Following the overwhelming success of VU undergraduate students enrolled in the revolutionary, award-winning VU Block Model, from 2021, VU will start rolling out the VU Block model for our postgraduate courses.

With smaller, collaborative classes, VU’s Block Model is designed to allow you to be more focused, giving you more time to connect with your peers, academics and industry partners, and helping you build strong professional networks.

Some key benefits of the VU Block Model for postgraduate courses include:

  • focus – study one or two units at a time instead of juggling the standard four units at once
  • flexibility – better work/life/study balance, more intakes (so you don't have to wait to start), and part-time or full-time options
  • connections – more focused timetables allow you to connect with peers, teaching staff and industry partners
  • faster results – you typically finish your block on a Friday and receive your results the following Monday, taking away uncertainty and a long wait for results
  • performance – the VU Block Model has shown an increase in pass rates, student success and engagement
  • reputation – our multi award-winning Block Model has gained an international reputation.

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Postgraduate modes of delivery

VU Block Model

Studying in the VU Block Model means your study mode of delivery will be organised in one of the following ways, depending on your course:

4

Four-week mode

Postgraduate arts, education, health, biomedicine, sport and exercise.

7

Seven-week mode

VU Online postgraduate courses only.

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8

Eight-week mode

Postgraduate business courses and selected engineering & science courses.

Four-week mode means you study one unit (subject) at a time over four weeks (full time or part time).

Seven-week mode means you study one unit at a time over seven weeks (part time).

In eight-week mode you study either:

  • two units at a time over eight weeks (full time)
  • one unit at a time over eight weeks (part time). 

By studying in VU Block Model, you have a better chance of achieving academic success. Since its introduction to our undergraduate degrees in 2018, VU’s Block Model has seen our first years pass rate increase. In 2019, first year pass rates were at 87% (up 13% on standard model) while for second year students, pass rates were at 90%.

Standard structure

All other VU postgraduate courses will continue to be taught in the current course teaching periods (i.e. multiple units at the same time over the semester/trimester, as per the course structure), until the VU Block Model is rolled out to all courses. Check your course page for more details.

Postgraduate courses

The delivery mode for each course is shown in the accordions below, separated by subject area. 

All postgraduate law & justice courses are currently delivered in the standard mode.

The following courses are delivered in four-week block mode:

The following courses are delivered in seven-week mode, through VU Online:

All other postgraduate health & biomedicine courses are currently delivered in the standard mode.

All other postgraduate courses not listed here are delivered in the standard mode.

Find postgraduate courses

What our students say about the Block Model

Piath Mathiang

Piath Mathiang

"I think the greatest difference with the VU Block Model is that you study one unit at a time, rather than cramming four subjects at once and enduring that stress. I also have more time to do extra readings and hang out with family and friends. And I have more energy for my other passions."

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Zaine Cordy in Bulldogs uniform with a football

Zaine Cordy

"In my first year I studied the traditional model (before the Block Model was introduced). It was hard juggling multiple subjects over a longer period (12 weeks). Block Model helps me set goals and get subjects done a lot quicker – in just four weeks. It reduces the stress of multiple subjects, and I'm not struggling to manage training, playing and studying."

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Charmaine Murphy

Charmaine Murphy

“I believe VU’s Block Model contributed to my success as it enabled me to focus on one unit at a time without dividing my attention on multiple units."

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Timetabling & classrooms in the Block Model

Timetabling

At VU, most full-time units have three three-hour sessions per week, which means you have more time outside of studies for what’s important to you.

Block classes are available in multiple combinations to allow you to choose the timetable that best suits you (depending on your course). You can choose classes in the day or evening to ensure you can still keep any other commitments you may have outside of university, like work or family commitments.

Use our timetable planner to get an idea of when classes for particular units and courses will run in the coming semester.

Classrooms

Block classes are interactive sessions where you are empowered to share ideas, debate concepts and explore learning opportunities. Learning in small, collaborative working groups with classmates and your teacher, you will feel more confident to speak up than in a standard lecture environment where you could be sitting among 100 or more classmates.

With smaller class sizes, you will have more one-on-one time with your teacher. By focusing on one or two units at a time and being in more of a collaborative environment, you’ll have more support from your teachers and peers.

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Find a course & start studyiing

Contact us to find out more about the VU Block Model for postgraduate students and choose the right course for you.

Phone: +61 3 9919 6100

Find a postgrad course and get started.

Find postgraduate courses