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What is an elective unit?

UPDATED 05 AUG 2025 | 7:56AM

An elective unit is a free choice unit within a course. Electives allow you to explore subjects areas outside the core units of your course. Not all courses have electives. You can check your course structure by using the Courses Handbook.

You can enrol into units from any faculty in the university, given that:

  • You meet the requisite requirements

  • The unit level matches the degree you are admitted to (i.e., you cannot study a postgraduate unit in an undergraduate degree)

  • Students in a single Bachelor degree cannot complete more than 250 credit points of first level units throughout their course

You can search for units in the Courses Handbook by using keywords of a subject area of interest or by using the unit code or unit title. You should also use the Handbook to check that the unit is being offered in the required study period. 

You may also be eligible to use electives while on student exchange or to study an elective unit through Open Universities Australia

If you are an Open Universities Australia (OUA) student studying the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education), Bachelor of Education (Primary Education) or Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education), you must select your electives from the list specified on the enrolment planner.

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