The academic calendar includes important study dates such as:
- census dates
- semester start and end dates
- examination periods
- graduation ceremonies.
Find out about VU’s important dates, what they mean, and what you need to complete by each deadline.
University dates – definitions
Census dates
The census date is an important deadline each study period. It’s your last day to finalise the following:
- withdrawal from your course or unit(s) without financial penalties
- adding unit(s) to your enrolment – with College approval only
- providing your Tax File Number (TFN), if you are a domestic student deferring fees via a HELP loan.
See HE census dates and VET/TAFE census dates.
Penalties for withdrawing after the census date
If you withdraw from the course or unit after the census date, you’ll face one of these financial penalties:
- you will not be eligible for a refund for that unit
- you will remain liable for the HELP loan for that unit.
Penalties also apply for the following delays and amendments:
- making changes to your enrolment
- making late payments
- submitting documents after the relevant census date.
Exceptional circumstances
If you have to discontinue from your course or unit(s) after the census date due to exceptional circumstances, you may be eligible for a refund of fees or have your HELP debt remitted.
Administrative census date
The ‘administrative census date’ is the deadline for adding units each study period (last day to add units).
Withdraw from your studies
Withdraw without academic penalty
If you miss the census date, there is a deadline for withdrawing without academic penalty.
When you withdraw by that date, you avoid the academic penalty (fail), but you will remain liable for the fees/or HELP loan.
The discontinued unit will appear on the academic transcript with a WD (Withdrawn) grade.
This date is labelled as 'WD deadline' on this page.
Find out more about withdrawing from your units.
Withdraw with academic penalty (HE)
If you withdraw after the deadline for avoiding academic penalty, you’ll be deemed to have failed the unit.
In these circumstances, the following apply:
- a WN (Withdrawn-Fail) grade will be recorded on your academic transcript
- you’ll remain liable for the fees
- the WN grade will be counted towards your Grade Point Average (GPA).
This date is labelled as 'WN-fail deadline' on this page.
Find out more about withdrawing from your units.
After the deadline for withdrawing with academic penalty (HE)
Once the deadline for withdrawing with an academic penalty has passed, you can no longer withdraw from your unit of study.
Higher Education (HE) dates 2021
4-week blocks (Melbourne & Sydney) 2021
Semester 3 Block 1, Summer Block, 2021
- Teaching: 18 January 2021–12 February 2021
- Last day to add units: 20 January 2021
- Census: 25 January 2021
- WD deadline: 1 February 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 10 February 2021
- Results published: 15 February 2021.
Semester 1 Block 1, 2021
- Teaching: 22 February 2021–19 March 2021
- Last day to add units: 24 February 2021
- Census: 1 March 2021
- WD deadline: 8 March 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 17 March 2021
- Results published: 22 March 2021.
Semester 1 Block 2, 2021
- Teaching: 22 March 2021–23 April 2021
- Last day to add units: 24 March 2021
- Census: 29 March 2021
- WD deadline: 5 April 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 21 April 2021
- Results published: 26 April 2021.
Semester 1 Block 3, 2021
- Teaching: 3 May 2021–28 May 2021
- Last day to add units: 5 May 2021
- Census: 10 May 2021
- WD deadline: 17 May 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 26 May 2021
- Results published: 31 May 2021.
Semester 1 Block 4, 2021
- Teaching: 31 May 2021–25 June 2021
- Last day to add units: 2 June 2021
- Census: 7 June 2021
- WD deadline: 14 June 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 23 June 2021
- Results published: 28 June 2021.
Semester 4 Block 2, Winter Block, 2021
- Teaching: 5 July 2021–30 July 2021
- Last day to add units: 7 July 2021
- Census: 12 July 2021
- WD deadline: 19 July 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 28 July 2021
- Results published: 2 August 2021.
Semester 2 Block 1, 2021
- Teaching: 2 August 2021–27 August 2021
- Last day to add units: 4 August 2021
- Census: 9 August 2021
- WD deadline: 16 August 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 25 August 2021
- Results published: 30 August 2021.
