Weighted Averages Calculation Method

There are 2 weighted averages systems in use:

	The UNSW student system WAM used to calculate flat averages across a session or across an entire program, which appears on your academic record.
	The School of EE&T WAMs used as a comparative measure to calculate honours and rankings.

The current EE&T system was introduced in 2001 and applies to everyone regardless of when they commenced their programs.

EE&T WAMs are calculated on first attempts only. If, for example, your first attempt at ELEC1041 was 42FL, and you repeated it to get 56PS, the mark used to calculate your average is 42 (not 56).

You can check your own weighted averages using the calculation forms provided on the web. We reserve the right to make corrections where appropriate.

The WAM calcualtion system has some basic rules:

All weights for courses are calculated using the following formula:

	UOC x Course Level x Mark (where course level is determined by the first digit in the four digit course identifier)
	The exceptions to this rule are general education and the final year thesis/group thesis where the following calculations are used:
	-	Gened is always calculated at a course level of 1
	-	Thesis/group thesis is weighted at three professional electives (72).
	Combined degree students will have the same calculations applied, but only to the BE component of their studies.
	Substitution, by approval, for equivalent courses taken in other schools (at UNSW) is counted in the WAM, and the weighting is determined by the School depending on the level of difficulty of the course.
	Where electives are taken in addition to the stipulated number of electives for a student's program, their WAM will comprise the marks from the first n courses taken at each level, where n is the stipulated number of electives for that year of the student's program. Subsequent electives for that year do not contribute to the WAM.
	Course exemptions are not included in the calculations. This applies to advanced standing students as well as to students on exchange programs. The exception to this rule is students completing a thesis on an exchange with an institution approved by the School.

Calculation Forms

Templates for calculating your weighted averages:

	BE in Electrical Engineering Calculation Sheet - Excel file (Old program prior to 2006)
	BE in Telecommunications Calculation Sheet - Excel file (Old program prior to 2006)
	BE in Electrical Engineering Calculation Sheet - Excel file (New program commenced from 2006)
	BE in Telecommunications Calculation Sheet - Excel file (New program commenced from 2006)

Honours Class 1	WAM >= 75
Honours Class 2 Division 1	75 > WAM >= 70
Honours Class 2 Division 2	70 > WAM >= 65

Queries regarding any aspect of the weighted average system should be sent by email to g.fong@unsw.edu.au in the first instance.