Key dates
All the important Open Universities Australia dates, including close of enrolment dates, close of application dates and census dates. You’ll also find key exam dates listed too.
Key dates are based on the university teaching your course. They include dates when enrolments close, when classes start, and when the study term ends. Some degrees include subjects from a mix of universities, so your timetable may run across different study terms and include several key dates.
Exams are usually held in the weeks following the end of each study term. Find out more in the exams key dates section below.
Please note: Semester 3 is an intensive semester. We advise students to enrol in only one or two subjects in Semester 3.
2018-2019
Study dates for all universities (except Macquarie University and Australian National University)
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | Classes end | End of term | |
| Study Period 1 | 18 Feb 2018 | 26 Feb 2018 | 19 Mar 2018 | 27 May 2018 | 1 Jun 2018 |
| Study Period 2 | 20 May 2018 | 28 May 2018 | 18 Jun 2018 | 26 Aug 2018 | 31 Aug 2018 |
| Study Period 3 | 19 Aug 2018 | 27 Aug 2018 | 17 Sept 2018 | 25 Nov 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 |
| Study Period 4 | 18 Nov 2018 | 26 Nov 2018 | 17 Dec 2018 | 24 Feb 2019 | 1 Mar 2019 |
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
Semester dates for Macquarie University
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | Recess** | End of term | |
| Semester 1 | 18 Feb 2018 | 26 Feb 2018 | 26 Mar 2018 | 16 Apr - 27 Apr 2018 | 29 Jun 2018 |
| Semester 2 | 22 Jul 2018 | 30 Jul 2018 | 26 Aug 2018 | 17 Sept - 28 Sept 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 |
| Semester 3 | 25 Nov 2018 | 3 Dec 2018 | 17 Dec 2018 | 24 Dec 2018 - 4 Jan 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 |
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
** Macquarie University has a recess mid-way through each semester. Tutors may not be available during these times.
Semester dates for Australian National University
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | End of term | |
| Semester 1 | 18 Feb 2018 | 26 Feb 2018 | 31 Mar 2018 | 16 Jun 2018 |
| Semester 2 | to be confirmed |
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
Application closing dates (except Macquarie University)
| Commonwealth supported place (CSP) degrees | Restricted degrees | |
| Study Period 1 | 11 Feb 2018 | 11 Feb 2018 |
| Study Period 2 | 13 May 2018 | 13 May 2018 |
| Study Period 3 | 12 Aug 2018 | 12 Aug 2018 |
| Study Period 4 | 11 Nov 2018 | 11 Nov 2018 |
Application closing dates for Macquarie University
| Commonwealth supported place (CSP) degrees | Restricted degrees | |
| Semester 1 | 11 Feb 2018 | 11 Feb 2018 |
| Semester 2 | 15 Jul 2018 | 15 Jul 2018 |
| Semester 3 | 18 Nov 2018 | 18 Nov 2018 |
Study period dates for ACU^, Curtin University^ and Swinburne University^
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | Classes end | End of term | |
| Study Period 1 | 18 Feb 2018^ | 26 Feb 2018 | 19 Mar 2018 | 27 May 2018 | 1 Jun 2018 |
| Study Period 2 | 20 May 2018^ | 28 May 2018 | 18 Jun 2018 | 26 Aug 2018 | 31 Aug 2018 |
| Study Period 3 | 19 Aug 2018^ | 27 Aug 2018 | 17 Sept 2018 | 25 Nov 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 |
| Study Period 4 | 18 Nov 2018 | 26 Nov 2018 | 17 Dec 2018 | 24 Feb 2019 | 1 Mar 2019 |
^ Note: Some subjects by these universities are available in sessions (see below dates) as well as study periods. Refer to the subject page for details.
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
Semester dates for Macquarie University
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | Recess** | End of term | |
| Semester 1 | 18 Feb 2018 | 26 Feb 2018 | 26 Mar 2018 | 16 Apr 2018 - 27 Apr 2018 | 29 Jun 2018 |
| Semester 2 | 22 Jul 2018 | 30 Jul 2018 | 26 Aug 2018 | 17 Sept - 28 Sept 2018 | 30 Nov 2018 |
| Semester 3 | 25 Nov 2018 | 3 Dec 2018 | 17 Dec 2018 | 24 Dec 2018 - 4 Jan 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 |
Please note: Semester 3 is an intensive semester. We advise students to enrol in only one or two subjects in Semester 3.
