Term and semester dates

A 'term' refers to the period of time when you can expect classes to be held. A 'semester' includes term-time and weeks when you will be expected to undertake independent study, revision, and exams.

Semester 1 (Fall/September start)

• Full programme dates: 21 September 2026 - 10 January 2027
• Welcome Week: 21-25 September 2026
• Teaching period¹: 28 September 2026 - 11 December 2026
• Vacation/independent study period: 12 December 2026 - 3 January 2027
• Exam period: 4 January 2027 – 9 January 2027
• Exam resit period: 2 August 2027 – 7 August 2027
• Transcripts released in late March, unless resit results pending

Semester 2 (Spring)

• Full programme dates: 4 January 2027 - 4 June 2027
• Welcome Week²: 4-8 January 2027
• Teaching period¹: 11 January 2027 - 24 March 2027
• Vacation/independent study period: 25 March 2027 - 3 May 2027
• Exam period: 4 May 2027 - 21 May 2027
• Exam resit period: 2 August 2027 – 7 August 2027
• Transcripts released in mid-July, unless resit results pending

Full Year programme (Academic Year)

• Full programme dates: 21 September 2026 - 4 June 2027
• Welcome Week: 21 - 25 September 2026
• First teaching period: 28 September 2026 - 11 December 2026
• First vacation/independent study period: 12 December 2026 - 3 January 2027
• First exam period²: 4 January 2027 – 9 January 2027
• Second teaching period¹: 11 January 2027 - 24 March 2027
• Second vacation/independent study period: 25 March 2027 - 3 May 2027
• Second exam period: 4 May 2027 - 21 May 2027
• Exam resit period: 2 August 2027 – 7 August 2027
• Transcripts released in mid-July, unless resit results pending

Full Year programme (Calendar Year)

• Full programme dates: 4 January 2027 - 16 January 2028³
• Welcome Week¹: 4-8 January 2027
• First teaching period: 11 January 2027 - 24 March 2027
• First vacation/independent study period: 25 March 2027 - 3 May 2027
• First exam period: 4 May 2027 - 21 May 2027
• Exam resit period: 2 August 2027 – 7 August 2027
• Second teaching period¹: 27 September 2027 - 17 December 2027
• Second vacation/independent study period: 18 December 2027 - 9 January 2028³
• Second exam period: 10 January - 15 January 2028³
• Exam resit period: August 2028
• Transcripts released in late March, unless resit results pending

Exams

Please note that students taking Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computing, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics modules (classes), as well as a small number of Business and Law modules, will be required to sit in-person examinations. This means you must stay for the full examination period in January and/or May, as applicable. 

If you’re not taking modules in these subjects, you’re unlikely to have in-person exams and can plan to leave after the final teaching period, once you’ve checked that this applies to you.

Vacations and holidays

There are no holidays during the teaching periods. All public holidays fall during the independent study periods or between semesters.

• Christmas: 12 December 2026 - 3 January 2027
• Easter: 25 March - 25 April 2027
• Summer: 5 June - 26 September 2027³

¹Students with no in-person exams can leave after the last teaching period ends.

²Please note that some Schools begin teaching during the January Welcome Week/Exam Period, so we strongly recommend arriving in time for the start of the week.

³Dates will be confirmed once the 2027/28 academic calendar has been published.