Semester 2 Block 2, 2021
- Teaching: 30 August 2021–24 September 2021
- Last day to add units: 1 September 2021
- Census: 6 September 2021
- WD deadline: 13 September 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 22 September 2021
- Results published: 27 September 2021.
Semester 2 Block 3, 2021
- Teaching: 4 October 2021–29 October 2021
- Last day to add units: 6 October 2021
- Census: 11 October 2021
- WD deadline: 18 October 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 27 October 2021
- Results published: 1 November 2021.
Semester 2 Block 4, 2021
- Teaching: 1 November 2021–26 November 2021
- Last day to add units: 3 November 2021
- Census: 8 November 2021
- WD deadline: 15 November 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 24 November 2021
- Results published: 29 November 2021.
HE standard semesters 2021
Semester 3, Summer Term, 2020/2021
- Teaching: 9 November 2020–29 January 2021
- Census: 15 January 2021
- Exams: 1–5 February 2021
- Results published: 15 February 2021.
Semester 1, 2021
- Teaching: 22 February 2021–18 June 2021
- Last day to add units: 26 February 2021
- Census: 19 March 2021
- WD deadline: 16 April 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 19 May 2021
- Results published: 28 June 2021.
Semester 4, Winter Term, 2021
- Teaching: 14 June 2021–23 July 2021
- Last day to add units: 18 June 2021
- Census: 25 June 2021
- WD deadline: 9 July 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 21 July 2021
- Results published: 2 August 2021.
Semester 2, 2021
- Teaching: 2 August 2021–26 November 2021
- Last day to add units: 6 August 2021
- Census: 27 August 2021
- WD deadline: 24 September 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 27 October 2021
- Results published: 6 December 2021.
Semester 3, Summer Term, 2021/2022
- Teaching: 8 November 2021–28 January 2022
- Last day to add units: 12 November 2021
- Census: 14 January 2022
- WD deadline: 21 January 2022
- WN-Fail deadline: 26 January 2022
- Results published: 14 February 2022.
8-week blocks (postgraduate) 2021
Block 1, 2021
- Teaching: 22 February 2021–23 April 2021
- Last day to add units: 26 February 2021
- Census: 9 March 2021
- WD deadline: 22 March 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 21 April 2021
- Results published: 26 April 2021.
Block 2, 2021
- Teaching: 3 May 2021–25 June 2021
- Last day to add units: 7 May 2021
- Census: 17 May 2021
- WD deadline: 31 May 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 23 June 2021
- Results published: 28 June 2021.
Block 3, 2021
- Teaching: 2 August 2021–24 September 2021
- Last day to add units: 6 August 2021
- Census: 16 August 2021
- WD deadline: 30 August 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 22 September 2021
- Results published: 27 September 2021.
Block 4, 2021
- Teaching: 4 October 2021–26 November 2021
- Last day to add units: 8 October 2021
- Census: 18 October 2021
- WD deadline: 1 November 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 24 November 2021
- Results published: 29 November 2021.
Block 5, 2021/2022
- Teaching: 29 November 2021–11 February 2022
- Last day to add units: 3 December 2021
- Census: 20 December 2021
- WD deadline: 17 January 2022
- WN-Fail deadline: 9 February 2022
- Results published: 14 February 2022.
Postgraduate trimesters (Melbourne & Sydney) 2021
Trimester 3, 2020/2021
- Teaching: 9 November 2020–12 February 2021
- Census: 4 December 2020
- Exams: 15–19 February 2021
- Results published: 1 March 2021
- Supplementary exams 8–12 March 2021.
Trimester 1, 2021
- Teaching: 15 March 2021–25 June 2021
- Last day to add units: 26 March 2021
- Census: 9 April 2021
- WD deadline: 7 May 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 9 June 2021
- Results published: 2 July 2021.
Trimester 2, 2021
- Teaching: 19 July 2021–22 October 2021
- Last day to add units: 30 July 2021
- Census: 13 August 2021
- WD deadline: 10 September 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 6 October 2021
- Results published: 29 October 2021.
