Academic calendars
Start planning ahead for your studies and understand the various dates for each teaching period
Check out the UNSW academic calendars for all teaching modes
Whether you're studying in the Term, Semester or Hexamester mode, we've got the key dates for each academic period right here. Take note of when classes start, exams periods and when your holidays will take place.
See also
Our academic calendar model is changing in 2028
After a comprehensive consultation process, we have come up with an improved teaching model that allows greater flexibility for students to pursue both academic and professional development.
Starting in 2028, our learning model will consist of two 12-week teaching semesters with a mid-semester break. This allows for two optional six-week summer and winter terms for short, intensive or catch-up courses.
Unsure what these teaching periods mean?
A teaching period indicates when courses and their related classes are taught and timetabled within terms/semesters/hexamesters. See what these prefixes mean for your study.
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Summer Term | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3Session Dates UNSW Shutdown 24 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025 Summer teaching period U1 6 Jan - 7 Feb Exams U1 8 Feb - 10 Feb Summer Term counts towards the current academic year even when it runs from the end of the previous year. It concludes before Term 1 of the current academic year.
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Summer Term | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3Session Dates UNSW Shutdown 23 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026 Summer teaching period U1 5 Jan - 6 Feb Exams U1 7 Feb - 9 Feb Summer Term counts towards the current academic year even when it runs from the end of the previous year. It concludes before Term 1 of the current academic year.
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Summer | Semester 1 | Semester 2
Looking for enrolment and payment deadlines?
View deadlines hereStudying at UNSW Canberra City Campus?
At the City Campus, you will be following the Term calendar. Click below to navigate to the relevant academic calendar.
The Semester calendar applies for the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) students, which includes details on public holiday compensation and military training dates.
Semester 2
Session Dates Semester 2 teaching period (S2) 14 Jul - 24 Oct UNSW Canberra - ADFA Open Day 16 Aug Mid-semester break 23 Aug - 7 Sep Study recess 25 Oct - 31 Oct S2 examinations (UG only) 1 Nov - 8 Nov Jump to:
Summer | Semester 1 | Semester 2
Looking for enrolment and payment deadlines?
View deadlines hereStudying at UNSW Canberra City Campus?
At the City Campus, you will be following the Term calendar. Click below to navigate to the relevant academic calendar.
The Semester calendar applies for the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) students, which includes details on public holiday compensation and military training dates.
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If you are in one of the following programs, click below to view your academic calendar:
- MBA Full-Time
- MBA (Executive) and MBAX (Online)
- MBA (Executive) - Executive Year
- Graduate Certificates
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As a Diploma student, you will be following the UNSW College academic calendar. Check out the dates for this year's academic calendar below.
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If you are studying one of the following programs, view your academic calendar below:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Research
- Professional Doctorate Program
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Years 1 & 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 - ILP | Year 4 - Honours | Year 5 | Year 6Years 1 & 2
Note: Teaching activities in years 1 and 2 are limited to seven weeks with end-of-course exam in Week 8 of each teaching period.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 17 Feb - 11 Apr Teaching recess 14 Apr - 27 Apr Teaching period M1B 28 Apr - 20 Jul Teaching recess 23 Jun - 6 Jul Teaching period M2A 7 Jul - 29 Aug Teaching recess 1 Sep - 14 Sep Teaching period M3A 15 Sep - 7 Nov Study and exam period 10 Nov - 5 Dec Year 3 - Coursework
Note: If you are a Lateral Entry student, you will commence your BMed/MD (3805) program from the year 3 schedule onwards.
