HSC distinction courses

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Distinction Courses are subjects available to a limited number of students studying for their Higher School Certificate (HSC) in New South Wales, Australia. The three available courses are Comparative literature, Cosmology and Philosophy and are run by Distance education through the Board of Studies.

Only students of acceptably high academic standard and who have already completed at least one course for their HSC a year ahead of their cohort are accepted into the courses. Each is run not through high schools but rather through universities. Charles Sturt University administers Comparative literature and Cosmology whilst the University of New England administers Philosophy.

Each course is worth two HSC units (the standard HSC course size) and marks are applicable for calculation in the student's final UAI. However, these courses must be taken over and above the minimum 10 units required for the award of the HSC. Generally a student is only allowed to undertake one distinction course at a time and some students who completed an HSC subject early on in high school have completed two or all three in consecutive years.

The standard of education and level of difficulty is very high compared to standard HSC courses and as such final marks are considered favourably for subsequent university entry. Most work is completed independently and assignments are submitted by post. There are also several residential schools throughout the year where all students in a course meet (usually at the campus of the administering university) for several days of intensive learning.

Successfully-completed distinction courses earn students "advanced standing" in any degree programme offered by the administering university should the student take up a position there. Other universities offer differing levels of recognition.

The Distinction Courses are perennially under threat of being cut from the HSC curriculum through funding priorities. The courses are continued on a year-by-year basis and have done so since their inception. The fact that the courses are extremely popular with students, lecturers, principals and parents and that there is no likely replacement are likely reasons for their continued existence.

See the Board of Studies information booklet for more information.