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.

If you are a double degree student who commenced from 2021, you will need to use the Double Degree section of the handbook to view your course requirements.

Your course structure

Core Zone

Your course 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 to 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 named sequence 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 named sequence 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.

Study Plan

If you have a personalised study plan, you can also use this to plan your course. Your study plan is based on your course requirements, but also includes the units you've completed to help you figure out how close you are to graduating.

Course Advising

Course advisers provide specific unit and course advice to help you understand whether your program of study is meeting your goals.