What is single subject study?
Single subject study lets you choose from a wide range of undergraduate and graduate subjects, taught by expert teachers and researchers. There are several types of single subject study, and depending on your goals, you'll enrol in either assessed mode or non-assessed mode.
- Enabling study
- Bridging programs for overseas-trained professionals
- Cross-institutional study (for students at another Australian university)
- Community Access Program
- Assessed mode
- Non-assessed mode
Why study a single subject?
Single subject study can help you:
- Explore an area of interest without committing to a full course
- Prepare for entry into a Melbourne degree
- Meet subject prerequisites
- Upskill or reskill for the modern workforce
- Complete professional development.
Eligibility
Eligibility for single subject study depends on the type of study and your citizenship/residency/visa status.
Eligibility for single subject study depends on the type of study and your citizenship/residency/visa status:
- Domestic students are eligible for all types of single subject study
- International students with a student visa (subclass 500) are only eligible for cross-institutional study. Student visa holders are not eligible for enabling, bridging, or Community Access Program study
- Other temporary entrants (i.e. not subclass 500) with a visa that permits study may apply for single subject study through the Community Access Program
- Overseas residents without an Australian visa can only apply for online subjects.
If you’re currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne, you can undertake single subject study, except if you’re an international student who requires a student visa (subclass 500) to study in Australia. However:
- If you're enrolled in a coursework course:
- Current students who undertake single subject study concurrently with an award coursework degree must not exceed a total study load of 50 points for a half-year period, unless approved to overload by student services at Stop 1.
- You must apply to overload your studies via the Enrolment Variation form and ensure you meet the enrolment overloading eligibility requirements. See Enrolment overloading FAQs.
- As a current student, if you successfully complete a Community Access Program single subject in either assessed or non-assessed mode, you will not receive credit towards your current course (degree).
- Current students who undertake single subject study concurrently with an award coursework degree must not exceed a total study load of 50 points for a half-year period, unless approved to overload by student services at Stop 1.
- If you're enrolled in a graduate research course:
- Current students who undertake single subject study concurrently with a graduate research degree must discuss with your principal supervisor and apply for approval. Refer to Add or drop coursework subjects for information on eligibility and the application process.
If you want to complete a University of Melbourne subject/s to be credited to your degree at your home institution, you must:
- Be currently enrolled in a degree course at an Australian university (your home institution).
- Have a strong academic record (for example, at least 65% average or equivalent at your home institution).
- Receive approval from your home institution.
- Refer to the Handbook in the first instance to search for subjects. If subjects are not listed as 'Available for Study Abroad and Exchange study' (in the 'Further information' section), they're usually also not available for cross-institutional study. You can contact us at cap-application@unimelb.edu.au to check this if you are unsure, before contacting the subject co-ordinator.
- Receive approval from the University of Melbourne subject coordinator, except in the following cases:
- Undergraduate quota subjects offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS): Visit MDHS quota subjects to find out more about how to apply.
- Graduate Law subjects: Visit Melbourne Law School Single subjects for more information.
Please note: Other eligibility criteria may apply to the subject(s) for which you wish to apply. Approval for a cross-institutional study enrolment is at the discretion of the relevant teaching faculty or graduate school.
Students currently studying at overseas institutions, go to Exchange and study abroad.
Types of single subject study
Undergraduate and graduate level subjects can be studied as single subjects. When you apply, you must choose to study the subject in either assessed or non-assessed mode.
Enabling study is single subject study that is undertaken for the purpose of meeting entry requirements for a course (but excludes foundation studies).
About enabling study
To receive an Enabling study offer, FEE-HELP eligibility requirements must also be met. Students who are not eligible for FEE-HELP may receive a Community Access Program offer instead and will be required to pay fees up front.
The successful completion of a subject/s undertaken as enabling study does not automatically qualify you for admission to a degree at the University of Melbourne.
