Subject requisites and waivers

Understand subject requisites and common situations where a waiver may be granted.

Subject requisite types

A subject may have requisites that you need to meet before you can enrol or while you are undertaking the subject. Some subjects have requirements beyond study, such as regulatory registration.

Requisites are listed in the Handbook if they apply, with further details in the Eligibility and requirements section of the subject page.

If you have covered the requisite material through similar studies, you may be able to request a waiver to undertake a subject without completing the requisites.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are subjects (or other requirements) that must be successfully completed before you begin another more advanced subject. If a subject has prerequisites, it will be to ensure that you have sufficient background knowledge to cope with its content.

Prerequisites may include:

  • Other University of Melbourne subjects
  • Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) subjects
  • International Baccalaureate subjects
  • A high school certificate
  • A relevant overseas qualification such as GCE A Levels, or other tertiary studies.

Concurrent prerequisites

Concurrent prerequisites are prerequisites that are allowed to be taken at the same time as the subject that requires it.

For example, you may wish to take a subject and its concurrent prerequisite/s at the same time if you cannot fit the prerequisite/s in your study plan beforehand, or if it is encouraged.

Corequisites

Corequisites are slightly different to prerequisites as they are subjects you must enrol in and complete during the same study period as the subject that requires it.

You will only be allowed to enrol in a subject that has corequisites if you are enrolled in both the corequisite/s and the subject during the same study period.

Non-study requisites

These are requirements that are not study-based and can include things like permission of coordinator, a Working with Children Check, clinical experience, or registration with a regulatory body.

The Handbook will indicate if supporting documentation is required.

Enrolling with requisites

  • Every subject page in the Handbook lists any required prerequisites or corequisites and contact details of the Subject Coordinator.

    Subjects marked ‘requisites apply’ will include requisite details in the Eligibility and requirements section of the subject page. Subjects marked ‘none’ do not have requisites.

  • Your study plan may recognise that you have met the requisite(s) and allow you to enrol in the subject as normal. If after trying you are unable to enrol, you can submit an Enrolment Assistance Form.

  • You cannot enrol in a subject unless you have completed the prerequisite or are currently enrolled in it and will complete it before the subject starts.

    In some instances, if you have completed studies similar to the prerequisite, you may be able to seek approval from the Subject Coordinator listed in the Handbook to have the requisites waived.

    With approval, you can then request a requisite waiver to allow you to enrol in the subject.

    Some subjects do not allow requisite waivers. Find out which faculties and schools have restrictions.

  • If you withdraw from or fail a prerequisite subject, you will be automatically withdrawn from any other subjects that require it as a prerequisite.

  • The enrolment system should recognise when you have met a Level 1 (first year) subject prerequisite.

    If your study plan does not recognise that your prior study meets the requirement for a first-year subject, you may need help enrolling. Find out which studies are suitable prerequisites and how to enrol in first-year subjects with prerequisites.

Subject requisite waivers

Requisite waivers allow you to enrol in a subject without completing the requisite by recognising prior study with similar or equivalent content. You can also request a waiver if the study plan in my.unimelb does not recognise your prior studies correctly.

Waivers are typically granted to students in the following situations.

  • You may have gained the prerequisite knowledge through similar studies at university or TAFE, study at an overseas institution or relevant workplace experience. This may be accepted with approval from the Subject Coordinator.

    How to seek approval from a Subject Coordinator:

    • Check if any faculty or school restrictions apply to your subject, to see if waivers are permitted.
    • Find the Subject Coordinator’s contact details on the subject page in the Handbook.
    • Seek their written permission via email correspondence to take the subject.
    • When submitting your waiver request, upload a pdf of their written permission that shows their name and email address.

    Please note: Melbourne Law School (MLS) students must submit a MLS Subject Prerequisite Waiver Application directly to the MLS. Do not contact the Subject Coordinator for permission.

  • If you completed a prerequisite for a University of Melbourne subject while studying overseas in a Global Learning program, you must submit your academic transcript via the Global Learning portal when you return.

    Once your transcript is received and processed, your credit and any subject exemptions will be applied. Please note that transcript processing can take up to 20 working days.

    If your credit hasn’t been applied in time for subject enrolment, you may need to submit a requisite waiver request via the steps below. You’ll need to upload a Statement of Results from your host institution when submitting a requisite waiver request.

  • If your first-year subject has a VCE Year 12 prerequisite, this requirement may be met by a range of equivalent Australian and international secondary school qualifications.

    If you find that your non-VCE study is not recognised in the system, you will need to request a subject requisite waiver. Check that your qualification is VCE equivalent and upload the transcript with the waiver request.

    Learn more about VCE Year 12 equivalent qualifications.

Requesting a waiver

If you're confident that your prior study satisfies a subject requisite, you can submit a waiver request.

Before submitting, gather the relevant supporting evidence (eg qualifications, academic transcripts) or seek written approval from the Subject Coordinator.

How to submit a waiver request:

  1. Log in to the Enrolment Assistance Form
  2. Select Requisite Waiver and enter the subject details
  3. Upload your evidence (PDF format) and submit your request

Enrolment Assistance Forms: Average processing time is five working days.
We are currently assessing forms submitted on 26 June 2026 (updated 3 July 2026).
Be aware of your subject key dates and allow sufficient time for your form to be processed.

Need more help?

Please contact us using one of the channels below.

Submit an enquiry Call us