Students of the University of Newcastle Prepare for Increased Fees and Less Study Time

Wednesday March 4, 2009

The University of Newcastle cuts study time as fees increase this year.

University of Newcastle students will spend only 26 weeks per year at university in 2009 down from a previous 28 weeks as the Federal Government raise HECS fees.

Newcastle university students are said to lose a study week before exams or the final week of a their subjects, which has stirred outrage of the Newcastle University Students Association as students were not given a say in the decision.

"It's exactly the same amount of information, just a week less to learn it," education officer Roshni Sharma told the Newcastle Herald.

The National Tertiary Education Union Newcastle branch explained that part of the change was so teachers had four weeks between semesters to mark exams and prepare courses better. The change also allows the university to synchronise with other Australian universities.

"The 13-week semester length is consistent with universities across the sector where semesters are generally 12 or 13 weeks in length," a University of Newcastle spokeswoman told the report.

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