Enabling study for undergraduate degrees
For undergraduate courses, you may be eligible for enabling study if:
- You're taking a specific single subject to satisfy course prerequisites
- You’re taking any single subject to demonstrate your likelihood of succeeding in tertiary studies through the mature age (non-school leaver) entry pathway.
Enabling study for graduate degrees
For graduate courses, you may be eligible for enabling study if you’re applying for specific graduate single subjects considered as ‘enabling’, and in your single subject application, you must:
- Include your conditional offer that clearly states you need to complete a specific single subject to qualify for entry into an award course OR
- Provide a link to a website that clearly identifies the single subject/s you are applying for as a prerequisite for an award course OR
- Include an official letter or email from the relevant faculty that clearly states the single subject/s you are applying for is a prerequisite for an award course.
To find the prerequisite subjects required for entry, check the entry requirements section on the course page.
If you're an overseas-trained professional and need to undertake some study in order to meet the entry requirements to practice your profession in Australia, you may be eligible to enrol in a bridging program. You will need to upload a letter of assessment from the relevant registration body to your application, listing the subjects you need to complete.
Students doing an approved bridging program for overseas-trained professionals with an Assessment Statement may be eligible for FEE-HELP provided citizenship requirements are met.
Bridging study is undertaken in assessed mode.
If you want to undertake single subject study that isn’t enabling, bridging, or cross-institutional study, you can do this through the Community Access Program, in either assessed or non-assessed mode.
CAP non-assessed mode
Non-assessed single subject study through Community Access Program is designed for learning without the pressure of assessment. This option is suited to students who want to:
- Study for personal or professional interest
- Explore a subject area before committing to further study.
In non-assessed mode:
- You won’t complete formal assessment tasks
- You’ll receive an 'NA (Non-Assessed)' grade for each subject
- You’ll receive a free digital academic transcript once you complete your studies.
Subjects studied in non-assessed mode cannot be used to meet entry requirements or apply for advanced standing (credit) in a future University of Melbourne course.
CAP assessed mode
This option is ideal if you need an official record of completion of a particular subject. Assessed single subject study allows you to:
- Complete study to meet undergraduate or graduate subject prerequisites
- Demonstrate academic readiness for undergraduate degree study if you have not undertaken any other approved study in the past seven years
- Apply for advanced standing (prior learning credit) once enrolled in a course (credit is not automatically granted)
- Complete subjects required for professional accreditation.
During assessed mode, you will:
- Complete all required classes, activities, and exams/assessment tasks
- Receive grades/results and an official academic transcript.
If you apply under the mature age (non-school leaver) entry pathway, completing four assessed single subjects may help you meet entry requirements for a University of Melbourne undergraduate degree.
Undertaking single subject study in assessed mode does not guarantee you a place in a course.
If you want to complete a University of Melbourne subject/s to be credited to your degree at your home institution, you may be eligible to undertake cross-institutional study, in assessed mode.
Please note:
- Some subjects are not available through cross-institutional study
- Some subjects may have quota restrictions and therefore limited availability for cross-institutional study. Quota subjects may also have earlier application deadlines
- Where possible, incoming cross-institutional study students will be enrolled on the same fee basis as their current enrolment at their home institution
- Incoming cross-institutional study students are subject to the University's Student Loans, Fees and Charges Policy (MPF1325)
- The University will issue fee invoices directly to the student and is unable to administer sponsorship for incoming cross-institutional study students.
