About Department approved elective courses

The department has developed a suite of Stage 5 elective courses that can be delivered in schools. Department approved elective courses can make up a maximum of 200 hours of the mandatory 400 hours of electives.

The requirements for schools regarding the mandatory hours for additional studies (electives) in Stage 5 are set out in the:

• Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting to parents K–12 policy
• Curriculum policy standards.

If a school chooses to deliver a department-approved elective course:

• they must consult students, parents and carers so they understand that the course is not listed on the Record of School Achievement (RoSA)
• the school must complete the registration process.

The courses

There are 10 department approved elective courses, including 3 specialist elective courses. The first 7 courses have cross-curriculum content. Teachers across different key learning areas may deliver them. Please see each course for more details.

Specialist courses

The 3 specialist department approved elective courses have specific requirements. Running specialist department approved elective courses may require substantial investment in areas like:

• staffing
• professional learning
• school resources
• infrastructure
• equipment.

Please see each course for more details.

Registration

Schools must complete a registration form for each course in each year that the course is delivered. Registration opens in Term 3 each year for the following school year.

Registration provides essential information for compliance. It allows the department to plan for and provide targeted support for schools.

The registration process takes less than 5 minutes. It should be completed by one nominated person in the school. This may be the subject coordinator, Head teacher, Deputy principal or Principal.

2026 Department approved elective course registration form

Certificate of completion

This certificate of completion can be used for students who have successfully completed a department approved elective course.

Certificate of completion template (PDF 570 KB)

Contact

For more information:

• visit the Teaching and Learning 7–12 statewide staffroom
• email secondaryteachingandlearning@det.nsw.edu.au