Step 2: Understand course planning terms and resources

Key term

Definition

Advanced standing

Advanced standing is acknowledgement of prior study granted towards your current degree. If credit is granted, this can reduce the number of subjects you need to complete in your degree.

As a graduate student, your advanced standing application has been assessed at the same time as your course application.

If you received advanced standing in your offer letter but it doesn't appear on you study plan, submit an enquiry here. Please attach your offer letter as part of the enquiry.

Capstone subjects

Taken in your final year, capstone subjects are designed to draw together the theoretical strands of your degree. Capstone subjects vary, and may involve work placements, project-based learning, or a research project.

Core/compulsory subjects

Subjects that must be completed to meet the requirements of your course or specialisation.

Course requirements

Each course has individual rules that you need to meet to be eligible to graduate that are detailed in the Handbook entry for your course.

Credit points

Indicate the value or weighting of a subject. A standard subject is 12.5 points, but there are some subjects with different credit point values.

Disciplines

Study areas that are offered within a particular course.

Elective subjects (or 'optional subjects')

Optional subjects chosen from a list within your degreewhich contribute to meet your overall credit point requirements.

Handbook

The Handbook is the University of Melbourne’s official source of course and subject information.

Prerequisites

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

In some circumstances, you may be eligible to enrol in a subject based on completing an equivalent prerequisite subject elsewhere. Find out more about how to request a requisite waiver.

Subject codes

Identify the subject discipline and level. The first number in the code indicates the subject level (eg MGMT90018 is a level nine management subject).  Graduate subjects are usually identified as level nine, although they can be any level from five to nine.

Subject key dates

Know the Handbook subject key dates, and understand the implications if you decide to withdraw from a subject after the census date.

Study load

Study load refers to the total number of credit points you enrol in for each half-year period. A standard full-time study load is 50 credit points per half-year period. If you are a student visa holder, a full-time study load is essential to meeting your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and visa requirements.