The elective units can be selected from the Faculty of Architecture graduate units of study and, with permission, some units can be completed at other institutions. It is recommended that people attempt units in related areas. Depending upon their interest, these could be building services, facilities management, audio, computring, heritage, energy, building, urban desihn or urban planning. Independent study electives can also be taken to extend the formal lighting units to areas od specialisation. Credit towards the 72 units required for the Graduate Diploma, up to 18 units, can be given for equivalent units completed elsewhere and for which an award has been made.
Credit is also possible for non-credentialled learning.
The minimum period required to complete the Graduate Diploma is three semesters. The descriptions of each programme given above indicate that, due to the timings of the core lighting design units, the minimum time for compltion is three semesters. The four credit point units each have two 2-day blocks, separated by about a month, allowing the completion of assignments and any additional reading or tuition that may be required. The total contact time is 144 hr and the non-contact time is estimated to be 288 hr, giving a total commitment to the core of 432 hr. Further, the two day blocks allow those living away from Sydney to undertake the programmes.