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 Academic Year 2022-2023

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

First Half Session

  • Term Opens: Monday 12 September 2022
  • Teaching commences: Monday 19 September 2022
  • Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Second Half Session

  • Term Opens: Monday 16 January 2023
  • Teaching commences: Monday 23 January 2023
  • Spring break commences: Friday 31 March 2023
  • Spring break ends: Monday 24 April 2023
  • Term Closes: Friday 12 May 2023
Students studying at the University's Campus in Qatar

Undergraduate: Level 1

  • Term Opens: Sunday 11 September 2022
  • Teaching Commences: Sunday 18 September 2022
  • Term Closes: Thursday 17 November 2022

Undergraduate: Levels 2, 3 & 4

  • Term Opens: Sunday 21 August 2022
  • Teaching Commences: Sunday 28 August 2022
  • Term Closes: Thursday 17 November 2022

Postgraduate Taught: New Students

  • Term Opens: Sunday 21 August 2022
  • Teaching Commences: Sunday 28 August 2022
  • Term Closes: Thursday 17 November 2022

Postgraduate Taught: Returning Students (January 2022 starts)

  • Term Opens: Sunday 18 September 2022
  • Teaching Commences: Sunday 18 September 2022
  • Term Closes: Thursday 19 January 2023*

Second Half-Session

  • Term Opens: Sunday 15 January 2023
  • Teaching Commences: Sunday 22 January 2023
  • Spring break commences: Thursday 30 March 2023
  • Spring break ends: Sunday 23 April 2023
  • Term Closes:Thursday 11 May 2023

*A break in studies will take place between Thursday 17 November and Thursday 29 December 2022.

Students undertaking programmes in Counselling (including postgraduate courses, Person-Centred Counselling and Person-Centred Counselling (Children and Young People)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 29 August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Monday 12 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 16 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Monday 3 April 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 24 April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Monday 29 May 2023
Students for the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) (Primary and Secondary)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 15 August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Monday 19 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Tuesday 3 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Monday 3 April 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 17 April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Monday 29 May 2023

All PGDE Term Dates are subject to change depending on placement dates.

Students for the Degree of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
BDS 2 (1st Year)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 12th September 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 10th April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 7th July 2023
BDS 3 (2nd Year)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 29th August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 10th April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 7th July 2023
BDS 4 (3rd Year)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 29th August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 10th April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 7th July 2023
BDS 5 (4th Year)

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 29th August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 10th April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 26th May 2023
Students for the Degrees of MBChB
MBChB Year 1

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 12 September 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 24 April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 12 May 2023
MBChB Year 2

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 12 September 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 31 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 17 April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 30 June 2023
MBChB Year 3

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 12 September 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 24 March 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 8 May 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 21 July 2023
MBChB Year 4

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 8 August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 7 April 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 24 April 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 30 June 2023
MBChB Year 5

Winter Term

  • Winter Term Opens: Monday 15 August 2022
  • Winter Term Closes: Friday 16 December 2022

Spring Term

  • Spring Term Opens: Monday 9 January 2023
  • Spring Term Closes: Friday 28th April 2023

Summer Term

  • Summer Term Opens: Monday 1st May 2023
  • Summer Term Closes: Friday 2nd June 2023

 

Term Dates for 2023-2024

Students for all First Degrees (except MBChB, BDS and BSc Med Sci) 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 2024

Teaching commences

Monday 18 September 2023

Teaching commences

Monday 22 January 2024[1]

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

 

[1] Please note: Final Year Undergraduate Medical Sciences programmes commence on Monday 8 January 2024 due to the final year honours projects.

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 21 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