2027-2028 Academic Calendar
Last updated August 05, 2026
Fall Semester 1 (tentative - final dates to be published 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 published 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 2028 (tentative - final dates to be published June 2027)
Spring Semester 1 (tentative - final dates to be published 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 9-13 | 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 published 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) |
| April 13 | 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 5-8* | Eid Al-Adha (Holiday)* |
| May 9-16 | Final exams |
| May 17 | Visiting students depart |
| May 17 | Returning students depart |
| May 18 | 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 degree completers. Spring diplomas will be ready for distribution by July (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 published 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. |
| Late May | Commencement. No classes held on commencement day. Date to be determined by January 2028. |
| 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 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.