If you're considering applying for recognition of prior learning or looking at study load, cross-institutional study, timetable clash or course substitution, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with these important rules.

Details on UNSW academic policies are available at UNSW Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.

You can contact the The Nucleus: Student Hub for further assistance

  • *This is also referred to as credit transfer or advanced standing.

    All applications for RPL at UNSW are subject to UNSW recognition of prior learning (coursework programs) policy and procedures.

    In addition, the following conditions apply for all UNSW Science programs (including the science component of dual award programs): 

    1. Time limit 

    Defined as time elapsed from completion of course to commencement of science program. 

    • Specific credit (e.g. core course) 7 years. 
    • Unspecified credit (e.g. general education or electives) 10 years.

    2. Maximum recognition of prior learning permitted 

    • 50 per cent of the coursework component of the science program, excluding honours years.  
    • For dual award programs that include a science component, it will be a maximum of 50 per cent of the science component of the dual degree, excluding Honours. 

     3. Re-admission 

    Students who are readmitted into a science program after a period of unapproved absence or deferment or after exclusion will not necessarily retain RPL that was previously approved. The time limits above may be re-applied at time of re-admission. 

    Applications for RPL will only be assessed for students who have accepted a place to study in a UNSW Science program. 

  • Students who wish to enrol in more than 18 units of credit (UOC) in a standard term must obtain approval from their Program Authority before enrolment.  

    For science students, this permission will only be given to students who meet the following criteria: 

    • UGRD students have completed at least 48 UOC (minimum 36 UOC being studied at UNSW) 
    • PGRD students have completed at least 36 UOC (minimum 36 UOC being studied at UNSW)
    • have an overall WAM of 65 or above 
    • are on Good academic standing.

    These criteria may be waived by the Director of Academic Programs (or delegate) if a student: 

    • will be within 6 UOC of completing their program at the end of the term in question, or 
    • transfers between programs and needs to take specific courses to progress within the new program. 

    If approved, students will only be allowed to enrol into an additional 6 UOC per term. 

    Approval to overload DOES NOT also constitute approval to enrol in timetable clashes, full classes or courses without meeting the pre-requisites.

     

    Postgrad online students following the Hexamester calendar

    Students who wish to enrol in more than 6 UoC per Hexamester (up to a max of 12 UOC) must seek approval.

    For data science students, this permission will only be given to students who meet the following criteria: 

    • have completed at least 12 UOCin a UNSW postgraduate online program (advanced standing is not included) 
    • have an overall WAM of 75 or above. 

    Postgraduate Online Psychology programs do not allow an enrolment over 6 UOC per hexamester.

  • Students may apply to complete courses at another institution subject to the following eligibility criteria:

    1. student’s academic standing is GOOD
    2. student has successfully completed at least 72 units of credit
    3. a) the course content is not taught at UNSW; or
      b) the course is not offered at UNSW in a timely way that would enable the student to progress with their studies in a reasonable timeframe
    4. the requested external study counts towards the students program requirements.

    The following limitations on cross-institutional study will apply:

    1. Maximum 12 UoC can be granted within a student's program.
    2. Capstone courses must be completed at UNSW.
    3. Overloading is not permitted.
    4. If a student has already been granted the maximum amount of advanced standing for their program, cross-institutional study will not be approved.

    Approved international exchange is considered separately to cross-institutional study. However, when students have undertaken approved international exchange, additional cross-institutional study will only be permitted under exceptional circumstances.

  • Science students may apply to enrol in a timetable clash subject to the following eligibility criteria: 

    1. a) the clash is for one hour, between two lectures, or a lecture & tutorial/laboratory, where the lecture is the class being missed;  or  
      b) a clash that exceeds 1 hour is accompanied by an approval from the Course Convenor 
    2. the student is not in their first term of study 
    3. a clash where a non-science course will be missed has approval from the non-science faculty.   

    Exceptions will be considered on a case by case basis where the clash is unavoidable, and the course is required for the student’s major or program. 

    In applying for a timetable clash, students acknowledge the following: 

    • a clash is not grounds for special consideration or alternative assessment requests 
    • students are responsible for revising any missed content due to a timetable clash 
    • students must ensure there are no assessments in any clashing classes or make appropriate arrangements if there are.
  • Students may apply for a course substitution or variation to the rules of their program or major for the following reasons: 

    • The core or required course is not available in the upcoming term, adversely impacting the student's progression or graduation. 
    • The student wishes to complete a course outside their program requirements due to career aspirations and/ or breadth of knowledge, and they have no room to complete this course as an elective or general education. Requests on this basis must be supported by a statement outlining the reasons. 

