PROCEDURES

POST NOMINALS PROCEDURES

PURPOSE
These procedures set out how post nominals (program abbreviations) are allocated for University
programs, and how they are to be used.

PROCEDURES
1

Allocation of Post Nominals

The University will allocate a post nominal (also known as a program or award abbreviation) whenever a
new program is proposed or a new major is proposed for an existing program. The proposer will suggest
the post nominal within the New Program Proposal or Change Program Proposal. The Secretary to
Academic Board maintains a university-wide perspective on post nominals, and will edit as necessary, in
consultation with the proposer, to ensure the post nominal complies with these procedures and that there
is no conflict with any existing post nominal.
The use of a specific post nominal must be determined by considering the following factors:

professional recognition for the specific abbreviation;

the possibility of alternative negative connotations of the specific abbreviation;

possible misunderstanding by students and employers; and

the possibility of a similar specific program post nominal in the general academic and professional
area.

Standard Rules

Post nominals should be made using a mixture of upper and lower-case characters, commencing
with the program abbreviation.

Abbreviations should ensure that anyone reading the post nominal can determine the program it
represents.

The same abbreviation will be used for all instances of a word, except where a commonly
recognised abbreviation exists for a particular program. (For example, Arts would not normally be
abbreviated, as in GradDipPerfArts, but an exception would be made for the well-known BA
(Bachelor of Arts). Similarly, Business would normally be abbreviated as Bus, with the exception
of the MBA as this is an internationally-recognised program abbreviation.)

Punctuation should not be used within the post nominal, eg BMathSc and not B.Math.Sc. Each
qualification is separated by a comma, eg BProfComm, GradCertArtsAdmin CQU, PhD USQ.

There should not be spaces in abbreviations, eg BBus(Acct)(Hons).

Capitalise the first letter of each abbreviated word.

Dual degree programs (which result in one testamur) should be separated by a forward slash, eg
BA/BBus.

Double degree programs (which result in two testamurs) should be separated by a space, eg
BEng DipProfPrac(Eng).

Post Nominals Procedures

Version: 3
Once PRINTED, this is an UNCONTROLLED DOCUMENT. Refer to Policy Portal for latest version.
CQUniversity CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD - 00219C; NSW - 01315F; VIC - 01624D

Page 1 of 3

Program majors should be enclosed in round brackets, eg BEng(Mech).

Double majors should be enclosed in round brackets, and separated by a forward slash, eg
BBus(Acct/IS).

Italics must be used for the name of the institution, eg BMus CQU.

Levels of achievement, such as first class or with distinction, cannot appear in the post nominals.

Explicit multiple characters for post nominals relating to discipline areas must be used, except in
circumstances where the discipline can demonstrate that single character abbreviations conform to an
International standard or are widely-known.

Display of Award Abbreviations

National Honours should precede all other qualifications.

Lower degree should precede higher degree, eg BEng, MBus E Cowan.

All degrees from the same institute should be grouped together,

eg BA, MClinPsych CQU, BSc Murd.

Professional qualifications should be placed after academic qualifications,

eg BSc, PhD CQU, ARACI.

Standard Program Abbreviations for CQUniversity

Cert

Certificate in

AdvCert

Advanced Certificate in

Dip

Diploma of

AdvDip

Advanced Diploma of

AD

Associate Degree of

Bachelor of

GradCert

Graduate Certificate in

GradDip

Graduate Diploma of

PGradDip

Postgraduate Diploma of

Master of

Doctor of

RESPONSIBILITIES
Heads of Program are responsible for ensuring appropriate post nominals are proposed for new
programs.
The Secretary to Academic Board is responsible for maintaining a university-wide perspective on post
nominals, ensuring the post nominal submitted to Academic Board for approval complies with these
procedures, and that there is no conflict with any existing post nominal.

RECORDS
All records relevant to these procedures are to be maintained in a recognised University recordkeeping
system.

Post Nominals Procedures

Version: 3
Once PRINTED, this is an UNCONTROLLED DOCUMENT. Refer to Policy Portal for latest version.
CQUniversity CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD - 00219C; NSW - 01315F; VIC - 01624D

Page 2 of 3

Approval Authority
Administrator
Original Approval Date
Amendment History
Date of Next Review
Related Documents

Academic Board
University Secretary
25 May 2005
Executive Director (Corporate Services) 1 March 2010; Academic Board 17
April 2013.
17 April 2016
Post Nominals Listing

Post Nominals Procedures

Version: 3
Once PRINTED, this is an UNCONTROLLED DOCUMENT. Refer to Policy Portal for latest version.
CQUniversity CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD - 00219C; NSW - 01315F; VIC - 01624D

Page 3 of 3