University term and closure dates - Your studies - University of Kent Jump to content University term and closure dates The academic year is split into terms during which students are expected to engage with study. The length and pattern of the terms depend on the type of programme a student is following. The period between each of the terms is a vacation period and the University closes over the Christmas period. On this page University term dates University closure dates KMMS term dates Archive term dates Please ensure that you refer to the term dates for the appropriate course: Undergraduate and Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma, Postgraduate Taught, Postgraduate Research or courses with non standard study periods. Academic years generally begin in early October, however, how you will experience terms depends on when you start your course. A typical year consists of: September starters : Autumn term, Spring term, Summer term (plus Late Summer term for Postgraduate students) January starters : Spring term, Summer term, (Late Summer term for Postgraduate students), Autumn term. April starters : Summer term, (Late Summer term for Postgraduate students), Autumn term, Spring term. Postgraduate Research (PGR) term dates Our expectations for Postgraduate Research students are that they study throughout the whole year, for at least 35 hours per week and take holiday (normally 30 days over the year) as agreed with their supervisor. There is only one term; the dates of the term coincide with the academic year as detailed in the below table. PhD students have October, January and April start points only, at the start of the term commencing in that month. However, entry for research MA and MSc students will only be October and, in some cases, January. Courses with non standard study periods There may be some courses where the expected study periods do not coincide with the term dates set out above. In these cases, term dates will be confirmed separately. Student registration period All students will have a registration start date (which will be their first expected date of attendance on their course) and an end of registration date (which will be the last expected date of their attendance on their course). The registration date for all Undergraduate  (UG) and Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students starting in September will be the Saturday of arrivals weekend (the weekend before welcome week). A student’s registration period may or may not coincide with term dates and may cover a number of years or only part of a year. During the registration period the student will be expected to study during the term dates applicable to their course and have vacation periods which are between their term dates. 