Semester at University of Melbourne

Each course is worth 12.5 UniMelb credit points, which is equivalent to 3 - 4 US credits (as determined by your home institution).

You'll enroll in 3 - 4 subjects (courses) per semester. At University of Melbourne, "courses" refers to degrees, and "subjects" refers to classes. Be sure to check out the unique opportunities in the additional course information section.

The Australian academic year begins each February. As you review course options, keep this in mind to ensure that you select courses from the correct semester.

• Semester 1: February – June (US Spring Semester) 

• Semester 2: July – November (US Fall Semester) 

Your eligibility to enroll in courses will be determined by UniMelb faculty based on previous coursework reflected on your college transcript(s) and the corresponding prerequisite syllabi.

In Australia, undergraduate degrees are 3 years instead of 4, so the first-level courses dive right into material specific to that discipline, without too much intro-level context. Use the following course level guidelines when selecting your courses:

• 10000-level courses as sophomore level

• 20000-level courses as junior level

• 30000-level courses as senior level

• 40000-level courses are restricted to honors students

• 50000-90000 is postgraduate

Content in the 20000- and 30000-level courses will be very advanced, and you must be confident that you have the required background knowledge before taking them.

Unique course opportunities:

• CCDP20001 Street Art: This course explores the rise of street art in Melbourne and other key cities, from illegally spray-painted stencils to secret exhibitions in abandoned warehouses to exclusive multimillion-dollar art fairs. Students investigate how the meaning and impact of street art derives from spatial and social contexts and how street art can provide new ways of understanding a city, as well as broader debates about art, public space and urban development. 

• ARTS20002 Going Places, Travelling Smarter: Aiming to enhance travel and/or transcultural experiences, this course encourages students to re-examine identities, develop transcultural competence and deepen understanding of what it means to be a global citizen. Topics covered include architecture, urban and rural environments, conflict, tourism, language and communication, economics, geography, gastronomy, music and creative arts. 

• UNIB10028 Australian Surfing: This course combines academic exploration of surfing’s history, culture, and science with a unique practical immersion. Students will investigate all aspects of the sport, including its Polynesian roots, its development by the modern surfing industry, and the science that shapes the perfect wave. There are two full day field trips for students to experience surfing for themselves, designed for non-swimmers to experienced surfers. 

• UNIB10023 The Making of Melbourne: This course will take you on a journey across the city of Melbourne in space and time, exploring the natural, cultural and constructed development of this thriving city. A range of disciplinary perspectives will provide you with an awareness of how this city, and the university within it, have evolved to the present day, and what plans there are to sustain them both into the future. 

• BIOL10001 Biology of Australian Flora & Fauna: Students in this course will learn about the natural history of Australia over time, including the effects of climate change on its biomes and climactic zones, the incredible diversity and evolutionary journeys of Australian flora and fauna on land and in aquatic environments, and how to conserve Australia’s biodiversity for the future.