Complete units in a shorter time during intensive sessions which run throughout the year, including in the summer and winter breaks.
During an intensive session, you can complete a unit of study and sit the exam outside of a standard semester. Sessions generally take between 4-7 weeks, with classes held over consecutive months in many cases. Intensives give you the opportunity to accelerate your course, catch up on a failed unit of study or balance your timetable.
Some course may require you to study in sessions outside the standard semesters, such as if you’re completing a placement or industry project.
The best place to find which units are offered during an intensive session is on the unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student.
The session code will be listed next to each unit, allowing you to identify which are offered as intensives. S1CIJA for example is an intensive January unit. Session codes are provided on our study dates page.
In some cases, your handbook also indicates when a unit is available during an intensive session; however be aware that your faculty or school may add additional units in Sydney Student not listed in the Handbook.
Intensive sessions have their own key dates; these are different to semester dates.
November - December, January and January - February intensives are generally held over the summer break while Intensive June - July generally falls over the winter break.
The academic year consists of two teaching periods:
January, January - February and May - June intensives fall within Teaching period 1. June - July and November - December intensives fall within Teaching period 2.
All courses will let you enrol in up to 32 credit points during each teaching period, so that you can complete an intensive unit outside of the standard semester.
You can enrol in intensive units via the unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student.
You’ll follow the same process as if you were enrolling in units for Semester 1 or 2. However, you’ll need to make sure the correct session code is displayed next to the unit you’re selecting. Session codes are provided on our study dates page.
Make sure you read what to consider before you enrol, so you know if an intensive session is right for you.
You’ll need to select the unit before the last day to add for the relevant session. Check our study dates page for these deadlines.
Tuition fees for units taken in intensives are calculated at the same rate as the same units in Semester 1 or 2. As with each semester, your fees will depend on what type of student you are and the course you are studying.
Visit the tuition fees page to find out how to view:
Visit the study dates page to see when fees are due for intensive sessions.
If eligible, you may be able to apply for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP to assist with these fees.
Intensive exams are assigned a designated exam week, which could be after the intensive session concludes.
To find out when an exam is scheduled, you'll:
You'll usually need to wait until the end of the current semester to receive your results for an intensive unit.
For example, if you complete a unit in a January - February intensive session, you may not receive your results until Semester 1 results are published in the middle of the year.
Provided it’s before the census date for the session, you can drop an intensive unit by selecting the rubbish bin on the unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student (go to ‘My studies’, ‘Units of study’, then ‘Change your units of study’).
You'll need to select 'Continue' and then 'Confirm' on the confirmation screen to finalise your change.
If it’s after the census date for the session, you won’t see the rubbish bin and won't be able to remove yourself from the unit. Find out your other options on the Discontinue a unit of study page.
As with units you select in the standard semester, if you’d like to enrol in an intensive make sure:
the unit meets your course requirements
you satisfy the prerequisites and other rules for the unit
you have space in your degree.
Check your course rules and unit of study requirements in your handbook. If you need help planning your course, see the list of academic advisers for your faculty or school.
If you're about to start studying with us, you won't be able to select an intensive unit scheduled before the commencement date in your letter of offer.
As a student visa holder, you'll need to have an active eCoE and visa that covers any period that you're studying in.
If you were approved for a suspension in your first semester of study, you won't be able to select an intensive unit scheduled before the start date of the standard semester.
If you are considering studying an intensive unit, you'll need to make sure you are enrolled in a full-time study load, where at least 18 credit points is completed during the standard semester. Find out more about your study load requirements.
If you suspend your studies for the semester, you won’t be able to enrol in an intensive session held during the remainder of that teaching period.
If you’re planning to complete an intensive unit at the end of your course, your graduation may be delayed as you won’t be eligible to graduate until you receive your results and completion letter.
