Term dates
Typically the academic year starts in the September of a calendar year but it can also start at other times as well. Some courses follow different academic years e.g. NHS courses. Please check with your school.
Teaching blocks are composed of teaching, study break and assessment / examination weeks; dates of these may vary according to which programme you are enrolled on.
Student breaks follow the assessment weeks in each semester. In general, there will be no teaching or exams on English public and bank holidays.
Term dates 2020/21
September 2020 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 14/09/2020 | 18/01/2021 |
| End of semester | 12/12/2020 | 17/04/2021 |
| Exams* | 5/12/2020 - 12/12/2020* | 10/4/2021 - 17/4/2021 |
| Study break | 13/12/2020 - 17/01/2021 | 18/04/2021 - 16/05/2021 |
| Graduation period** | Summer 2021 |
January 2021 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 18/01/2021 | 17/05/2021 |
| End of semester | 17/04/2021 | 14/08/2021 |
| Exams* | 10/4/2021 - 17/4/2021 | 7/8/2021 - 14/8/2021 |
| Study break | 18/04/2021 - 16/05/2021 | 15/08/2021 - 12/09/2021 |
| Graduation period** | Autumn 2021 |
May 2021 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 17/05/2021 | 13/09/2021 |
| End of semester | 14/08/2021 | 11/12/2021 |
| Exams* | 7/8/2021 - 14/8/2021 | 4/12/2021 - 11/12/2021 |
| Study break | 15/08/2021 - 12/09/2021 | 12/12/2021 - 16/01/2022 |
| Graduation period** | Spring 2022 |
September 2020 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 14/09/2020 | 18/01/2021 | 17/05/2021 |
| End of semester | 12/12/2020 | 17/04/2021 | 14/08/2021 |
| Exams* | 5/12/2020 - 12/12/2020 | 10/4/2021 - 17/4/2021 | 7/8/2021 - 14/8/2021 |
| Study break | 13/12/2020 - 17/01/2021 | 18/04/2021 - 16/05/2021 | 15/08/2021 - 12/09/2021 |
| Graduation period** | Autumn 2021 |
January 2021 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 18/01/2021 | 17/05/2021 | 13/09/2021 |
| End of semester | 17/04/2021 | 14/08/2021 | 11/12/2021 |
| Exams* | 10/4/2021 - 17/4/2021 | 7/8/2021 - 14/8/2021 | 4/12/2021 - 11/12/2021 |
| Study break | 18/04/2021 - 16/05/2021 | 15/08/2021 - 12/09/2021 | 12/12/2021 - 16/01/2022 |
| Graduation period** | Spring 2022 |
May 2021 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of semester | 17/05/2021 | 13/09/2021 | 17/01/2022 |
| End of semester | 14/08/2020 | 11/12/2021 | 16/04/2022 |
| Exams* | 7/8/2021 - 14/8/2021 | 4/12/2021 - 11/12/2021 | 9/4/2022 - 16/11/2022 |
| Study break | 15/08/2021 - 12/09/2021 | 12/12/2021 - 16/01/2022 | 17/04/2022 - 15/05/2022 |
| Graduation period** | Summer 2022 |
* Please be aware that due to timetabling constraints some exams may be scheduled in week 12 and/or week 14.
** Graduation is only for eligible students. If you have any failed modules when results are released (end of semester 2 for UG and semester 3 for PG) or you lodge an appeal your graduation will roll over to the next ceremony. A student cannot defer their graduation ceremony.
The dates displayed on this page may not be representative of the calendars for the full duration of a course and they are subject to change. Students should always confirm semester, exam and other assessment dates with their faculty before making travel arrangements.
Further information
There is no formal teaching during the study breaks. Staff and students can use these for study trips, study and assessment or preparation.
The dates given refer to weeks running Monday to Friday (inclusive) but may differ when public holidays mean that the University is closed. The stated dates may be subject to alteration in the light of any subsequent developments affecting the academic year as a result of government policy or other considerations.
Term dates 2019/20
September 2019 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 16/09/2019 | 20/01/2020 |
| End of semester | 19/01/2020 | 17/05/2020 |
| Exams | 7/12/2019 - 14/12/2019* | 14/4/2020 - 22/4/2020 |
| Study break | 15/12/2019 - 19/01/2020 | 23/04/2020 - 17/05/2020 |
January 2020 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 20/01/2020 | 18/05/2020 |
| End of semester | 17/05/2020 | 13/09/2020 |
| Exams | 14/4/2020 - 22/4/2020 | 6/8/2020 - 15/8/2020* |
| Study break | 23/04/2020 - 17/05/2020 | 16/08/2020 - 13/09/2020 |
May 2020 start undergraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 18/05/2020 | 14/09/2020 |
| End of semester | 13/09/2020 | 17/01/2021 |
| Exams | 6/8/2020 - 15/8/2020* | 5/12/2020 - 12/12/2020 |
| Study break | 16/08/2020 - 13/09/2020 | 13/12/2020 - 17/01/2021 |
September 2019 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 16/09/2019 | 20/01/2020 | 18/05/2020 |
| End of semester | 19/01/2020 | 17/05/2020 | 13/09/2020 |
| Exams | 7/12/2019 - 14/12/2019* | 14/4/2020 - 22/4/2020 | 6/8/2020 - 15/8/2020* |
| Study break | 15/12/2019 - 19/01/2020 | 23/04/2020 - 17/05/2020 | 16/08/2020 - 13/09/2020 |
January 2020 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 20/01/2020 | 18/05/2020 | 14/09/2020 |
| End of semester | 17/05/2020 | 13/09/2020 | 17/01/2021 |
| Exams | 14/4/2020 - 22/4/2020 | 6/8/2020 - 15/8/2020* | 5/12/2020 - 12/12/2020 |
| Study break | 23/04/2020 - 17/05/2020 | 16/08/2020 - 13/09/2020 | 13/12/2020 - 17/01/2021 |
May 2020 start postgraduate courses (all faculties)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start (all students) | 18/05/2020 | 14/09/2020 | 18/01/2021 |
| End of semester | 13/09/2020 | 17/01/2021 | 16/05/2021 |
| Exams | 6/8/2020 - 15/8/2020* | 5/12/2020 - 12/12/2020 | 10/4/2021 - 21/4/2021 |
| Study break | 16/08/2020 - 13/09/2020 | 13/12/2020 - 17/01/2021 | 22/04/2021 - 16/05/2021 |
*Please be aware that due to timetabling constraints some exams may be scheduled in week 12.
*The dates displayed on this page may not be representative of the calendars for the full duration of a course and they are subject to change. Students should always confirm semester, exam and other assessment dates with their faculty before making travel arrangements.
Further information
There is no formal teaching during the study breaks. Staff and students can use these for holiday, study and assessment or preparation. Note that there are no study break weeks in November or February.
Autumn dates include the welcome or induction week for new students. Returning students start one week later.
Summer dates include years where the teaching block commences immediately after Easter Sunday. In these cases, the date given for the start of term is the first day the University opens after the holiday period.
The dates given refer to weeks running Monday to Friday (inclusive) but may differ when public holidays mean that the University is closed. The stated dates may be subject to alteration in the light of any subsequent developments affecting the academic year as a result of government policy or other considerations.
