Study periods
Find out about study periods to make the most of flexible subject options and know how to meet your enrolment requirements.
The academic year is made up of several study periods in which different subjects are taught.
Study periods are assigned to subjects to indicate their availability and key dates. You can find out which study periods your subjects are available in via the Handbook.
Standard study periods
The following are referred to as standard study periods:
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Year-long.
Standard study periods have set teaching, assessment and census dates.
Non-standard study periods
Non-standard study periods include:
- Semester 1 (Early-Start)
- Semester 1 (Extended)
- Semester 2 (Early-Start)
- Semester 2 (Extended)
- Year Long (Extended)
- Summer term
- Winter term
- Individual months (e.g. June and September).
Completing subjects in non-standard study periods, particularly Summer and Winter term ones, may help you to:
- Meet your course requirements by repeating failed subjects
- Complete prerequisites for subjects running later in the year
- Finish your course in a shorter time frame
- Spread out your study load across the year while still completing 100 points.
Non-standard study periods have their own individual dates. You can use the Handbook for your course to check which subjects are available. Search for specific subjects, or use the study period filter on the left hand side to explore all subjects offered. The ‘Dates and times’ page of each subject entry will indicate when a subject is offered.
Some non-standard study period subjects are structured as intensives, with contact hours condensed over a shorter teaching period.
Examples of how non-standard study periods can be used
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Example one: Freya (domestic undergraduate student)
Freya is a domestic undergraduate student. She wants to finish her course within the standard three year duration, but she prefers to study between 25 and 37.5 points each semester due to part-time work commitments.
To maintain her progression, Freya chooses a variety of summer, winter and other intensive subjects each year. Her course has limited discipline subjects available in non-standard teaching periods, so she is careful to save most of her breadth subjects for these periods.
This allows her to bring her study load up to 100 points in each academic year to complete her course on time.
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Example two: Jarred (international graduate student)
Jarred is an international graduate student who must complete his course in two years to meet his student visa requirements.
Jarred is planning to go on exchange in the first semester of his second year and will only be able to complete 37.5 points overseas due to limited subject options.
In order to accelerate his course progression in his first year, Jarred enrols in 50 points in Semester 1, 12.5 points in a July intensive subject, and 50 points in Semester 2. The July subject’s teaching and assessment dates do not overlap with Semester 2, so Jarred does not need to apply to overload.
By the end of his first year, Jarred has completed 112.5 points, so he can study 37.5 points on exchange and is still on track to finish his course on time.
Checklist for enrolling in non-standard study periods
If you are considering taking a subject in a non-standard study period, make sure:
- The subject fits within your course structure
- The subject’s timetable will not clash with another enrolled subject or your personal commitments (as a guide each 12.5 point subject entails a time commitment of 170 hours)
- You've checked key dates such as the census date and last date to withdraw without fail. These vary by subject, and are stated in the subject entry in the Handbook
- Your study load for each half-year period meets your enrolment requirements
If you intend to enrol in more than 50 points in a semester, you should also check whether you are eligible to overload.
Summer Term Enrolment
‘Summer Term’ subjects can run anywhere inside the Summer period, which spans from the end of one year’s Semester 2 to the beginning of the following year’s Semester 1. Completing subjects over the Summer period may enable you to:
- Complete your degree in a shorter timeframe
- Repeat failed subjects
- Complete subjects which are prerequisites for subjects running later in the year
- Spread your study load over a greater part of the year
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When can I enrol in a Summer Term subject?
Enrolment for summer term subjects opens when the re-enrolment period opens for that year. You can enrol in these subjects via your Study Plan until the last date to self-enrol, as listed in each subject entry in the Handbook.
You are only allowed to enrol in 25 points of summer term subjects each year. You also need to ensure that there are no timetable clashes, and that you have enough time to undertake the subject given your other commitments. As a guide, each 12.5 point subjects entails 170 hours of study: see the subject entries in the Handbook for estimated time commitment.
If you want to withdraw from a summer term subject, ensure you make any enrolment changes by the subject's census date to avoid incurring financial liability or the last date to withdraw without fail to avoid a fail grade.
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How many Summer Term subjects can I enrol in?
You can enrol in up to 25 points in the Summer term without overloading. Enrolment beyond 25 points is not possible. Some courses may have restrictions on how many Summer subjects you can enrol in.
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Where do I find out which subjects are available in the Summer Term?
If a subject is available during the Summer Term it will be categorised as a Summer subject in the Handbook.
To filter for only Summer subjects:
Click the 'Subjects' tab under the search bar
Using the drop-down menu on the right side of the page, select 'Study Periods' > 'Other (including intensives)' > and tick Summer term, January and February.
You can also use the other filters on the right side of the page to further refine your search based on subject level, faculty and more.Enrolment for Summer Term subjects opens when the Re-enrolment period opens for that year. Only a small number of subjects are available during the Summer Term.
Half-year periods
In addition to standard and non-standard study periods, the University uses half-year periods to determine certain aspects of enrolment and administration. This includes your eligibility for enrolment overloading, final subject assessment and study load requirements for student visa holders.
Half-year periods are defined as:
- First half-year: January to June
- Second half-year: July to December.
First half-year study periods | Second half-year study periods |
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*Year-long subjects carry load in both half-year periods.
Need help with planning your course and subjects?
Submit an online enquiry or book an appointment with one of our course advisers, who can help you with course rules and structure, choosing subjects, using the Study Plan, checking you're on track to graduate and more. Please add your My Course Planner link to any enquiry or appointment booking.