2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Last updated May 15, 2026

Fall Semester 1

Date Event
Aug 23-24 (Sun-Mon) First-year arrival window
Aug 25-30 (Tue-Sun) Marhaba first-year orientation program
Aug 26 (Wed) Visiting Student arrival
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 13 (Sun) Legislative day - Classes meet on a Wednesday schedule
Dec 14 (Mon) Legislative day - Classes meet on a Thursday schedule
Dec 14 (Mon) Last day of classes (meets on a Thursday schedule)
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

Date Event
For Courses in Abu Dhabi   
Jan 2 (Sat) Faculty arrive
Jan 2-3 (Sat/Sun) Students arrive
Jan 3 (Sun) Required Faculty Orientation
Jan 4 (Mon) Classes begin / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
Jan 15 (Fri) Last day of classes
Jan 16 (Sat) Faculty depart / Students depart (if needed)
   
For Courses in Global Locations  
Jan 4 (Mon) Faculty and Students arrive
Jan 5 (Tue) Classes begin / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
AM: Orientation
PM: First Class Meetings
Jan 9 (Sat) Legislative day / Additional class day for J-Term classes to meet - see course syllabus for class schedule
Jan 15 (Fri) Last day of classes
Jan 16 (Sat) Faculty depart / Student depart

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

*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.