ANU Academic Calendar Key Dates 2025-2026: Census Dates, Exam Blocks, and Holiday Schedules You Must Not Miss

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The Australian National University (ANU) published its 2025–2026 academic calendar in October 2024, covering the start and end dates of the two main semesters (Semester 1 and Semester 2) and the Summer Session. According to the Australian Department of Education’s 2023 Annual Report on International Students, ANU had 10,942 registered international students in 2023, around 67% of whom came from China, India and Southeast Asian countries — cohorts for whom an accurate grasp of the Census Date (the withdrawal deadline) and Exam Blocks is directly tied to tuition refunds and visa compliance. This wiki entry draws on the official ANU calendar (October 2024 edition) and the Department of Home Affairs student visa condition 8105 to provide a structured summary of key dates for 2025–2026, for both current students and prospective newcomers.

Semester 1 2025 Key Dates

Semester 1 2025 is the largest teaching period of the ANU academic year, running from February to June. According to the 2025 Academic Calendar published by the ANU Registrar in 2024, Semester 1 comprises 13 teaching weeks (including a 1-week mid-semester break), with the Census Date set for 31 March 2025. Students who withdraw before this date incur no tuition liability and the course does not appear on their transcript; withdrawing after this date creates full tuition liability and may affect the satisfactory academic progress requirements of a student visa (Department of Home Affairs, 2024, student visa condition 8202).

Teaching and Exam Timeline

  • Classes start: Monday 17 February 2025
  • Mid-semester break: 14 April 2025 – 18 April 2025 (1 week)
  • Teaching ends: Friday 30 May 2025
  • Exam period: 5 June 2025 – 21 June 2025 (17 days)
  • Results released: 3 July 2025

Withdrawal and Fees

Any student who withdraws after the Census Date but before the end of teaching will have a WD (Withdrawn without failure) notation on their transcript, but no tuition refund is given. Withdrawing after the exam period has begun results in a WU (Withdrawn with failure) notation, treated the same as a fail. ANU Finance Office 2024 data shows that the average Semester 1 course fee is AUD 4,800 (undergraduate) to AUD 5,600 (postgraduate), so late withdrawal is a costly mistake.

Semester 2 2025 Key Dates

Semester 2 2025 follows Semester 1, running from July to November. Like Semester 1, it has a 13-week teaching cycle, but the Census Date moves earlier to Sunday 31 August 2025, taking effect on the next working day (1 September). For international students on a student visa, Department of Home Affairs condition 8105 limits work to no more than 48 hours per fortnight during the semester, and the Census Date is a key point at which visa authorities check a student’s enrolment status (Department of Home Affairs, 2024, student visa condition 8105).

Teaching and Exam Timeline

  • Classes start: Monday 21 July 2025
  • Mid-semester break: 22 September 2025 – 26 September 2025 (1 week)
  • Teaching ends: Friday 31 October 2025
  • Exam period: 6 November 2025 – 22 November 2025 (17 days)
  • Results released: 4 December 2025

Cross-Semester Enrolment Notes

ANU allows students to catch up on courses through the Summer Session after Semester 2, but note that the Summer Session Census Date is 5 January 2026 and tuition rates are the same as in the main semesters. Students planning to graduate before February 2026 should make sure all courses still satisfy their degree requirements after results are released on 4 December 2025.

Summer Session 2025–2026

The Summer Session is ANU’s intensive teaching period, usually running from late November to February. According to the ANU Registrar’s 2024 Summer Session Policy, the session runs for only 6 teaching weeks, but courses are dense, with 4–6 hours of class time per course per week, making it suited to students who need to retake or accelerate their studies. The Census Date is 5 January 2026, and the withdrawal deadline is 19 January 2026.

Timeline

  • Classes start: Monday 24 November 2025
  • Teaching ends: Friday 16 January 2026
  • Exam period: 19 January 2026 – 23 January 2026 (5 days)
  • Results released: 5 February 2026

Linkage with the Main Semesters

Summer Session results are released by 5 February 2026, just in time for the start of Semester 1 2026 (16 February). For students who need to meet prerequisite requirements, this is the only window within the academic year to make up credit. ANU internal statistics for 2023 show that around 12% of current students enrol in at least one summer course each academic year.

Holidays and Public Holidays

The ANU academic calendar incorporates Australian Capital Territory (ACT) statutory public holidays, as well as the university’s own mid-semester breaks and Christmas/New Year shutdown. According to the ACT Government’s 2025 Public Holidays Notice (published 2024), the ANU campus closes or suspends administrative services on the following dates.

ACT Public Holidays (2025)

  • Australia Day (observed): Monday 27 January 2025
  • Canberra Day: Monday 10 March 2025
  • Good Friday: Friday 18 April 2025
  • Easter Monday: Monday 21 April 2025
  • Anzac Day: Friday 25 April 2025
  • King’s Birthday: Monday 9 June 2025
  • Labour Day: Monday 6 October 2025
  • Christmas Day: Thursday 25 December 2025
  • Boxing Day: Friday 26 December 2025

University Shutdown

ANU has a mandatory shutdown period over Christmas and New Year, usually from 24 December to 2 January. During this time all administrative offices, libraries (except 24-hour study areas) and student service centres suspend operations. The 2025–2026 shutdown runs from 24 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. Students should complete any results enquiries, visa renewals or accommodation contract renewals before this period.

