Choosing and enrolling in subjects
From a plan to real enrolment, study load, things to check yourself, class timetables, and fees and the census date.
Overview · Getting started · Enrolling · During semester · International · Help
From plan to enrolment
- Plan: try ideas on this site or in the University's My Course Planner. It has a guest login and covers some courses, including Arts, Biomedicine, Commerce, Design, Music and Science. Nothing gets booked.
- Add to your study plan: in my.unimelb go to Student admin › Enrolment › Manage my current enrolment › My Study, and add the subject. A blue ! means it's only planned.
- Enrol: under Plan and enrol, schedule the subject into a study period, click Enrol, then Confirm. A green tick next to it means you're enrolled.
- Classes: once you're enrolled, pick your class times in MyTimetable (see Class timetable below).
Plans on this site are drafts for you only. They don't enrol you in anything, and the University never sees them.
When enrolment opens for the next year changes from year to year, so check the official key dates.
Study load
The standard load is 50 points a semester, usually 4 subjects. More than 50 is called overloading. You have to apply, and usually only get approved if:
- your course WAM is 70 (H2B) or higher
- you did at least 37.5 points (3 subjects) last semester
- you didn’t fail anything last semester
One exception: in your last semester you can apply to overload by 12.5 points to finish your degree, even if your WAM is under 70.
Domestic students
Full time is at least 37.5 points (3 subjects) a semester. Most have a Commonwealth supported place, and can put their fees on HECS-HELP.
International students
A student visa expects about 50 points a semester, so you finish by your CoE end date. Less is OK if you’ll still finish on time; otherwise you need an approved Reduced Study Load first.
You can enrol in up to 50 points a semester, plus up to 25 points in summer and/or winter term, if your course rules and the subjects allow it. See summer and winter subjects
Enrolment and Timetabling Policy
Things you have to check yourself
Some subject requirements depend on things this site can’t see. Check these before you enrol:
- Language placement tests: the planner can’t know your level in a language, so do the placement test before you enrol in a language subject.
- Coordinator permission or application: some subjects need approval or an application first. The Handbook page says how.
- VCE study scores: some subjects or pathways ask for a minimum study score, like 25 in Mathematical Methods.
- Minimum average mark: some subjects need a certain average, like H2B (70). The site checks this against the marks you enter on My page, so keep them up to date.
Class timetable (MyTimetable)
- Planning: try out timetables in the Plan tab of MyTimetable. It's a sandbox, nothing gets booked.
- Preferences: rank the class times you want for each enrolled subject. You're not guaranteed your first pick.
- Allocation: MyTimetable gives everyone who entered preferences their classes and emails you.
- Review: swap into classes with spare places, fix clashes and join waitlists.
- You need a class for every enrolled subject, and you can only go to the classes you're registered in.
- Missed preference entry? In the review period, pick from classes that still have places. Classes you leave empty are given to you automatically.
- Once the review period closes, any change needs a Timetabling Assistance Form (TAF).
Timetable clash?
- Back-to-back classes aren't a clash.
- Switch to a class time that's free, or ask to swap into a full class.
- Still clashing? Submit a TAF.
- If you choose to keep a clash, you accept whatever it causes, assessments included. It isn't grounds for special consideration.
The Medical School and Melbourne Business School don't use MyTimetable.
Fees, HECS-HELP and the census date
- Commonwealth supported place (CSP): for domestic students. You pay a student contribution for each subject, set by the Australian Government, plus the SSAF.
- HECS-HELP: if you have a CSP and you're eligible, you can put all or part of your fees on a government loan and pay it back once your income reaches the repayment threshold.
- Full fee: international students pay full fees and can't get a CSP. Some domestic graduate students also pay full fees, charged by course. The official fees page also explains FEE-HELP.
- Census date: every subject has its own. It's the last day to drop the subject, withdraw from your course or take leave without paying for it. Melbourne time counts, so 12:01 am the next day is already too late.
Your own fees are in my.unimelb, under the Student admin tab. What happens if you drop after census is under Dropping a subject above.
Rules here are from the University of Melbourne student website and can change. Check there or ask Stop 1 before you decide anything.