Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar 2026–2027

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 2026

July 1, Wednesday

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

July 31, Friday

• The fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application is due. 

August 3, Monday

• Final degree applications for November 2026 degree candidates are due through my.harvard.
• Final applications for a November 2026 secondary field are due through my.harvard.

August 15, Saturday

• The Harvard Griffin GSAS deadline for paying fall tuition and fees.

August 17, Monday

• Fall 2026 check-in opens in my.harvard.
• Course registration opens for fall 2026 incoming students.

August 24, Monday 

• Open add/drop for fall 2026 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission is not needed to enroll in courses.

August 26, Wednesday 

• Make-up examinations for the last spring term begin.

August 27, Thursday 

• Make-up examinations for the last spring term end.

August 28, Friday 

• Fall 2026 course registration for the minimum course load is due for incoming students.

August 31, Monday

• The enrollment deadline for fall term HUSHP coverage for dependents.

September 2, Wednesday

• Fall term begins for incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS students.
• The first meetings of fall full-term courses and session 1 courses are held.
• Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the fall 2026 term. 
• Fall full-term course registration for all students is 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 2026 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, 2026.

September 3, Thursday 

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for November 2026 degree candidates who wish to retain the Student Health Fee and the Student Health Insurance Plan through January 31, 2027, and will be charged accordingly.

September 7, Monday 

• University Holiday: Labor Day.

September 9, Wednesday

• 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.”
• The deadline to add or drop a fall course; instructor permission is needed after this date.

September 17, Thursday

• Fall Session 1 (half-term) add/drop deadline.

September 21, Monday (3rd Monday)

• The deadline to add or drop a fall course without paying a fee.

September 30, Wednesday

• Degree applications for February 2027 degree candidates open in my.harvard.
• Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan late waiver deadline.

October 5, Monday (5th Monday)

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

October 12, Monday 

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

October 16, Friday

• Fall session 1 classes end.

October 19, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.
• Fall session 2 classes start.

October 20, Tuesday

• Degree recommendations from academic programs for November 2026 degree candidates are due.

October 21, Wednesday

• Spring 2027 Crimson Cart opens in my.harvard.

November 3, Tuesday

• Conferral date for November 2026 degrees.

November 4, Wednesday

• Course registration opens to allow enrolling in spring 2027 courses at my.harvard.

November 5, Thursday

• Fall Session 2 (half-term) add/drop deadline. 

November 11, Tuesday

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

November 18, Wednesday

• Spring 2027 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 25, Wednesday

• Thanksgiving recess begins.

November 29, Sunday

• Thanksgiving recess ends.

December 1, Tuesday

• Final degree applications for February 2027 degree candidates are due in my.harvard.
• Final applications for a February 2027 secondary field are due to the Registrar's Office.

December 4, Friday

• Last day of fall full-term and fall session 2 courses.

December 5, Saturday

• Fall term reading period begins.

December 9, Wednesday

• Fall term reading period ends

December 10, Thursday

• Fall term examinations begin.

December 19, Saturday

• Fall term examinations end.
• Last day to submit work for a course with an incomplete (INP) grade for the spring 2026 term.
• Last day of fall term for all Harvard Griffn GSAS students

December 20, Sunday

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

Spring 2027

January 4, Monday 

• University offices reopen.
• Winter recess ends.

January 5, Tuesday

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

January 11, Monday

• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS begins.

January 12, Tuesday

• Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for February 2027 degree candidates.

January 18, Monday

• University holiday: Martin Luther King Day.

January 19, Tuesday

• Open add/drop for spring 2027 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission is not needed to enroll in courses.
• Degree recommendations from academic programs for February 2027 degree candidates are due.

January 20, Wednesday 

• Make-up examinations for last fall term begin.

January 21, Thursday 

• Make-up examinations for last fall term ends.

January 22, Friday

• January@HarvardGriffinGSAS ends.

January 25, 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 full-term and spring session 1 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, Sunday

• The spring Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application is due.

February 1, Monday

• Open add/drop deadline for spring 2027. After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses. 

February 2, Tuesday

• Conferral date for February 2027 degrees.

February 8, Monday (3rd Monday) 

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

February 10, Wednesday

• Degree applications for May 2027 degree candidates open in my.harvard.

February 11, Thursday

• Spring Session 1 (half-term) add/drop deadline. 

February 15, Monday

• University holiday: President’s Day.

February 22, Monday (5th Monday)

• Last day to add (or enroll in) spring 2027 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Academic Programs.
• 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 2027 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. 
• 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 8, Monday (7th Monday) 

• Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses.

March 12, Friday

• Last day of spring session 1 classes.

March 13, Saturday

• Spring recess begins.

March 21, Sunday

• Spring recess ends.

March 22, Monday 

•  Spring session 2 courses start.

March 24, Wednesday

• Fall 2027 Crimson Cart opens in my.harvard.
• Final degree applications for May 2027 degree candidates due in my.harvard.
• Final application for a May 2027 secondary field due to the Registrar's Office.

April 7, Wednesday

• Course registration for returning students opens to allow enrolling in fall 2027 courses.

April 8, Thursday

• Spring Session 2 (half-term) add/drop deadline.

April 21, Wednesday

• Fall 2027 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 28, Wednesday

• Last day of spring full-term and session 2 courses.

April 29, Thursday

• Spring term reading period begins.

May 5, Wednesday

• Spring term reading period ends.

May 6, Thursday

• Spring term examinations begin.

May 12, Wednesday

• Deadline for May 2027 degree candidates to submit their dissertation electronically to ProQuest ETD. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT.  

May 15, Saturday

• Spring term examinations end.
• Last day to submit work for a course with an incomplete (INP) grade for the fall 2026 term.
• Last day of spring term for all Harvard Griffin GSAS students.

May 16, Sunday

• First day of summer term for all continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students.

May 18, Tuesday

• Degree recommendations from academic programs for May 2027 degree candidates are due by 12:00 p.m. EDT.

May 27, Thursday

• Conferral date for May 2027 degrees and Commencement.

May 31, Monday

• University holiday: Memorial Day.

June 18, Friday

• University holiday: Juneteenth (observed).

July 5, Monday

• University Holiday: Independence Day (observed).

August 31, Tuesday

• Last day of summer term for continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students.