Study Information
Subject Areas
Macquarie has a comprehensive subject selection available. These can be viewed here. If you can’t find what you're looking for, write to edabroad@mq.edu.au.
Semester Dates
Macquarie's dates vary slightly from year to year. As a guide, classes run as follows:
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| Semester 1 | ||
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| End of February | - | End of June |
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| Semester 2 | ||
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| End of July | - | End of November |
| (includes a two week mid-semester break and end-of-semester exams) | ||
Click here for the current semester dates for Undergraduates or Postgraduates.
Study Loads and Methods
Study Abroad students are required to take between 9 and 14 Macquarie University credit points per semester. The recommended load is 12 credit points. Most units at Macquarie are valued at either 3 or 4 credit points, which equate approximately between 12 and 16 hours of study per unit per week, including class attendance, private study, library research, etc. The actual workload can vary from unit to unit and even week to week across the university.
12 Macquarie credit points are equivalent to 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer Scheme), meaning that the average 3 credit point Macquarie subject is equivalent to 7.5 ECTS, a 4cp subject is worth 10 ECTS.
As the bulk of Macquarie University's degrees are 3 years in duration, the level of units is 100 (1st year), 200 (2nd year) and 300 (3rd year), which generally equate with 200, 300 and 400 level US units. Most study abroad students enrol in 100 or 200 level units. Postgraduate units are generally labelled as 800.
Macquarie University assessment is largely based on completion of assignments and essays which can vary between 1,000 and 4,000 words. There is usually a final examination or a long essay in lieu of an examination at the end of each unit. There is a great deal of individual study required at Australian universities. Most units do not have weekly class tests.
When selecting units, be sure to read the pre-requisites for that unit.
Grades awarded at Macquarie University are as follows:
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Special Opportunities
While you're in Australia, why not use the opportunity to take a few units that you can't take anywhere else. Macquarie University offers several unique study areas that you might want to think about. Learn about Australia’s amazingly rich Aboriginal culture at the Warawara Centre, take a little introductory Chinese or Japanese, or take a Biology class and learn about Australia’s unique wildlife and environment.
| :: Aboriginal Studies |
| ABST 100 – Introduction to Australian Indigenous Studies ABST 200 – Contested Issues in Indigenous Studies |
| :: Australian Studies |
| AUST100 - Australian Perspectives I AUST200 – Australian Perspectives II AUST300 – Australian Perspectives III |
| :: Biology |
| BIOL108 – Human Biology BIOL114 – Evolution and Biodiversity |
| :: Australian Cultural Studies |
| CUL201 – Australian Cultural Studies |
| :: Asian Languages and Culture - Japanese |
| :: Asian Languages and Culture - Chinese |
| :: Human Geography |
| GEOS 111 - Society, Space and Environments GEOS 262 - Australians and their Environment GEOS 311 - Geography of the Asia-Pacific Region |
| :: Environmental and Life Sciences |
| :: Australian History |
| HIST109 – The Making of Australia HIST216 – Aboriginal Australian History HIST217 – Australia, Britain and the Empire 1770 – 1901 HIST245 – Women in Australian History 1788 - 1988 |
| :: Middle Eastern Studies |
| POL 266 – Introduction to Middle Eastern Politics POL 321 – International Relations in the Middle East |
Other subjects with Australian content:
| :: Australian Media |
| MAS104 – Australian Media |
| :: Australian Society |
| ARTS/SOC 100 - Contemporary Australian Arts SOC175 - Australian Society: Foundations of Social Science |
| :: Australian Politics |
| POL165 – Introduction to Australian Politics POL 168 – Australia in International Relations POL 250 – Contemporary Australian Politics POL 386 – Australian Foreign Policy |
Credit Transfer
On completion of the semester or year at Macquarie University, each student (or program) will be provided with an official transcript of the results achieved whilst at Macquarie University.
A complete description of Macquarie’s grading policy is available at:
For advice on credit transfer, consult your study abroad advisor at your home institution, or edabroad@mq.edu.au.
Suggested European credit transfer system for students:
- 60 ECTS = 24 Macquarie credit points
- 30 ECTS = 12 Macquarie credit points
- 7.5 ECTS = 3 Macquarie credit points