While most University of Wollongong students were still enjoying their holidays yesterday, some headed back to campus for summer session.
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While ditching the beach for the books may seem like an unpopular option, the tradeoff for those who do can be that they finish their degree a session or two earlier.
Smaller lecture and tutorial sizes can be a bonus, and there's no need to queue for books at the library or a coffee and sandwich at the eateries.
It's also far easier to nab a parking spot than during the main sessions.
For Bachelor of Public Health student Joe Perez, 26, summer session is a chance to play catch-up.
"I've got two subjects to make up because I've transferred from one degree to another," he said.
"I don't mind doing summer session as it will speed up my degree, and I'll be able to finish and hopefully get into the workforce earlier."
Bachelor of Commerce student Lawrence Chiu, 23, is doing two subjects in order to get to graduation day that bit earlier too.
"I have also transferred degrees - from nutrition to accounting - and so I need to do an accounting and marketing subject this summer," he said.
"It means I only get one week's break over Christmas but that's OK, I don't mind."
At eight weeks, summer session is also far shorter than autumn and spring sessions, which run for around 15 weeks - although subjects are usually more intensive.
The 2012-13 summer session at UOW started on November 26, with a week's break from Christmas Eve, before lectures resumed yesterday.
It will finish on February 1, while autumn session will start on March 4.