Semester dates
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Year 2025/26
Date Event 15 September – 12 December 2025 Weeks 1-13 15 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 Winter (Christmas) Break 5 January – 20 March 2026 Weeks 14-24 23 March – 10 April 2026 Spring (Easter) Break 13 April – 29 May 2026 Weeks 25-31 The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates.
ADDITIONAL 2025-26 DATES 27 – 31 October 2025 Independent Study Week* 8 – 12 December 2025 Consolidation Week* 8-12 December 2025 Graduation (Winter) 9 – 13 February 2026 Independent Study Week* 27 April - 16 May 2026 Formal Assessment Period (Undergraduate) 18 May – 29 May 2026 Development Weeks (Undergraduate) 27 April / 4 May* - 29 May 2026 (*varies by programme)
Formal Assessment Period (Postgraduate Taught) 25 June - 3 July 2026 Graduation (Summer) 3-15 August 2026 Supplementary Assessment Period *Some programmes may offer Independent Study Weeks and a Consolidation Week, which will be communicated to students by the relevant School, as part of the phased implementation of the new academic year structure approved at Academic Council in March 2025. Full implementation will take place in 2026-27.
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Year 2026/27
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates have been updated to align with the new structure.
Date Event 16 - 18 September 2026 Welcome Period 21 September – 18 December 2026 Semester 1 Engagement 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 Winter (Christmas) Break 4-15 January 2027 Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)18 January – 19 March 2027 Semester 2 Engagement 22 March – 2 April 2027 Spring (Easter) Break 5 April – 1 May 2027 Semester 2 Engagement 4-28 May 2027 Formal Assessment Period The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
ADDITIONAL 2026-27 DATES 26 - 30 October 2026 Independent Study Week* 7-11 December 2026 Graduation (Winter) 14-18 December 2026 Consolidation Week 15 - 19 February 2027 Independent Study Week* 1-9 July 2027 Graduation (Summer) 2-13 August 2027 Supplementary Assessment Period *For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).
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Year 2027/28
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates for 2027-28 align with the new structure.
Date Event 15 - 17 September 2027 Welcome Period 20 September – 17 December 2027 Semester 1 Engagement 20 – 31 December 2027 Winter (Christmas) Break 3 - 14 January 2028 Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)17 January – 7 April 2028 Semester 2 Engagement 10 – 21 April 2028 Spring (Easter) Break 24 – 29 April 2028 Semester 2 Engagement 2 - 26 May 2028 Formal Assessment Period The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
ADDITIONAL 2027-28 DATES 25 - 29 October 2027 Independent Study Week* 6 - 10 December 2027 Graduation (Winter) 13 - 17 December 2027 Consolidation Week 14 - 18 February 2028 Independent Study Week* 29 June - 8 July 2028 Graduation (Summer) 21 July - 11 August 2028 Supplementary Assessment Period *For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).