Waiving of prerequisites or corequisites

Introduction

Prerequisites and corequisites for units of study can be found in the Business School Handbook the Business School website under Undergraduate units of study or the Postgraduate units of study.

Waivers of pre or corequisites allow students to enter into more advanced areas of study, bypassing the need to repeat material they have studied previously. Waivers do not however reduce the total number of units required to complete a course.

When a student enrols in a unit of study, either via the web or at the SIO, the University computer system automatically checks their enrolment record to ensure they have completed the unit prerequisites, or are enrolled in the unit corequisites. If these requirements are not met, students cannot enrol themselves into the unit, however the staff in the SIO can override the requirements if appropriate. Before completing such an override SIO staff must have the written authority of the Discipline concerned.

Students in the Master of Commerce (or Commerce combined degree program) who hold a bachelor's degree in Commerce or Business may be granted up to two unit-specific waivers from foundational units allowing them to undertake up to 12 non-foundational units (i.e. the waived unit can be replaced with either a foundational or non-foundational unit).

Steps to follow

1. The student submits the online application Application to Waive a Pre or Co-requisite by entering their Unikey details. If the application is based on prior studies or work experience they then submit additional documentation (transcripts/ letter from employer) to the SIO.
2. The student is advised of the outcome of the application and to their USyd email account. If approved, they print the approval and bring it to the SIO or to their faculty to enrol them in the unit of study.

The rules

1. Waivers can only be granted by the coursework coordinator for the unit of study for which special permission to enrol is sought, (unless specified in a student's offer letter).
2. A waiver does not constitute credit or a variation to the requirements of an award course, except in the case where a waiver is granted for foundational units in the Master of Commerce whereby students can replace the waived unit with either a foundational or elective unit from any of the specialisations (subject to satisfying any prerequisites).
3. Waivers may be granted in cases where the student has completed sufficient prior studies in the area, or where they have work experience that would have provided them with an equivalent level of knowledge (supporting documentation required - e.g. transcript from previous study, duty statement from employer, reference letter from employer, etc)
4. Waivers are granted on the understanding that the student is fully responsible for their own academic performance, and will not be entitled to any special consideration on the grounds of their being enrolled in a unit for which they have not completed the prerequisite or which they are completing concurrently with its prerequisite.