Postnominals
As a Swinburne graduate, you are entitled to add postnominals, which identify your qualification(s) after your name.
This is a guide to help you determine your postnominals (the abbreviated version of your qualification title).
Note: You can only use postnominals once your award has been conferred (that is, you have received your testamur either at a ceremony or in the mail).
| Qualification descriptor | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy | PhD |
| Doctor | D |
| Masters Degree | M |
| Graduate Diploma | GradDip |
| Graduate Certificate | GradCert |
| Bachelor Degree | B |
| Honours | Hons |
| Associate Degree | AssocDeg |
| Advanced Diploma | AdvDip |
| Diploma | Dip |
| Certificate IV | CertIV |
| Certificate III | CertIII |
| Certificate II | CertII |
| Certificate I | CertI |
These study descriptors are for Swinburne-accredited courses only.
| Study descriptor | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Acc |
| Accounting Information Systems | AccInfSys |
| Applied Science | AppSc |
| Architecture | Arch |
| Arts | A |
| Behavioural Studies | BS |
| Business Administration | BA |
| Business | Bus |
| Business Information Systems | BusInfSys |
| Commerce | Com |
| Computing | Comp |
| Corporate Governance | CorporateGovnce |
| Criminal Justice and Crimonology | CrimJust&Crimnlgy |
| Design | Des |
| Dietetics | HlthSc(Diet) |
| Digital Business Management | DigitalBusMgt |
| Engineering | Eng |
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation | EI |
| Film and Television | F&TV |
| Finance and Banking | Fin&Bnkg |
| Financial Planning | FinPlg |
| Financial Technologies | FinTech |
| Health Science | HlthSc |
| Information Systems | InfSys |
| Information Systems Management | ISM |
| Information Technology | InfTech |
| Information Technology Business Analysis | InfTechBusAnalys |
| Information Technology Project Management | InfTechProjMgt |
| International Business | IntBus |
| Laws | LL |
| Management | Mgt |
| Multimedia | Mm |
| Nursing | HlthSc(N) |
| Physiotherapy | HlthSc(Physio) |
| Project Management | ProjMgt |
| Psychology | Psych |
| Science | Sc |
| Social Impact | SocImp |
| Strategic Foresight | SF |
| Technology | Tech |
| Technology Management | TechMgt |
You can add the field of study to the letters that describe your award, if, for instance, you undertook a specialisation within your degree.
Example: Bachelor of Social Science (Media Studies) equates to BSocSc(Media Studies)
Exceptions: Bachelor of Laws equates to LLB and Master of Laws equates to LLM
Tips for stating your postnominals
Order of qualifications
The recommended order is the lower qualifications directly after your name, leading to the highest qualifications.
Example: J Smith DipBus, BBus
Institution name
The name of the awarding institution should also follow your academic qualifications. If you hold multiple qualifications from the one institution then you just list it after all of the qualifications from that institution, not after each qualification.
Example: J Smith DipBus, BBus RMIT, MBA, PhD Swinburne
Professional qualifications
If you are a member of a professional association, you may be entitled to include the postnominals for that association after your academic postnominals.
Example: J Smith BEng, PhD, Swinburne, FIEAust
Double degrees and dual awards
Graduates of double degrees or dual awards are entitled to use postnominals for both programs, separated by a slash. In the case of dual awards, the order should commence with the lowest qualification, leading to the highest.
Example: J Smith BSc(Biotechnology)/BBus Swinburne
Honours
Students who have undertaken an honours program, should list this after the qualification and study descriptor, and before the field of study descriptor (if applicable).
Example: J Smith MSc(Hons) (Network Systems) or J Smith BInfTech(Hons)
Keep on exploring
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Preparing for your graduation ceremony
All your hard work and late nights have paid off, congratulations on completing your studies! Now all that is left is to prepare for your Graduation Ceremony. Learn all about what happens on the day.
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Hiring your academic regalia
Learn all about the full graduation regalia you will need to wear at your graduation ceremony. Remember, academic dress hire is covered in the graduation fee.
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Alumni
Stay connected to your alumni community and enjoy a range of services and benefits, including networking and professional development opportunities.
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Confirm your graduation details
Log in using your student ID and password to confirm your graduation details.
Need graduation advice or course help?
If you have a question or need help with any aspect of completing your course or graduating, contact studentHQ. StudentHQ can help you if you haven’t received your graduation documents or need to get replacements.