Application instructions for non-award study

Follow the steps below to apply as a non-award student.

Check your eligibility and follow the application process below.

Eligibility criteria

You can apply if you:

  • will be aged 18 or above at the commencement of the session
  • hold a NSW Higher School Certificate (or equivalent)
  • meet the prerequisites for your chosen unit/s, and your chosen unit/s are available for non-award study.

Applicants must also hold one of the following:

  • Australian citizenship
  • Australian permanent residency status
  • a current and valid visa, allowing study in Australia and valid for study duration.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, contact us on +61 (2) 9850 6767.

Information by student type

Students applying for units ACST8031, ACST8032 and ACST8095 are not required to reside in Australia during the duration of their study. If you will be offshore, you are not required to hold a visa suitable for onshore study.

Note: if you are studying these units, you must submit evidence of Part 1 completion or examination results (not invoices) from the Actuaries Institute.

Current Macquarie University students pursuing a degree can enrol in units on a non-award basis, but please be advised:

  • the non-award unit(s) will not count towards the WAM of you current course
  • fees for the non-award unit will need to be paid upfront prior to unit commencement and cannot be deferred to HECS or FEE-Help

Please seek guidance from your Faculty.

Students enrolled in a degree at another university should not apply for non-award enrolment, but should enquire about the possibility of cross-institutional enrolment. Contact Student Administration on +61 (2) 9850 6410.

Non-award students pay up-front tuition fees for their studies, and these payments cannot be deferred. This means that non-award study is more expensive than paying as a Commonwealth-supported student. FEE-HELP is not available to non-award students.

International students enrolled at other institutions should enrol at Macquarie as non-award students, not cross-institution.

You must provide the following with your application:

  • a certified copy of your passport photo page
  • a certified copy of your visa label or visa grant email, along with your visa conditions
  • a copy of your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) document to cover the period of the intended non-award study
  • a certified copy of your official academic transcripts
  • an official letter of approval issued from your home institution (on official letterhead) acknowledging that the non-award unit studied at Macquarie will count toward your degree.

If you are applying for a Macquarie unit at 2000 level or above, you will also need to indicate how you satisfy the prerequisites by providing:

  • a unit guide for each of the prerequisite units completed at your home institution.

Only available for:

  • Current Macquarie University MBA and MAF students, and
  • Macquarie University MBA and MAF alumni.

Important Dates

Term 1 2024

Term 2 2024

Term 3 2024

Term 4 2024

Applications open

5 December 2023

20 February 2024

11 April 2024

4 July 2024

Applications close

22 December 2023

19 March 2024

10 June 2024

2 September 2024

Term commences

08 January 2024

2 April 2024

24 June 2024

16 September 2024

How to apply

When to apply

Important Dates

Session 1 2024

Session 2 2024

Session 3 2024

Applications open*

4 December 2023

25 March 2024

mid-September 2024

Applications close

5 February 2024

8 July 2024

25 November 2024

Session commences

19 February 2024

22 July 2024

9 December  2024

Application process

1. First, type in course codes, XNAWD.... then
2. Select your fee liability category (eg. Non award, domestic, UG/PG, fee paying)

Choose your unit/s of study

Refer to the Macquarie University Handbook

Note: Open Universities Australia (OUA) units are excluded from non-award study (indicated with an 'X' in the unit code).

1. Check the unit prerequisites

You must submit evidence that you meet the prerequisites, eg transcripts and unit outlines.

2. Check the tuition fee

Tuition fees must be paid upfront for each unit of study.

Note: non-award program fees cannot be deferred through HECS or FEE-HELP. Overseas-trained professionals undertaking non-award bridging studies may be eligible for FEE-HELP.

Complete the application form

Submit your application using the non-award application form. As part of this process, you will need to upload all supporting documentation in PDF format.

Apply now

After you have applied

After submitting your non-award application form, allow two to three weeks for your application to be processed. Check your student email for any communication regarding your application.

If you have not heard from us after three weeks, submit an AskMQ enquiry. You will need to provide the following information:

  • your application reference number
  • your full name as it appears on your application form
  • the units that you are applying for.

How to change units

If you need to withdraw from a unit, you can do so via eStudent. To avoid academic and financial penalty, ensure you withdraw before the Census date.