Research dates - The University of Sydney
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Research dates

The academic year for research students is divided into four periods to provide flexibility in managing your candidature.  

The four research periods have fixed dates regardless of the calendar year or day of the week.

The Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL) of each research period varies. A full-time student load is 1.0 EFTSL. A part-time load is 50% of the EFTSL of full-time students.

Research Period EFTSL full time EFTSL part time
Research Period 1 0.167 0.083
Research Period 2 0.333 0.167
Research Period 3 0.250 0.125
Research Period 4 0.250 0.125

2025 dates

Event or deadline Date
Research Period 1 (S1CRR1): commencing or recommencing students may enrol 25 November 2024 to 21 January 2025
Research Period 1 (S1CRR1) - 0.167 EFTSL 1 January 2025 to 28 February 2025
Research Period 1 (S1CRR1) payment date - International 13 January 2025
Research Period 1 (S1CRR1) payment date - Domestic 13 January 2025
Research Period 1 (S1CRR1) census date - last day to drop a unit without incurring financial or academic penalty 31 January 2025
Event or deadline Date
Research Period 2 (S1CRR2): commencing or recommencing students may enrol 3 February 2025 to 21 March 2025
Research Period 2 (S1CRR2) - 0.333 EFTSL 1 March 2025 to 30 June 2025
Research Period 2 (S1CRR2) payment date - Domestic and International 24 March 2025
Research Period 2 (S1CRR2) census date - last day to drop a unit without incurring financial or academic penalty 31 March 2025
Event or deadline Date
Research Period 3 (S2CRR3): commencing or recommencing students may enrol 3 April 2025 to 21 July 2025
Research Period 3 (S2CRR3) - 0.250 EFTSL 1 July 2025 to 30 September 2025
Research Period 3 (S2CRR3) census date - last day to drop a unit without incurring financial or academic penalty 1 September 2025
Event or deadline Date
Research Period 4 (S2CRR4): commencing or recommencing students may enrol 3 September 2025 to 21 October 2025
Research Period 4 (S2CRR4) - 0.250 EFTSL 1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025
Research Period 4 (S2CRR4) census date - last day to drop a unit without incurring financial or academic penalty 31 October 2025

If you're planning to change your enrolment, you'll need to check the application deadline. For more information, read our pages on:

If you are an international student and you submit your thesis for examination on or before the census date for a research period, you will not be liable for tuition fees for that period. You will have to pay fees for the research period if you submit your thesis after the census date.

Your earliest and latest thesis submission dates should align with the research period end dates.

Last updated: 20 December 2024

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