2026-2027 Academic Calendar
Last updated March 23, 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 (Sat-Sun) | Arrival window for returning students |
| 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 PBUH final date) |
| 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 12-15 (Sun-Wed) | No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses |
| Oct 16-19 (Thu-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 11-17 (Thu-Wed) | Final exams |
| Dec 18 (Thu) | Departure day: Winter break begins |
| Dec 20 (Sat) | 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 11-14 (Wed-Sat) | No 14-week classes. Final exams for first 7-week courses |
| March 16 (Mon) | 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 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 10-16 (Sun-Sat) | Final exams |
| May 17 (Sun) | Visiting students depart |
| May 17 (Sun) | Returning students depart |
| May 19 (Tue) | Final grades due (4pm deadline) |
| May 19 | NYUAD Commencement (Congratulations to our graduating students!) - No Classes |
| May 20 | 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 held in Abu Dhabi Please note: There is no June-Term 2026 session Final summer dates will be posted in January 2026 |
|
| May 19 | 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 (Summer classes will be held on a Wednesday schedule - class timings will be adjusted to accomodate for Friday prayer timing) |
| May 25-29 (Mon-Fri) | No classes: Eid Al-Adha |
| June 6 (Sat) | Legislative day: Classes meet on a Monday schedule |
| June 12 (Fri) | Last day of classes |
| June 13 (Sat) | Final exams |
| June 16 (Tue) | Final grades due |