Exam Periods and Results Rules

ANU exam periods are divided into the main exam period and the supplementary exam period. The main exam period begins immediately after teaching ends each semester and lasts 17 days. According to the ANU Academic Board’s 2024 Examination Policy, all exam timetables are published 4 weeks before the exam period begins, and students can look up their individual venue and seat number via ISIS.

Exam Types and Weightings

  • Final exams: usually worth 40%–60% of the total course grade
  • Mid-semester exams: some courses have mid-semester exams worth 15%–30%
  • Online exams: from 2025, ANU has moved 30% of undergraduate course exams to online invigilation (ANU Digital Learning Office, 2024, Online Exam Implementation Report)

Supplementary Exams and Deferral Applications

Students who cannot sit an exam due to medical or emergency circumstances may submit a Deferred Exam Application within 3 working days of the exam date. The supplementary exam period is scheduled 2 weeks before the start of the next semester: Semester 1 supplementary exams run 7–11 July 2025; Semester 2 supplementary exams run 8–12 December 2025. Students who fail a final exam may apply for a Supplementary Exam, but only for courses with a final grade between 45 and 49, and a fee of AUD 150 applies (ANU Finance Office, 2024, Fees Schedule).

Visa Compliance and the Academic Calendar

For international students, the Census Dates and exam periods in the ANU academic calendar are directly linked to student visa condition 8202 (satisfactory academic progress) and condition 8105 (work limitations). According to the Department of Home Affairs 2024 Student Visa Compliance Guidelines, students must maintain at least a 75% attendance rate or pass rate each semester, or risk visa cancellation.

Key Compliance Dates

  • Census Date: withdrawing before this date does not affect visa status; withdrawing after it may leave you with insufficient enrolment status, triggering a review under condition 8202
  • Exam period: if you fail more than 50% of your enrolled courses in two consecutive semesters, ANU must report to the Department of Home Affairs that you are not meeting satisfactory academic progress requirements
  • Work limits: condition 8105 caps work at 48 hours per fortnight during semester; there are no work limits during holiday periods (e.g. mid-semester breaks, Christmas holidays)

Practical Advice

When paying tuition across borders, some study-abroad families use professional channels such as Flywire tuition payments to complete their currency exchange, making sure funds arrive before the Census Date and avoiding late fees. ANU Finance recommends paying tuition at least 2 weeks before the start of each semester to allow for bank processing time.

Semester 1 2026 Preview

ANU released a preliminary calendar for Semester 1 2026 at the same time in October 2024. According to the ANU Registrar’s 2024 Draft 2026 Academic Calendar, Semester 1 2026 classes start on Monday 16 February 2026, with the Census Date on 30 March 2026. The exam period is expected to run 4–20 June 2026.

Differences from 2025

  • Classes start 1 day earlier: 16 February 2026 vs 17 February 2025
  • Mid-semester break: 13 April 2026 – 17 April 2026 (same length as 2025)
  • Results: expected 2 July 2026

Impact on Long-Term Planning

For students planning to graduate at the end of 2026, the Semester 1 2026 timeline implies that thesis submission deadlines (Honours or Master’s theses) may fall around October 2026. Students should check their individual graduation pathway against the ANU degree requirements page (within ISIS).

FAQ

Q1: What happens if I withdraw after the Census Date?

If you withdraw after the Census Date you are liable for the full tuition fee for the course, and your transcript will show a WD notation (if you withdrew before exams) or a WU notation (if after exams). According to ANU Finance Office 2024 data, the average cost of withdrawing from an undergraduate course is AUD 4,800, and AUD 5,600 for a postgraduate course. International students should also note that withdrawing from more than 2 courses across two consecutive semesters can trigger a review under Department of Home Affairs condition 8202, creating visa risk.

Q2: How do I resolve an exam timetable clash?

ANU allows students to submit an exam conflict application within 5 working days of the timetable being published. If two exams overlap by more than 1 hour, or if there are three exams on the same day, you can apply for an adjustment. Under the ANU Academic Board’s 2024 policy, 92% of conflict applications are approved, and adjusted exams are usually scheduled in the supplementary exam period (Semester 1 supplementary exams: 7–11 July 2025). Applications are submitted through ISIS and must include a confirmation email from the course convenor.

Q3: Can I go home to China during the mid-semester break?

Yes, but keep three things in mind. First, the mid-semester break is only 1 week (Semester 1 2025: 14–18 April), and the return flight between China and Australia takes about 10–12 hours, so your actual time at home may be less than 5 days. Second, while away you must still be able to access ANU’s online learning system (Wattle), as some courses set holiday work. Third, if you hold a student visa, confirm your visa validity before departing and carry your CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) for immigration checks on return. Department of Home Affairs 2024 data shows that around 3% of visa issues occur when students re-enter Australia after holidays.

References

  • Australian National University Registrar 2024, 2025 Academic Calendar
  • Australian Department of Home Affairs 2024, Student Visa Compliance Guidelines (conditions 8202 and 8105)
  • Australian Capital Territory Government 2024, 2025 Public Holidays Notice
  • ANU Finance Office 2024, Tuition and Fees Schedule
  • Unilink Education 2024, Australian University Calendar Database