    In applying for a course substitution, students acknowledge the following: 

    • Approved course substitutions are valid for one term only. This means that upon failing a course substitution, the student would need to enrol in the core or compulsory course again, if available in the subsequent term. 
    • A course substitution is not grounds for special consideration under any circumstances. 
  • Free electives

    Non-Science 6 UOC Level 1 SCIF0106
    Non-Science 12 UOC Level 1 SCIF0112
    Non-Science 18 UOC Level 1 SCIF0118
    Non-Science 24 UOC Level 1 SCIF0124
    Non-Science 6 UOC Level 2 SCIF0206
    Non-Science 12 UOC Level 2 SCIF0212

    General education

    6 UOC General Education GENZ2000
    12 UOC General Education GENZ3500

    Science electives

    Science 6 UOC Level 1 SCIF6106
    Science 12 UOC Level 1 SCIF6112
    Science 18 UOC Level 1 SCIF6118
    Science 24 UOC Level 1 SCIF6124
    Science 6 UOC Level 2 SCIF6206
    Science 12 UOC Level 2 SCIF6212
    Science 18 UOC Level 2 SCIF6218
    Science 6 UOC Level 3 SCIF6306
    Science 12 UOC Level 3 SCIF6312
  • The deadline to enrol or add a new course is the Sunday of Week 1 for Term 1, 2 or 3. Only in exceptional circumstances will science students be permitted to enrol in a course late and applications must be submitted via the webform before midday Friday of Week 2.

    Swapping to or from the advanced version of the same course

    In Science we have many equivalent courses ( MATH1131/MATH1141, for example), where students can enrol in the higher or advanced version of a course for an extra challenge. If you’ve made the wrong choice, switching between equivalent courses will normally be permitted up until census date with approval from the course convenor. If after Week 2, please use the Late Enrolment Request Higher/Lower Course Variation webform to request the change.

  • Students in the Bachelor of Engineering or the Bachelor of Science/Advanced Science with a Physics and/or Maths Major must complete certain MATH requirements. 

    These combinations have been approved by the Science Program Director after consultation with the School of Physics and the Faculty of Engineering.

    GROUP

    MATHS REQUIREMENT FOR ENG SPECIALISATION

    MATHS REQUIRED IN MATHEMATICS MAJOR

    ENG/MATHEMATICS REQUIREMENT

    MATHS REQUIRED IN PHYSICS MAJOR

    ENG/PHYSICS REQUIREMENT

    A

    MATH2019 Engineering Mathematics 2E

     

    MATH2089 Numerical Methods and Statistics

     

     

    MATH2501 Linear Algebra OR MATH2601 Higher Linear Algebra

    AND 

    MATH2801 Theory of Statistics OR MATH2901 Higher Theory of Statistics

    AND 

    MATH2011 Several Variable calculus OR MATH2111 Higher several Variable calculus

    AND 

    MATH2521 Complex Analysis OR MATH6521 Higher complex Analysis

    AND 

    MATH2121 Theory and Applications of Differential Equations OR MATH2221 Higher theory and Applications of Differential Equations

    MATH2019 replaced by
    MATH2011 (OR MATH2111**)
    AND MATH2121 (OR MATH2221**)

     

    MATH2089 replaced by MATH2301* AND MATH2801 (OR MATH2901**)

     

     

     

     

     

     

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A 

    MATH2089 Numerical Methods and Statistics

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A

    MATH2121 OR MATH2221 (Higher) Theory and Applications of Differential Equations

    MATH2089 Numerical Methods and Statistics

    B

    MATH1081 Discrete Mathematics

     

    MATH2801 Theory of Statistics

     

    MATH1081 Discrete Mathematics

    MATH2801 Theory of Statistics

    MATH2301 Mathematical Computing

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A

    C

    MATH2019 Engineering Mathematics 2E

     

    CVEN2002 Engineering Computations for Civil Engineers

    CVEN2002 replaced by MATH2301* AND MATH2801 (OR MATH2901**)

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A

    MATH2121 OR MATH2221 (Higher) Theory and Applications of Differential Equations

    CVEN2002 Engineering Computations for Civil Engineers

    D

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A

     

    MATH2099 Mathematics 2B

    MATH2069 replaced by MATH2011 (OR MATH2111**) AND MATH2521 (OR MATH2621**)

     

    MATH2099 replaced by MATH2501 (OR MATH2601**) AND MATH2801 (OR MATH2901**)

    MATH2069 Mathematics 2A

     MATH2099 Mathematics 2B

    MATH2301 Mathematical Computing

    *MATH2301 is core only in the majors MATHA1 and MATHO1 (Adv. Maths degree), and MATHN1 (Sci. Degree). It counts as elective in other majors, but required for ENG.
    **higher level versions must be taken for maths majors within Adv. Maths or Adv. Sci. Degrees. Higher or ordinary versions of these are common to all maths majors, except MATHO1 and MATHN1: MATH2501/MATH2621 not core, MATH2501/MATH2601 not core.

