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Cross-institutional study
During your studies, you may be able to complete a unit of study at another institution and have it credited towards your degree. This is called outbound cross-institutional study.
As well as applying to the external institution, you will need to apply to the University of Sydney to undertake the unit.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and successfully complete the unit, you will be granted credit for that unit of study towards your degree at the University of Sydney. Credit for study will be awarded only if the cross-institutional study is approved before commencing the study.
You will need to pay your student contribution amount or full fee to the destination institution.
Eligibility
You may be eligible if:
- there’s a unit of study relevant to your course that is not taught at the University of Sydney but is available at another institution, and it’s necessary for the completion or progression of your degree
- you are unable, for good reason, to complete a corresponding unit of study at the University of Sydney
- you are an elite athlete or artist who cannot complete the unit of study at the University because of training or performance commitments
- your course resolutions do not exclude cross-institutional study (see your handbook).
As cross-institutional study is a form of credit it will be counted towards any relevant credit limit.
Requirements differ between faculties/schools, so make sure you read up on what the specific eligibility requirements are.
In certain instances, international students may be able to undertake cross-institutional study at another Australian institution. You will first need to check:
- that the destination institution accepts international cross-institutional students
- what fees are involved
- that your visa can accommodate this enrolment.
How to apply
- Read your faculty or school’s specific requirements to check if you’re eligible.
- Apply using the appropriate faculty or school form and include all relevant supporting documents.
- Once you’ve successfully completed the unit and received your results, apply for credit through Sydney Student.
Faculty or school forms and requirements
You need to submit a cross-institutional study request before you start any cross-institutional studies. Check the study request forms below for additional eligibility criteria specific to your faculty or school.
To meet your destination institution’s application deadline, make sure you allow enough time for your faculty or school to process your cross-institutional study request and tell you the outcome. This can take up to four weeks.
After you have submitted the request, you may be asked to arrange an appointment to discuss how your request will satisfy the requirements of your University of Sydney course.
To apply for cross-institutional study, you will need to submit an enquiry. You will need to include an explanation of why you would like to take the unit.
Check the Architecture Resolutions for eligibility and more information.
To apply for cross-institutional study (outbound), submit an enquiry and attach a completed Cross-institutional study – outbound form (pdf, 187KB).
If your application is approved, it is valid only for the agreed semester.
Find out more in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences cross-institutional study provisions 2015 (pdf, 64KB).
Sydney College of the Arts
To apply for the cross-institutional study, email SCA Student Administration at sca.enquiries@sydney.edu.au from your University student email account and attach the supporting documents listed below.
To apply for cross-institutional study, submit an enquiry and attach a completed Cross-institutional study request form (pdf, 126KB).
Eligibility requirements for Business School students are outlined in Clause 5 (1)-(3) of the Business School Faculty Resolutions.
To apply for cross-institutional study, submit an enquiry and attach a completed Cross-institutional study – outbound form (pdf, 338KB).
If your application is approved, it is only valid for the agreed semester.
Find out more in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences cross-institutional study provisions 2015 (pdf, 64KB).
To apply, you need to submit an enquiry and include the following information:
- Details of the unit of study you want to take at another institution. This can be a copy of the unit outline, or a link to the unit description on the institution's website.
- An explanation of why you want to take the unit.
Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor students
If you’re undertaking the Bachelor of Laws, apply using the Application for cross‐institutional study – LLB (pdf, 116KB).
If you’re undertaking the Juris Doctor, apply using the Application for cross‐institutional study – JD (pdf, 117KB).
Send your completed application to law.professional@sydney.edu.au
You need to demonstrate the following criteria:
- the unit of study is not used to satisfy any compulsory requirement
- the unit of study content is not taught in any corresponding elective unit of study in the Sydney Law School
- you are, for good reason, unable to attend a corresponding unit of study in the school
- the unit of study is taught in English at the required level and offered as part of an equivalent award course at the other institution
- the unit of study is equivalent enough in the number of face-to-face teaching hours and in assessment requirements as to units offered by Sydney Law School.
Results from cross-institutional units will not be included in the calculation of your WAM.
Check the Sydney Law School’s Faculty Resolutions for eligibility and more information.
Postgraduate students
If you're a Postgraduate Law student, apply by submitting the following application at least six weeks in advance of your destination institutions enrolment deadline:
- Application for Postgraduate cross-institutional study (doc, 75KB)
- Application for Postgraduate cross-institutional study (pdf, 591KB)
Send your completed application to law.postgraduate@sydney.edu.au
Check the relevant Faculty Resolutions in your handbook for eligibility and more information.
To apply, you need to submit an enquiry and include the following information:
- details of the unit of study you want to take at another institution, including the unit code and unit name at the host institution. An attached copy of the unit of study outline, or a link to the unit description on the institution's website
- an explanation of why you want to take the unit.
Cross-institutional study is not permitted by the Sydney Dental School, as indicated in their Resolutions.
Sydney School of Health Sciences
To apply, you need to submit an enquiry and include the following information:
- details of the unit of study you want to take at another institution, including the unit code and unit name at the host institution. An attached copy of the unit of study outline, or a link to the unit description on the institution's website
- an explanation of why you want to take the unit.
To apply for cross-institutional study, you will need to make an appointment to discuss your intentions with the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching). You will have to provide the Dean with detailed subject outlines, including assessments task outlines, for the units you would like to take.
You may only be permitted to complete a unit of study at another institution if the total credit point value of units of study taken through cross institutional study does not exceed 28 credit points for the whole bachelor's degree, 12 credit points for the whole master's degree and 6 credit points for the whole graduate diploma and graduate certificate courses.
Cross institutional study is not normally available for undergraduate diploma or undergraduate advanced diploma courses.
Check the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s Faculty Resolutions for eligibility and more information.
Information about cross-institutional study is outlined in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Science.
To apply for cross-institutional study submit an enquiry and attach a completed Outbound cross-institutional study or short term independent study abroad form (pdf, 97KB) and supporting letter (demonstrating the above criteria are met).
Supporting documents
You need to submit the following documents in addition to any other documents specified by your faculty or school.
- Unit of study outlines that include:
- contact hours
- a summary of lecture content
- practical content
- textbooks
- mode of assessment.
- If you’re applying on the grounds of exceptional circumstances, supply a letter outlining these circumstances.
Information for the destination institution
You may be required to submit the following documents to your proposed destination institution. You should check with them to make sure you have submitted everything they need:
- a completed Home Institution Commonwealth Support Status Declaration that shows your status as a Commonwealth supported or fee-paying student
- an official academic transcript from the University of Sydney
- a certified copy of your passport or birth certificate to show your residency/citizenship status.
What happens next
Once you’ve completed the unit(s) of study and received your official notification of results, you’ll need to apply for credit through Sydney Student so the unit(s) can be credited towards your University of Sydney course. Go to ‘My studies’, ‘Course details’, then ‘Apply for credit and/or reduced volume of learning’.
You’ll need to upload a copy of your transcript from your host institution, as well as your faculty’s approval letter for you to undertake cross-institutional study.
Last updated: 21 March 2023
