As a research student, depending on your faculty, school or course requirements, you may need to complete certain coursework units of study. You can also request access to units of study that you think will benefit your study.
To support your research capability, the University offers a range of interdisciplinary coursework units of study at 5000 level or above. These are known as HDR coursework units of study (or Table R units of study) and are listed in the Interdisciplinary Studies Handbook.
Some faculties and schools require their HDR students to complete some of these units of study within their first (or second) year of candidature, as listed below. If this applies to you, they will appear as milestones in your RECS record, along with their associated deadlines.
If you are not required to complete any Table R units of study, you may still choose to enrol in any that you believe would support your research. You may also request special permission to enrol in any other unit of study that you believe would support your research. For more information, see the handbook website.
You may be eligible to apply for an exemption from a particular faculty/school–required HDR coursework unit of study, based on coursework you have previously completed.
If you believe you might be eligible for an exemption, discuss this with your lead supervisor. If they agree, they will submit an exemption request through RECS on your behalf, and you will be informed of the outcome.
Self-enrol in each unit of study by logging in to Sydney Student and selecting ‘My studies’, then ‘Units of study’, then ‘Change your units of study’ and following the prompts.
In some cases, you will be prompted to apply for:
| Permission/exception | Circumstances | Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental permission |
For certain units of study, as indicated. | Follow the prompts in Sydney Student. When your application has been assessed, you will be informed of the outcome. |
| Enrolment exception | If you try to enrol in more than the number of credit points required to complete your degree. | Check your eligibility and follow these instructions to request an enrolment exception. |
| Special permission | If the unit of study you wish to enrol in is not listed in Table R) | Follow the instructions below under ‘If you began your HDR degree before 1 January 2021’. |
There are two separate academic calendars that may apply to you as an HDR student: the research calendar, which relates to your research project, and the coursework calendar, which relates to any units of study you take.
The research calendar comprises four periods per year – Research Periods 1, 2, 3 and 4 – each of which has a fixed start and end date regardless of the calendar year.
The coursework calendar comprises multiple coursework sessions per year, each of which has a start and end date that depends on the calendar year. Depending on your faculty or school’s offerings, coursework may be offered in Semesters 1 and/or 2, in shorter sessions that align with the research periods, or in one or more of the University’s intensive sessions scheduled throughout the year.
To determine when to enrol in an HDR coursework unit of study, check the Study dates page for the semester or session you wish to enrol in. It indicates the last date within each semester or session that you can add (enrol in) a unit of study, as well as the last date you can withdraw from one without academic penalty.