Complementary study

Complementary study refers to studying units at another Australian university on a non-award basis for credit towards your Monash University degree.

If you would like to enrol in complementary study at another tertiary institution you should complete a Complementary Study application form and lodge it with the Faculty of Science Student Services office by the science specific closing date for that semester. No late applications will be accepted.

Eligibility

You must obtain prior approval to enrol in unit at another institution from the Faculty of Science at Monash. In assessing an application for complementary study, the faculty will consider equivalence of content and learning outcomes, and whether there is significant educational advantage for the proposed program of study.

Units undertaken at another institution without Monash approval will not be credited to your Monash degree.

For more details about credit for complementary study, please refer to the faculty and the university policy.

Notification of approval and enrolment

You will be advised of the outcome of your application in writing by the Faculty.

You must also contact the institution that offers the units you would like to study and complete any appropriate application and enrolment processes. Please note, approval from Monash does not necessarily mean that the application will be approved by the host institution.

Once you have received your 'Confirmation of Enrolment' from the host institution you will need to provide a copy to the Faculty of Science at Monash University. You will then be required to enrol at Monash University, using an Enrolment Amendment form no later than the Friday of the second week of the semester in which the unit is to be taught. Complementary study units in Science will be recorded on your academic transcript with SCL codes (i.e. SCL1001).

If you are applying for a commonwealth supported place (CSP) place at the other institution they will require confirmation of your student status. To obtain this information you will need to request a short letter from the Student Services Centre.

Please note that deadlines at different institutions vary and you will need to check with the host institution before applying.

Discontinuing your enrolment

It is important that you remember that standard census dates apply to units undertaken as complementary study. If you are discontinuing your complementary study you must discontinue your enrolment in the units at both Monash University and the other institution to avoid fees and academic penalties such as a fail grade. You will need to discontinue your Monash complementary (SCL) units by using an Enrolment Amendment form as you will not be able to discontinue those units via WES.

Amending your enrolment

To change units at the host institution you must submit a new complementary study application so the Faculty of Science can assess whether you will be permitted to enrol in the units on a complementary study basis. You will need to meet any deadlines that the other University advertises as well as standard variation to enrolment deadlines with Monash (i.e. end of second week of semester). Credit will not be granted if your enrolment is varied without authorisation.

Results

Once you have completed your complementary study you must provide the Faculty of Science with original or certified evidence of your results which will then be entered against the special complementary unit codes.

If you pass the complementary studies unit the result will be entered at Monash as SFR (satisfied faculty requirements). If you fail the unit a fail (N) result will be entered. You must provide the Faculty of Science with your complementary studies results within four weeks after your results are available, otherwise you may receive a fail result for the unit at Monash.

Fees

You will be required to pay fees for the units at the host institution. The host institution can offer you either a full-fee place or a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). This does not depend on the type of place that you currently have at Monash. Please see the University web site for more information.