Academic Calendar 2023-2024

The Academic Calendar can also be found on the FAS Registrar's website or in calendar form on the Harvard Griffin GSAS website. 

When an official deadline falls on a holiday observed by the University, the effective deadline is the next business day.

Fall 2023 

June 30, Friday

• Degree applications for November 2023 candidates open in my.harvard

July 1, Saturday

• Start of the term for continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students
• Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year due
• Applications for part-time study due

July 31, Monday

• Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due 

August 1, Tuesday

• Final degree applications for November 2023 degree candidates due through my.harvard
• Final application for a November 2023 secondary field due through my.harvard

August 9, Wednesday

• Fall check-in opens in my.harvard
• Crimson Cart opens to allow shopping for courses for fall 2023 term

August 15, Tuesday

• Harvard Griffin GSAS deadline for paying fall tuition and fees

August 21, Monday 

• Course registration opens to allow enrolling in fall 2023 courses
• Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the fall 2023 term. Students who fail to check in will be charged a late check-in fee of $50. 

August 31, Thursday

• Fall full-term course registration for all students due. ​Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Students who do not submit enrollments by this time will be charged $40 for each week late. If students incur a late registration fee as a result of an administrative delay, they can apply for a fee waiver through the Office of Student Affairs.
• Enrollment deadline for fall term HUSHP coverage for dependents.

September 5, Tuesday

• Academic year begins for incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS students. First meeting of fall term courses. 

September 6, Wednesday 

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations for November 2023 degree candidates who wish to have the Student Health Fee and Student Health Insurance Plan removed from their student account. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Students who submit dissertations on or before this date will have health coverage canceled retroactive to July 31, 2023.
• After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses.

September 7, Thursday

• November 2023 degree candidates can submit their dissertation electronically, will retain the Student Health Fee and the Student Health Insurance Plan through January 31, 2024, and will be charged accordingly.  

September 9, Saturday

• Last day on which master's students may withdraw from their program and cancel registration for the fall term without payment of tuition. Students withdrawing after this date will be charged tuition pursuant to Tuition Associated with Mid-Term Withdrawal. 

September 12, Tuesday 

• Deadline to add or drop a fall course; instructor permission needed after this date

September 26, Tuesday (3rd Monday)

• Deadline to add or drop a fall course without paying a fee

September 30, Saturday

• Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan late waiver deadline

October 2, Monday

• Degree applications for March 2024 candidates open in my.harvard

October 10, Tuesday (5th Monday)

• University Holiday: Columbus Day (federal); Indigenous Peoples’ Day (City of Cambridge) 

October 23, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to add (or enroll in) fall 2023 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. 
• Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses
• Students who fail to register by this date for a minimum required course load, withdraw from their academic program, or submit an application for non-resident status for the fall 2023 term are subject to disciplinary action and may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence, also known as an administrative leave of absence, for the remainder of the academic term. 

October 24, Tuesday

• Degree recommendations from academic programs for November 2023 degree candidates are due

October 25, Wednesday

• Spring 2024 Crimson Cart opens in my.harvard

November 1, Wednesday

• Course registration opens to allow enrolling in spring 2024 courses

November 6, Monday (9th Monday)

• Last day to drop a fall course via my.harvard. To withdraw from a fall course after this date, an approved Petition to Withdraw must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

November 14, Tuesday

• Conferral date for November 2023 degrees

November 15, Wednesday

• Spring 2024 full-term course registration for all students due. ​Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EST.  

November 22, Wednesday

• Thanksgiving recess begins

November 26, Sunday

• Thanksgiving recess ends

December 1, Friday

• Final degree applications for March 2024 degree candidates due in my.harvard
• Final application for a March 2024 secondary field due to the Registrar's Office
• Applications for part-time study for spring 2024 due

December 5, Tuesday

• Last day of fall term classes

December 6, Wednesday

• Fall term reading period begins

December 10, Sunday

• Last day on which students may submit an approved  Petition to Withdraw  from fall term course to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

December 11, Monday

• Fall term examinations begin 

December 20, Wednesday

• Fall term examinations end 

December 21, Thursday

• Winter recess begins. (Most University offices closed during recess.)   

Spring 2024

January 2, Tuesday 

• University offices reopen 
• Winter recess ends 

January 5, Friday

• Spring term online check-in opens in my.harvard

January 8, Monday

• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS begins
• Open add/drop for spring 2024 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission not needed to enroll in courses

January 19, Friday

• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS ends

January 22, Monday

• Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the spring term. Students who fail to check in through my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EST will be charged a late check-in fee of $50. 
• Spring term begins. First meeting of spring term courses. Students who do not submit enrollments in my.harvard by this time will be charged $40 for each week late. 

January 23, Tuesday

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for March 2024 degree candidates
• Degree recommendations by academic programs for March 2024 degree candidates due

January 29, Monday

• Open add/drop deadline for spring 2024. After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses. 

January 31, Wednesday

• Spring Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due

February 5, Monday (3rd Monday) 

• Deadline to add or drop a spring course in my.harvard without paying a $10 late add/drop fee 
• Make-up examinations for fall 2023 term begin

February 19, Monday

• University holiday: President’s Day

February 20, Tuesday (5th Monday)

• Last day students from other Schools may file cross-registration petitions for spring term with the FAS Registrar’s Office. Some schools have earlier deadlines. 

March 4, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to add (or enroll in) spring 2024 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. 
• Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses 
• Students who fail to register by this date for minimum required course load, withdraw from their academic program, or submit an application for non-resident status for the spring 2024 term are subject to disciplinary action and may be placed on an  involuntary leave of absence, also known as an administrative leave of absence, for the remainder of the academic term. 

March 5, Tuesday

• Conferral date for March 2024 degrees

March 6, Wednesday 

• Degree applications for May 2024 degree candidates open in my.harvard

March 9, Saturday

• Spring recess begins

March 17, Sunday

• Spring recess ends

March 18, Monday (9th Monday) 

• Last day to drop a spring course via my.harvard. To withdraw from a spring course after this date, an approved Petition to Withdraw must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

April 1, Monday

• Final degree applications for May 2024 degree candidates due in my.harvard
• Final application for a May secondary field due to the Registrar's Office 

April 3, Wednesday

• Course registration opens to allow enrolling in fall 2024 courses

April 17, Wednesday

• Fall 2024 full-term course registration for all students due. ​Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EDT.

April 24, Wednesday

• Last day of spring term classes 

​April 25, Thursday

• Spring term reading period begins

May 1, Wednesday

• Spring term reading period ends
• Last day on which students may submit an approved Petition to Withdraw from spring term course to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

May 2, Thursday

• Spring term examinations begin

May 9, Thursday

• Deadline for May 2024 degree candidates to submit their dissertation electronically to ProQuest ETD. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT.  

May 11, Saturday

• Spring term examinations end

May 16, Thursday

• Degree recommendations from academic programs for May 2024 degree candidates due in my.harvard

May 23, Thursday

• Conferral date for May 2024 degrees and Commencement