The new flex-semester academic calendar
Information for students in the School of Materials Science and Engineering
UNSW is transitioning to a new Flex-Semester Academic Calendar from 2028.
Under the new calendar, the current three-term structure will be replaced by:
- Two 12-week teaching semesters plus a mid-semester break
- Optional 6-week Summer and Winter terms for short, intensive or catch-up courses
You can find more information about the transition on the UNSW Academic Calendar Transition Website.
Information for current students
This page brings together central UNSW resources and School-specific information to help Materials Science, Engineering and Technology students plan for the transition. The information on this page will be progressively updated.
If you expect to continue your studies into 2028, the timing and sequencing of some of your courses may change and the courses you need to complete may be offered at different times under the new calendar.
You should begin planning your enrolment early to help ensure you can complete all resources courses and graduate within your expected timeframe.
On this page:
- How to start planning
- Planning your enrolment
- Central UNSW resources
- Transition plans
- Changes to thesis courses
- Information for future students
How to start planning
- Review the UNSW planning tips and resources for current students
- Use myPlan to map your remaining courses and check prerequisites
- Review the School and program-specific transition information below
- Look out for emails from the School and UNSW with further advice and updates
- Contact The Nucleus: Student Hub if you are unsure how the transition may effect you
Planning your enrolment
For many students, particularly those who commenced their studies in Term 3, have taken any program leave or periods of part-time study, or are otherwise following an enrolment plan other than a standard full-time T1 entry plan, taking three courses per term through to the end of 2027 may provide the best opportunity to maintain your expected graduation timeframe. This equates to nine courses per year, compared to the standard enrolment of eight courses per year.
However, this guidance will not apply equally to every student. Your recommended enrolment will depend on your program, current progression, course prerequisites, course availability and personal circumstances. Use the available sources including myPlan and the School’s transition information (see below) to develop an enrolment plan that is appropriate for you.
If completing your degree on time is important to you, start planning now. If you need any advice with planning your enrolment or about how the calendar transition will affect your enrolment, ask for help – and do so earlier rather than later, as many issues that may arise later can be avoided with early planning and advice.
Central UNSW Resources
School and program information
Transition Plans
The School has prepared transition information to help students understand how their course enrolment may be affected.
The documents include, for all Materials Science and Engineering and Materials Technology programs, and all terms of entry:
- A standard enrolment plan, which shows how a student's graduation timeframe may be affected by the transition.
- A suggested enrolment plan, which shows how enrolment may be adjusted to support on-time graduation.
We suggest that you start by looking at the standard plan for your program and term of entry. If a standard full-time enrolment would result in delayed graduation, then one or more suggested plans are available, which you can look at to see how you could adjust your enrolment for on-time graduation. If the courses you have taken up to now are not the same as those indicated on the standard and suggested enrolment plans, you may find it useful to look at plans for other terms of entry so you can see a variety of enrolment pathways and use this information to make your own enrolment plan to suit your individual situation.
Note that these plans are provided for advice only. You should always check the UNSW Handbook and ensure your enrolment plan includes all the required courses for your program.
If the combination of these plans and myPlan does not allow you to develop a personal enrolment plan that allows on-time graudation, please contact The Nucleus: Student Hub.
Note: The School is in the process of uploading the transition plans. This page will be updated as they become available.
Changes to thesis courses
One of the most significant changes to the School's programs with the calendar transition is changes to thesis courses. Changes to thesis course structures are shown below.
-
Program Current thesis structure New thesis structure 3131, 3132, 3134 Three 4 UoC courses taken across 3 terms (one academic year) – MATS4025, MATS4026, MATS4027 Starting from T3 2027:
Two 6 UoC courses taken across 2 terms/semesters (one academic year) – MATS4020, MATS4022
3133
Three 4 UoC courses taken across 3 terms (one academic year) – BIOM4951, BIOM4952, BIOM4953
Two 6 UoC courses taken across 2 terms/semesters (one academic year) – BIOM4001, BIOM4002
Contact the School of Biomedical Engineering for advice about thesis courses
8717
Three courses taken across 3 terms (one academic year) – MATS6114 (taken twice), MATS6113, for a total of 24 UoC
Starting from T3 2027:
Two 12 UoC courses taken across 2 terms/semesters (one academic year) – MATS6120, MATS6121
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Advanced Science Honours (MATSCH specialisation)
Three 6 UoC thesis courses taken across 3 terms (one academic year) – MATS4505 taken three times for a total of 36 UoC, plus MATS4503 and MATS4504
Starting from T3 2027:
Combination of thesis courses taken across 3 terms (one academic year) – MATS4505, MATS4506, MATS4508, MATS4510 – taken in combination for a total of 36 UoC (talk to the Honours coordinator for advice), plus MATS4503 and MATS4015
Information for future students
If you are considering commencing at UNSW prior to 2028, the timing and sequencing of courses may vary depending on your commencement year and term.
Your program requirements, learning outcomes, academic standards, total Units of Credit and final qualification will remain unchanged. However, the estimated duration of some degrees may vary during the transition period.
For more information, visit UNSW’s Information for future students page.