Term dates and semesters

Term dates and semesters

University Senate sets term and semester dates. 'Terms' refer to the time period when taught students are on campus. 'Semesters' refer to the teaching periods for taught modules. Doctoral researchers will find it useful to be aware of the dates below, but their research activity is not directly aligned to terms and semesters. Term Four is for postgraduate taught students only.

Following a review of the academic year, the University is planning to make changes to the previously published term and semester dates for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The planned dates for these academic years are indicated below, although these are still subject to formal approval by University Senate in the Autumn term.

Term dates

Term and Year 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27
Autumn term 2 Oct 2023
to 15 Dec 2023
30 Sept 2024
to 13 Dec 2024
29 Sept 2025
to 12 Dec 2025
28 Sept 2026
to 18 Dec 2026
Spring term 8 January 2024
to 22 March 2024
6 January 2025
to 28 March 2025
5 January 2026
to 20 March 2026
11 January 2027
to 19 March 2027
Summer term 22 April 2024
to 19 June 2024
28 April 2025
to 18 June 2025
13 April 2026
to 10 June 2026
12 April 2027
to 4 June 2027
Term four
(Postgraduate taught students only)
20 June 2024
to 27 Sept 2024
19 June 2025
to 26 Sept 2025
11 June 2026
to 25 Sept 2026
7 June 2027
to 24 Sept 2027

Semester dates

For new students, a Welcome Week (which includes induction and registration activity) is held in the week prior to Semester 1 of each academic year. This Welcome Week commences one week before the formal start of the Semester.

Semester and Year 2023/24 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27
Semester 1 2 Oct 2023
to 2 Feb 2024
30 Sept 2024
to 31 Jan 2025
29 Sept 2025
to 30 Jan 2026
28 Sept 2026
to 5 Feb 2027
Semester 2 5 Feb 2024
to 19 June 2024
3 Feb 2025
to 18 June 2025
2 Feb 2026
to 10 June 2026
8 Feb 2027
to 4 June 2027
Semester 3
(Postgraduate taught students only)
20 June 2024
to 27 Sept 2024
19 June 2025
to 26 Sept 2025
11 June 2026
to 25 Sept 2026
7 June 2027
to 24 Sept 2027

University closure dates

During the year, there are certain days when the University is closed. This means that staff will not be on campus, although some facilities (e.g. sports) will still be working as normal.

Summer Bank Holiday Monday 26 August and Tuesday 27 August 2024
Christmas/New Year
Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Wednesday 1 January 2025
Easter
Friday 18 to Tuesday 22 April 2025
May Bank Holiday Monday 5 May 2025
Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26 May 2025
Summer Bank Holiday Monday 25 August and Tuesday 26 August 2025