Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

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 2025

July 1, Tuesday

• Start of the fall term for continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students
• Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year due (see the non-resident status policy in the Academics and Enrollment section of the Handbook for Students)
• Applications for part-time study due

July 31, Thursday

• Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due 

August 1, Friday

• Final degree applications for November 2025 degree candidates due through my.harvard
• Final application for a November 2025 secondary field due through my.harvard

August 12, Tuesday

• Course registration opens for fall 2025 for incoming students

August 14, Thursday

• Fall 2025 course registration for minimum course load due for incoming students

August 15, Friday

• Harvard Griffin GSAS deadline for paying fall tuition and fees

August 18, Monday

• Fall 2025 check-in opens in my.harvard

August 25, Monday 

• Open add/drop for fall 2025 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission not needed to enroll in courses

August 27, Wednesday 

• Make-up examinations for last spring term begins

August 28, Thursday 

• Make-up examinations for last spring term ends

August 31, Sunday

• Enrollment deadline for fall term HUSHP coverage for dependents.

September 1, Monday

• University Holiday: Labor Day

September 2, Tuesday

• Fall term begins for incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS students
• First meeting of fall term courses 
• Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the fall 2025 term 
• 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 a $50 late fee. 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 Success.
• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for November 2025 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, 2025.

September 3, Wednesday 

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for November 2025 degree candidates who wish to retain the Student Health Fee and the Student Health Insurance Plan through January 31, 2026, and will be charged accordingly.

September 9, Tuesday

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

September 22, Monday (3rd Monday)

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

September 30, Tuesday

• Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan late waiver deadline

October 6, Monday (5th Monday)

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

October 13, Monday 

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

October 20, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to add (or enroll in) fall 2025 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Academic Programs.
• 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 2025 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 21, Tuesday

• Degree recommendations from academic programs for November 2025 degree candidates are due

October 22, Wednesday

• Spring 2026 Crimson Cart opens in my.harvard

November 3, 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 Academic Programs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

November 5, Wednesday

• Course registration opens to allow enrolling in spring 2025 courses at my.harvard

November 11, Tuesday

• University Holiday: Veterans' Day (observed for staff). Classes are held. Harvard Griffin GSAS Offices are closed.

November 12, Wednesday

• Conferral date for November 2025 degrees

November 19, Wednesday

• Spring 2025 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 26, Wednesday

• Thanksgiving recess begins

November 30, Sunday

• Thanksgiving recess ends

December 1, Monday

• Final degree applications for February 2026 degree candidates due in my.harvard
• Final application for a February 2026 secondary field due to the Registrar's Office

December 3, Wednesday

• Last day of fall term classes

December 4, Thursday

• Fall term reading period begins

December 9, Tuesday

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

December 10, Wednesday

• Fall term examinations begin 

December 19, Friday

• Fall term examinations end
• Last day to submit work for a course with an incomplete (INC) grade for the spring 2025 term

December 20, Saturday

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

Spring 2026

January 2, Friday 

• University offices reopen
• Winter recess ends 

January 6, Tuesday

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

January 12, Monday

• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS begins
• Open add/drop for spring 2026 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission not needed to enroll in courses

January 13, Tuesday

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for February 2026 degree candidates

January 19, Monday

• University Holiday: Martin Luther King Day

January 21, Wednesday 

• Make-up examinations for last fall term begin

January 22, Thursday 

• Make-up examinations for last fall term ends

January 23, Friday

• Fall term ends for all Harvard Griffin GSAS students
• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS ends

January 26, Monday

• Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the spring term
• Spring term begins for all Harvard Griffin GSAS students. First meeting of spring courses.
• Spring 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 a $50 late fee. 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 Success.

January 31, Saturday

• Spring Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due

February 2, Monday

• Open add/drop deadline for spring 2026. After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses. 

February 9, Monday (3rd Monday) 

• Deadline to add or drop a spring course in my.harvard without paying a fee 

February 10, Tuesday

• Conferral of February degrees

February 11, Wednesday

• Degree applications for May 2026 degree candidates open in my.harvard

February 16, Monday

• University holiday: President’s Day

February 23, Monday (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 9, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to add (or enroll in) spring 2026 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Academic Programs.
• 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 2026 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 14, Saturday

• Spring recess begins

March 18, Wednesday

• Fall 2026 Crimson Cart opens in my.harvard

March 22, Sunday

• Spring recess ends

March 23, 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 Academic Programs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

April 1, Wednesday

• Course registration for returning students opens to allow enrolling in fall 2026 courses

April 15, Wednesday

• Fall 2026 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 29, Wednesday

• Last day of spring term classes 

April 30, Thursday

• Spring term reading period begins

May 6, 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 Academic Programs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved. 

May 7, Thursday

• Spring term examinations begin

May 14, Thursday

• Deadline for May 2026 degree candidates to submit their dissertation electronically to ProQuest ETD. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT.  

May 16, Saturday

• Spring term examinations end
• Last day to submit work for a course with an incomplete (INC) grade for the fall 2025 term
• Last day of spring term for all graduating Harvard Griffin GSAS students

May 25, Monday

• University Holiday: Memorial Day

May 28, Thursday

• Conferral date for May 2026 degrees and Commencement

June 19, Friday

• University Holiday: Juneteenth

June 30, Tuesday

• Last day of spring term for all continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students