Prerequisites and corequisites
A unit may have requisites that you need to meet before you can enrol or while you are undertaking the subject. If requisites apply, they will be listed in the Handbook.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are units or other requirements that must be successfully completed before you begin another more advanced unit. Units build on the concepts taught in the prerequisite unit, so prerequisites are set to ensure you have sufficient background knowledge to cope with the content.
Corequisites
Corequisites are units which can be taken before, or at the same time as the unit which requires it.
What if I haven’t completed a prerequisite?
If you haven’t completed a prerequisite by the time the unit commences, you will not be allowed to enrol in the unit.
However, if you’ve completed studies similar to the prerequisite and those studies are not listed in the Handbook, you may be able to seek permission from the unit Chief Examiner to have the prerequisites waived, allowing you to enrol in the unit.
NOTE: the following are NOT grounds to have prerequisites waived:
- You failed the prerequisite and now need to extend your course
- You chose the wrong units or underloaded in a prior semester and have not yet completed the prerequisite
- You will need to underload in a future semester due to not having completed a prerequisite for a core unit (an underload would be approved in this scenario)
How do I request a requisite waiver?
- Search for the unit in the Handbook to obtain the prerequisite information and the Chief examiner’s contact details.
- Email the Chief examiner from your Monash email account to request a waiver including the following information (you will need written permission from the CE to enrol in the unit):
- The unit code for which you are seeking a prerequisite waiver
- The unit code or other requirements which you are seeking to have waived
- A clear explanation of why you need the prerequisite waived, and how you meet the prerequisites with similar studies
- A copy of your academic record from Monash (you can get this from WES) or previous studies from another institution
- If you are granted permission to enrol in the unit, use the Enrolment Amendment form to submit your enrolment request. You’ll need to upload a copy of the full email conversation from the Chief examiner (including the approval) when submitting your application as an attachment. Ensure you submit your enrolment request by the enrolment deadline for the relevant teaching period.
If you have not been granted a prerequisite waiver by the Chief examiner, you won’t be allowed to enrol in the unit.