Applying for special approval (waiver)

If you need to take a unit but have not completed the prior required units, check if you are eligible to be awarded a special approval or unit waiver.

There are two types of special approval (waiver) requests:

1.  Units requiring waivers

  • A pre-requisite is a unit, a requirement or condition that you need to completed/satisfy before enrolment into a particular unit.
  • A co-requisite is a unit that you must complete prior to or concurrently with another unit.

Special approval (waiver) is given to students who have not completed the pre-requisites or co-requisites for a particular unit but who can demonstrate that they have sufficient knowledge to successfully complete it.

Contact the offering faculty for more information about what is required for enrolment if you do not meet the pre-requisites or co-requisites.

2. Permission by special approval

Special approval is required for some special units, such as research projects, PACE units or special interest topics.

Contact your course adviser for more information about what is required for enrolment into these units.

Requests not considered for special approval (waiver)

Requests for the following reasons do not fall under special approval (waivers):

  • wanting to study more than 40 credit points in a session
  • study plan space issues
  • recognition of prior learning.

Contact Student Connect for more information about these processes and how to apply.

If you are applying for MGMT8080, MQBS2000, and/or MQBS3000, there is a separate procedure for special approval. Refer to the application process on AskMQ.

Direct any questions about the special approval process to BESS.

If you are an Inbound Exchange/Study Abroad student and have not completed the pre-requisite or co-requisite at Macquarie, you will need to apply for a waiver. You will need to demonstrate that you have equivalent prior study or experience in order to be considered.

Exchange or Study Abroad students need to submit an official copy of their home university transcript. This needs to include your most recent marks and grades and should clearly state the degree you are studying and your home institution.

For additional information and step-by-step support, visit the accept and enrol page.

We will contact exchange or Study Abroad students about their waiver requests through their Macquarie Student email address. Contact the Exchange Office if you have difficulty accessing your student email account.

This form is for OUA students who wish to seek pre-requisite waiver approval in order to enrol into a Macquarie OUA Unit including students who are:

  1. currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts OUA degree or the Bachelor of Security Studies OUA degree at Macquarie University
  2. seeking OUA cross-institutional studies
  3. currently enrolled into an OUA degree at another OUA provider
  4. seeking OUA non-award studies (not enrolled in an OUA Degree).

If you wish to have your OUA pre-requisite waiver requests processed for the current or upcoming session(s), you must have submitted the request by close of business Friday, Week 1 of session.

Requests submitted after this date may not be processed by the last date to enrol for the current session (Sunday, Week 2 of Session). Late requests will not be considered as exceptional circumstances for the purpose of late unit enrolment.

The processing time for these applications can take up to seven to 10 working days. You can check the outcome of your requests on AskMQ and your student email.

Procedure

Complete and submit the OUA Pre-Requisite Waiver online application form with supporting documentation:

  1. An official academic transcript or record of study. A transcript must clearly show:
    • the name of the institution
    • your student number
    • your name, the names of each unit or subject you have undertaken
    • the semester in which the study was undertaken
    • the result for each unit/subject.

Documentation needed in the application form:

  1. An official academic transcript or record of study. A transcript must clearly show:
    • the name of the institution
    • your student number
    • your name, the names of each unit or subject you have undertaken
    • the semester in which the study was undertaken
    • the result for each unit/subject.

    2. A printout of your current academic record from your University’s student system is acceptable. Your transcript should be recently issued and cover the current semester.

  2. Relevant unit outlines
After submission

After submission of the OUA Pre-Requisite Waiver form, allow two to three weeks for your application to be processed.

If you don't hear from us after three weeks, send an enquiry through AskMQ quoting:

  • your application's reference number
  • your full name in accordance with your submitted application form
  • the units that you are applying for.

If you have any enquiries regarding any other administrative process, email nonaward@mq.edu.au.