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FAQs

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We will continue to build on these FAQs as we progress with the project.

UNSW introduces a new academic calendar

  • With extensive input from the UNSW community, the University has decided to adopt a new academic calendar to meet the changing needs of students, staff, and the broader education landscape. 

    Our new flex-semester calendar will replace the current 3+ calendar in 2028. 

    The key features of our new calendar include: 

    • two 12-week teaching semesters 
    • mid-semester breaks more aligned to other universities and school holidays 
    • optional six-week summer and winter terms for intensive or catch-up courses and accelerated study. 
    • embedded six-week teaching blocks for greater flexibility in course design and delivery.

    The transition to a flex-semester calendar aims to enhance the student learning experience, provide flexibility and choice, create more adaptable learning pathways, and strengthen UNSW’s ability to meet industry and workforce needs. 

    See a detailed view of the flex-semester calendar here.

    UNSW Online will continue to operate an independent six-term (hexamester) calendar for our life-long learning offering.

  • With significant changes in the world over the last seven years driving an evolving education landscape, it is critical we have a calendar that allows us to successfully adapt and further the ambitions of our new UNSW Strategy: Progress for All.

    Our new flex-semester calendar will enable us to meet the changing needs and learning preferences of our diverse student cohorts – making education more accessible; provide an enriched student experience; support and grow our lifelong learning offering; and strengthen our ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the workforce and industry. 

  • We aim to introduce our new calendar in 2028. Planning and alignment with broader University objectives and initiatives is currently underway to ensure the necessary updates to our systems, processes and resources are implemented in a co-ordinated and properly resourced way and the transition is smooth.

  • A long and involved process of review, consultation, development and evaluation with the UNSW community – over 7,000 students and staff contributed – helped inform the University’s decision. Multiple calendar options were first explored to determine the desired characteristics of an evolved calendar model. Two were selected for further consultation and evaluation – an optimised trimester and the new semester model (with embedded six-week teaching blocks) which we have chosen. Both models were considered against a complex range of factors, including alignment with strategic priorities, learning outcomes, student and staff experience, financial sustainability and operational feasibility. After weighing up these factors, the University’s Leadership Team reached a decision which was endorsed by the University’s Council.

  • Some features of the calendar may evolve as we refine the implementation considerations to best support the UNSW community. We will continue to consult with key stakeholders as we progress and will publish the final calendar once available.

  • Currently, some courses and programs, e.g., in Medicine & Health, operate on a bespoke calendar. These programs will not automatically transition to the new academic calendar. We are currently reviewing the merits and implications on a case-by-case basis to determine the best approach and will keep relevant stakeholders updated as we progress.

  • While the calendar will be refined, the mid-semester and winter breaks will be more aligned with NSW school holidays and other domestic university schedules.

  • Consultation with key stakeholders will continue throughout the detailed design and implementation stages of the project to ensure all factors are considered for a smooth transition. You can also provide comments or feedback via the feedback page.

  • We understand that final semester dates are a priority for our partners and prospective students, and we are working hard to finalise these dates. We will share the updates on our website as soon as they are available.

  • You can provide feedback, comments or raise a concern via the feedback page on the project website using the ‘get in touch’Ìý´Ú´Ç°ù³¾.

Student FAQs

  • The University will work with you to resolve or minimise any issues that may arise with your study load and facilitate on-time program completion.

    Students will be kept updated on changes as we progress to implementation. 

  • UNSW will work closely with transitioning students to resolve or minimise issues that may arise with their planned Program progression.

    MyPlan – a tool to plan program progression - will map the progression of transitioning students and this data will be used to tailor the course offerings during the transition period. We anticipate an increase in courses offered during our summer term and other periods to allow students to move through their program at their planned pace.  

    The University will enhance support services for students including academic advice and mental health resources to enable students to best adapt to the new calendar structure. 

  • The University will work with you to resolve or minimise changes to study load and course progression and facilitate on-time degree program completion. 

    Students will be kept updated on any changes as we progress to implementation. 

  • No, the cost to study is calculated on the Units of Credits (UoC) being taken. The Units of Credit will be the same under the flex-semester calendar.

  • We do not expect any changes to Centrelink arrangements. Full time load for each year will remain the same as it currently is. As part of the implementation consultation process, we will be informing Centrelink of changes to the academic calendar. We will continue to update relevant cohorts.

  • Full-time status will remain at 36 Units of Credit (UoC) per year. This load will ensure you are eligible for relevant concession cards.

  • The flex-semester allows students to accelerate completion of their degree program by taking courses in winter or summer terms. The option to ‘overload’ in semesters will also remain, subject to course availability and student performance.

  • Students who have further questions about how the new academic calendar will impact their studies should contact The Nucleus – Student Hub.

Staff FAQs

  • Several activities outside the scope of the Academic Calendar Project are in progress or in planning stages to help address issues around workload as well as teaching and learning. These include:

    • Transforming and reducing assessments
    • Program re-design
    • Future campus planning
    • Process and system improvement including the workload model review, special considerations uplift, and admissions transformation.

  • Combined Track staff have been considered and consulted as part of the process. The Academic Calendar Project Team will continue working with staff representatives to understand and implement any required adjustments to minimise impacts to this cohort. If you have specific comments, feedback or concerns we encourage you to speak with your faculty executive team or get in touch via our website.

  • Education Focused staff have been considered and consulted as part of the process. The Academic Calendar Project Team will continue working with staff representatives to understand and implement any required adjustments and minimise impacts to this cohort.

    If you have specific comments, feedback or concerns we encourage you to speak with your faculty executive team or get in touch via our website.