2025/2026 2026/2027 2027/2028 2028/2029 2029/2030 2030/2031 Arrivals Weekend 27 & 28 Sep 2025 26 & 27 Sep 2026 25 & 26 Sep 2027 23 & 24 Sep 2028 22 & 23 Sep 2029 21 & 22 Sep 2030 Arrivals Weekend Welcome Week 29 Sep - 3 Oct 2025 28 Sep - 2 Oct 2026 27 Sep - 1 Oct 2027 25 - 29 Sep 2028 24 - 28 Sep 2029 23 - 27 Sep 2030 Welcome Week Autumn term 6 Oct - 12 Dec 2025 5 Oct - 11 Dec 2026 4 Oct - 10 Dec 2027 2 Oct - 10 Dec 2028 1 Oct - 7 Dec 2029 30 Sep - 6 Dec 2030 Autumn term Spring term 12 Jan - 20 March 2026 11 Jan - 19 March 2027 10 Jan - 17 March 2028 8 Jan - 16 March 2029 7 Jan - 15 March 2030 6 Jan - 14 March 2031 Spring term Summer term 13 April - 19 June 2026 12 April - 18 June 2027 10 April - 16 June 2028 9 April - 15 June 2029 8 April - 14 June 2030 7 April - 15 June 2031 Summer term Late Summer term (Postgraduate only) 6 July - 13 Sep 2026 5 July - 12 Sep 2027 3 July - 10 Sep 2028 2 July - 9 Sep 2029 1 July - 8 Sep 2030 30 June - 7 Sep 2031 Late Summer term (Postgraduate only) Undergraduate registration period 27 Sep 2025 - 19 June 2026 26 Sep 2026 - 18 June 2027 25 Sep 2027 - 16 June 2028 23 Sep 2028 - 15 June 2029 22 Sep 2029 - 14 June 2030 21 Sep 2030 - 15 June 2031 Undergraduate registration period Postgraduate Taught registration period 27 Sep 2025 - 13 Sep 2026 26 Sep 2026 - 12 Sep 2027 25 Sep 2027 - 10 Sep 2028 23 Sep 2028 - 9 Sep 2029 22 Sep 2029 - 8 Sep 2030 21 Sep 2030 - 7 Sep 2031 Postgraduate registration period University closure dates 2025/2026 22 Dec 2025 to 1 Jan 2026 inclusive 2026/2027 23 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027 inclusive 2027/2028 23 Dec 2027 to 3 Jan 2028 inclusive 2028/2029 21 Dec 2028 to 1 Jan 2029 inclusive 2029/2030 21 Dec 2029 to 1 Jan 2030 inclusive KMMS term dates Year Autumn term Spring term Summer term 2026/2027 (Stages 1, 2, 3 only) 14 Sep - 11 Dec 2026 4 Jan - 25 March 2027 12 April - 16 July 2027 2026/2027 (Stage 4 only) 7 Sep - 18 Dec 2026 4 Jan - 25 March 2027 12 April - 16 July 2027 2026/2027 (Stage 5 only) 24 Aug* - 18 Dec 2026 * = on campus from 1 Sep 4 Jan - 25 March 2027 12 April - 25 June 2027 2025/2026 15 Sep - 12 Dec (Stages 1&2) 8 Sep - 18 Dec (Stages 3&4) 1 Sep - 18 Dec (Stages 5) 5 January - 2 April 20 April - 17 July 2024/2025 16 Sep - 13 Dec (Stages 1&2) 9 Sep - 13 Dec (Stages 3&4) 2 Sep - 13 Dec (Stage 5) 2 January - 4 April 22 April - 18 July 2023/2024 18 Sep - 15 Dec (Stages 1&2) 11 Sep - 15 Dec (Stages 3&4) 2 January - 28 March 15 April - 19 July 2022/2023 12 Sep - 16 Dec 3 January - 31 March 17 April - 21 July 2021/2022 13 Sep - 17 Dec 4 January  - 1 April 19 April - 22 July 2020/2021 7 Sep - 1 Dec 4 January - 2 April 19 April - 23 July Archive term dates Year Autumn term Spring term Summer (Exams) End of Postgraduate year 2024/2025 23 Sep - 13 Dec 13 Jan - 4 April 5 May - 13 June 14 Sep 2023/2024 25 Sep - 15 Dec 15 Jan - 5 April 6 May - 14 June 15 Sep 2022/2023 26 Sep - 16 Dec 16 Jan - 7 April 8 May - 16 June 17 Sep 2021/2022 27 Sep - 17 Dec 17 Jan - 8 April 9 May - 17 June 18 Sep 2020/2021 28 Sep - 18 Dec 18 Jan - 9 April 10 May - 18 June 19 Sep 2019/2020 23 Sep - 13 Dec 13 Jan - 3 April 4 May - 12 June 20 Sep 2018/2019 24 Sep - 14 Dec 14 Jan - 5 April 6 May - 14 June 15 Sep 2017/2018 25 Sep - 15 Dec 15 Jan - 6 April 8 May - 15 June 16 Sep 2016/2017 26 Sep - 16 Dec 17 Jan - 7 April 8 May - 16 June 22 Sep 2015/2016 28 Sep - 18 Dec 18 Jan - 8 April 9 May - 17 June 2014/2015 29 