Step 2 (b) - Choosing your units

Now that you have found the course structure for your undergraduate degree, second major, minor or postgraduate degree you need to decide which units to take and when.

I am an Undergraduate Student

Generally new students commencing at Murdoch enrol into 4 units each semester at Part I level in their first year. These units will equate to a total of 12 points for each semester. Students are required to take a Foundation Unit in their first semester of study. Therefore your 4 units will be one Foundation Unit (3 points) and 3 other units (9 points). These 9 points will consist of the Core Units and Specified Electives and/or General Electives, depending on your degree.

There are two ways in which you can start to record your Study Plan. The easiest way is to follow the guide provided in the Sample Enrolments for your course Appendix C of the Enrolment Information for New Students booklet or also available through the Course Finder.

The Sample Enrolment has already taken into account the Pre-requisites and the Semester availability of Core units. All you need to do now is insert the Foundation Units and Specified and General electives that you will take.

To select a Foundation Unit you can see the availability and Unit Descriptions in Appendix D of the Enrolment Information for New Students booklet or via the Handbook at: http://handbook.murdoch.edu.au/units/list.lasso?unit=FDN. Remember that S1 means Semester 1 and S2 is Semester 2. We will also be running Foundation Unit "tasters" within our Discover Sessions during Orientation week so don't worry if you aren't 100% on which unit will suit you best. You can change your mind and your selection after attending the taster sessions.

If you have Specified Electives to complete, choose those from the lists provided on the Sample Enrolment page. You can check the availability and unit descriptions for these at: http://handbook.murdoch.edu.au/units/ Just type in the unit code.

Finally you may need to select your General Electives. Again you can check the availability and unit descriptions for these at: http://handbook.murdoch.edu.au/units/

Remember that if you want to do a Double Major you will need to use your General Electives and sometimes Specified Electives to meet the requirements of the double major.

The second way to record your Study Plan is to start from scratch using the blank table in Appendix E of the Enrolment Information for New Students booklet or through the Course Finder. You may want to do this if you are completing a Double Major that was not listed in your sample enrolments or for whatever reason, you need to re-order your Core units, but please remember that you have to take account of all Pre-Requisites.

Once you have completed your Study Plan you should check the question, below before moving on to Step 2(c).

I am a Postgraduate Student

Research and think about what units you would like to enrol in by consulting the checklist from Step 2(a), the Murdoch University Handbook You must complete the Core Units and any Specified Electives listed. Many courses will state "Select from the following:", therefore you have some choice. Print off the study plan and fill in for the length of your degree. On the Unit & Personal Timetable Planner fill in all of your units for the remainder of the year. Proceed to I have been given Advanced Standing or credit. What do I need to enrol into? below.

I have been given Advanced Standing or credit. What do I need to enrol into?

Follow the instructions above, however if you have been awarded advanced standing for core units, specified electives and/or general electives, you can tick these off your checklist as completed. What is left will be what you need to enrol in. If you haven’t already applied for Advanced Standing and believe you are eligible, please contact the Accreditations Office. Those students who have applied will receive a letter from the Accreditations Office confirming the details of the advanced standing they have been awarded. You need to select your units after you receive this letter.

Do I have to take a full time load?

You do not have to take a full load (12 credit points per semester) and can enrol part-time, however some students have the requirement to be in full-time study. International students must to be enrolled in a full-time load every semester to satisfy their visa requirements. For domestic students to qualify for Centrelink benefits you usually need to enrol in at least 9 points per semester. This may vary. If in doubt you should check with Centrelink to confirm your requirement.

Have I inadvertently broken any rules?

The University has rules, regulations and policies that govern your enrolment. Step 8 provides links to these. However, there are a few relating specifically to your enrolment.

• Overload – Have you enrolled into more than 14 points in a semester?
• Early Enrolment in Part II unit – Have you enrolled into a Part II unit before completing 18 points at Part I, including your Foundation Unit? (take into consideration any advanced standing awarded.)
• Waiver of Prerequisite – Are you enrolling in a unit for which you have not satisfied the prerequisite?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions you must gain approval from either the Faculty Student Administration Office, Program Chair or Unit Coordinator. You will need to complete the appropriate form on your Faculty Student Administration Office web site.

[ Back to Step 2 (a) - The Technical Information ]   [ Forward to Step 2 (c) - Checking your Timetable ]