Changes To Academic Year

Dear Students,

You will have noted in the 2008 Calendar, posted on myUNSW, that major

changes to the University's academic calendar are taking effect from 2008.
I thought it important to explain to you the reasons behind the changes,
and how they will affect you.

The changes have been under discussion for some time, and approved by both
the Academic Board and the University Council. They have been introduced
to streamline our teaching and learning, and bring UNSW in line with
other Australian universities. Previously, UNSW had longer teaching and
examination sessions than any other Go8 university. Session lengths at
UNSW have not been changed in over 40 years, and new pedagogic practices
mean that learning and teaching is today done in a very different fashion.
Many students are spending part of their degrees in industrial placements
or on international exchange, and the changes will facilitate this.

The Vice-Chancellor has therefore approved changes that will shorten the
standard teaching period length from 14 to 12 weeks of classes. The summer
session will continue, but will be offered in a standard timetable of 8
weeks, with a standard examination period and schedule for finalisation of
results.

The features of the new calendar are as follows:
- The academic year will be divided into 3 - Semester 1, Semester 2,
and Summer Term.
- Semester 1 and 2 will have a 12 week standard teaching period.
Semester 1 will, as at present, be preceded by O-week. In addition, the
week before the commencement of Semester 2 will be used for
Faculty-specific scheduled activities such as Engineering Week, excursions
etc.
- The summer term will consist of an 8 week summer teaching period,
divided into 2 x 4 week periods conducted before and after Christmas/New
Year.
- Teaching in all courses will be conducted within the start and end
dates defined for each teaching period. This will apply to the Summer Term
in particular.
- Fee, enrolment and census dates will be set for each teaching
period
- As is already the case in 2007, students will be able to enrol by
Semester, rather than by year.
- The assessment and examination periods will be shortened. The
increased space between Semester 1 and Semester 2 will ensure students
receive their results in time to make informed choices about courses for
the next semester.
- Earlier scheduling of graduation ceremonies will be possible.
The revised academic calendar applies to all programs at Kensington and
COFA campuses with the exception of the undergraduate Medicine program.
The changes do not apply to ADFA.

The 2008 calendar for award programs offered through the AGSM in the
Faculty of Business is to be confirmed.

We anticipate that the 2007/8 Summer Term will be administered on the
basis of the 2008 Calendar changes, commencing on 26 November.
Further information, including the new Academic Calendar, can be found via
the myUNSW portal. Enquiries can be made directly to calendar@unsw.edu.au

Best wishes,
Professor Joan Cooper
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Students) & Registrar