2025-2026 Academic Calendar
Last updated May 1, 2025
Fall Semester 1
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 18-19 (Mon-Tue) | First-year arrival window |
| Aug 20-24 (Wed-Sun) | Marhaba first-year orientation program |
| Aug 20 (Wed) | Visiting Student arrival |
| Aug 21-24 (Thu-Sun) | Visiting Student Marhaba |
| Aug 23-24 | Returning student arrival window |
| Aug 25 (Mon) | First day of classes |
| Aug 29 (Fri) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Sep 5 (Fri)* (or Sep 4 Thu) | No classes: Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH) |
| Sep 7 (Sun) | Legislative day: Classes meet on a Friday schedule (or Thursday schedule depending on the final date of the Prophet's Birthday) |
| Sep 8 (Mon) | Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Sep 26 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 3 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 10 (Fri) | Last day of classes for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 11 (Sat) | Reading day |
| Oct 12-16 (Sun-Thu) | No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses |
| Oct 17-19 (Fri-Sun) | No classes: Fall Break |
Fall Semester 2
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 20 (Mon) | Classes resume |
| Oct 24 (Fri) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 7 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 21 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 21 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 27 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Dec 2-3 (Tue-Wed) | No classes: National Day Holiday |
| Dec 7 (Sun) | Possible legislative day if National Holiday is longer than two days |
| Dec 8 (Mon) | Legislative day: Classes meet on a Wednesday schedule |
| Dec 9 (Tue) | Last day of classes |
| Dec 10 (Wed) | Reading day |
| Dec 11-18 | Final exams |
| Dec 19 (Fri) | Departure day: Winter break begins |
| Dec 21 (Sun) | Final grades due |
| Jan 31 (Sat)* | Conferral for fall 2025/January 2026 degree completers |
January Term 2026
Spring Semester 1
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 14 (Wed) | Visiting Student arrival |
| Jan 15-18 (Thu-Sun) | Visiting Student Marhaba |
| Jan 18-19 (Sun-Mon) | Returning student arrivals |
| Jan 20 (Tue) | First day of classes |
| Jan 26 (Mon) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| Feb 2 (Mon) | Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| Feb 16-Mar 18* | Ramadan |
| Feb 23 (Mon) | Withdrawal deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| March 2 (Mon) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| March 9 (Mon) | Last day of classes for first 7-week courses |
| March 10 (Tue) | Reading Day (No classes) |
| March 11-15 (Wed-Sun) | No 14-week classes. Final exams for first 7-week courses |
| March 17 (Tue) | Grades due for first 7-week courses (4:00pm) |
| Spring Break March 16-20 (Mon-Fri) |
No classes: Eid Al-Fitr Holiday; Spring Break |
Spring Semester 2
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 23 (Mon) | Classes begin for second 7-week courses; 14-week courses resume |
| March 24 (Tue) | Fall 2026 schedule posting online (shopping cart opens) |
| March 27 (Fri) | Add/ drop deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 3 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 24 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 24 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| May 1 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| May 8 (Fri) | Last day of classes |
| May 9 (Sat) | Reading Day (No classes or exams) |
| May 10-17 (Sun-Sun) | Final exams |
| May 18 (Mon) | Visiting students depart |
| May 18 (Mon) | Returning students depart |
| May 19 (Tue) | NYUAD Commencement (Congratulations to our graduting students!) - No Classes |
| May 20 (Wed) | Final grades due (4pm deadline) |
| May 20 (Wed) | NYUAD Graduating Seniors depart |
| June 1 | Conferral date for spring 2026 degree completers |
Four-Week Summer Session in Abu Dhabi
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All summer classes are in Abu Dhabi Please note: Final summer dates will be posted in January 2026 |
|
| May 19 (Tue) | Commencement - No classes |
| May 20 (Wed) | Classes begin for summer courses |
| May 21 (Thur) | End of course swap for enrolled students who did not complete prerequisites successfully/Last day to withdraw without a letter grade - "W" grade will appear on the transcript (4pm deadline). Classes are letter graded after this deadline. |
| May 22 (Fri) | Legislative day: Classes meet on a Monday schedule (class timings will be adjusted around Friday prayer timing) |
| May 26-29 (Tue-Fri) | No classes: Eid Al-Adha |
| June 6 (Sat) | Legislative day: Classes meet on a Monday schedule |
| June 18 (Thu) | Last day of classes |
| June 19 (Fri) | Final exams |
| June 22 (Mon) | Final grades due |
May/June Term 2026
(Final dates to be published by the end of August 2025)
| Abu Dhabi-based classes (Tentative) | |
| May (TBD) | Students arrive (if needed) |
| May (TBD) | First day of classes |
| May/June | Legislative Day/Additional day of classes (see syllabus for exact timings) |
| May/June | Last day of classes |
| May/June | Students depart (if needed) |
| Global Sites (Tentative) | |
| May 18 (Mon) | Students arrive |
| May 19 (Tue) | First day of classes |
| May 23 (Sat) | Legislative Day/Additional day of classes (see syllabus for exact timings) |
| May 29 (Fri) | Last day of classes |
| May 30 (Sat) | Students depart |
| New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. | (Tentative) |
| May 18 (Mon) | Students arrive |
| May 19 (Tue) | First day of classes |
| May 23 (Sat) | Legislative Day/Additional day of classes (see syllabus for exact timings) |
| May 25 (Mon) | No classes on Memorial Day |
| June 1 (Mon) | Last day of classes |
| June 2 (Tues) | Students depart |
*Note: Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sighting and are subject to change. Last-minute changes to the holiday calendar may result in Legislative Days needing to be scheduled after the semester begins.
All registration deadlines are 4pm on the day listed so they can be reviewed in a timely manner.