How to use the Handbook

Use the University Handbook to find subjects available in your course and check enrolment requirements.

How to use the University Handbook

The University Handbook is the official source of information about courses and subjects at the University of Melbourne.

You can use the Handbook to:

  • Find subjects available in your course
  • Search and filter subjects
  • Check whether you can enrol in a subject
  • Understand your course structure and rules
  • Check subject dates, assessment and attendance requirements
  • Find course and subject contact details.

Course structures and subject details can change each year. Use the Handbook version for the year you started your course when checking your course requirements.

You should also check the current subject entry before enrolling. A subject’s content, availability or requirements may have changed.

Search the University Handbook

Find courses and subjects

Use the Handbook search and filters to find your course, see the subjects available to you and check a subject before you enrol.

  • Select the Subjects tab on the Handbook search page.

    Use the filters to narrow your results. You can filter subjects by:

    • Level, such as Level 1 or Level 2
    • Study period
    • Study area
    • Whether the subject is available as breadth in your course
    • Whether the subject has a quota
    • Whether the subject has prerequisite or other enrolment restrictions.

  • Before enrolling, open the subject page and check for any enrolment conditions.

    These may include:

    • Prerequisites
    • Corequisites
    • Non-allowed subject combinations
    • Special application or selection processes
    • Subject quotas.

    You should also check the last date to self-enrol. If the subject has a selection process, check the application dates and instructions so you do not miss the opportunity to apply.

Understand subject key dates

Each subject has dates that tell you when teaching and assessment take place and when you can enrol or withdraw.

You can find these dates under Dates and times on the subject page in the Handbook.

  • Pre-teaching period start date

    Some subjects have a preparation period before teaching starts.

    During this period, you may need to complete readings or other preparation. You must be enrolled in the subject during this period.

    Teaching period start date

    Classes start on or after this date.

    Check the subject timetable for the dates and times of specific classes and activities.

    Teaching period end date

    This is the end of the formal teaching period.

    Check the subject timetable for the final dates of specific classes and activities.

    Assessment period end date

    All standard assessment should be completed on or before this date.

    This date may be:

    • The due date for the final assessment
    • The date of the final assessed activity
    • The date of the final exam
    • The end of the standard examination period in which the final assessment or exam takes place.

    Approved extensions, special exams and supplementary exams may take place after this date.

  • Last date to self-enrol

    This is the last date you can enrol in the subject online through my.unimelb.

    In exceptional circumstances, you may be allowed to enrol after this date.

    To request late enrolment, you must:

    1. Get written approval from the Subject Coordinator
    2. Submit an Enrolment Assistance Form
    3. Attach the written approval to your form.

    Census date

    This is the last date you can:

    • Withdraw from a subject without financial liability
    • Apply for a leave of absence without financial liability
    • Withdraw from your course without financial liability.

    If you withdraw from a subject after the census date:

    • You will still need to pay for the subject
    • A WD grade will be recorded on your Student Record
    • The WD grade will appear on documents such as your academic transcript.

    You cannot enrol or re-enrol in a subject after its census date. This applies to online enrolment and requests made through the Enrolment Assistance Form.

    Visit the census dates page for more information.

    Last date to withdraw without fail

    If you withdraw after the census date but on or before the last date to withdraw without fail, a WD grade will be recorded on your academic transcript.

    If you withdraw after the last date to withdraw without fail, a fail grade will be recorded on your academic transcript.

Understand Handbook pages

Each course and subject has its own page in the Handbook.

Course pages explain course rules, structure and outcomes. Subject pages explain enrolment requirements, dates, assessment and how the subject is taught.

  • Each course offered at the University of Melbourne has its own page in the Handbook.

    A course page contains official information about the course, including its structure, requirements and outcomes.

    Key course information

    The key information area contains important details about the course.

    Year and campus

    The year shows when the information on the page applies. The campus shows where the course is offered.

    Course information, including the course structure, may change each year. Use the course entry for the year you started your course.

    CRICOS code

    CRICOS means the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students.

    The CRICOS code identifies the course in the Australian Government register. The register lists education providers and courses available to people studying in Australia on student visas.

