What are inherent requirements?
Inherent requirements are the essential skills, knowledge, and attributes you need to successfully complete a course and meet its core learning outcomes.
They reflect the fundamental activities and professional standards embedded in your course – such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, professionalism, and physical or observational capabilities.
Inherent requirements are built into courses, and particularly professionally accredited courses, to make sure you’re ready for the workforce and meet the standards set by your profession. Understanding these requirements early helps you plan your study and explore any supports or adjustments you might need.
You may be required to fulfil inherent requirements across a range of domains*, including:
- behavioural insight
- professionalism
- communication
- teamwork
- cognition
- physical and observational skills
Domain | Definition | Sub-domains |
|---|---|---|
Behavioural insight | The ability to reflect on and regulate behaviour in diverse learning and professional environment, demonstrating accountability, adaptability and self-awareness. | Accountability Adaptability Self-reflection |
Communication | The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with a range of audiences using verbal, non-verbal, written, and numerical form, and in ways that support learning, collaboration, and professional practice. | Verbal Non-verbal Written Numeracy |
Professionalism | The capacity to act ethically and responsibly, comply with relevant laws, codes, and university policies, and demonstrate respect, integrity, and self-care in academic and professional contexts. | Act ethically and professionally Comply with laws, policies and procedures Legal compliance with registration bodies |
Teamwork | The ability to collaborate effectively with others, take responsibility for shared outcomes, respond to feedback constructively, and contribute to inclusive and respectful group environments. | Responsibility |
Cognition | The capacity to acquire, process, and apply knowledge through critical thinking, reflection, and problem-solving in academic and professional settings. | Ability and capacity to learn Literacy Numeracy |
Physical and observational skills | The ability to perform tasks requiring sensory ability, perception, coordination, and mobility, with or without reasonable adjustments, to meet course and professional requirements safely and effectively. | Fine or gross motor skills Strength Visual, auditory, and tactile capacity |
*Adapted from the Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand Inclusive Medical Education: Guidance on medical program applicants and students with a disability (PDF).
Why are inherent requirements important?
Understanding inherent requirements is important because they help you make informed decisions about your study options and future career. They also support transparency and inclusion by clarifying what is expected and enabling early conversations with Student Advisors, Accessibility Advisors and Course Coordinators about reasonable adjustments.
Inherent requirements and entry requirements
Inherent requirements are not the same as entry requirements. Entry requirements (such as ATAR or prerequisites) must be met to be admitted to a particular course. Inherent requirements are the essential abilities, knowledge and skills that are required to meet the learning outcomes of a course in order to graduate.
If you’re concerned about meeting inherent requirements
The University, in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and the Disability Standards for Education (2002) are committed to facilitating reasonable adjustments to ensure equal participation for students with disability. Reasonable adjustments don’t change the course inherent requirements, they are designed to support you to meet and demonstrate the learning outcomes and course inherent requirements of the course.
We encourage you to discuss any questions about how you might meet these requirements with our Student Advisors or Accessibility Advisers. For further information about course inherent requirements and how they apply to you, including making requests for reasonable adjustments, please see the Course Inherent Requirements Procedure (PDF 231.9 KB) or contact Accessibility Services (Email).
Courses at the University of Tasmania with inherent requirements
Not all courses at the University have specific inherent requirements.