Plan your course and choose your units
A course is made up of a number of units of study and most units are worth 10 credit points. Macquarie's courses allow you to select your units so you can schedule your time around uni and other commitments
MQ Handbook
When planning your course, refer to the Handbook to make sure you are meeting your course requirements. It is important you follow and complete the requirements from the year you commenced your course.
In the Handbook you will find:
- Your course structure, including any required majors or specialisations
- The total credit points required for your course
- Course learning outcomes and inherent requirements
- Individual unit information including unit descriptions, the credit point value, offerings, assessment information, and any prerequisites or corequisites.
If you are a continuing student and need help with understanding your course structure or how to check your course progression, please see Course Guidance for more information.
If you are a double degree student who started their course from 2021 onwards, you can find your course structure using the Double Degree Advising Tool in the Handbook.
Core Zone
Your core zone includes all essential, elective, PACE, and capstone units required for your course. The core zone will include your major or specialisation, if required. You should be aware of the requirements of your core zone and be aware of the requisites and offerings of units such as your capstone and PACE options when planning your course.
Flexible Zone
If your course requirements include a flexible zone, you can use this space to enrol in units of your choice, as long as you meet any requisites. You must also meet the overall credit point requirements of your course.
If your flexible zone unit options are restricted in any way, this will be outlined in the Handbook for your course. The Handbook will also include information on other options for your flexible zone such as a minor or a second major.
Tip: If you’re having trouble deciding what flexible zone units to choose, you can use the Advanced Search function in the Handbook (Handbook > Advanced Search > Unit). This page allows you to filter units by aspects such as unit level, faculty, and offering, and can help with narrowing down your options.
Foundation Zone – Postgraduate students
If your course includes a foundation zone, this will be used to complete units providing foundational knowledge. The units required for your foundation zone will be listed in the Handbook.
Major/Specialisation
A major or specialisation is a specified set of units completed within your course core zone that provides in-depth study in a particular field. The majors or specialisations available for your course, as well as the units required, are outlined in the Handbook. Some courses may also allow completion of a second major within the flexible zone (refer to the Handbook). Where two majors are being undertaken, the core zone major will be referred to as your “qualifying major” and the flexible zone major as your “second major”.
Minor – Undergraduate students
A minor is a specified set of units that provides in-depth study in a particular field and requires fewer units than a major or specialisation. All minors require four units. Some courses may require completion of a minor in your course core zone, and many courses allow the completion of a minor in the flexible zone. More details can be found in the Handbook > Advanced search > Course component > Type.
Unit load
I want to … | Domestic student | International student |
|---|---|---|
Study full-time* | Enrol in 30 – 40 credit points (generally 3 – 4 units) | Enrol in 40 credit points (4 units) |
Study part-time | Enrol in 10 or 20 credit points (generally 1 or 2 units) | Submit a request to Reduce study load if you wish to enrol in less than 40 credit points (4 units), |
Study more than full-time load | Apply for Credit overload | Apply for Credit overload |
Take a break from studies | Apply for Leave of Absence before the Census date | Apply for Suspension of Studies before the Census date |
Check when to enrol |
Full time study load *
- Students studying term-based courses (eg. MQBS Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, MAF and MBA students) a full–time load is considered 20 credit points (2 units) per term.
- For Session 3, full-time study is considered 20 credit points.
To estimate your workload, a standard unit of study (10cp) at Macquarie will need approximately 10 hours of study time per week. This study time includes the time you spend in classes, online interaction, placement hours and your own independent study. You may wish to consider this when balancing study with work, personal commitments, etc.
Generally, our unit levels are:
- Undergraduate level = 1000 level (1st year)
- Undergraduate level = 2000 level (2nd year)
- Undergraduate level = 3000 level (3rd year)
- Postgraduate level = 6000 level (foundation units), 8000 or 9000 level
Tips:
For undergraduate students we recommend completing 1000 level units before 2000 or 3000 level.
Make sure you review the prerequisite requirements of the units within your course. You may find that you will need to complete specific units in your first session or year before you can enrol in some of your higher-level units.
A unit offering is composed of:
- a study period
- the attendance requirement
- time requirement
- frequency, and
- a location of attendance (excluding online units)
Please refer to the Handbook to check when your unit is next offered.
Some units are subject to a quota and limited places are available. Once the quota has been reached you will need to choose a different offering or unit for that Session.
Attendance mode requirement
In-person | A unit that has one or more learning activity that requires face to face attendance, may include in-person assessments including in-person exams |
|---|---|
Online | A unit where all learning activities can be undertaken fully online. If in-person exams are required, this will be noted when selecting units (eg. Session 1-Online-Scheduled-In Person assessment) |
Attendance time requirement
Scheduled | Unit learning activities need to be undertaken at specific times Note: Choosing an Online/Scheduled offering means you will need to register for classes in eStudent. |
|---|---|
Flexible | Self-paced, may include scheduled class assessment tasks Note: Choosing an Online/Flexible offering means there will be no classes to register for in eStudent. You will need to refer to iLearn for further information on how the unit will be run. |
Unit delivery frequency
Weekday | Monday to Friday, 8am to 10pm |
|---|---|
Weekend | Saturday and/or Sunday |
Intensive | Block classes, run back-to-back and span over a couple of days only |
Infrequent | Non-regular weekly delivery of unit activities, some activities may occur on weekends |
In-person assessment | In person attendance for the final assessment task is required (noted for online units only) |
Placement | Placement activity (face to face) that may be scheduled but outside of the classroom |
Fieldwork | Fieldwork that will be face to face but outside of the classroom |