Enrolling in subjects

Enrolling in subjects for coursework students is the process of selecting which subjects you will take by adding them to your Study Plan. You can also swap subjects if you need to make changes. There are enrolment requirements and key dates you need to be aware of when enrolling in or changing subjects.

Accessing your Study Plan

To access your Study Plan, visit the Study Plans page in my.unimelb.

Go to your Study Plan

How to enrol using the Study Plan

These instructions are for coursework students. If you are a Graduate Researcher or incoming Study Abroad and Exchange student, please refer to the information below.

Enrolling in subjects via your Study Plan confirms that you are or will be studying your chosen subject(s) during the study period selected.

Enrol in your subjects by ticking 'Enrol' to the right of each subject within the calendar year. You can tell when you have successfully enrolled in a subject as it will appear as green on your Study Plan and its status will change from ‘planned’ to ‘enrolled’.

Watch this short video to learn how to use your Study Plan.

Watch more videos from this series (you will need to log in using your University username and password):

Add your subjects/major/stream

  1. Locate the space for the subject/major/stream in your Study Plan and click the corresponding 'Choose' link
  2. From the resulting search screen, you may wish to enter the subject, major, minor or stream code or name.
  3. Alternatively, you can complete a blank search to view a list of all available options.
  4. Locate the subject, major, minor or stream in your search results, and make your selection.
  5. Your selection should then appear in your Study Plan as 'Planned'. This is the step before enrolment. While your subjects are 'Planned', you can still change your selection before continuing to enrol.

Enrol in your 'Planned' subjects

  1. Select the study period option from the dropdown menu next to the subject, if applicable.
  2. Tick the 'Enrol' box on the right-hand side of the subject.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the Study Plan and click the button to 'continue to enrol'.

How to make changes in your Study Plan

If you change your mind or your circumstances change and you need to add or remove subjects in your Study Plan, you can do this yourself. Before making any changes, ensure you have read the enrolment requirements and key dates information on this page.

  • Changing or swapping subjects

    Changing subjects is the process of swapping your subject selections. While your subjects are still ‘Planned’ in your Study Plan, the ‘Change’ link will display to enable you to change your selection to another subject within that category.

    If you are enrolled in a subject and wish to swap to another subject, you will need to first follow the instructions to withdraw from the subject you no longer wish to take, before enrolling in the new subject.

  • Withdrawing from a subject

    If you have already enrolled in subjects for the current or upcoming semester, withdrawing from a subject will un-enrol you from it. You may choose to withdraw from a subject if you want to change subjects, reduce your study load or take a leave of absence. If you withdraw from all your subjects before the census date you need to apply for leave or deferral depending on when you started your course to avoid being cancelled from your course.

    How to withdraw from a subject

Understanding your Study Plan

Your Study Plan is a tree diagram that displays your course according to the course requirements and the different types of subjects you will study in order to meet these requirements. Understanding the structure and statuses of elements will help build your Study Plan.

  • Study Plan structure

    You will have allocations for your core subjects (signified with a capital red 'C') and your optional subjects (signified with a capital blue 'O').

    There are groupings in your Study Plan for major(s), electives, breadths, as well as for minors and specialisations where applicable. These groupings can be expanded to reveal subjects or further groupings.

    There may be sections of your Study Plan where you are required to select a subject, major or stream, and some options may be pre-selected.

  • Study Plan statuses
    • Planned is the default status, and refers to subjects that you are not yet enrolled in. These are subjects you are either:
      • Required to study (core subjects), or
      • Have chosen and are intending to study (electives, options or selectives).
    • Enrolled refers to subjects you are currently enrolled in (currently studying or will be studying in the next study period).
    • Passed refers to subjects you have successfully completed that now contribute to your course completion.
    • Exempt lines on your study plan refer to credit that you have been granted for prior learning (Advanced Standing). This credit is not specifically related to a subject on your plan, but rather a number of credit points that will contribute to your course completion.
    • Failed refers to a subject you have undertaken but have not passed. Failed subjects do not contribute to your course completion.

