiries relating to the University Merit Awards or Chancellor's Letters of Commendation?
When are the University Merit Awards and the Chancellor's Letters of Commendation awarded?
Awards are allocated retrospectively, a few months into the following year. For example, academic achievement in the year of 2006 the awards would be allocated by about the end of March, 2007. The Division to which your program belongs, or Chancellery will notify you by letter if you have received one of the awards. You should be notified by April if you have received an award.
How do I know if I qualify for a University Merit Award or a Chancellor's Letter of Commendation?
In order to be considered for one of the above awards you must:
- be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (in the year of award); and
- have successfully completed at least 36 units of study in that program; and
- have successfully completed at least 18 units of study in that program (in the year of award)
Anyone who has met the above requirements will be considered for one of the awards, however only those in the top 15% of their Division will be granted an award.
If I received one of these awards in previous years and have the same or a higher program GPA for last year, will I receive the award this time?
The criteria for both awards were amended late 2005, to be effective
for 2006 onwards. They are now
awarded to the top 15% of students in their Division, who qualify
according to all of the criteria. This
means that there is no longer a set GPA value for the awards, rather
they are allocated to the top
percentile within each Division who meet all of the eligibility criteria.
Will the award appear on my transcript?
Yes, all official allocated prizes or awards that are administered by the University should appear on your student transcript. Sometimes transcripts are printed prior to the awarding period and these will not show recently allocated prizes or awards, however the additional or later transcripts you receive will show all prizes or awards allocated to you. Scholarships do not appear on transcripts.
Can I receive both of the awards?
Students can receive only one of the awards in a given year as they are awarded for different percentiles within the same Division. That is, The Chancellor's Letters of Commendation will recognise the top 5% of all students who qualify in their Division, and the University Merit Awards will recognise the students who qualify and are in the top 15% of their Divisions (excluding the top 5%). The criteria states: '...Students eligible for a Chancellor's Letter of Commendation will not also receive a University Merit Award for that year'.
What can I do if I didn't receive one of the awards, but think I'm eligible?
You can send an enquiry to:
SAS-prizes-awards@unisa.edu.au
Please make sure to detail which
program you think you should have received the award for, which
year and your Student ID.
Where do I send enquiries relating to the University Merit Awards or Chancellor's Letters of Commendation?
You can send enquiries through to:
SAS-prizes-awards@unisa.edu.au
Your enquiry will be responded to as
soon as possible.