    Changes to ENG Majors

    Group A Majors

    This applies to students completing one of the following majors in the Engineering (Honours) programs: 

    • AEROAH Aerospace Engineering - 168 credit points
    • CEICAH Chemical Engineering - 168 credit points
      • Add: CEICDH Chemical Product Engineering - 168 credit points (Need to confirm maths requirement, currently MATH1131/MATH1141, MATH1231/MATH1241, MATH2089, MATH2018/MATH2019)
    • Mechatronic Engineering: 
      • MANFBH Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering - 168 credit points
      • MTRNAH Mechatronic Engineering - 168 credit points
      • MECHAH Mechanical Engineering - 168 credit points
      • MINEAH Mining Engineering - 168 credit points
      • PETRAH Petroleum Engineering - 168 credit points
      • SOLAAH Photovoltaics and Solar Energy - 168 credit points
      • SOLABH Renewable Energy Engineering - 168 credit points

    Students who also wish to complete a Mathematics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science should not enrol in MATH2019 or MATH2089. Instead, they should enrol in MATH2069, as well as all Level 2 requirements for their Mathematics Major (MATHM1 MATHJ1, MATHA1, MATHP1, or MATHU1).

    Students who also wish to complete a Physics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science should not enrol in MATH2019. Instead, they should enrol in 1) MATH2069, 2) MATH2121 or MATH2221, and 3) MATH2089. This will ensure they meet the mathematics requirements of this Major and their Physics Major (PHYSL1 or PHYSC1).

    Group B Majors

    This applies to students completing BINFAH Bioinformatics Engineering - 168 credit points

    Students who also wish to complete a Physics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science need to enrol in MATH1081, MATH2069, MATH2301 and MATH2801 to meet the requirements of their Physics Major (PHYSL1 or PHYSC1).

    Group C Majors

     

    This applies to students completing one of the following majors: 

    • CVENAH Civil Engineering - 168 credit points
    • CVENBH Environmental Engineering - 168 credit points
    • GMATEH Geospatial Engineering - 168 credit points
    • GMATDH Surveying - 168 credit points

    Students who also wish to complete Mathematics Major as part of their Double Degree with Science should not enrol in CVEN2002. Instead, they should enrol in MATH2301 as well as all Level 2 requirements for their Mathematics Major (MATHM1 MATHJ1, MATHA1, MATHP1, or MATHU1).

    Students who also wish to complete a Physics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science should not enrol in MATH2019. Instead, they should enrol in 1) MATH2069, 2) MATH2121 or MATH2221, and 3) CVEN2002. This will ensure they meet the mathematics requirements of this Major and their Physics Major (PHYSL1 or PHYSC1).

    Group D Majors

    This applies to students completing one of the following majors:

    • COMPBH Computer Engineering - 168 credit points
      • ADD: SENGAH Software Engineering - 168 credit points (Need to confirm maths requirement, currently requires MATH1081, MATH1131/Math1141, Math1231/Math1241, MATH2400, MATH2859)
    • ELECAH Electrical Engineering - 168 credit points
    • TELEAH Telecommunications - 168 credit points
    • ELECCH Quantum Engineering - 168 credit points

    Students who also wish to complete Mathematics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science should not enrol in MATH2069 or MATH2099. Instead, they should enrol in either MATH2521 or MATH2621 as well as all Level 2 requirements for their Mathematics Major (MATHM1 MATHJ1, MATHA1, MATHP1, or MATHU1).

    Students who also wish to complete a Physics Major as part of their Double Degree with the Faculty of Science need to enrol in MATH2069, MATH2099, and This will ensure they meet the mathematics requirements of this Major and their Physics Major (PHYSL1 or PHYSC1).

    Changes to SCI Majors

    This applies to students completing one of the following majors:

    • PHYSL1
    • PHYSC1

    Students studying this Major as part of a combined degree with the Faculty of Engineering may need to complete a different mathematics course in place of MATH2089. Please check your Engineering Major for details.