    For more information on terminology, see the University glossary.

Enrolment requirements and key dates

Before using your Study Plan, it is important to:

  • Understand your course requirements and plan your course to ensure you are meeting the rules for your degree. Failing to meet your course requirements will impact your eligibility to graduate. Ensure you check the rules for your course using the Handbook and see the how to plan your course page if you need help with planning your course or subjects.
  • Understand your enrolment requirements, which includes maintaining an appropriate study load and applying for leave if you intend to take a break. Failing to meet your enrolment requirements may lead to having your course enrolment cancelled.
  • Student visa holders, ensure you meet the requirements of your student visa as failing to do so can impact your course enrolment and visa status.
  • Check your subject key dates as listed below. Making changes after your subject key dates may impact your fees and academic record.
  • If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place or in an Australian Full-fee paying place and accessing a HELP loan, be aware that the Australian Government’s Student Learning Entitlement and completion rate requirements may apply.

Key dates

There are four critical dates you must keep in mind to manage your study program. Dates vary between subjects so it’s important to check these dates for each of your subjects in the Handbook:

  • Teaching period

    The teaching period indicates when teaching occurs. Aim to be enrolled by the start of the teaching period so you can create your timetable and be ready to attend classes. If you enrol in a subject after teaching has started, promptly catch up on the content already covered.  Many subjects build on the earlier content, and it’s assumed students are across this content.

  • Last self-enrol date

    The last self-enrol date is the final date you can enrol in or change subjects via your Study Plan. In limited circumstances you can get assistance to enrol after the self-enrol date and before the census date.

  • Subject census date

    The subject census date is the last date you can withdraw from a subject, withdraw from your course, or apply for a leave of absence without remaining liable to pay fees for the subject, and without it appearing on your academic transcript and statements. Enrolment after the census date is not possible, even if you have approval from the subject coordinator.

    If you are in a Commonwealth Supported Place or an Australian Full-fee paying place and accessing a HELP loan, the Australian Government’s Student Learning Entitlement and completion rate requirements may apply if you are enrolled in a subject past its census date.

    Before this date you need to check your Study Plan to ensure it accurately reflects what you are studying by ensuring:

    • Subjects you are undertaking appear on your Study Plan marked as ‘enrolled’ and not ‘planned’
    • You have withdrawn from any subjects you do not intend to take, and that these no longer show as enrolled on your Study Plan once withdrawn
    • If you have decided to take a break from your studies, you have applied for a leave of absence by your earliest subject census date.
    • If you are a new student and have decided to delay starting your course, you have applied to defer by your earliest subject census date.
  • Last date to withdraw without fail

    The last date to withdraw without fail is the final date you can withdraw from a subject without receiving a fail grade on your academic transcript and statements. After this date, it is not possible to formally withdraw from a subject via your Study Plan, and if you stop attending classes and submitting assessments for the subject you will be awarded the grade for the assessment piece(s) already submitted.

    If you're receiving Commonwealth Assistance, and commenced your course from 2022, subjects from which you withdraw before the last date to withdraw without fail will count as a fail toward your completion rate calculation.

Troubleshooting

Helpful resources to help you solve common enrolment issues:

If after trying, you are unable to enrol in a subject or adjust your Study Plan (major, minor or specialisation), you can submit an Enrolment Variation form for assistance.

Creating your timetable

Once you’ve enrolled in your subjects and class timetabling is open, you can select your preferred class times for each study period using MyTimetable. Enrolment changes may take up to 24 hours to appear in MyTimetable. Check timetable dates here.

Graduate Researchers and incoming Study Abroad or Exchange students

  • Graduate Researchers

    If you are a graduate researcher, please refer to information on adding or dropping coursework subjects.

  • Study Abroad and Exchange students

    If you are an incoming Study Abroad or Exchange student, you will choose and confirm your subjects during the application process at your home university. If after arriving at the University you decide to amend your enrolment, you can follow the instructions on this page to update your Study Plan within your subject key dates. However, you should first check that your home university supports your changes.

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