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)
  • Winter break

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 2023-2024

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

FIRST HALF-SESSION

SECOND HALF-SESSION

Term Opens

Monday 11 September 2023

Term opens

Monday 15 January 20241

Teaching commences

Monday 18 September 2023

Teaching commences

Monday 22 January 2024

Term Closes

Friday 15 December 2023

Spring break commences

Monday 1 April 2024

 

 

Spring break ends*

Friday 19 April 2024

 

 

Term Closes

Friday 17 May 2024

 

1Students studying on the UG Medical Sciences degrees will commence their Honours projects w/c 8 January 2024

Students studying at the University’s Campus in Qatar

FIRST HALF-SESSION

SECOND HALF-SESSION

Term Opens

Sunday 10 September 2023

Term opens

Sunday 14 January 2024

Teaching commences

Sunday 17 September 2023

Teaching commences

Sunday 21 January 2024

Term Closes

Thursday 14 December 2023

Spring break commences

Sunday 31 March 2024

 

 

Spring break ends*

Thursday 18 April 2024

 

 

Term Closes

Thursday 16 May 2024

Students for the Degrees of MBChB

 

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

THIRD YEAR

Winter Term Opens

Monday 11 September 2023

Monday 11 September 2023

Monday 11 September 2023

Winter Term Closes

Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Spring Term Opens

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Spring Term Closes

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 22 March 2024

Summer Term Opens

Monday 22 April 2024

Monday 15 April 2024

Monday 6 May 2024

Summer Term Closes

Friday 10 May 2024

Friday 7 June 2024

Friday 19 July 2024

 

 

FOURTH YEAR

FIFTH YEAR

Winter Term Opens

Monday 7 August 2023

Monday 14 August 2023

Winter Term Closes

Friday 22 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Spring Term Opens

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Spring Term Closes

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 26 April 2024

Summer Term Opens

Monday 15 April 2024

Monday 29 April 2024

Summer Term Closes

Friday 28 June 2024

Friday 2 June 2024

Students for the Degree of BDS

 

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

THIRD YEAR

FOURTH YEAR

Winter Term Opens

Monday 4 September 2023

Monday 28 August 2023

Monday 28 August 2023

Monday 28 August 2023

Winter Term Closes

Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Friday 15 December 2023

Spring Term Opens

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Monday 8 January 2024

Spring Term Closes

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 29 March 2024

Friday 29 March 2024

Summer Term Opens

Monday 8 April 2024

Monday 8 April 2024

Monday 8 April 2024

Monday 8 April 2024

Summer Term Closes

Friday 7 July 2024

Friday 7 July 2024

Friday 7 July 2024

Friday 26 May 2024

Students for the MSc in Physician Associate Studies

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

Term 1 Opens

Monday 9 January 2023

Term 1 Opens

Monday 21 November 2022

Term 1 Closes

Friday 31 March 2023

Term 1 Closes

Friday 31 March 2023

Term 2 Opens

Mon 10 April 2023

Term 2 Opens

Monday 17 April 2023

Term 2 Closes

Friday 14 July 2023

Term 2 Closes

Friday 11 August 2023

Term 3 Opens

Monday 31 July 2023

Term 3 Opens

Monday 21 August 2023

Term 3 Closes

Friday 20 October 2023

Term 3 Closes

Friday 1 December 2023

Placement Preparation

Monday 6 November 2023 – Friday 12 November 2023

 

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

Winter Term Opens

Monday 14 August 2023

 Winter Term Closes

Friday 15 December 2023

Spring Term Opens

Monday 8 January 2024

Spring Term Closes

Thursday 28 March 2024

Summer Term Opens

Monday 15 April 2024

Summer Term Closes

Friday 31 May 2024

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

Winter Term Opens

Monday 28 August 2023

Winter Term Closes

Monday 8 January 2024

Spring Term Opens

Wednesday 10 January 2024

Spring Term Closes

Friday 24 May 2024

Term Dates for 2024 - 2025

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

TERM 1

Term Opens

Monday 16 September 2024

Teaching Commences

Monday 23 September 2024

Term Closes

Friday 20 December 2024

 