| Enabling | Bridging | Community Access Program (CAP) | Cross-institutional | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Available to domestic students | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (via home institution) |
| Available to international students | No | No | Not available to student visa holders (subclass 500); Other temporary entrants with a visa that permits study may apply | Yes (via home institution) |
| Mode taken | Assessed | Assessed | Assessed or non-assessed | Assessed |
| Tuition fees | CAP full-fee paying | CAP full-fee paying | CAP full-fee paying | Cross-institutional full-fee paying, or CSP |
| Payment of tuition fees | May be eligible for FEE-HELP, otherwise paid up-front | May be eligible for FEE-HELP in limited circumstances; otherwise paid up-front | Must be paid up-front | May be eligible for FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP; otherwise paid up-front |
| Tuition fee discounts (for University of Melbourne staff and their immediate families, or alumni) | Not eligible | Not eligible | May be eligible | Not eligible |
| Eligibility for credit | Not eligible (except in some instances for students who gained entry via the mature age (non-school leaver) entry pathway) | Eligible in some instances if you are not currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne | Eligible in some instances if you are not currently enrolled at the University of Melbourne | Eligible at your home institution; Eligible in some instances at the University of Melbourne |
| Purpose of study | Complete a prerequisite subject for entry to a new course | Complete a subject to meet the formal requirements for entry into a profession in Australia | Complete an additional subject for a specific major in your current course; demonstrate academic readiness; general interest | As part of your degree at another Australian institution |
How to find available CAP subjects
You can check subject availability in the University Handbook, which is the official database of all subjects and courses.
You can check subject availability for single subject study in the University Handbook, which is the official publication of all subjects and courses.
Availability is displayed in the ‘Further information’ section of the subject's Handbook page. If this section is not visible, the subject is not available for single subject study:
- If a subject is available for enabling, bridging, or CAP study, it will say ‘Available through the Community Access Program’
- Usually a subject is available for cross-institutional study if it says ‘Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students’ and 'Available through the Community Access Program’, however there are exceptions. Check the information in Handbook.
Quotas may apply for high-demand subjects; this will be noted in the Handbook. Some subjects will have early closing dates or a different application process, which will also be listed in the Handbook.
Completing single subject study for professional recognition
If you're undertaking single subject study through Community Access Program for professional recognition (for example, in accounting, law or psychology), it's your responsibility to ensure that the subjects are recognised by the relevant professional organisation or association.
Subject entry requirements and prerequisites
The University's Handbook publishes any entry requirements you’ll need to meet to be eligible to undertake a subject, in the ‘Eligibility and requirements’ section.
You should also check the ‘Recommended background knowledge’ and ‘Core participation requirements’ sections on the Handbook subject page. While not required for eligibility, they may help you determine your likelihood of successfully completing the subject.
Meeting the prerequisite requirements does not guarantee you will receive an offer for a subject.
Frequently asked questions
Single subject study lets you enrol in individual University subjects without committing to a full degree. You can study for interest, professional development, or to meet entry or prerequisite requirements, depending on whether you enrol in assessed or non-assessed mode.
Assessed subjects include assessment tasks and a final result and may be able to be recognised for credit/advanced standing in future study or to meet entry requirements or prerequisites for a full degree. Non-assessed subjects don’t include assessment and can’t be used for credit or entry pathways.
Enabling study is a type of assessed single subject study designed to help you meet prerequisites or entry requirements for a degree. These subjects are assessed and must be completed successfully to be used as a pathway.
Single subject study is available to domestic students. Student visa holders and applicants aren’t eligible. Other temporary Australian residents with a visa that allows study may apply. Overseas residents without an Australian visa can apply for online subjects only.
Credit isn’t guaranteed. Assessed single subjects may be considered for credit toward a future degree, subject to University approval. Non-assessed subjects aren’t eligible for credit.
Entry requirements vary by subject. Some subjects are open access, while others require prior study or specific knowledge. You can find entry requirements for each subject in the Handbook. Meeting published entry requirements does not guarantee an offer will be made.
No. The subject content and outcomes don’t change based on the mode of study; entry requirements are the same whether you are taking the subject in assessed or non-assessed mode.
No. You must meet all listed entry requirements to enrol in a subject. If you don’t meet them, you may need to consider alternative subjects or preparatory options.
Eligibility details, including entry requirements and availability for single subject study, are listed in the Handbook under each subject’s 'Further information' section.