Handbooks | Western Sydney University

Welcome to Western Sydney University’s Handbook

The Western Handbook is your comprehensive guide to all programs, fields of study and subjects offered by Western Sydney University

You can use the Handbook if:

You're thinking about applying for a program at Western Sydney University
You're registering in subjects and want to check your subjects
You want to find out what the majors and minors are for your program

Note that the handbook you require will depend on the year you started your course at Western Sydney University. Refer to the relevant handbook published in the year you commenced your course for the duration of the course.

Click the link below to go to the current Handbook pages:

2026 Handbook

Past Year Handbooks

Contacts in past handbooks may not be current. Please contact the relevant School for further curriculum information and advice.

2025 Handbook

2024 Handbook

2023 Handbook

2023 Handbook PDF

Programs, Fields of Study, Handbook Details

2022 Handbook

Subject details

2022 Handbook PDF

Handbook Archives

Understanding the Handbook terminology

Program pages describe each program and its structure. They also give you the information you need to search for the subjects and fields of study you may need to take.

Every program is made up of subjects, and each subject has a specific number of credit points (cp). Most programs are made up of:

core subjects that all students must complete
subjects grouped into fields of study (majors, minors and concentrations)
electives (free choice subjects)

Western Sydney University subjects are usually (but not always) worth 10cp. For example, a program requiring 240 credit points may typically consist of 24 subjects worth 10 credit points each. The credit point composition may include:

A suite of core subjects,
A major (commonly 80 credit points or eight subjects), and/or
Minors and elective subjects, as specified in the approved program structure.

Full-time enrolment is normally 80 credit points per academic year. On this basis, a 240 credit point undergraduate program would typically take three years of full-time study to complete, subject to individual study patterns and progression requirements.

Common terminology used on program pages

Term	Information
Term	Information
Study Mode: Full time/Part time	Full-time study means that you normally enrol in 40cp each teaching session. You must enrol in a minimum of 30cp each teaching session to maintain a full-time status. Part time study means that you enrol in less than 30cp each teaching session.
Academic Success and Program Support Officers	The Academic Success and Program Support Officers provide advice and guidance to students about enrolment, credit for prior learning, rule waivers, program progression plans, and all aspects of student experience, and can help students navigate university requirements and student life.
Mode: Onsite/Online/Hybrid	Onsite mode usually requires face-to-face attendance on campus or occasionally at an off-campus location. I.e. undertaking clinical placements. Online mode means there is no on-campus attendance required, apart from end-of-session exams for some subjects, with all learning materials, activities and support available via web-based technologies. Hybrid mode means the program is offered online but with some mandatory attendance required, either on-campus or at a location other than a Western Sydney University campus, e.g. a hospital or conference centre.
Award	The qualification you receive after you have completed all the requirements of your program.
Exit Awards	The award you receive if you exit a program at an approved early exit point. For example, if you enrol in a Graduate Diploma, you may have the option to leave the program after completing the requirements for a Graduate Certificate. In this case, you would be awarded a Graduate Certificate as an Exit Award from a Graduate Diploma.
Core	A compulsory subject that all students enrolled in a specific program or field of study must complete to meet the requirements of the award.
Electives	Non-core subjects that you may choose to study as part of your program.
Field of Study	A group of subjects that make up a major, minor or concentration in your program.
Testamur Majors	An area of focus in your program which will be included on your Testamur – your official graduation certificate, issued when your degree is conferred – at graduation.

Student Administration Definitions - https://policies.westernsydney.edu.au/download.php?id=1263&version=3&associated

Fields of Study refer to a group of subjects that make up a major, minor, or concentration in an undergraduate program or a major within a postgraduate program. You can view these in your program structure in the handbook, and they can be added to your record in MySR.

Major – A structured sequence of at least 80 credit points of subjects.
Minor – A structured sequence of at least 40 credit points of subjects.
Concentration – A defined sequence of subjects functioning as a focused area of specialisation inside a major. It is often similar in size to a minor but is only available to students undertaking that major.

You can find more information on Fields of Study here: https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/students/enrolment/reenrolling-each-year/specialisations

Term	Information
Availability	This section tells you if the field of study is available to students in other programs.
Location: Campus	Unless your program requires you to study across more than one campus, you must enrol in fields of study that are offered on your home campus.

Subject pages provide a brief description about each subject, a link to the timetable under each teaching session’s details, and the following information.

Term	Information
Term	Information
Credit points	Each subject is worth a specific number of credit points. Subjects are usually worth 10cp, but this is not always the case.
School	The school which has overall responsibility for teaching the subject.
Study Level	An indication of the level of learning required. For example, a Level 1 subject is an introductory subject for a Diploma or Bachelor’s degree (undergraduate), while a Level 3 subject is an advanced undergraduate subject. In undergraduate programs students must complete 60cp at level 3 or above. The level of a subject is indicated by the first number in the subject code, e.g. ACCT 1004 is a level 1 subject.
Learning Outcomes	A description of observable and measurable behaviours that students will be able to demonstrate following successful completion of the subject.
Requisites	Equivalent subjects: Subjects considered to be equivalent to another particular subject. If you have successfully completed one of the equivalent subjects listed, you will need to choose a different subject. You may be eligible for Advanced Standing for the subject you have completed.
	Incompatible subjects: A subject which cannot be studied with another subject in the same program. If you have successfully completed an incompatible subject, you will need to choose another subject. An incompatible subject will not count toward your required credit points.
	Corequisite: A subject which must be undertaken at the same time as another subject.
	Prerequisite: A subject that you must successfully complete before you may enrol in a particular subject.
Enrolment Rules	Some subjects are only available to students enrolled in specific programs or fields of study, have minimum completed credit point restrictions, minimum GPA requirements, or require an interview or portfolio be approved before you can enrol. https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/students/enrolment
Special Requirements	Some programs have special requirements you must meet before you can enrol in a subject, e.g. a First Aid Certificate. More information is available on the special requirements page.
Offerings	The teaching session, location and teaching mode for the subject. There are several teaching sessions during the calendar year, such as Autumn, Spring, 1H and 2H.
Assessment	The types of assessment, their length and the percentage of the total marks for the subject. Please note this is a guide only. Please refer to your Subject Outline.
Learning Resources	Any learning resources that students are expected to purchase or have available during the semester.