The Melbourne curriculum

Learn how to build a degree around your interests and strengths.

What is the Melbourne curriculum?

At the University of Melbourne, you’ll be empowered to direct your own learning experience. Our curriculum enables you to explore your passions and strengths, while giving you the flexibility to specialise when you're ready.

Aligned with leading universities across Europe, North America and Asia, our course structure encourages you to develop both well-rounded skills and deep expertise in your chosen discipline. You'll graduate with a globally recognised qualification as well as the knowledge and experience to make an impact in your career, wherever that may take you.

You start with a three-year bachelors degree. Once completed, you can enter the workforce with a broad knowledge base and career-ready skills. Or, gain specialised knowledge via a graduate degree or in graduate research.

We offer seven bachelors degrees in the Melbourne curriculum – arts, biomedicine, commerce, design, fine arts, music, and science – covering over 100 different study areas. We also offer specialist degrees in agriculture and oral health, where everything you study is structured for your chosen discipline.

Making up one third of your subjects, a major is the subject area you’ll focus on during your undergraduate degree. Each degree has a different set of majors. For example, if you’re studying a Bachelor of Design, you might choose to major in Architecture or Construction. Or in a Bachelor of Commerce, you might pick a major in Management or Finance. In some of our courses, you can choose to do a double major.

In your first year you can focus on your major straight away or explore other subjects before deciding on what major you want to pursue.

Breadth study

In addition to the subjects offered in your core area of study, you can also take subjects from other disciplines – like marketing, genetics or philosophy – or test out subjects you’re thinking of pursuing in a graduate degree – like law, development studies or urban design. 

Breadth allows you to explore beyond your study area to build an interdisciplinary skillset, so you’ll be capable of critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and leadership in a vastly broad range of professions.

Concurrent diplomas

You have the option to study an extra qualification alongside your degree. If you’re a passionate musician, programmer or mathematician, or have an interest in languages, you can enrol in one of four concurrent diplomas alongside your bachelors degree - computing, languages, mathematics or music.

Designed to support your introduction to University, discovery subjects are core first-year subjects within each undergraduate degree that offer varying experiences and delivery modes. These subjects connect your studies to outside the classroom, showing you how your degree can address real-world problems.

Ready to discover your future?

Explore undergraduate courses

Freedom to choose

Select majors, electives and breadth subjects that focus on your chosen career from day one. Or explore a range of diverse subjects to discover new passions.

Learn from global leaders

Work alongside world-renowned academics, researchers and industry experts to inspire you and prepare you for a broad range of careers.

Proven career outcomes

Our curriculum helps you build an interdisciplinary skillset sought after by employers – that's why we rank #8 in the world for graduate employability.

Student sitting and laughing in front of a coloured wall.

Melbourne curriculum stories

Hear inspiring stories from our alumni and current students about discovering their strengths and passions through our distinctive curriculum.

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Hear from our students

Hear current and past students share their experience of the Melbourne curriculum.

Read more student stories

I have taken breadth subjects in Psychology, Philosophy and Interactive Art Media. They all feed back into my music, in one way or another. Due to the wide variety of experiences I have had in this course, I feel prepared to work different types of jobs using my creative skills.

Sue-Anne Tan, Bachelor of Music (Composition)
Photo of Sue-Anne Tan, Bachelor of Music (Composition)

As much as I love science, I also wanted to explore how science has worked throughout history, society and in practice. I got to dive deep into historical resources and writing a meaningful argument through my breadth subjects. I've expanded my knowledge from formulas and theories to one of knowledge derived from an activity - a crucial concept in generating new scientific knowledge.

Lachie Talbot, Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience)
Photo of Lachie Talbot, Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience)

Graduate with the skills, knowledge and adaptable mindset you need to tackle future opportunities head on.

Whether beginning your career or pursuing further study, you’ll be prepared for whatever path you choose next.

Become an expert in your chosen field

Choose from over 200 professional masters, doctoral or research higher degrees. Develop specialist expertise and gain a higher qualification, often including professional accreditation.

Career ready, now and into the future

Graduate ready to enter the workforce, with skills to succeed over the entire course of your career. Benefit from strong industry connections and the support of a global alumni network.

There are a number of ways you can find out more about the Melbourne curriculum.

Watch videos at your convenience, attend an in-person or online event, email us via a form, or talk to us direct on the phone.

Phone

Inside Australia
13 6352

Outside Australia
+61 3 9035 5511

Enquire online

Enter your details and query, and a university representative will contact you to answer your questions.

UniMelb On-Demand

Explore vidoes covering our unique curriculum, course information, career pathways, scholarships and accommodation.

Events for future students

Throughout the year, we host in-person and online information sessions to help you take the next step.