2026-2027 Academic Calendar
Last updated January 20, 2026
Fall Semester 1
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug 23-24 (Sun-Mon) | First-year arrival window |
| Aug 24 (Mon) | Domestic Student Marhaba |
| Aug 25-30 (Tue-Sun) | Marhaba first-year orientation program |
| Aug 26 (Wed) | Visiting Student arrival (tentative) |
| Aug 26 (Wed) | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH)* |
| Aug 27-30 (Thu-Sun) | Visiting Student Marhaba |
| Aug 29-30 (Sat-Sun) | Arrival window for returning students |
| Aug 31 (Mon) | First day of classes |
| Sep 4 (Fri) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Sep 11 (Fri) | Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 2 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 9 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 16 (Fri) | Last day of classes for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Oct 17 (Sat) | Reading day |
| Oct 18-22 (Sun-Thu) | No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses |
| Oct 23-25 (Fri-Sun) | No classes: Fall Break |
| Oct 24 (Sat) | Final Grades due for first 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
Fall Semester 2
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 26 (Mon) | Classes resume |
| Oct 30 (Fri) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 20 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 27 (Fri) | Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Nov 27 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Dec 2-3 (Wed-Thu) | No classes: National Day Holiday* |
| Dec 4 (Fri) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| Dec 6 (Sun) | Possible legislative day if National Holiday is longer than two days |
| Dec 14 (Mon) | Last day of classes |
| Dec 15 (Tue) | Reading day |
| Dec 16-22 (Wed-Tue) | Final exams |
| Dec 23 (Wed) | Departure day: Winter break begins |
| Dec 24 (Thu) | Final grades due |
| Feb 1 (Mon) | Conferral for Fall/January degree completers |
January Term 2027
Spring Semester 1
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan 13 (Wed) | Visiting Student arrival |
| Jan 14-17 (Thu-Sun) | Visiting Student Marhaba |
| Jan 17-18 (Sun-Mon) | Returning student arrivals |
| Jan 19 (Tue) | First day of classes |
| Jan 25 (Mon) | Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| Feb 1 (Mon) | Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| Feb 7-Mar 8* | Ramadan |
| Feb 22 (Mon) | Withdrawal deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| March 1 (Mon) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline) |
| March 6 (Sat) | Last day of classes for first 7-week courses |
| March 6 (Sat) | Legislative Day (classes meet on a Monday schedule) |
| March 7 (Sun) | Reading day |
| Spring Break March 8-12 (Mon-Fri) |
No classes: Spring Break / Eid Al-Fitr Holiday |
| March 13-17 (Sat-Wed) | Final Exams for first 7-week courses (no 14-week courses meet) |
| March 19 (Fri) | Grades due for first 7-week classes (4:00pm deadline) |
Spring Semester 2
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 18 (Thu) | Classes begin for second 7-week courses; 14-week courses resume |
| March 24 (Wed) | Add/ drop deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 1 (Thu) | Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 22 (Thu) | Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 22 (Thu) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| April 29 (Thu) | Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline) |
| May 5 (Wed) | Last day of classes |
| May 6 (Thu) | Reading Day (No classes or exams) |
| May 7-14 (Fri-Fri) | Final exams |
| May 15 (Sat) | Visiting students depart |
| May 15 (Sat) | Returning students depart |
| May 16 (Sun) | Final grades due (4pm deadline) |
| May 17-May 19 (Mon-Wed) | Eid Al-Adha (Holiday)* |
| May 20* (Thu) | NYUAD Commencement (Congratulations to our graduating students!) - No Classes |
| May 21 (Fri) | NYUAD Graduating Seniors depart |
| June 1 (Tue) | Conferral date for spring 2026 degree completers |
Four-Week Summer Session in Abu Dhabi
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| All summer classes are held in Abu Dhabi Please note: There is no June-Term 2027 session |
|
| May 24 (Mon) | Classes begin for summer courses |
| May 25 (Tue) | 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. |
| June 5 (Sat) | Last day of D&I courses |
| June 18 (Fri) | Last day of classes |
| June 19 (Sat) | Final exams |
| June 21 (Mon) | Final grades due |
*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 UAE time on the day listed so they can be reviewed in a timely manner.