2027-2028 Academic Calendar

Last updated August 05, 2026

Fall Semester 1 (tentative - final dates to be publshed December 2026)

Date Event
Aug 16 Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH)*
Aug 17-18 First-year arrival window
Aug 19 Domestic Student Marhaba* (tentative)
Aug 19-23 Marhaba first-year orientation program
Aug 19 Visiting Student arrival (tentative)
Aug 20-23 Visiting Student Marhaba
Aug 22-23 Arrival window for returning students
Aug 24 First day of classes
Aug 30 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Sep 6 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline)
Sep 20 Withdrawal deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Sep 27 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Oct 11 Last day of classes for 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Oct 12 Reading day
Oct 13-17 No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses
Oct 18-19 No classes: Fall Break
Oct 19 Final Grades due for first 7-week courses (4pm deadline)

Fall Semester 2 (tentative - final dates to be publshed December 2026)

Date Event
Oct 20 Classes resume
Oct 26 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Nov 12 Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline)
Nov 19 Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Nov 19 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline)
Nov 30 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
Nov 28 Possible legislative day if National Holiday is longer than two days
Dec 2-3 No classes: National Day Holiday*
Dec 8 Legislative day - classes meet on a Thursday schedule
Dec 9 Legislative day - classes meet on a Friday schedule
Dec 9 Last day of classes
Dec 10 Reading day
Dec 11-18 Final exams
Dec 19 Departure day: Winter break begins
Dec 20 Final grades due
Feb 1 Conferral for Fall/January degree completers

January Term 2027 (tentative - final dates to be publshed June 2027)

Date Event
Abu Dhabi (dates are tentative)  
Jan 4 Faculty and Students arrive
Jan 5 Classes begin (Abu Dhabi) / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
AM: Orientation
PM: First Class Meetings
Jan 8 Legislative day / J-Term classes meet - see course syllabus for class schedule
Jan 15 Last day of classes / Students depart (if needed)
Jan 16 Faculty depart
   
Global Sites J-Term 2028: All Sites outside of Abu Dhabi Tentative dates - final dates to be confirmed by September 2027
Jan 3 Faculty and Students arrive
Jan 4 Classes begin (Abu Dhabi) / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
AM: Orientation
PM: First Class Meetings
Jan 8 Legislative day / J-Term classes meet - see course syllabus for class schedule
Jan 15 Last day of classes / Student depart
Jan 16 Faculty depart

Spring Semester 1 (tentative - final dates to be publshed December 2026)

Date Event
Jan 12 Visiting Student arrival
Jan 13-16 Visiting Student Marhaba
Jan 16-17 Returning student arrivals
Jan 19 First day of classes
Jan 24 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline)
Jan 28-Feb 25* Ramadan
Jan 31 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses (4:00pm deadline)
Feb 5 Legislative Day (classes meet on a Monday schedule)
Feb 21 Withdrawal deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline)
Feb 26-29* No classes: Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
March 2 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses (4:00pm deadline)
March 7 Last day of classes for first 7-week courses
March 8 Reading day
March 13-17 Final Exams for first 7-week courses (14-week courses do not meet)
March 14-15 Spring Break
March 15 Grades due for first 7-week classes (4:00pm deadline)

Spring Semester 2 (tentative - final dates to be publshed December 2026)

Date Event
March 16 Classes begin for second 7-week courses; 14-week courses resume
March 22 Add/ drop deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
March 30 Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline)
April 20 Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
April 20 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses (4pm deadline)
April 27 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses (4pm deadline)
May 3 Last day of classes
May 4 Reading Day (No classes or exams)
May 5-7* Eid Al-Adha (Holiday)*
May 8-15 Final exams
May 16 Visiting students depart
May 16 Returning students depart
May 17 Final grades due (4pm deadline)
Late May NYUAD Commencement (Congratulations to our graduating students!) - No Classes
Late May NYUAD Graduating Seniors depart (after commencement)
June 1 Conferral date for spring 2027 degree completers. Spring diplomas will be ready for distribution by July 2027 (exact date diplomas will be ready will be sent to students on June 1).

Four-Week Summer Session in Abu Dhabi (tentative - final dates to be publshed May 2027)

Date Event
  All summer classes are held in Abu Dhabi
Please note: There are no June-Term 2028 classes, only 4-week summer classes
April 13 Add/drop deadline for all summer coursework (4pm deadline), coursew rill appear as a "W" on the transcript if withrdawn after this deadline. 
May 18 Classes begin for summer courses
May 19 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 3 Last day of D&I courses on a Saturday
June 15 Last day of classes
June 16 Final exams
June 18 Final grades due
July 15 Conferral date for summer 2027 4-week course degree completers. Summer diplomas will be ready and mailed after August 25. 

*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.