TERM 2

Term Opens

Monday 20 January 2025

Teaching Commences

Monday 27 January 2025

Spring Break Commences

Monday 24 March 2025

Spring Break Ends

Friday 11 April 2025

Term Closes

Friday 16 May 2025

 

TERM 3 (PGT)

Term Opens

Monday 9 June 2025

Teaching Commences

Monday 9 June 2025

Term Closes

Friday 29 August 2025

Students studying at the University’s Campus in Qatar

TERM 1

Term Opens

Sunday 15 September 2024

Teaching Commences

Sunday 22 September 2024

Term Closes

Thursday 19 December 2024

 

TERM 2

Term Opens

Sunday 19 January 2025

Teaching Commences

Sunday 26 January 2025

Spring Break Commences

Sunday 23 March 2025

Spring Break Ends

Thursday 10 April 2025

Term Closes

Thursday 15 May 2025

 

TERM 3 (PGT)

Term Opens

Sunday 8 June 2025

Teaching Commences

Sunday 8 June 2025

Term Closes

Thursday 28 August 2025

Students for the Degrees of MBChB

 

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

THIRD YEAR

Term 1 Opens

Monday 16 September 2024

Monday 9 September 2024

Monday 9 September 2024

Term 1 Closes

Friday 20 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Term 2 Closes

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 21 March 2025

Term 3 Opens

Monday 21 April 2025

Monday 14 April 2025

Monday 5 May 2025

Term 3 Closes

Friday 9 May 2025

Friday 6 June 2025

Friday 18 July 2025

 

 

FOURTH YEAR

FIFTH YEAR

Term 1 Opens

Monday 5 August 2024

Monday 19 August 2024

Term 1 Closes

Friday 20 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Term 2 Closes

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 25 April 2025

Term 3 Opens

Monday 21 April 2025

Monday 29 April 2025

Term 3 Closes

Friday 27 June 2025

Friday 4 July 2025

Students for the Degree of BDS

 

BDS2

BDS3

BDS4

BDS5

Term 1 Opens

Monday 2 September 2024

Monday 26 August 2024

Monday 26 August 2024

Monday 26 August 2024

Term 1 Closes

Friday 13 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Friday 13 December 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Monday 6 January 2025

Term 2 Closes

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 28 March 2025

Friday 28 March 2025

Term 3 Opens

Monday 7 April 2025

Monday 7 April 2025

Monday 7 April 2025

Monday 7 April 2025

Term 3 Closes

Friday 4 July 2025

Friday 4 July 2025

Friday 4 July 2025

Friday 16 May 2025

Students for the MSc in Physician Associate Studies

N.B. This programme is a January Start

FIRST YEAR

SECOND YEAR

Term 1 Opens

Monday 8 January 2024

Term 1 Opens

Monday 20 November 2023

Term 1 Closes

Friday 29 March 2024

Term 1 Closes

Friday 29 March 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 8 April 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 8 April 2024

Term 2 Closes

Friday 5 July 2024

Term 2 Closes

Friday 2 August 2024

Term 3 Opens

Monday 22 July 2024

Term 3 Opens

Monday 19 August 2024

Term 3 Closes

Friday 25 October 2024

Term 3 Closes

Friday 29 November 2024

Placement Preparation

Monday 11 November 2024 – Friday 15 November 2024

Students for the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (Primary and Secondary) and Bachelor of Music (Education) (Year 4 students only)

Term 1 Opens

Monday 19 August 2024

  Term 1 Closes

Friday 13 December 2024

Term 2 Opens

Monday 6 January 2025

Spring break commences

Friday 28 March 2025

Spring break ends

Monday 14 April 2025

Term 2 Closes

Friday 30 May 2025

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

Term 1 Opens

Monday 26 August 2024

  Term 1 Closes

Friday 12 January 2025

Term 2 Opens

Monday 15 January 2025

Term 2 Closes

Friday 28 June 2025

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

 

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 18 January 2026
Teaching commences Sunday 25 January 2026
Spring break commences Sunday 22 March 2026
Spring break ends Thursday 9 April 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 9 January 2026

Term 2 Opens

Monday 12 January 2026

Term 2 Closes

Friday 26 June 2026