Need help choosing electives? There are so many cool, future-focused STEM subjects on offer
With choosing-elective-cut-off dates looming for most senior high school students, chances are you’re hitting up everyone you vaguely know for insight into what you should study next year.
Choosing subjects you’re into is obviously a no-brainer; you’ll be spending hundreds of hours studying them so you may as well enjoy them! But then there’s your future pathway to think about – and what skills are going to set you up for a career that you love.
The awesome thing about STEM electives? They complement literally any other area of study you choose! Science and sport, tech and fashion, maths and saving the planet – no matter how unlikely the pair, chances are there’s a career that fuses a STEM subject with that thing you’re into.
Here, we list every STEM elective offered, as defined by the 2021-2022 YouthInsight Report.
STEM electives
STEM is at the core of so many exciting and important next-gen jobs – which is why choosing at least one science, tech, engineering or maths subject in high school is a seriously smart career move. Look out for the below from Year 9 and above.
- Agriculture
- Agricultural technology
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Chemical world science
- Computing applications
- Design and technologies
- Digital technologies
- Design and technology
- Earth and environmental science
- Earth and space science
- Electrotechnology (VET)
- Engineering studies
- Food technology
- Geography
- Graphics technology
- Human society and its environment
- Industrial technology
- Information and digital technology (VET)
- Information processes and technology
- Investigating science
- Industrial technology
- Information and software technology
- iSTEM
- Living world science
- Marine studies
- Mathematics advanced
- Mathematics extension
- Metal and engineering (VET)
- Physics
- Physical world science life skills
- Science extension
- Software design and development
Check in with your school for their individual lists, which may not include every subject in the curriculum. But keep in mind – some schools allow you to study a subject that they may not offer remotely, or through a VET pathway.
Consider prerequisites
Before you choose your electives, look up all the deets on your dream TAFE, university or VET course to see if they have any recommended knowledge. Studying these subjects in Year 11 and 12 will help you out big time – think of it like a head start.
Some examples of assumed knowledge examples for STEM degrees:
- Bachelor of Data Science and Decisions at UNSW – Mathematics Extension 1
- Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours) at the University of Newcastle – Mathematics (Band 5) or HSC Mathematics Extension 1 (Band E1 or above) or equivalent. Study of one science-related subject would also be an advantage
- Bachelor of Biomedical Science at RMIT – a study score of at least 20 in Chemistry and units 3 and 4, plus a study score of at least 20 in one of any Mathematics or Physics
- Bachelor of Mathematical and Computer Sciences at the University of Adelaide – SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Methods (if studied from 2017 onwards. If studied year 12 prior to 2017, the equivalent subject was called Mathematical Studies). IB: Mathematics (SL grade 4/HL grade 3)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) at the University of Sydney – Chemistry and Mathematics
Stuck on what to study in high school to get started in STEM? Hit up our Choosing Electives Hub for insights on choosing subjects in school.
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