UNSW’s
‘flex-semester’
calendar

Scheduled to start in 2028

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Our ‘flex-semester’ academic calendar

UNSW is transitioning to the flex-semester calendar in 2028 following significant staff and student consultation. Designed with students at the forefront, the flex-semester elevates your learning experience and supports greater balance for your studies.

The key features of the new flex-semester calendar include:

  • Two 12-week teaching semesters plus a mid-semester break for deeper learning
  • Optional six-week Summer and Winter terms for short, intensive or catch-up courses 
  • Embedded six-week teaching blocks for greater flexibility in course design and delivery

UNSW Online will continue to operate an independent six-term (hexamester) calendar for our Lifelong Learning offering.
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Are you a current student at UNSW?

Head to our Current Students guide to help you transition from UNSW3+ to the new academic calendar. You can access resources, FAQs and our implementation roadmap.
View transition guide

Flex-semester calendar benefits
Accessible education
Empowers learners across all life stages by supporting diverse learning needs and pathways for all student cohorts.
Advancing research and innovation
Advances research excellence by enabling staff to engage more deeply in collaboration, professional development, and impactful research activities.
Enhanced staff and student experience
Supports a culture where diverse workers, learners, teachers and researchers thrive by improving flexibility, work-life balance and wellbeing.
Future ready and adaptive
Enables inspiring environments and effective systems by improving processes, optimising physical and digital spaces and supporting future-focused curriculums across all UNSW communities.