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
** Macquarie University has a recess mid-way through each semester. Tutors may not be available during these times.
Session dates for Curtin University, Griffith University, Murdoch University, RMIT University, University of South Australia
| Close of enrolment | Classes start | Census date* | Classes end | End of term | |
| Session 1 | 18 Feb 2018 | 26 Feb 2018 | 22 Mar 2018 | 3 Jun 2018 |
8 Jun 2018 |
| Session 2 | 8 Jul 2018 | 16 Jul 2018 | 9 Aug 2018 | 21 Oct 2018 | 26 Oct 2018 |
| Session 3 | 4 Nov 2018 | 12 Nov 2018 | 6 Dec 2018 | 17 Feb 2019 | 22 Feb 2019 |
* After the census date students can no longer withdraw from a degree or subject and receive a refund or re-credit of their fees.
Application closing dates for ACU, Curtin University and Swinburne University
| Restricted degrees | Postgraduate single subjects | |
| Study Period 1 | 11 Feb 2018 | 14 Feb 2018 |
| Study Period 2 | 13 May 2018 | 16 May 2018 |
| Study Period 3 | 12 Aug 2018 | 15 Aug 2018 |
| Study Period 4 | 11 Nov 2018 | 14 Nov 2018 |
Application closing dates for Macquarie University
| Restricted degrees | Commonwealth supported place (CSP) degrees | |
| Semester 1 | 11 Feb 2018 | 11 Feb 2018* |
| Semester 2 | 15 Jul 2018 | - |
| Semester 3 | 18 Nov 2018 | - |
*Above is Macquarie University's close of application dates with the exception of Master of Teaching (Birth to Five Years)
Application closing dates for Griffith University, Murdoch University, RMIT University, University of South Australia
| Restricted degrees | |
| Session 1 | 11 Feb 2018 |
| Session 2 | 1 Jul 2018 |
| Session 3 | 28 Oct 2018 |
*Above are close of application dates with the exception of:
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Executive) - RMIT University
Executive MBA - RMIT University
Master of Social Work - Griffith University
Exams key dates
Exams key dates are based on the university teaching your subjects. They include dates when exam timetables are published, deadlines to nominate your exam venue, and when exam periods start and end. Some degrees include subjects from a mix of universities, so your exam timetable may include several exam key dates.
Check subject pages to confirm how your subjects are offered—study periods, semesters or sessions—then refer to the tables below for your exams key dates. See your Student Hub and Exams FAQ for more information, including exam venue locations. Exam venue addresses will be emailed to you closer to your exam dates.
2018-2019
| Venue selection open | Timetable publication | Deadline to nominate/ change your venue |
Exam period | |
| Study Period 1 | 9 Apr 2018 | 16 Apr 2018 | 29 Apr 2018 | 28 May - 1 Jun 2018 |
| Study Period 2 | 9 Jul 2018 | 16 Jul 2018 | 29 Jul 2018 | 27 - 31 Aug 2018 |
| Study Period 3 | 8 Oct 2018 | 15 Oct 2018 | 28 Oct 2018 | 26 - 30 Nov 2018 |
| Study Period 4 | 7 Jan 2019 | 14 Jan 2019 | 27 Jan 2019 | 25 Feb - 1 Mar 2019 TBC |
| Venue selection open | Timetable publication | Deadline to nominate/ change your venue |
Exam period | |
| Semester 1 | 16 Apr 2018 | 23 Apr 2018 | 6 May 2018 | 4 - 22 Jun 2018 |
| Semester 2 | 3 Sep 2018 | 10 Sep 2018 | 23 Sep 2018 | 29 Oct - 16 Nov 2018 |
| Semester 3 | To be confirmed |
| Venue selection open | Timetable publication | Deadline to nominate/ change your venue |
Exam period | |
| Session 1 | 16 Apr 2018 | 23 Apr 2018 | 6 May 2018 | 4 - 22 Jun 2018 |
| Session 2 | 3 Sep 2018 | 10 Sep 2018 | 23 Sep 2018 | 23 Oct - 16 Nov 2018 |
| Session 3 | 7 Jan 2019 | 14 Jan 2019 | 27 Jan 2019 | 25 Feb - 1 Mar 2019 |