Ask - /faq/2915/

Cross-Institutional Study

Can I take subjects from another university to count towards my course at Melbourne?

All Students

If you are interested in a subject that is not offered at the University of Melbourne, it may be possible for you to complete this subject at another university and have it count towards your University of Melbourne degree.

This is known as either 'complementary' or 'cross-institutional' study. These subjects must be directly related to your study and be appropriate to your qualification.

You pay the applicable fee to the other institution.

View the policy outlining outgoing cross-institutional study

Incoming non-University of Melbourne students

Incoming students may also be able to undertake cross-institutional study at the University of Melbourne for credit towards a course at their home institution. Applicants must apply for incoming cross-institutional study via the application form provided by the relevant faculty or graduate school.  For more information, please refer to the policy outlining incoming cross-institutional study.

Alternatively, if you are an external student considering other types of inbound study at the University of Melbourne, such as Exchange, please visit the Inbound Studies section of the Global Mobility website.

Approval

Approval will not be given if you want to take a subject that is closely equivalent to a Melbourne University subject, unless very exceptional reasons exist (for example an unplanned, short-term work transfer interstate). Approval will not be granted to students studying the Juris Doctor for any reason.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Cross institutional study page. 

In all cases, students will need to apply to and complete the enrolment requirements at the other institution.

If the subject is relevant to your course, your faculty/school will assess whether the standard of the subject is of comparable quality to the University's subjects, that is:

• the subject content must be of an equivalent standard
• assessment requirements must be equivalent
• the subject must have an equivalent number of contact hours (please note distance education subjects will not be approved) 
• the subject must be taught at an equivalent level (i.e. subjects taught at undergraduate level will not be approved for a postgraduate course; subjects must be offered at the appropriate year level).

Fees and Commonwealth Support

If you are a Commonwealth Supported Student at the University of Melbourne, you may be eligible to study as a Commonwealth Supported student at the other Australian university also. Note that if you are offered a Commonwealth supported place at another institution, you will be required to complete a separate 'Request for Commonwealth Support' form.

If you are a FEE-HELP student at the University of Melbourne, you will be eligible to undertake any complementary subjects under FEE-HELP (subject to your FEE-HELP limit). Note that you will be required to complete a second FEE- HELP application form for the other institution.

If you are required, as part of your course, to take a subject offered by another Australian university, and you are a Commonwealth Supported student at the University of Melbourne, then you will be eligible to take this subject as a Commonwealth Supported student at the other institution.

Academic Transcript upon Completion

You will receive a free Academic Transcript upon completion of your cross-institutional studies at the University of Melbourne.