Add or drop coursework subjects

Add or remove coursework subjects

Depending on your faculty or department, some coursework subjects may be compulsory. The compulsory subjects will provide you with specialised training or discipline-specific research methods and are an essential part of your degree structure.

You may also be able to enrol in additional coursework subjects to complement your research studies and develop your research expertise and breadth of knowledge.

Conditions for adding coursework subjects

Applications for adding coursework subjects will only be approved is they are a compulsory component of the degree or if they support your research project.

Research degrees are classified as such because the research component is more than two thirds of the degree. This means that:

• a maximum of 100 points of coursework subjects can be enrolled in for a PhD or doctorate degree
• a maximum of 50 points of coursework subjects can be enrolled in for a MPhil or masters by research degree.

If the added coursework subject meets these conditions, there is no additional cost for you and the coursework subject and result will appear on your transcript.

Before you apply

Discuss adding or removing any coursework subjects with your principal supervisor before you apply.

Add coursework subjects

You will need your principal supervisor’s and the subject coordinator’s approval when requesting to enrol in a non-compulsory coursework subject.

Remove coursework subjects

You should be aware of the relevant census dates as listed in the University Handbook for the coursework subject when making changes to your study plan.

If your degree requirements include the completion of some compulsory coursework subjects, check the Handbook and speak to your principal supervisor to ensure removal of a coursework subject will not prevent you from completing your degree.

Auditing a subject

In some exceptional cases, you may wish to attend lectures or seminars of a coursework subject because the topic of the subject is beneficial or of interest to you, but you are unable to add an extra coursework subject to your study plan or study load.

In this situation, you may be able to ‘audit’ subjects, which means you can attend classes, have access to materials on the Learning Management System (LMS), but you do not have to submit assessment material.

Coursework subjects that are audited are not added to your student record and will not appear on your transcript. You should contact your local graduate research administrator if you have any questions.

Apply to add or remove coursework

Graduate researchers are unable to self-enrol into coursework subjects. You will need to submit the online 'Request to add or remove subjects' form to request that a coursework subject is to be added or removed from your record.

If you already had started a form previously, please return to the form by clicking the green button below:

Return to already started form

If you need to create a new form, please click on the blue button below:

Apply to add or drop coursework

Application process

Step 1

Submit the 'Request to add or remove subjects' online form

Step 2

Receive an automated system email acknowledging your request has been submitted

Step 3

Request is assessed by your principal supervisor (and subject coordinators when adding a subject)

Step 4

If approved, your request is processed by an administrator

Step 5

Receive an automated system email acknowledging the outcome of your application

How to access support

Your supervisors can help you determine how you manage your time commitments and your successful progress towards the completion of your thesis. They can also discuss which coursework subjects could be completed that would enhance your research and skills.

Approach the relevant subject coordinator if you want to confirm the benefits of completing their coursework subject, and the work or time commitments involved.

The University Handbook has information on subject prerequisites, availabilities, assessment tasks and learning outcomes, and lists the subject coordinator.

How to get help

Get technical help

Follow these steps to get help if you are having an issue with the online 'Request to add or remove subjects' form.

1. See a list of known technical issues, and how to get around these
   Get technical help
2. If you cannot see your technical issue in the list above, or if you are having issues with your username or password, contact Stop1.

How to cancel a form

To learn how to cancel forms that you have submitted by mistake and need to withdraw; or if you have a list of started forms that you do not intend to submit for approval, click on the button below.

How to cancel a form

Get other form help

If you have a question about filling in the form, or your degree details on the online form are not correct contact your local graduate research administrator.

Get advice

If you need more information about adding or removing coursework subjects, you can talk to:

• your supervisors
• your advisory committee chair
• your local graduate research administrator.

My change to coursework has been processed – what’s next?

During your studies, you may experience difficulties or problems that will prevent you from successfully completing your coursework subjects. You should speak with your supervisors and the subject coordinator(s) as early as possible to let them know about your concerns and to work out the best way on how to proceed.

Special consideration

Special consideration may be available if your ability to undertake assessments is affected by illness, bereavement or trauma. For more information visit Special consideration.

My circumstances have changed

Occasionally circumstances occur which interrupt your studies and you may need to apply for leave of absence or change to part time study. These changes will affect your coursework enrolment.

• If you apply for leave of absence that overlaps with your coursework subject dates, you will be withdrawn from those subjects.
• Changing your study rate to part time affects the amount of coursework subjects that you can enrol into, and you may need to be withdrawn from some of these subjects.

You should be aware of the relevant census date for the coursework subject(s) you are enrolled in, as listed in the Handbook. Withdrawal from the coursework subject before the census date ensures that it is not included in your transcript.

I failed a subject – can I re-enrol into the same subject?

You can re-enrol into a subject that you have failed if given the opportunity by a Course Unsatisfactory Progress Committee, or if the subject is a compulsory subject as part of your degree. Speak to your supervisors about your options.