Trimester 3, 2021/2022
- Teaching: 15 November 2021–25 February 2022
- Last day to add units: 26 November 2021
- Census: 10 December 2021
- WD deadline: 7 January 2022
- WN-Fail deadline: 9 February 2022
- Results published: 4 March 2022.
VU Online study periods 2021
Study period 1, 2021
- Teaching: 11 January 2021–28 February 2021
- Last day to add units: 13 January 2021
- Census: 22 January 2021
- WD deadline: 5 February 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 26 February 2021
- Results published: 5 March 2021.
Study period 2, 2021
- Teaching: 8 March 2021–2 May 2021
- Last day to add units: 10 March 2021
- Census: 19 March 2021
- WD deadline: 2 April 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 30 April 2021
- Results published: 7 May 2021.
Study period 3, 2021
- Teaching: 10 May 2021–27 June 2021
- Last day to add units: 12 May 2021
- Census: 21 May 2021
- WD deadline: 4 June 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 25 June 2021
- Results published: 2 July 2021.
Study period 4, 2021
- Teaching: 5 July 2021–22 August 2021
- Last day to add units: 7 July 2021
- Census: 16 July 2021
- WD deadline: 30 July 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 20 August 2021
- Results published: 27 August 2021.
Study period 5, 2021
- Teaching: 30 August 2021–17 October 2021
- Last day to add units: 1 September 2021
- Census: 10 September 2021
- WD deadline: 24 September 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 15 October 2021
- Results published: 22 October 2021.
Study period 6, 2021
- Teaching: 25 October 2021–12 December 2021
- Last day to add units: 27 October 2021
- Census: 5 November 2021
- WD deadline: 19 November 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 10 December 2021
- Results published: 17 December 2021.
Summer & winter study periods 2021
Semester 3, Summer Term, 2020/2021
- Teaching: 9 November 2020–29 January 2021
- Last day to add units: 13 November 2020
- Census: 15 January 2021
- WD deadline: 22 January 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 27 January 2021
- Results published: 15 February 2021
Semester 3 Block 1, Summer Block, 2021
- Teaching: 18 January 2021–12 February 2021
- Last day to add units: 20 January 2021
- Census: 25 January 2021
- WD deadline: 1 February 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 10 February 2021
- Results published: 15 February 2021
Semester 4 Block, Winter Block
- Teaching: 5 July 2021–30 July 2021
- Last day to add units: 7 July 2021
- Census: 12 July 2021
- WD deadline: 19 July 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 28 July 2021
- Results published: 2 August 2021
Semester 3, Summer Term 2021/2022
- Teaching: 8 November 2021–28 January 2021
- Last day to add units: 12 November 2021
- Census: 14 January 2022
- WD deadline: 21 January 2022
- WN-Fail deadline: 26 January 2022
- Results published: 14 February 2022
Semester 8-week Block 5 - 8-week Block
The 8-week block is only for specified postgraduate courses.
- Teaching: 3 December 2021–11 February 2022
- Last day to add units: 3 December 2021
- Census: 20 December 2021
- WD deadline: 17 January 2022
- WN-Fail deadline: 9 February 2022
- Results published: 14 February 2022
VET/TAFE dates
This section includes course study dates, break periods, census and results dates for TAFE courses.
TAFE course delivery and term dates may vary significantly between areas.
Refer to your TAFE course timetable for your course's details (available after enrolment or from VU International if you're an international student).
Diploma & above study periods 2021
Mid-year (all year), 2020/2021
- Teaching: 1 July 2020–30 June 2021
- Census: 27 November 2020
All year, 2021
- Teaching: 25 January 2021–31 December 2021
- Census: 18 June 2021
Mid-year (all year), 2021/2022
- Teaching: 1 July 2021–24 June 2022
- Census: 26 November 2021
Semester 1, 2021
- Teaching: 1 February 2021–25 June 2021
- Census: 2 April 2021
Semester 2, 2021
- Teaching: 12 July 2021–26 November 2021
- Census: 30 September 2021
Term 1, 2021
- Teaching: 28 January 2021–1 April 2021
- Census: 26 February 2021
Term 2, 2021
- Teaching: 19 April 2021–25 June 2021
- Census: 21 May 2021
Term 3, 2021
- Teaching: 12 July 2021–17 September 2021
- Census: 13 August 2021
Term 4, 2021
- Teaching: 4 October 2021–17 December 2021
- Census: 10 November 2021
Certificate study periods 2021
Certificate level courses do not have census dates because these fees cannot be deferred. You will receive a Statement of Account (SOA) with a payment due date.