    Fees information

    The course page provides access to information about fees. Use the filters on the fees page to select the type of student and study that applies to you.

    Study level and type

    This tells you whether the course is:

    • Undergraduate coursework
    • Graduate coursework
    • Graduate research.

    Credit points and duration

    This tells you the total credit points for the course and how long the course usually takes to complete.

    See Study load for more information.

    Course coordinators and other contacts

    The course page may include contact details for the Course Coordinator and other contact points.

    Use these contacts if you have questions about the academic content or requirements of the course.

    Overview

    The Overview section provides:

    • A general introduction to the academic focus of the course
    • Information about the benefits of studying the course.

    Entry requirements

    Entry requirements are the minimum requirements you must meet to be considered for the course.

    Meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee that you will be selected.

    Inherent requirements

    Inherent requirements may also be called core participation requirements.

    They describe activities that are essential to completing the course. Flexible learning arrangements may not be available for these activities.

    Contact Student Equity and Disability Support if you have a disability or health condition that may affect your ability to meet these requirements.

    Professional accreditation

    This explains whether the course has professional accreditation.

    Intended learning outcomes

    These are the academic and professional skills the course is designed to develop.

    Graduate attributes and generic skills

    These are the broader skills and attributes students are expected to develop by completing the course.

    Course structure

    Course structure is the official source of information about the course rules and subjects available in your course.

    You must meet the course structure requirements that apply to you before you can graduate.

    Course requirements may appear:

    • In the main course entry
    • On pages linked from the course entry
    • Under majors
    • Under minors
    • Under specialisations
    • Under streams
    • Under entry points.

    Further study

    This section describes further education pathways that may be available after you complete the course.

    Notes

    This section contains other course information that is not covered elsewhere on the page.

  • Each subject has its own page in the Handbook.

    Check the subject page before choosing or enrolling in a subject.

    Contact details

    The subject page may list the Subject Coordinator or another contact.

    You can contact them if you:

    • Have academic questions about the subject
    • Need more information about the subject
    • Need to ask for permission to enrol without meeting a listed requisite.

    You can usually find contact details by opening Dates and times on the subject page.

    Dates and times

    This section tells you whether, where and when the subject is offered.

    Important dates to check include:

    • The teaching period
    • The assessment period
    • The last date to self-enrol
    • The census date
    • The last date to withdraw without fail.

    Timetable information

    Each subject page includes a link to the subject’s timetable information.

    The timetable may show:

    • The days classes are planned to run
    • Class times
    • Class locations
    • Activity types, such as tutorials, laboratories and practical classes.

    Not every class shown in the timetable is guaranteed to run. The number of tutorials, laboratories and practical classes that open may depend on how many students enrol.

    Quotas and special selection processes

    A subject or a particular subject offering may have:

    • An enrolment quota
    • An audition
    • An interview
    • A written application
    • Another selection process.

    Check Additional delivery details for:

    • Quota limits
    • How students are selected
    • Application dates
    • Application instructions.

    You should also check the last date to self-enrol under Dates and times. This will help you avoid missing the opportunity to apply for or enrol in the subject.

    Prerequisites

    A prerequisite is a subject or other requirement you must successfully complete before starting the selected subject.

    Prerequisites appear under Eligibility and requirements.

    Corequisites

    A corequisite is a subject you must enrol in and complete during the same study period as the selected subject.

    Corequisites appear under Eligibility and requirements.

    Non-allowed subjects

    This section lists subjects or previous study that may prevent you from enrolling in the selected subject.

    If you have completed, enrolled in or received advanced standing for a listed non-allowed subject, you will not be able to enrol in the selected subject.

    If you are enrolled in a non-allowed subject for later in your course, you may be able to withdraw from it so you can enrol in the selected subject.

    Do not withdraw if the non-allowed subject is a core or compulsory subject. You must remain enrolled in subjects required by your course.

    Non-allowed subjects appear under Eligibility and requirements.

    Recommended background knowledge

    This section lists subjects, skills or other knowledge that students are strongly advised to have before enrolling.

    Recommended background knowledge is not the same as a prerequisite. However, having this knowledge may help you succeed in the subject.

