New trimester timetable

There are many! Here are just a few. The trimester system will:

• provide students greater flexibility to plan study around work or lifestyle commitments
• create options for students to commence a degree sooner or at a more convenient time of the year
• enable students to fast track study by taking extra units throughout the year
• allow students to take a trimester off to work or travel then catch up later
• enable students to study in any combination of trimesters (subject to availability of units).

The trimester system also offers staff more flexibility in allocation of teaching load.

Trimesters refers to the organisation of three study periods during the teaching year (as opposed to having two study periods using a semester system). At Deakin there are three trimesters:

• Trimester 3 runs from November 10, 2008 to February 20, 2009 (teaching period ends February 6, 2009)
• Trimester 1 runs from March 9, 2009 to June 19, 2009 (teaching period ends June 5, 2009)
• Trimester 2 runs from July 13, 2009 to October 16, 2009 (teaching period ends October 2, 2009)

Each trimester runs for 12 weeks. Study in Trimester 3 is not compulsory – it just provides another option for study. A full-time student load will continue to be two trimesters of study.

Deakin has been operating in a very similar way to a trimester system for several years, by offering units for study over summer semester.

The difference now is that the Trimester 3 teaching period is the same length as Trimesters 1 and 2, and there will be a greater selection of units available in Trimester 3, many of which are available as Commonwealth Supported Places (subject to students meeting the current admission rules and requirements).