Unlike other states and territories, the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies allows teachers to develop subjects based on their own passion, the passion of their students or a partnership with business or industry.

There are clear benefits from the introduction of such electives, including increased student engagement and a head start in their future studies.

While still finding time to study traditionally important subjects like mathematics and compulsory English, the list of classroom electives is multiplying.

Oceanography, flight and the application of geospatial science are just some of the subjects on the elective menu throughout ACT high schools and colleges.

The specific nature and hands-on aspect of many of the school-based courses help to illustrate the real-world effect for students.

ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies director John Stenhouse said the trend for specialised subjects added an element of flexibility to learning.

"The courses go through the same accreditation and quality assurances as other courses… these aren't things that schools dream up one day and start doing the next, there is a rigorous process," he said.

"We know if teachers are passionate about what they're teaching, it does come across to students and it is good for student engagement."

The opportunity to study university-style courses at school provides students with a head-start in their future career, not only through finding what they love, but also discovering what they don't.

For year 12 Dickson College oceanography student Darcy Bowditch-Wharton, 17, studying the specific science subject would be a determining factor in deciding his future career.

"I'm thinking about continuing it [in the future]," he said.

"My brother came here first and did oceanography, he really liked it and it was his best class. He's studying marine biology at university now. I thought it looked pretty fun, and I get to brag about how good it is to my other friends who don't go to this school."

Dickson College principal Kerrie Heath said she was thrilled students were pursuing university-level studies as academic opportunities expand.

"We don't give students enough credit for how amazingly clever they are," she said.

"Academic outcomes have skyrocketed over the last few years, as students look for the connections with the real world.

"The world is a changing place, and it is certainly not because kids are dumbing down, it is completely the opposite … they're consuming everything we've got to offer and they are also able to add to things they're actually passionate about," she said.

Year 12 Gungahlin College flight student Stephen Velstra, 17, chose the school specifically to get a head start in his studies to become a pilot.

"I thought this could be a good pathway into it," he said.

"It's definitely different, it's more engaging [than other subjects]."

Flight and physics teacher David Baker said it was clear when students had enthusiasm for the subject, they would perform better.

"Doing a subject like flight and succeeding at it has very positive benefits in other areas," he said.

"Stephen is also studying physics so he does quite well in both because he can see the application."

For younger students like 14-year-old Chris Brown at Melrose High School, science has become his favourite subject, because of the real-world applications he's had the chance to try.

Melrose students were recently helped to 3D map the school grounds using handheld GPS, laser theodolites and drones.

"I really just hope to understand a bit more about how geospatial science works and what it can do," Chris said.

"It's a very interesting field. I'm most interested in using the technology itself and how it's a global thing at the moment, there are satellites in space, and we have GPS in our pockets most of the day.

"It's interesting to see how all that started and how it became so prevalent."

While the majority of students continue to study traditional subjects including history and biology, Mr Stenhouse said giving students more choice is a good thing.

"Essentially the range of courses we're able to offer does help students stay at school," he said.

"Students get an enormous amount of course counselling and advice from teachers.

"It's not as if students just come in and look at a menu of courses.

"The counselling assists students in identifying which courses will take them to wherever they want to be after school.