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About »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ's academic calendar

Everything you need to know about trimesters and our new academic calendar

»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+
»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ flex-semesters
Law & Justice students outside on »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ main campus

Our students have diverse needs and learn in different ways. We're focused on delivering education in a way that best supports you.

So, we're reimagining our calendar – »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ is introducing a new academic calendar from 2028. The new 'flex-semester' calendar is a semester structure for our undergraduate students and the majority of postgraduate students, centring on delivering the best learning experiences and outcomes for all our students throughout their lifelong education journey. 

Until then, let's breakdown what our academic calendar means for you in your journey to uni – whether you're applying to study at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ next year, or you're looking to start in 2028. 

What is »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ (trimesters) & how does it benefit you?

The »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ calendar provides the opportunity for you to plan your whole year by enrolling annually, allowing you to take advantage of better alignment with northern hemisphere calendars for student exchange, internships and work-integrated learning and other extra-curricular activities or work. You'll have the flexibility to create a study plan that works for you throughout every stage of your degree and with changes to your commitments and priorities.
Flexible study options

Leverage the flexibility to spread your study load across the year by studying fewer courses per term to enable more in-depth learning.

Industry opportunities

Get the most out of career-building opportunities like internships and practicums that easily integrate into your degree.

Globally connected

Study abroad without falling behind. We’re aligned to the Northern Hemisphere university calendars, so say hello to new global partners and more international opportunities.

Key dates of trimesters

»Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ has three terms each year, commencing in February, May and September, with an optional summer term each January. Each term in the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ calendar has ten teaching weeks. You only need to enrol once per year, which means you can plan your year using the dates below and make your calendar work to achieve your unique goals and ambitions.

Don't forget! O-Week starts one week before the beginning of each term. It's a week full of events, activities and sessions to help introduce you to campus if you're new or welcome you back if you're continuing.

If you're studying certain degrees, such as Medicine or at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Canberra, you may follow specific calendars with term lengths that vary from the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ model. Learn more about .
Term 1 2025
17 Feb - 15 May
Term 2 2025
2 Jun - 28 Aug
Term 3 2025
15 Sep - 11 Dec

*Including exam periods

Want to view the full academic calendar?

This includes dates for O-Week, exams, summer term and more!

Ready to get started?

Find out all the information you need to apply to »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ, whether you're a domestic or international student interested in undergraduate or postgraduate study. 
Apply now

How to build your »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ timetable

Find examples below of how you can vary your study load throughout your degree to get the most from your »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ experience.

Standard load option

The standard full-time study load is eight courses per year spread over three terms. It gives you the flexibility to balance your studies with extracurricular opportunities like clubs and societies, volunteering and sport.  

Early finish option

Overload with one extra course per year to finish one term early in September of Year 3 and dive into your career.

Experiences student option

Put your knowledge from the classroom into practice with the flexibility to undertake for-credit experiences such as exchange* and Work Integrated Learning (WIL)^ without extending your degree. 

Dynamic load option

You can flexibly change your enrolment throughout your degree to suit your changing needs, study part-time#, full-time or undertake for-credit experiences to compliment your studies. 

Lighter load option

Take a lighter load of two courses per term over 4 years to allow additional time for extracurricular activities, part-time work and other commitments.

“The flexibility of ±«±·³§°ÂÌý3+ has allowed me to plan my year, designing my timetable with my two most challenging subjects in the reduced course term. The flexible term allows me to dedicate the time necessary to meet the academic demands but also support myself financially and represent »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ at UniSport Nationals where I connected with students from across the country."

Daniel Bunker  |  Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Clinical Optometry

Things to consider when building your timetable

The above examples are based on a standard 3-year degree completed under »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+. The study options available may vary depending on undergraduate or postgraduate study and your specific degree requirements.

*To maintain full-time status at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ while on exchange, you need to transfer back 24 Units of Credit per half-year.

^The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Experience Term enables you to undertake a real-world placement or project for credit toward your degree.

#To maintain eligibility for some Centrelink allowance schemes you must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 Units of Credit each term or 36 Units of Credit per year. Students are encouraged to contact Student Services before reducing their study load.

