Map out your path

Planning your course will help ensure you're on the right track to graduating.

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 essential, elective, PACE, and capstone units for your course
  • 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.
Double Degree students

If you are a double degree student who commenced:

MQ2020 Study Plans

Students that started prior to 2020 and have a course code that ends with either a “-M” or a “-T", will have received a study plan as a result of the curriculum review.

You must continue to follow this study plan, do not use Course Handbook as your degree requirements may have changed with the new curriculum - including different completion requirements. Your study plan also lists the old and new unit code changes that occurred in 2020, so you can check how you are progressing against your degree completion requirements. You need to make sure you are studying units that count towards your degree.

Your course structure

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 includes 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.

Foundation Zone (Postgraduate only)

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 only)

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.

Course Guidance

Our Course Guidance tool will help you understand and plan your studies to make sure you're on the right path.

Macquarie University has a range of resources available to help students understand their courses and make informed decisions about their studies. This self-help tool helps you find the resources you need to understand your course, its requirements, or the effects of making changes to your degree. This tool can be found on our Course Guidance webpage.