Semester dates | About | Queen's University Belfast
Source: https://www.qub.ac.uk/about/Semester-dates
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:32
Semester dates | About | Queen's University Belfast
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Semester dates
The approved semester dates for 2018 - 21 can be found below.
Year 2025/26
Date
Event
15 September – 12 December 2025
Weeks 1-13
15 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
Winter (Christmas) Break
5 January – 20 March 2026
Weeks 14-24
23 March – 10 April 2026
Spring (Easter) Break
13 April – 29 May 2026
Weeks 25-31
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2025-26 DATES
27 – 31 October 2025
Independent Study Week*
8 – 12 December 2025
Consolidation Week*
8-12 December 2025
Graduation (Winter)
9 – 13 February 2026
Independent Study Week*
27 April - 16 May 2026
Formal Assessment Period (Undergraduate)
18 May – 29 May 2026
Development Weeks (Undergraduate)
27 April / 4 May* - 29 May 2026 (*varies by programme)
Formal Assessment Period (Postgraduate Taught)
25 June - 3 July 2026
Graduation (Summer)
3-15 August 2026
Supplementary Assessment Period
*Some programmes may offer Independent Study Weeks and a Consolidation Week, which will be communicated to students by the relevant School, as part of the phased implementation of the new academic year structure approved at Academic Council in March 2025. Full implementation will take place in 2026-27.
Year 2026/27
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates have been updated to align with the new structure.
Date
Event
16 - 18 September 2026
Semester 1 Engagement (Welcome Period)
21 September – 18 December 2026
Teaching
21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027
Winter (Christmas) Break
4-15 January 2027
Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)
18 January – 19 March 2027
Semester 2 Engagement
22 March – 2 April 2027
Spring (Easter) Break
5 April – 1 May 2027
Semester 2 Engagement
4-28 May 2027
Formal Assessment Period
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2026-27 DATES
26 - 30 October 2026
Independent Study Week*
7-11 December 2026
Graduation (Winter)
14-18 December 2026
Consolidation Week
15 - 19 February 2027
Independent Study Week*
1-9 July 2027
Graduation (Summer)
2-13 August 2027
Supplementary Assessment Period
*For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).
Year 2027/28
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates for 2027-28 align with the new structure.
Date
Event
15 - 17 September 2027
Semester 1 Engagement (Welcome Period)
20 September – 17 December 2027
Teaching
20 – 31 December 2027
Winter (Christmas) Break
3 - 14 January 2028
Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)
17 January – 7 April 2028
Semester 2 Engagement
10 – 21 April 2028
Spring (Easter) Break
24 – 29 April 2028
Semester 2 Engagement
2 - 26 May 2028
Formal Assessment Period
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2027-28 DATES
25 - 29 October 2027
Independent Study Week*
6 - 10 December 2027
Graduation (Winter)
13 - 17 December 2027
Consolidation Week
14 - 18 February 2028
Independent Study Week*
29 June - 8 July 2028
Graduation (Summer)
31 July - 11 August 2028
Supplementary Assessment Period
*For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).
Useful Links
General Regulations
Students Gateway
New Students
Getting here
New Students
My Queen's
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Share
About
Campus and facilities
History and heritage
Leadership and structure
University governance
Awards and accreditations
Semester dates
People
Visit Us
Getting around
Strategy 2030
Public engagement
Work at Queen's
Belfast Region City Deal
Impact on Society
Annual Report 2024-25
Semester dates
The approved semester dates for 2018 - 21 can be found below.
Year 2025/26
Date
Event
15 September – 12 December 2025
Weeks 1-13
15 December 2025 – 2 January 2026
Winter (Christmas) Break
5 January – 20 March 2026
Weeks 14-24
23 March – 10 April 2026
Spring (Easter) Break
13 April – 29 May 2026
Weeks 25-31
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2025-26 DATES
27 – 31 October 2025
Independent Study Week*
8 – 12 December 2025
Consolidation Week*
8-12 December 2025
Graduation (Winter)
9 – 13 February 2026
Independent Study Week*
27 April - 16 May 2026
Formal Assessment Period (Undergraduate)
18 May – 29 May 2026
Development Weeks (Undergraduate)
27 April / 4 May* - 29 May 2026 (*varies by programme)
Formal Assessment Period (Postgraduate Taught)
25 June - 3 July 2026
Graduation (Summer)
3-15 August 2026
Supplementary Assessment Period
*Some programmes may offer Independent Study Weeks and a Consolidation Week, which will be communicated to students by the relevant School, as part of the phased implementation of the new academic year structure approved at Academic Council in March 2025. Full implementation will take place in 2026-27.
Year 2026/27
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates have been updated to align with the new structure.
Date
Event
16 - 18 September 2026
Semester 1 Engagement (Welcome Period)
21 September – 18 December 2026
Teaching
21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027
Winter (Christmas) Break
4-15 January 2027
Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)
18 January – 19 March 2027
Semester 2 Engagement
22 March – 2 April 2027
Spring (Easter) Break
5 April – 1 May 2027
Semester 2 Engagement
4-28 May 2027
Formal Assessment Period
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2026-27 DATES
26 - 30 October 2026
Independent Study Week*
7-11 December 2026
Graduation (Winter)
14-18 December 2026
Consolidation Week
15 - 19 February 2027
Independent Study Week*
1-9 July 2027
Graduation (Summer)
2-13 August 2027
Supplementary Assessment Period
*For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).
Year 2027/28
A new academic year structure was approved by Academic Council in March 2025 for full implementation in 2026-27. The below dates for 2027-28 align with the new structure.
Date
Event
15 - 17 September 2027
Semester 1 Engagement (Welcome Period)
20 September – 17 December 2027
Teaching
20 – 31 December 2027
Winter (Christmas) Break
3 - 14 January 2028
Welcome Period (New Students)
Pre-Semester Preparation (Continuing Students)
17 January – 7 April 2028
Semester 2 Engagement
10 – 21 April 2028
Spring (Easter) Break
24 – 29 April 2028
Semester 2 Engagement
2 - 26 May 2028
Formal Assessment Period
The precise timetable of activity varies between programmes and, due to the nature of the course, some courses have additional teaching/placements/professional practise requirements which fall outside of the normal semester dates which will be communicated to students by the relevant School.
University Closure Days
Examinations Schedule
ADDITIONAL 2027-28 DATES
25 - 29 October 2027
Independent Study Week*
6 - 10 December 2027
Graduation (Winter)
13 - 17 December 2027
Consolidation Week
14 - 18 February 2028
Independent Study Week*
29 June - 8 July 2028
Graduation (Summer)
31 July - 11 August 2028
Supplementary Assessment Period
*For pedagogical and/or logistical reasons, some programmes may not offer Independent Study Weeks. These dates are subject to change and will be reviewed in line with those published by the Education Authority (Halloween and Mid-term breaks).
Useful Links
General Regulations
Students Gateway
New Students
Getting here
New Students
My Queen's
Close Search