Understanding your course requirements

Depending on the type of study (undergraduate or postgraduate) and the course you have selected, it’s important to carefully read and understand the program structure and graduation requirements, for example, how many credits you will need to gain your degree. 

You can find this information by checking your Typical Study Pattern, or using resources such as the myUC student portal for a graduation eligibility and criteria checklist, your course guide, and UC’s Student Wellbeing and Support for assistance. 

The better that you understand your course requirements, the easier it is to ensure you’re selecting electives that will fulfil your credit needs to graduate on time, or even sooner.

Summer and winter school

UC provides the opportunity for students to take intensive courses during periods typically used for breaks or holidays. These intakes are available in Winter and Summer Term, which typically start in May and November, respectively, where students can catch up on units, gain extra credits to fast track their studies or help spread their units throughout the year.

Running between the main teaching periods of Semester 1 and Semester 2, these nine-week teaching periods are delivered in a compressed format so you can learn more in a shorter amount of time. Winter Term, in particular, is perfect for students ready to start their studies between UC’s two major semesters.

Make sure to consult with your Faculty to see if this is an appropriate option for you, and to adjust your study plan. 

Internships

Internships and work placements are a crucial component for a number of degrees, and are a great opportunity to put theory into practice. Not only do you gain valuable hands-on experience directly related to your chosen field of study, but it can provide you with confidence and workplace skills for when you’re applying for jobs.

CareerHub lists all the available internships for UC students that are eligible for credit. This means the industry experience gained through these learning opportunities may be counted towards course credits. Learn more about for-credit and not-for-credit internships at UC here.

Credit transfer

During the application process, students may apply for a credit transfer depending on any completed or partially completed units undertaken at UC or at a previous education institution. If successful, this allows you to gain credit towards your new degree, reducing the number of units you take to complete your course and saving you time and money. 

Course credit and course exemptions also apply to qualifications obtained from other countries through the Australian Government’s National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR). 

Course overloading

If you are looking to graduate ahead of schedule, students may consider course overloading. While a full-time study load for a teaching period is 12 credit points per semester, some may wish to enrol in additional subjects. Course overloading may also be beneficial for those seeking to fulfil course prerequisites or students looking for further education. However, it should only be considered if necessary. 

If are you contemplating course overloading, here are a few tips for managing your workload:

• Prioritise time-sensitive and important tasks
• Take regular breaks and set realistic goals
• Avoid multi-tasking and structure your workload
• And don’t forget to ask for help!

Before you enrol in extra studies, you must have approval from your UC Course Convener or Associate Dean. Read more about UC’s policies on course overloading here.