    This information appears under Eligibility and requirements.

    Assessment

    The Assessment section explains the work you must complete to receive a grade for the subject.

    When choosing subjects, consider whether the assessment suits the way you learn. For example:

    • Do you prefer group work or individual work?
    • Do you prefer exams or essays?
    • Is assessment spread across the study period?
    • Is most of the assessment due near the end?

    You should also check this section for hurdle requirements.

    Study mode

    Study mode appears under Dates and times for each subject offering.

    On campus

    Attendance is required at a University of Melbourne campus or an official examination venue for teaching, learning or assessment.

    Even one required session at one of these locations means the subject may be listed as on campus.

    Off campus

    Attendance is required at a location that is not an official University campus or examination venue.

    University staff arrange the attendance and may take part in the teaching or supervision.

    Examples include field trips and hospital placements. No attendance is required at an official University campus or examination venue.

    Online

    An online subject may be:

    • Taught and assessed fully online
    • Taught fully by correspondence or distance study
    • Taught through a combination of online and correspondence study.

    No attendance is required at a University campus or official examination venue.

    Some online subjects may require attendance or a placement that you arrange yourself. University staff do not organise, teach or supervise the activity at that location. An example is attendance at your workplace.

    The University’s campuses are Parkville, Southbank, Burnley, Creswick, Dookie, Hawthorn, Shepparton and Werribee.

    The Royal Exhibition Building may be used as an examination venue, but it is not a University campus.

  • A subject code has four letters followed by five numbers, such as MGMT90026.

    • Letters: show the study area. For example, PSYC is psychology and MUSI is music.
    • First number: shows the subject level. Numbers 1 to 3 are undergraduate, 4 is Honours, and 5 to 9 are graduate.

    For example, ANCW20010 is a Level 2 undergraduate subject and FNCE90005 is a graduate subject.

Plan your course and check subject requirements

Use the Handbook to check your course rules, find breadth subjects and make sure you meet any requirements before enrolling.

  • Undergraduate students may need to complete breadth subjects as part of their course.

    To find subjects available as breadth:

    1. Go to the Handbook search page
    2. Select the Subjects tab
    3. Find the Breadth in courses filter
    4. Select your course.

    The search results will show subjects that may be available as breadth for your course.

    Before enrolling, check:

    • Your course structure
    • Your remaining course requirements
    • The current subject entry
    • Any prerequisites or other enrolment conditions.

    Visit Breadth subjects for more information.

  • Some subjects list non-allowed subjects under Eligibility and requirements in the Handbook.

    You cannot enrol in a subject if you have:

    • Completed a listed non-allowed subject
    • Enrolled in a listed non-allowed subject
    • Received advanced standing for a listed non-allowed subject or type of study.

    If you are enrolled in a non-allowed subject for later in your course, you may be able to withdraw from it so you can enrol in the other subject.

    Do not withdraw if the non-allowed subject is a core or compulsory subject. You must remain enrolled in subjects required by your course.

    Why subjects may be non-allowed

    Subjects are usually listed as non-allowed because they cover much of the same material. There may be little educational value in studying both subjects.

    This includes subjects that have changed their name or code. Although the name or code has changed, the subject content may be the same.

    A non-allowed rule can also relate to study completed before you started at the University.

    For example, completing a particular VCE subject may prevent you from enrolling in a University subject.

    A non-allowed rule may also depend on the grade you received.

    For example, completing a subject may not prevent you from enrolling, but receiving a grade of 80 or higher may make the other subject non-allowed.

View a previous year's Handbook

Course structures and subject information can change each year. Use the Handbook version for the year you started your course when checking your course requirements.

Most students who started their course before the current calendar year follow the course structure that applied when they started.

For 2017 and later

Select the year you started your course using the Version filter on the Handbook search page.

For years before 2017

Use the Handbook archive.

Subject information can change over time. An older subject may:

  • Have different content
  • Have a different name or code
  • No longer be taught.

Newer Handbook versions may also include subjects that were not available when you started your course.

Use the Handbook version for the year you started when checking your course structure. Check the current subject entry before planning to enrol.