Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

The following list shows the different holiday periods for each level of study. Full dates are at the bottom of the page.

The University closure for Christmas and New Year applies to all students, regardless of what they are studying.

Contact your School Office if you have any queries about semester dates for your programme.

For previous semester dates please see the PDFs at the bottom of the webpage.

Holiday periods for each level of study

Undergraduate (UG) Students (for example MA, BSc, BEng)

Winter Break
Spring Break
Summer after term has ended until term resumes in September

The 4-month visa period after a UG student's official course end date (as shown on the CAS) is outside term-time.

Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Students (for example MSc, MBA, MLitt, LLM)

Winter Break
Spring Break

PGT students are not classed as being on holiday over the summer because they are still engaging in their studies. They are only permitted to do a work placement if it is an integral and assessed part of the course.

The 4-month visa period after a PGT student's official course end date (as shown on the CAS) is outside term-time.

Postgraduate Research (PGR) Students (for example PhD)

Postgraduate research students get the University winter closure as vacation.

Postgraduate research programmes run for the full academic year, so students do not follow the standard vacation periods.

PhD students can request an authorised holiday absence from their School. The maximum period permitted is 60 days in any rolling 12-month period. This absence must not impact on the student's ability to complete their PhD on time.

PhD students who are writing-up their thesis, waiting for their viva or completing corrections following their viva, are still classed as engaging in their studies.

Visa Regulations

If you have a Student/Tier 4 visa which gives you permission to work 20 hours per week during term-time (as shown on your BRP), you are permitted to work full-time during the University's official holiday periods for your programme/level of study. There are some restrictions. Further information can be found on the UKCISA: UK Council for International Student Affairs web pages at: UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Student work

Students on a Visit or Short-term Study visa are prohibited from working.

There are no restrictions on work for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals who have been granted pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

If you have any queries about work permission, these should be sent to: student.international@abdn.ac.uk

The University of Aberdeen does not restrict students from travel during official holiday periods.

Term Dates for 2025-2026

Students for all First Degrees (except MBChB, BDS and BSc Med Sci) and for Taught Postgraduate Programmes (unless otherwise specified)

TERM 1
Term Opens	Monday 15 September 2025
Teaching commences	Monday 22 September 2025
Term Closes	Friday 19 December 2025

TERM 2
Term Opens	Monday 19 January 2026
Teaching commences	Monday 26 January 2026
Term Closes	Monday 23 March 2026
Spring break ends*	Friday 10 April 2026
Term Closes	Friday 15 May 2026

TERM 3 (PGT)
Term Opens	Monday 8 June 2026
Teaching commences	Monday 8 June 2026
Term Closes	Friday 28 August 2026
Note: PGT students are not considered to be on vacation during the summer period

Students studying at the University's Campus in Qatar

TERM 1
Term Opens	Sunday 14 September 2025
Teaching commences	Sunday 21 September 2025
Term Closes	Thursday 18 December 2025

TERM 2
Term opens	Sunday 11 January 2026
Teaching commences	Sunday 18 January 2026
Spring break commences	Sunday 22 February 2026
Spring break ends	Thursday 26 March 2026
Term Closes	Thursday 14 May 2026

TERM 3 (PGT)
Term Opens	Sunday 7 June 2026
Teaching commences	Sunday 7 June 2026
Term Closes	Thursday 27 August 2026

Students for the Degrees of MBChB

	FIRST YEAR	SECOND YEAR	THIRD YEAR
Term 1 Opens	Monday 15 September 2025	Monday 8 September 2025	Monday 8 September 2025
Term 1 Closes	Friday 19 December 2025	Friday 12 December 2025	Friday 12 December 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026
Term 2 Closes	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 20 March 2026
Term 3 Opens	Monday 20 April 2026	Monday 13 April 2026	Monday 4 May 2026
Term 3 Closes	Friday 8 May 2026	Friday 5 June 2026	Friday 17 July 2026

	FOURTH YEAR	FIFTH YEAR
Term 1 Opens	Monday 4 August 2025	Monday 18 August 2025
Term 1 Closes	Friday 19 December 2025	Friday 19 December 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026
Term 2 Closes	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 1 May 2026
Term 3 Opens	Monday 20 April 2026	Monday 4 May 2026
Term 3 Closes	Friday 26 June 2026	Friday 29 May 2026

Students for the Degree of BDS

	FIRST YEAR	SECOND YEAR	THIRD YEAR	FOURTH YEAR
Term 1 Opens	Monday 1 September 2025	Monday 25 August 2025	Monday 25 August 2025	Monday 25 August 2025
Term 1 Closes	Friday 12 December 2025	Friday 12 December 2025	Friday 12 December 2025	Friday 12 December 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026	Monday 5 January 2026
Term 2 Closes	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026	Friday 27 March 2026
Term 3 Opens	Monday 6 April 2026	Monday 6 April 2026	Monday 6 April 2026	Monday 6 April 2026
Term 3 Closes	Friday 3 July 2026	Friday 3 July 2026	Friday 3 July 2026	Friday 29 May 2026

Students for the MSc in Physician Associate Studies

N.B. This programme is a January Start

FIRST YEAR		SECOND YEAR
Term 1 Opens	Monday 6 January 2025	Term 1 Opens	Monday 18 November 2024
Term 1 Closes	Friday 28 March 2025	Term 1 Closes	Friday 28 March 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 7 April 2025	Term 2 Opens	Monday 7 April 2025
Term 2 Closes	Friday 4 July 2025	Term 2 Closes	Friday 1 August 2025
Term 3 Opens	Monday 21 July 2025	Term 3 Opens	Monday 18 August 2025
Term 3 Closes	Friday 24 October 2025	Term 3 Closes	Friday 28 November 2025
Placement Preparation	Monday 10 November 2025

Students for the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (Primary and Secondary)

Term 1 Opens	Monday 18 August 2025
Term 1 Closes	Friday 19 December 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 5 January 2026
Spring break commences	Monday 23 March 2026
Spring break ends	Friday 10 April 2026
Term 2 Closes	Friday 29 May 2026

Students for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Childhood Practice

Term 1 Opens	Monday 25 August 2025
Term 1 Closes	Friday 19 December 2025
Term 2 Opens	Monday 26 January 2026
Term 2 Closes	Friday 29 May 2026

Term Dates for 2026 - 2027

Students for all First Degrees (except MBChB and BDS) and for Taught Postgraduate Programmes (unless otherwise specified)

TERM 1		TERM 2		TERM 3 (PGT)
Term Opens	Monday 14 September 2026	Term opens	Monday 18 January 2027	Term Opens	Monday 7 June 2027
Teaching commences	Monday 21 September 2026	Teaching commences	Monday 25 January 2027[1]	Teaching commences	Monday 7 June 2027
Term Closes	Friday 18 December 2026	Spring break commences	Monday 22 March 2027	Term Closes	Friday 27 August 2027
		Spring break ends*	Friday 9 April 2027
		Term Closes	Friday 14 May 2027

1] For BSc Medical Sciences programmes, Term 2 starts on Monday 11 January 2027