All year, 2021
- Teaching: 4 January 2021–17 December 2021
Mid-year (all year), 2021/2022
- Teaching: 1 July 2021–30 June 2022
Semester 1, 2021
- Teaching: 1 February 2021–25 June 2021
Semester 2, 2021
- Teaching: 12 July 2021–26 November 2021
Term 1, 2021
- Teaching: 28 January 2021–01 April 2021
Term 2, 2021
- Teaching: 19 April 2021–25 June 2021
Winter, 2021
- Teaching: 21 June 2021–09 July 2021
Term 3, 2021
- Teaching: 12 July 2021–17 September 2021
Term 4, 2021
- Teaching: 4 October 2021–17 December 2021
January, 2021
- Teaching: 4 January 2021–31 January 2021
February, 2021
- Teaching: 1 February 2021–28 February 2021
March, 2021
- Teaching: 1 March 2021–31 March 2021
April, 2021
- Teaching: 1 April 2021–30 April 2021
May, 2021
- Teaching: 1 May 2021–31 May 2021
June, 2021
- Teaching: 1 June 2021–30 June 2021
July, 2021
- Teaching: 1 July 2021–31 July 2021
August, 2021
- Teaching: 1 August 2021–31 August 2021
September, 2021
- Teaching: 1 September 2021–30 September 2021
October, 2021
- Teaching: 1 October 2021–31 October 2021
November, 2021
- Teaching: 1 November 2021–30 November 2021
December, 2021
- Teaching: 1 December 2021–17 December 2021
VU College (Melbourne) dates
2021 Foundation studies trimesters
Trimester 3, 2020/2021
- Teaching: 5 October 2020–15 January 2021
- Census: 30 October 2020
- Results published: 25 January 2021.
Trimester 1, 2021
- Teaching: 15 February 2021–21 May 2021
- Last day to add units: 19 February 2021
- Census: 12 March 2021
- WD deadline: 9 April 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 19 May 2021
- Results published: 31 May 2021.
Trimester 2, 2021
- Teaching: 14 June 2021–10 September 2021
- Last day to add units: 18 June 2021
- Census: 9 July 2021
- WD deadline: 6 August 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 8 September 2021
- Results published: 29 September 2021.
Trimester 3, 2021/2022
- Teaching: 4 October 2021–14 January 2022
- Last day to add units: 8 October 2021
- Census: 29 October 2021
- WD deadline: 26 November 2021
- WN-Fail deadline: 12 January 2022
- Results published: 25 January 2022.
Public & University holidays
Public and University holidays in 2021:
- New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2021
- Australia Day holiday: Tuesday 26 January 2021
- Labour Day: Monday 8 March 2021 (classes as usual)
- Good Friday: Friday 2 April 2021
- Saturday before Easter Sunday: Saturday 3 April 2021
- Easter Sunday: Sunday 4 April 2021
- Easter Monday: Monday 5 April 2021
- Easter Tuesday*: Tuesday 6 April 2021
- ANZAC Day: Sunday 25 April 2021
- Queen's Birthday: Monday 14 June 2021
- AFL Grand Final holiday: To be confirmed
- Melbourne Cup: Tuesday 2 November 2021
- Christmas Day: Saturday 25 December 2021
- Boxing Day: Sunday 26 December 2021
- Christmas holiday: Monday 27 December 2021
- Boxing Day holiday: Tuesday 28 December 2021.
*VU holiday
Other important dates
For other dates not listed on this page, please view the following webpages:
