As is the case with many universities adapting to the requirements of today’s students, Swinburne Melbourne offers its programs over a greater part of the year than it did in the past.
Swinburne Sarawak will also move further in that direction from 2011, offering three teaching periods instead of two. Swinburne Sarawak will also bring the length of its terms into line with Melbourne.
The academic calendar will contain two long terms of 12+ weeks during each of which, students will normally study four academic units – much as they have been doing up to the present. However from 2011 a short term of 6+ weeks will be added in the middle of the year in which students will be enrolled for two units of study for half as many weeks but twice the contact hours per week. The result is that most students will take 10 units of study per year, instead of only eight. The University will use more weeks in the calendar year to allow students to finish their studies more quickly. The new calendar will also add an extra entry point to allow domestic and international students a greater choice of when to begin their study.
Research has shown that most students prefer the added efficiency and, for many, cost savings of a shorter total study time. However, students will still have the option of taking eight instead of 10 units per year. In that respect, the new calendar will give them more choices.