Trimesters

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 1 runs from 5 March 2012 to 15 June 2012 (teaching period ends 1 June 2012)
• Trimester 2 runs from 9 July 2012 to 12 October 2012 (teaching period ends 5 October 2011)
• Trimester 3 runs from 12 November, 2012 to 22 February, 2013 (teaching period ends 15 February 2013)

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).

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.