By Dongyun Kwon

After returning from a much-needed break this week, Monash students have asked Monash to clarify why the mid-semester break occurs so late in semester two.

Mid-semester break in semester one frequently takes place one to three weeks earlier.

Second semesters have a mid-semester break between weeks nine and 10 except for 2020, when the break was moved due to the pandemic.

Navaneeth Karthi is a third-year Monash Software Engineering student. He said he has had a hard time in the middle of the semester because all the assignments and exams are occurring in quick-succession.

“I think if we look at it from the entire semester's calendar, it falls kind of in between, including the final exam period,” Mr Karthi said.

“But, from a student's perspective, I need time to cope with what I have missed from the past,” he said.

“So, I want it in the middle of the 12 weeks that are a part of the teaching period in this semester.

Monash Electrical Engineering/Philosophy student Muhammad Suleman agreed the semester two break should occur sooner.

“It's pretty awful for me because it takes place after all my assignments are done. I really want to break between assignments,” Mr Suleman said.

However, a tutor in Monash's Arts Faculty has a different perspective. She said diverse factors such as school holidays, childcare, and other work fields have been considered when timing the second semester break.

“It is very late in the piece but is intended to coincide with school holidays and also so that the public holiday is added on to the break, rather than happening in the middle, or as a stand-alone day.

“For those with kids it makes childcare significantly easier and means people with partners who work in other industries can use the public holiday,” she said.

However, the tutor said it might be best if a mid-semester break takes place between week eight and week nine because the last six weeks of the semester are harder.

Monash University was contacted for comment.

A spokesperson said in a statement the university’s Semester 1 and 2 dates, including mid-semester dates, are determined in consideration of Universities Australia’s formula for suggested common vacation weeks.