Sep - 19 Dec 19 Jan - 10 April 11 May - 19 June 2013/2014 30 Sep - 20 Dec 20 Jan - 11 April 12 May - 20 June 2012/2013 24 Sep - 14 Dec 14 Jan - 5 April 6 May - 14 June 2011/2012 26 Sep - 16 Dec 16 Jan - 6 April 7 May - 15 June 2010/2011 27 Sep - 17 Dec 17 Jan - 8 April 9 May - 17 June 2009/2010 28 Sep - 18 Dec 18 Jan - 9 April 10 May - 18 June 2008/2009 29 Sep - 19 Dec 19 Jan - 10 April 11 May - 19 June 2007/2008 24 Sep - 14 Dec 14 Jan - 4 April 5 May - 13 June 2006/2007 25 Sep - 15 Dec 8 Jan - 30 March 30 April - 8 June 2005/2006 26 Sep - 16 Dec 9 Jan - 31 March 2 May - 9 June 2004/2005 27 Sep - 17 Dec 10 Jan - 18 March 18 April - 10 June Year Michaelmas Lent Trinity 2003/2004 22 Sep - 12 Dec 5 Jan - 26 March 26 April - 4 June 2002/2003 23 Sep - 13 Dec 6 Jan - 29 March 28 April - 6 June 2001/2002 24 Sep - 14 Dec 7 Jan - 28 March 22 April - 31 May 2000/2001 25 Sep - 15 Dec 8 Jan - 30 March 23 April - 1 June 1999/2000 11 Oct - 17 Dec 17 Jan - 24 March 26 April - 4 July 1998/1999 12 Oct - 18 Dec 18 Jan - 26 March 24 April - 2 July 1997/1998 13 Oct - 19 Dec 19 Jan - 27 March 27 April - 3 July 1996/1997 7 Oct - 13 Dec 13 Jan - 21 March 21 April - 27 June 1995/1996 9 Oct - 15 Dec 15 Jan - 22 March 22 April - 28 June 1994/1995 10 Oct - 16 Dec 16 Jan - 24 March 1 May - 30 June 1993/1994 6 Oct - 16 Dec 12 Jan - 24 March 20 April - 23 June 1992/1993 7 Oct - 17 Dec 13 Jan - 25 March 21 April - 24 June 1991/1992 9 Oct - 19 Dec 15 Jan - 26 March 22 April - 25 June 1990/1991 3 Oct - 13 Dec 9 Jan - 21 March 17 April - 20 June 1989/1990 4 Oct - 14 Dec 10 Jan - 22 March 18 April - 21 June 1988/1989 5 Oct - 15 Dec 11 Jan - 23 March 19 April - 22 June 1987/1988 7 Oct - 17 Dec 13 Jan - 24 March 20 April - 23 June 1986/1987 8 Oct - 18 Dec 14 Jan - 26 March 22 April - 25 June 1985/1986 9 Oct - 19 Dec 15 Jan - 27 March 23 April - 26 June 1984/1985 10 Oct - 20 Dec 16 Jan - 28 March 24 April - 27 June 1983/1984 5 Oct - 15 Dec 11 Jan - 22 March 25 April - 28 June 1982/1983 6 Oct - 16 Dec 12 Jan - 24 March 20 April - 23 June 1981/1982 7 Oct - 17 Dec 13 Jan - 25 March 21 April - 24 June 1980/1981 1 Oct - 11 Dec 7 Jan - 19 March 22 April - 25 June 1979/1980 3 Oct - 13 Dec 9 Jan - 20 March 16 April - 19 June 1978/1979 4 Oct  - 14 Dec 10 Jan - 22 March 18 April - 21 June 1977/1978 5 Oct - 15 Dec 11 Jan - 23 March 19 April - 22 June 1976/1977 4 Oct - 10 Dec 10 Jan - 18 March 18 April - 24 June 1975/1976 6 Oct - 12 Dec 12 Jan - 19 March 20 April - 25 June 1974/1975 7 Oct - 13 Dec 13 Jan - 21 March 21 April - 27 June 1973/1974 8 Oct  - 14 Dec 14 Jan - 22 March 22 April - 28 June 1972/1973 9 Oct - 15 Dec 15 Jan - 23 March 24 April - 29 June 1971/1972 4 Oct - 10 Dec 10 Jan - 17 March 17 April - 23 June 1970/1971 5 Oct - 11 Dec 11 Jan - 19 March 19 April - 25 June 1969/1970 6 Oct - 12 Dec 12 Jan - 20 March 20 April - 26 June 1968/1969 7 Oct - 15 Dec 13 Jan - 21 March 21 April - 27 June 1967/1968 9 Oct - 15 Dec 15 Jan - 22 March 22 April - 28 June 1966/1967 10 Oct - 16 Dec 16 Jan - 23 March 24 April - 30 June 1965/1966 11 Oct - 17 Dec 17 Jan - 25 March 25 April - 1 July 9 February 2026