The Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is used to calculate the honours level of a student's award upon program completion.
The Weighted Average Mark is calculated for students who commenced their study in a bachelor honours degree program on or after 1 January 2016*.
In one year honours programs, all completed courses are included in a student's WAM calculation. However, in a four year honours program, the WAM is calculated using only advanced, honours level outcome courses nominated by the program.
In some cases a student may enrol in optional courses for their program that are nominated as WAM courses in another bachelor honours program. These courses will also be counted in calculating the student’s WAM.
The WAM appears on bachelor honours students’ academic transcript and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS), along with their whole-program GPA.
The relationship between the WAM and honours levels is:
- WAM of 80 or more, Honours First Class (H1)
- WAM of 70-79, Honours Class 2A (H2A)
- WAM of 60-69, Honours Class 2B (H2B)
- WAM of 50-59, pass
* For students who commenced their study in the honours program before 1 January 2016, their honours level is based on their whole-program GPA.
Frequently asked questions
The WAM is an average of the marks in the nominated set of courses, weighted by the value of the course credit points. For example, the mark in a 24 credit point course has twice the weight of the mark in a 12 credit point course.
The formula used is: sum of (course marks x course credit point values) divided by sum of course credit point values. The folloiwng table provides an example of a WAM calculation.
| Course credit points | Mark | Mark x credit points |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 80 | 960 |
| 12 | 85 | 1020 |
| 24 | 70 | 1680 |
| 12 | 90 | 1080 |
| 12 | 80 | 960 |
| 24 | 85 | 2040 |
| Total = 96 | Total = 7740 | |
| Weighted Average Mark (WAM) | 81 (80.625 rounded up) |
You can view your WAM in your academic history via Enrolment Online, or on request from your school.
Double degree programs
If you're studying a double degree program made up of two bachelor honours degrees, a separate WAM for each component single honours degree will be calculated manually after you complete the program. The WAM listed in your academic history is not a reliable guide to your performance in the component single honours degrees, as it includes all the WAM courses for both component single honours degrees.
No. The whole-program GPA will continue to appear on transcripts, and the incremental GPA will continue to appear in your academic history in Enrolment Online.
Employers and other education institutions expect to see a GPA. The WAM will only be used instead of the whole-program GPA for calculation of the award (honours) level for students who commenced study in their bachelor honours program on or after 1 January 2016.
Your WAM will be visible in your academic history, which may be viewed by staff responsible for supporting you in your studies. After you complete your bachelor honours degree, the WAM will be printed on your academic transcript and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).
If you transfer between two RMIT programs, it may be possible to be granted transfer credit with grades.
If a WAM-designated course is transfer credited with grades to a Bachelor Honours program, its grade will affect the Bachelor Honours program WAM calculation, according to the conversions below.
Note: RMIT transfer credit with grades can only record letter grades, not the numeric mark of the originating course.
WAM letter grade to number mark conversion:
- HD – High Distinction = 85
- DI – Distinction = 75
- CR – Credit = 65
- PA – Pass = 55
- SP – Supplementary Pass = 50
- PX – Pass grade only = 50
- Fail grades – LWN, NH, NN = 0
Cohorts of students subject to different conditions
An exception applies to students who commenced the following programs before 2016:
- BH105 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
- BH106 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)
For these students, the following formula for determining Social Work Honours Awards levels will apply:
| Course code | Title | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| HWSS2204 | Honours Project 1 and HWSS 2205 Honours Project 2 | 55 |
| HWSS1139 | Community Work | 15 |
| POLI1038 | Influencing Policy |
15 |
| HWSS1141 | Program Management and Evaluation | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
This exception has been approved by the Academic Registrar in accordance with clause 17.1 of the Program and course policy and clause 19.1 of the WAM guideline.
