Trimester FAQs

The move to Trimesters has three benefits: more competitiveness, more flexibility, and more alignment.

The trimester model responds to the demand for flexible, year-round learning and increases JCU’s competitiveness in a crowded higher education market. The approach simplifies and aligns the number, length, and timing of study periods across all JCU locations and jurisdictions.

A trimester model offers teaching in three equal-length study periods, and shorter, 10-week blocks of study. The move to trimesters brings JCU in line with many universities in Australia and aligns with the broader international student calendar.

Trimesters also allow students to better manage their study load by focusing on two or three subjects per Trimester, while still completing a degree in the same amount of time. The flexibility allowed by Trimesters means students can structure their own degree progression and even build one or two Trimester breaks into their study plans to balance work, family, and university commitments.

The refreshed academic calendar aligns JCU Australia, JCU Singapore and JCU Brisbane, which increases opportunities for shared study experiences.

A Trimester is a model where teaching is split over three equal study periods during a calendar year.

The semester model has two teaching periods per academic year.

The JCU Trimester model will have three shorter 10-week blocks of study, as opposed to the current Semester model of 13 weeks.

A model 2024 Academic Calendar can be viewed here (pdf).

View the current Academic Calendars here.

All courses will gradually be part of JCU's refreshed Academic Calendar.

For undergraduate courses in the College of Business, Law & Governance, the Trimester Structure commenced on 15 February 2021, which was the start of week one for Trimester 1.

For postgraduate courses in the College of Business, Law & Governance, the Trimester Structure commenced on 13 September 2021, which was the start of week one for Trimester 3.

Students studying first year subjects in the Bachelor of Information Technology (or a dual course) commenced the Trimester Structure on 14 February 2022, which was the start of week one for Trimester 1.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Business, Commerce, Tourism and Information Technology Courses are currently already part of the Trimester Model.

Courses delivered in Trimesters only include:

Courses delivered through a combination of Trimester and Semesters include:

No, not at this time, although all courses will gradually be part of JCU's refreshed Academic Calendar.

A carousel is a short-form study period consisting of a six-or seven-week period of teaching followed by assessment and marking. There are six carousels in each academic year, closely aligned to trimester start and end dates. It is possible that some courses may be taught in-part or entirely as carousels.

Some courses are already using or considering the carousel model in their structure. For example, JCU currently operates the carousel model in several postgraduate courses and undergraduate Education subjects.

End of study period examinations are not permitted in carousels unless required by a regulatory body.

Each Trimester will run for 10 weeks, with a mid-Trimester lecture recess.

From 2024, three trimesters will be contained within a calendar year.

The structure of each Trimester includes:

• 10 weeks of teaching
• One week lecture recess
• One week for exams.

Studying a course over the Trimester model gives students the opportunity to spread their subject load in a way that works for them. They may choose to spread their subjects evenly across the three Trimesters, or study more intensively during one or two study periods.  

Under the current Semester model, students may study four subjects per semester, however, under the Trimester model they may study three subjects each for two Trimesters and two subjects for one Trimester. This allows for a better balance their work, family and university commitments.

There is also opportunity to accelerate your degree.

Please visit this page to view copies of communications sent to students (JCU Student ID required).

The flexibility to accommodate a separation of Trimester and Semester study periods could result in dual and double degree students studying one year of business in Trimesters then one year of another degree in Semesters. Or alternatively, one Trimester of business and one Semester of another degree in a given year.

All students currently studying a Diploma of Higher Education - Business Studies or a Diploma of Higher Education - General Studies (if Business subjects are selected) will have study plans structured to separate study into Trimester and Semester study periods. Affected students are encouraged to contact the Pathways Team to discuss their personalised study plan.

To be classed as full-time a student will be required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points in each standard study period.

A normal full-time workload for each Trimester is nine credit points (three subjects). For Student Income Support purposes a student must undertake 75 per cent of the normal full-time workload; being six credit points (two subjects) for a Trimester. For more information, please refer to the Australian Government website for details about eligibility for Student Income Support.

Guidelines for undertaking study in the Trimester model and retaining eligibility for Student Income Support:

• If a student requires Student Income Support for the full academic year they must enrol in six subjects spread across all three trimesters, with at least one enrolment in every Trimester. It is recommended students enrol in all their subjects for that year at the commencement of the academic year.
• If a student’s enrolment pattern for the year will have an uneven number of subjects in each trimester (e.g.  3+2+1 or 3+1+3), it is recommended they enrol in all their subjects before the commencement of Trimester One to indicate to Centrelink they are planning to undertake the minimum 75 per cent normal full time load across the year.

Each Study Period and Trimester is allocated to a Teaching Period. The academic year is divided into two Teaching Periods. Teaching Period 1 is the first six months of the year and Teaching Period 2 is the second six months of the year. Subjects with a census date prior to 1 July fall within Teaching Period 1, and subjects with a census date on or after 1 July fall within Teaching Period 2. Trimester One and Two are included in Teaching Period 1 and Trimester Three is included in Teaching Period 2.

To be classed as full-time a student will be required to enrol in a minimum number of credit points in each standard study period.

A normal full-time workload for each Teaching Period is 12 credit points (four subjects). For Student Income Support purposes a student must undertake 75 per cent of the normal full-time workload; being 9 credit points (3 subjects) for that Teaching Period. For more information please refer to the Australian Government website for details about eligibility for Student Income Support.

Guidelines for retaining eligibility for Student Income Support whilst undertaking study in Teaching Periods when also required to undertake a subject offered in a Trimester:

• If a student requires Student Income Support for the full academic year they must enrol in six subjects spread across two Teaching Periods. It is recommended students enrol in all their subjects for that year at the commencement of the academic year.
  • Teaching Period 1 example: If a student is required to enrol in two subjects in Study Period 1 and one subject in Trimester One they must be enrolled in the subjects before the earliest commencement date.
  • Teaching Period 2 example: If a student is required to enrol in one subject in Study Period 2 and two subjects in Trimester Three they must be enrolled in the subjects before the earliest commencement date.