Students and staff fear impacts of university cutting mid-semester break

Students and staff at the University of Newcastle say they fear burnout, reduced outcomes and additional pressure when the mid-semester break is cut next year.

The university announced changes to its academic calendar for 2027 after feedback on the adjusted 2026 calendar.

The start of the first semester was moved to January in 2026 to accommodate a new mid-year term. In 2027 this will be moved back to February after feedback that the earlier start created "unintended pressures" for staff and students.

But to accommodate the later start date, the mid-semester one break, which was one week in 2026 and two weeks in 2025, will be cut. The only break in the semester will be the Easter long weekend plus Easter Tuesday.

The one-week break in semester two will remain.

University of Newcastle Students' Association president Imogen Reid said public holidays weren't enough of a break.

"Already the feedback from 2025 to 2026 going from a two week mid-semester break to one week is that we don't have a lot of time to rest and recover, see family or catch up on study," Ms Reid said.

"A lot of things are due just after that break, so more often than not, it's not really a break."

National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch president Terry Summers said the later semester start date was "welcomed", but the changes had not "addressed a whole heap of concerns from both students and staff".

He said one of the big adjustments for 2026 was the semester being condensed from 13 weeks to 12. This, combined with the reduction of the mid-semester break, would put extra pressure on staff and students, he said.

"Twelve weeks intensive without a break to consolidate learning makes it difficult to get assessment items done," Associate Professor Summers said. "It makes it tougher.

"There is an effect on staff as well. The break gives staff enough time to get marking done. It gives a bit of breathing space."

University of Newcastle senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Belinda Tynan said creating an academic calendar required balancing multiple priorities, including student experience, staff needs, and alignment with sector practices.

"Next year's academic calendar has been refined in direct response to feedback from staff and students, with the semester one start date moved later to improve preparedness for teaching and learning, timetabling, and alignment with school holidays," she said.

"We are pleased that our staff and students appreciate the later start. This adjustment allows us to ease some of the constraints experienced in the first year of implementation and provides greater certainty for everyone."

Associate Professor Summers said the union was not invited to any consultation forums before the 2027 changes were announced, and questioned whether the changes were due to reduced enrolment numbers in 2026.

Professor Tynan said there was "extensive consultation" before and after implementation of the 2026 calendar, including with a working group of teaching, professional and student support staff.

"More recently, feedback has been received from staff and students from across the university," she said.

"We will continue to listen to feedback as the calendar is implemented and make sensible, measured refinements where required. Our focus is on practical improvements informed by how the calendar is working in practice."

Professor Tynan acknowledged undergraduate enrolments were down "slightly" in 2026, but said this could not be attributed to any single factor.

"Student numbers fluctuate across the sector each year," Professor Tynan said.

"However, we recognise that a later start date for next year's enrolments could enable opportunities to achieve additional enrolments."