Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade [and a mark] which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure.

To pass this unit, you must attempt all assessment tasks, demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better. 

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Grading of Assessments

You will receive a grade for each assessment within this unit. The grades awarded will reflect a holistic evaluation of the work against the criteria outlined within the corresponding assessment rubric. Numerical marks will be calculated for each assessment based on the following percentages, and rounded to the nearest full mark:

• High distinction (HD) – 95%
• Distinction (D) – 80%
• Credit (C) – 70%
• Pass (P) – 60%
• Pass threshold (P-) – 50%
• Fail (F) – 40%

Submission of an assessment task that is deemed by the unit convenor to be incompete, or not a serious attempt, may result in the Fail (F) grade to be awarded a numerical grade below 40%.

Extensions for Assessment Tasks

Short Extensions: The Assessment Task table lists which assessments are eligible for a Short Extension. You can only apply for a Short Extension before the assessment due date. No reason or evidence is required. It will extend the due date by an additional 3 calendar days. You can only receive one Short Extension for each eligible assessment task. Short Extensions are not available if you have already received an IEAP Extension or Special Consideration for that assessment task.

Applications for assessment task extensions may be considered for short-term, unexpected, serious, and unavoidable circumstances affecting assessment. Applications must be submitted via Service Connect | Macquarie University For further details please refer to the Special Considerations Policy. You can also find out more on the MQ Student Portal at the following link: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

Should you encounter any personal issues or concerns in regard to health and wellbeing during your studies you can also gain personal support and advice on campus. Please see the following link for further information: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/personal

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration or Short Extension request (where applicable) has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.   

 For example:

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assumed knowledge

This unit builds and integrates material from previous semesters, particularly Evidence-based Healthcare and Healthcare Complexity and Physiotherapy.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, online modules, videos and lectures. This unit encompasses an active learning approach where you will be expected to actively engage in enhancing your own learning experience. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit. A blended learning and teaching strategy is implemented within this unit with online modules providing content and interactive activities such as quizzes and forums, which is further built upon in campus-based tutorials. Tutorials will focus on extending your current knowledge, skills and application in research settings and writing feedback sessions will be provided to assist with scientific research skills. You will meet with your research supervisors on a regular basis, either individually or in a group, to discuss your research project and plans. You will also be required to independently identify aspects of your research skills that require further development and engage active strategies to achieve these. The teaching approach will be based on you developing a deep understanding of the principles and the ability to independently solve problems. Also included within the unit will be a focus upon increasing your digital literacy and advanced communication skills, with creativity and innovation being embraced.

Unit Organisation

This is a ten credit point unit run over the session. Overall, it is anticipated that you spend approximately 150 hours across the session on this unit. Within this session there will be approximately 8 hours of campus-based tutorials, with a further 16 hours of online activities, including preparation for tutorials. You will also spend approximately 60 hours on your research activities, including academic mentorship for your scientific writing and regular research meetings with your supervisor. You will  need to allow approximately 65 hours for assessment based work.

Recommended readings

There is no compulsory textbook for this unit. Resources will be referred to throughout the unit with specific information provided on the unit iLearn site. You will be expected to independently search for resources relevant to your research project, and your research supervisor will provide guidance as required. 

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. If you do not own a laptop computer you may borrow one from the university library.

On-campus

Teaching rooms are equipped with state of art audio-visual and ICT equipment including ipads, laptops, internet connection, high quality video cameras and multiple LCD screens. You will have access to a range of physiotherapy specific equipment if required for use in your research projects.

Off-campus

To study optimally off campus you will need to have access to a reliable internet connection to retrieve unit information, undertake independent study, participate in online research meetings & to submit assessment tasks via iLearn.

Consultation with staff 

All staff will be available for individual consultation. See iLearn for contact details.

Across the semester you will engage in tutorials focused on research ethics, integrity, design, data management and scientific writing. You will also engage in: i) meetings with your research supervisor; ii) independent skill development; and iii) research proposal development. Detailed information pertaining to the unit schedule can be found on iLearn.

In Assessment 1 (Learning plan) the number of tasks that students need to participate in has been reduced from 4 to 3. 

In Line with Macquarie University's AI and asssessment policy (2026) outlined in the section below, an AI approach has been designated for each assessment task as follows.

AT1: Learning Plan (application for short extension permitted)

AT2: Project Plan application for short extension permitted)

AT3: Oral presentation application for short extension not permitted)

Updates to formatting of dates for assessments has also occurred to support the introduction of short term extensions. 

T1: Learning Plan (AI open)

AT2: Project Plan (AI open)

AT3: Oral presentation (AI observed)

Tutorials will be updated to support students in the ethical use of AI in research activities, including data searching, data analysis, and academic writing. This approach acknowledges the value of AI as a research tool while emphasising the importance of ethical practice and critical evaluation.

Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgement. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately.  You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.

To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:

 AI Open assessments allow you to fully incorporate AI, reflecting authentic tasks where AI would normally be used in professional settings.

Observed with AI Optional assessments involve tasks where you either demonstrate essential knowledge without technology or show how you apply AI under supervision.

Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgement, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community (and when on external/research activities representing the University), you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone including when on external research activites. 

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions, including research and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded, however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session (e.g., meetings with research supervisor).

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class/meetings. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.