Introducing the new academic calendar to be implemented by the University of New South Wales in 2028
UNSW Sydney
Introducing UNSW Sydney's new academic calendar from 2028
We are writing to let you know that UNSW Sydney will move to a new academic calendar in 2028.
As a global top 20 university and ranked number one in Australia for employment outcomes,* this new academic calendar is designed to meet the changing needs of the broader educational landscape and follows extensive feedback from students, staff and the community over the past 18 months.
| Introducing the UNSW ‘Flex-semester’ calendar |
| The new ‘flex-semester’ calendar is a semester structure for our undergraduate students and the majority of postgraduate students, centring on delivering the best learning experiences and outcomes for all our students throughout their lifelong education journey.This new calendar will be delivered alongside an aligned hexamester (six-term) structure to support the growth of lifelong learning opportunities, including for our alumni throughout their careers, and more flexible postgraduate offerings. |
Key details
What will a flex-semester look like?
The key features of our new flex-semester calendar will include:
Two standard 12-week teaching semesters.
A summer and winter term suitable for intensive or catch-up courses and accelerated study.
A hexamester calendar overlay featuring six terms - each six weeks long - to support our postgraduate and lifelong learning offerings.
How will the new calendar benefit students?
Our flex-semester calendar reimagines how we deliver education and acknowledges that our students have diverse needs and learn in different ways. It will:
Give students more time with a 12-week semester, especially our undergraduate students who have told us they want to engage more deeply with course material.
Provide flexibility and choice around study load, learning mode and balancing other life commitments such as paid work and extra-curricular activities, and access to new learning opportunities across the academic year.
Expand flexible learning options – online and in-person – for postgraduates and working professionals, ensuring greater access to education for all.
When will the new calendar be introduced?
We aim to introduce our new flex-semester calendar in 2028.
For those commencing students whose program will straddle both the current calendar and the new flex-semester calendar, the University will work to ensure minimal disruption to their studies. The University will support students to manage their study load and facilitate the completion of their degree program on time.
We will continue to update our future and current students and agent partners as we finalise calendar details and move towards implementation in 2028.
For further information on the new calendar and FAQs please visit our website or contact your UNSW regional manager..
Thank you as always for your ongoing support as we continue to drive transformative educational and career outcomes for our students.