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 6 Jan - 14 Feb Teaching period M1A 17 Feb - 16 May Teaching recess 14 Apr - 27 Apr Teaching period MT2 19 May - 22 Aug Mid-year recess 23 Jun - 13 Jul Teaching recess 25 Aug - 31 Aug Teaching period M3A 1 Sep - 7 Nov Study and exam period 10 Nov - 5 Dec Year 4 - ILP
Note: The below key dates apply for the Independent Learning Project (ILP) pathway in 3805 - BMed/MD program.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 17 Feb - 16 May Teaching recess 19 May - 25 May Teaching period MT2 26 May - 29 Aug Teaching recess 1 Sep - 7 Sep Teaching period M3A 8 Sep - 26 Sep Teaching period T3B 27 Oct - 21 Nov Year 4 - Honours
Note: The below key dates apply for the Honours coursework pathway in the 3805 and 3831 - Science (Medicine) Honours program.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 17 Feb - 16 May Teaching recess 19 May - 25 May Teaching period MT2 26 May - 29 Aug Teaching recess 1 Sep - 7 Sep Teaching period M3A 8 Sep - 24 Oct Teaching period T3B 27 Oct - 21 Nov Year 5
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 6 Jan - 28 Feb Teaching period M1A 3 Mar - 2 May Teaching recess 31 Mar - 6 Apr Teaching period M1B 5 May - 27 Jun Teaching recess 30 Jun - 6 Jul Teaching period M2A 7 Jul - 29 Aug Teaching recess 1 Sep - 7 Sep Teaching period M3A 8 Sep - 31 Oct Study and exam period 3 Nov - 14 Nov Year 6
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 6 Jan - 28 Feb Teaching period M1A 3 Mar - 2 May Teaching recess 31 Mar - 6 Apr Teaching period M1B 5 May - 27 Jun Teaching recess 30 Jun - 6 Jul Teaching period M2A 7 Jul - 29 Aug Study and exam period 1 Sep - 3 Oct Teaching recess 6 Oct - 12 Oct Teaching period M3A 8 Sep - 31 Oct Teaching period T3B 13 Oct - 21 Nov Jump to:
Years 1 & 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 - ILP | Year 4 - Honours | Year 5 | Year 6Years 1 & 2
Note: Teaching activities in years 1 and 2 are limited to seven weeks with end-of-course exam in Week 8 of each teaching period.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 16 Feb - 10 Apr Teaching recess 13 Apr - 26 Apr Teaching period M1B 27 Apr - 19 Jun Teaching recess 22 Jun - 5 Jul Teaching period M2A 6 Jul - 28 Aug Teaching recess 31 Aug - 13 Sep Teaching period M3A 14 Sep - 6 Nov Study and exam period TBC Year 3 - Coursework
Note: If you are a Lateral Entry student, you will commence your BMed/MD (3805) program from the year 3 schedule onwards.
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 5 Jan - 13 Feb Teaching period M1A 16 Feb - 15 May Teaching recess 13 Apr - 26 Apr Teaching period MT2 18 May - 21 Aug Mid-year recess 22 Jun - 12 Jul Teaching recess 24 Aug - 30 Aug Teaching period M3A 31 Aug - 6 Nov Study and exam period 9 Nov - 4 Dec Year 4 - ILP
Note: The below key dates apply for the Independent Learning Project (ILP) pathway in 3805 - BMed/MD program.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 16 Feb - 15 May Teaching recess 18 May - 24 May Teaching period MT2 25 May - 28 Aug Teaching recess 31 Aug - 6 Sep Teaching period M3A 7 Sep - 25 Sep Teaching period T3B 26 Oct - 20 Nov Year 4 - Honours
Note: The below key dates apply for the Honours coursework pathway in the 3805 and 3831 - Science (Medicine) Honours program.
Session Dates Teaching period M1A 16 Feb - 15 May Teaching recess 18 May - 24 May Teaching period MT2 25 May - 28 Aug Teaching recess 31 Aug - 6 Sep Teaching period M3A 7 Sep - 23 Oct Teaching period T3B 26 Oct - 20 Nov Year 5
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 5 Jan - 27 Feb Teaching period M1A 2 Mar - 1 May Teaching recess 30 Mar - 5 Apr Teaching period M1B 4 May - 26 Jun Teaching recess 29 Jun - 5 Jul Teaching period M2A 6 Jul - 28 Aug Teaching recess 31 Aug - 6 Sep Teaching period M3A 7 Sep - 30 Oct Study and exam period 2 Nov - 13 Nov Year 6
Session Dates Teaching period MS1 5 Jan - 27 Feb Teaching period M1A 2 Mar - 1 May Teaching recess 30 Mar - 5 Apr Teaching period M1B 4 May - 26 Jun Teaching recess 29 Jun - 5 Jul Teaching period M2A 6 Jul - 28 Aug Study and exam period 31 Aug - 4 Sep Teaching recess 5 Oct - 11 Oct Teaching period M3A 7 Sep - 25 Sep Teaching period T3B 12 Oct - 20 Nov
Teaching periods indicate when your courses are taught throughout the year, depending on the program you're studying. Examples of teaching periods include terms, semesters and hexamesters.
