Breadth Study
Policy | Undergraduate degrees |
This policy intersects with the Breadth brochure and other information available online at Breadth Information and should be read with reference to these documents.
A cornerstone of the Melbourne Model for undergraduate students is the introduction of a breadth component into the following undergraduate degrees from 2008:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
The revised Bachelor of Engineering also contains a breadth requirement.
The breadth component is a compulsory part of each degree designed to introduce students to different subject areas involving different ways of learning and thinking from those common to their core-disciplinary areas of study.
Specific requirements of the breadth component differ between the degrees (see appendix 1 for details), and students seeking accreditation in Actuarial Studies or Accounting are exempt from a portion of the breadth component because they are required to take particular subjects to achieve accreditation. Except for this exception, the following rules apply and will not be waived under any circumstances:
- Students require 75 points of breadth subjects (or between 37.5 and 50 points in the revised Bachelor of Engineering).
- Within each degree it is possible to include a 37.5 point breadth sequence including 12.5 points at each of levels 1, 2 and 3.*
- Within each degree it is possible to undertake all of the available breadth subjects within one subject area.*
- Except for the revised Bachelor of Engineering, students must complete at least 12.5 points of breadth at level 3.
To facilitate engagement with the breadth component the University has encouraged teaching departments to collaborate in the development of a range of interdisciplinary subjects examining some of the critical issues of our time from multiple perspectives. These are known as University breadth subjects and are open to any students enrolled in the degrees mentioned above (with the exception of Australian Indigenous Studies, which may not be included within the breadth component of the Bachelor of Arts degree, as it may also be taken by BA students as a foundation subject).
In addition to these subjects, a student should be able to include in the breadth component of their degree any subject that contrasts with, yet complements, their particular core-disciplinary area(s) of study and/or major, providing they have satisfied prerequisites for the relevant subject.
Student Centres will provide advice to students about the breadth component of their degree. It is critical that students receive advice about appropriate combinations or sequences of breath subjects. Such sequences may lead to major or minor study in a subject area secondary to the core-disciplines of the degree in addition to fulfilling specific degree requirements.
Some variations to the breadth component may be permitted for sound academic reasons, however students seeking to vary the subjects normally permitted as part of the breadth component will have to demonstrate how the relevant subject contrasts with the ways of knowing common to studies in their core-disciplinary subject area(s).
Breadth and the concurrent diploma
A concurrent diploma is a separate award course in which students may enrol concurrently with their degree. In some cases subjects taken within the breadth component of a Bachelor's degree will be credited towards the concurrent diploma, leaving the student with fewer total points to complete to become eligible for both awards. Please consult the policy on Concurrent Diplomas for further detail.
* Where such a sequence is available in the relevant subject area.