Cross-institutional study

What are the guidelines for cross-institutional study?

If you are a University of Melbourne student, you must meet the following requirements to be considered for cross-institutional study.

You must:

• Maintained a strong academic record (normally 65% average)
• Have completed at least one full-time semester of study at the University of Melbourne
• Have appropriate subject content and expectations in terms of contact hours, assessment requirements and graduate outcomes
• Have a sound academic reason for enrolling in the subject.

You are permitted to enrol in up to the equivalent of 100 points of study at another institution providing you meet the necessary requirements.

Note: Capstone subjects are not to be taken cross-institutionally.

How do I apply?

Applications for cross-institutional study must be submitted four weeks before the beginning of the teaching period.

1. Gather supporting documents
   • Ensure you have an official description of the subject you wish to take. For example, a screen shot of a handbook entry of the subject(s).
   • Provide a statement explaining your reasons to request cross-institutional study.

2. Seek academic approval

   1. Undergraduate students (excluding Bachelor of Science students): Obtain written approval from the Coordinator of the relevant major (as stated in the Handbook) or the Director of the degree for breadth study.
   2. Bachelor of Science students: Please submit your application for any subjects without approval, staff will appropriately direct your application to seek approval. Please advise if you are seeking approval for a subject to count towards your major, noting this would only be considered when the subject is not equivalent to a University of Melbourne subject or when exceptional circumstances apply.
   3. Graduate coursework students: Obtain written approval from your Course Coordinator.

   Please note that for approvals required for the scenarios listed above (where applicable), academic approvals should be presented in the form of a letter/email and must confirm the following:

   • Subject/s applied for are deemed to be of an equivalent academic standard to subjects taught at the University of Melbourne. Please note: the Course Coordinator should also indicate the credit points to be awarded upon successful completion of each approved subject.
     • For undergraduate courses, please indicate the level (either 1, 2 or 3) that approved subject is equivalent to.
     • For both graduate and undergraduate courses, please indicate if approved subjects will count towards an elective or breadth.
   • Similar subjects to those you’ve applied for are not available at the University of Melbourne (this may be waived if you’re requesting to study interstate under exceptional circumstances).
3. Submit a Cross-Institutional Enrolment Application
4. Submit your supporting documents via an online enquiry:
   • Label your enquiry as "[Student number] - Cross institutional outgoing application - Supporting document"
   • Include supporting documents as outlined in Steps 1 and 2.

In all cases, you will need to apply to and complete the enrolment requirements at the other institution.

Fees

If you are a Commonwealth Supported Student at the University of Melbourne, you may be eligible to study as a Commonwealth Supported student at the other Australian university also. Note that if you are offered a Commonwealth supported place at another institution, you will be required to complete a separate 'Request for Commonwealth Support' form.

If you are a FEE-HELP student at the University of Melbourne, you will be eligible to undertake any complementary subjects under FEE-HELP (subject to your FEE-HELP limit). Note that you will be required to complete a second FEE- HELP application form for the other institution.

If you are required, as part of your course, to take a subject offered by another Australian university, and you are a Commonwealth Supported student at the University of Melbourne, then you will be eligible to take this subject as a Commonwealth Supported student at the other institution.

What are the guidelines for cross-institutional study?

If you are not a University of Melbourne student and are thinking of undertaking cross-institutional study at the University of Melbourne, you must:

• Be currently enrolled in a degree course at an Australian university
• Have a strong academic record (for example, at least 65% average or equivalent at your home institution)
• Receive approval from your home university
• Receive approval from the University of Melbourne subject coordinator, except in the following cases:
  • Undergraduate quota subjects offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS). Visit the MDHS quota subjects page to find out more about how to apply.
  • Graduate Law subjects. Visit the Melbourne Law School single subjects page for more information.
  • All applicants will need to refer to the Handbook in the first instance to search for subjects. If subjects are not listed as available for Study Abroad and Exchange study in the Further Information section they are usually not available for Cross-Institutional study. You can contact us at cap-application@unimelb.edu.au to check this if you are unsure, before contacting the subject co-ordinator.

Please note:

• Other eligibility criteria may apply to the subject(s) for which you wish to apply. Approval for a cross-institutional study enrolment is at the discretion of the relevant teaching faculty or graduate school.
• Some subjects are not available through cross-institutional study.
• Some subjects may have quota restrictions and therefore limited availability for cross-institutional study. Quota subjects may also have earlier application deadlines.
• Where possible, incoming cross-institutional study students will be enrolled on the same fee basis as their current enrolment at their home institution.
• Incoming cross-institutional study students are subject to the University of Melbourne's Student Fees and Charges Policy.
• The University will issue fee invoices directly to the student and is unable to administer sponsorship for incoming cross-institutional study students.

How do I apply?

If you are from another Australian university and would like to study a subject/s at the University of Melbourne, you must apply online using the University's Online Application System by the appropriate deadline.

As part of your application, you will need to upload evidence of approval from both your home institution and the University of Melbourne subject co-ordinator for each subject, up to date academic transcripts and evidence of your current fee type.

Alternatively, if you are a student from a university overseas considering study at the University of Melbourne, you must apply as an Exchange or Study Abroad student. To find out more please see visit Melbourne on Exchange or Study Abroad.

Note: Applications for the following academic year will only open once the University Handbook for the relevant year is available.

Course codes

Please select the level of the subjects you are applying for (as listed in the subject Handbook entry).

Which study period should I apply for?

You must check the handbook entry for each subject you are interested in and make note of the study period options and teaching dates. This information is listed under the dates and times in the Handbook entry for each subject, and it is very important to check this section for each subject you apply for, to ensure you apply for the correct study period and are aware of the teaching dates and availability. The teaching start date will determine the course intake you should apply for.

Please refer to Step 2 at Applications - single subjects - domestic for teaching periods, application closing dates and consideration of late applications for more information. The same deadlines apply for Community Access Program and Incoming Cross Institutional study applications.

Continuing cross-institutional study

If you wish to continue your cross-institutional studies and complete further subjects in future intakes you will need to submit a new online application for those subjects. You will be able to enrol in additional subjects only after your new application has been assessed and an offer has been issued.