Teaching periods can have varying lengths and each teaching period has its own associated key dates, including:
- Enrolment and payment deadlines
- Census dates
- Exam periods
- Release of results.
You can check what teaching periods your program of study follows in Class Timetable or Enrolment Basket on myUNSW. Available courses in each teaching period are listed on the Class Timetable.
Teaching periods by program
See annual teaching period structures for different programs at UNSW below, organised by prefix (e.g. T for Term, M for Medicine etc.).
- T & U
- S
- G
- M
- A
- AGSM MBA
- Hexamester
T and U are prefixes for teaching periods followed by main Kensington and Paddington campus programs.
Summer Term (U)
U1: Early January to mid-February (5 weeks, starting from the first working day of the calendar year)
Term 1 (T)
T1: Mid-February to mid-May (10 weeks)
- T1A: first 5 weeks of T1
- T1B: last 5 weeks of T1
- T1C: 4 weeks from the end of T1
Term 2 (T)
T2: Early June to early August (10 weeks)
- T1A: First 5 weeks of T2
- T1B: Last 5 weeks of T2
- T1C: 4 weeks from end of T2
Term 3 (T)
T3: Mid-September to mid-December (10 weeks)
- T3A: First 5 weeks of T3
- T3B: Last 5 weeks of T3
- T3C: 4 weeks from end of T3
S is the prefix for semesters at UNSW Canberra at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
Summer
Summer: Mid-November to late January
Semester 1
S1: Late February to early June
Semester 2
S2: Mid-July to late October
G is the prefix for terms followed by Diploma programs at UNSW College.
Term 1 (Diploma)
GD1: Mid-January to mid-May
Term 2 (Diploma)
GD2: Mid-May to late July
Term 3 (Diploma)
GD3: Early-September to mid-November
M is the prefix for teaching periods followed by Undergraduate Medicine programs.
Year 1 & Year 2
Term 1
M1A: Mid-February to mid-April
M1B: Late April to mid-June
Term 2
M2A: Early July to late August
Term 3
M3A: Mid-September to early November
Year 3 – Coursework
Summer Term
MS1: Early January to mid-February
Term 1
M1A: Mid-February to mid-May
Term 2
MT2: Mid-May to late August
Term 3
M3A: Late August to early November
Year 4 – Independent Learning Project (ILP) / Honours
Term 1
M1A: Mid-February to mid-May
Term 2
MT2: Late May to late August
Term 3
M3A: Early September to late September
T3B: Late October to late November
Year 5 & Year 6
Summer Term
MS1: Early January to late February
Term 1
M1A: Early March to early May
M1B: Early May to late June
Term 2
M2A: Early July to late August
Term 3
M3A: Early September to late September
T3B: Late October to late November
A is the prefix for teaching periods under the PLuS Alliance at Arizona State University.
Summer Term (A)
ASA: January to February
ASC: January to May
Term 1 (A)
ASB: March to April
Term 2 (A)
AUA: May to June
AUB: July to August
AUC: May to July
AFA: August to October
Term 3 (A)
AFB: October to December
AFC: August to December
MBA and Graduate Certificate programs offered by the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) have their own term dates.
Hexamester refers to teaching periods followed by UNSW Online programs.
Hexamester 1
January to February
Hexamester 2
March to April
Hexamester 3
May to June
Hexamester 4
July to August
Hexamester 5
August to October
Hexamester 6
October to December
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