FAQs

  • The »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ academic calendar has three 10-week teaching terms plus an optional intensive five-week summer term. You only need to enrol once per year, which means you can plan your year to achieve your unique goals and ambitions.

    A full-time study load is considered eight courses per year with a standard load of three per term. By spreading your study load across three terms, you’ll have more time to balance all your commitments. The calendar allows you to have one term each year with two courses, rather than three, or the potential to complete an additional course to get ahead or catch up. This makes sure you get the most out of everything university has to offer, both inside and outside of the classroom. 

    O-Week commences one week before the start of each term to help introduce new students to campus and welcome returning students back to term with activities and events. At the end of each term, there is a one-week study period before a two-week exam period starts.

  • The »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ academic calendar has three 10-week teaching terms plus an optional intensive five-week summer term. You only need to enrol once per year, which means you can plan your year to achieve your unique goals and ambitions.

    A full-time study load is considered eight courses per year with a standard load of three per term. By spreading your study load across three terms, you’ll have more time to balance all your commitments. The calendar allows you to have one term each year with two courses, rather than three, or the potential to complete an additional course to get ahead or catch up. This makes sure you get the most out of everything university has to offer, both inside and outside of the classroom. 

    O-Week commences one week before the start of each term to help introduce new students to campus and welcome returning students back to term with activities and events. At the end of each term, there is a one-week study period before a two-week exam period starts.

  • Each term in the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 3+ calendar has 10 teaching weeks. At the end of each term, there's an additional study period week before exams take place over the duration of two weeks. There's an optional five-week summer term each year from January to February. 

    If you're studying certain degrees, such as Medicine or at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ Canberra, you may follow specific calendars with varying weeks per term. Learn more about .

  • We're introducing a new academic calendar from 2028. For students whose programs will straddle the existing academic calendar and the new flex-semester academic calendar to be implemented in 2028, the University will work with you to resolve any issues with your study load and facilitate on-time program completion.

    We'll keep you updated on changes as we progress to implementation.
    See more details

Introducing the »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ 'Flex-semester' calendar 

From 2028, we're evolving our academic calendar. The new ‘flex-semester’ calendar will be delivered alongside an aligned hexamester (six-term) structure to support the growth of lifelong learning opportunities, including for our alumni throughout their careers, and more flexible postgraduate offerings.

Let's dive into some key details:

  • The new 'flex-semester' calendar is a semester structure for our undergraduate students and the majority of postgraduate students, centring on delivering the best learning experiences and outcomes for all our students throughout their lifelong education journey. 

    This new calendar will be delivered alongside an aligned hexamester (six ­term) structure to support the growth of lifelong learning opportunities, including for our alumni throughout their careers, and more flexible postgraduate offerings. 

  • The key features of our new flex-semester calendar will include:

    • Two standard 12-week teaching semesters
    • A summer and winter term suitable for intensive or catch-up courses and accelerated study
    • A hexamester calendar overlay featuring six terms - each six weeks long - to support our postgraduate and lifelong learning offerings

  • Our flex-semester calendar reimagines how we deliver education and acknowledges that our students have diverse needs and learn in different ways. It will:

    1. Give you more time with a 12-week semester, especially our undergraduate students who have told us they want to engage more deeply with course material. 
    2. Provide flexibility and choice around study load, learning mode and balancing other life commitments such as paid work and extra­curricular activities, and access to new learning opportunities across the academic year. 
    3. Expand flexible learning options — online and in-person — for postgraduates and working professionals, ensuring greater access to education for all. 

  • We aim to introduce our new flex-semester calendar in 2028. 

    For those commencing students whose program will straddle both the current calendar and the new flex-semester calendar, the University will work to ensure minimal disruption to your studies. The University will work with you to manage your study load and facilitate the completion of your degree program on time.  

    We will continue to update all our future and current students as we finalise calendar details and move towards implementation in 2028. 
For further information on the new calendar and FAQs, please visit our website.
Learn more

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If you have any questions about studying at »Ê¹Ú²ÊƱ or how you can make your studies work for you, contact us below. We’re here to help.
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