GWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027

GWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027: GWU Commencement 2026

The GWU academic calendar lists deadlines, crucial dates, Thanksgiving break, spring break, fall break, and class schedules. There are semesters at George Washington University. GW’s semesters consist of 14 weeks of classroom teaching plus a 15th weeks set aside for exams. Courses that don’t have a final exam scheduled or a project or paper due during finals week must make up the instructional hours over the 14 weeks of class.

GWU students must enroll in 12 credits per semester (full-time enrollment). In some academic programs, depending on how the curriculum develops, more than 12 credits may be needed each semester. The important academic dates for the semester are listed on this calendar, including holidays, test dates, and changes to the class schedule. Changes may be made to some dates. The key dates and deadlines for the fall, spring, and summer semesters of the GWU academic calendar are shown below. GWU Academic Calendar 2025-2026;

GWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027

Spring Semester 2026

First Day of Classes: Monday, January 12, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No Classes): Monday, January 19, 2026
Presidents’ Day (No Classes): Monday, February 16, 2026
Spring Break (No Classes): Monday, March 9 – Saturday, March 14, 2026
Last Day of Classes: Monday, April 27, 2026
Make-Up Day: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 (Reserved for rescheduling any canceled or disrupted classes due to weather, emergencies, or schedule changes)
Designated Monday: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Reading Days: Thursday, April 30 – Friday, May 1, 2026
Final Exams: Saturday, May 2 – Friday, May 8, 2026
Commencement Weekend: Thursday, May 14 – Sunday, May 17, 2026
Spring Degree Conferral: Sunday, May 17, 2026

Summer Semester 2026

Session I Starts (6-, 8-, 10-, and Full-Term): Monday, May 18, 2026
Memorial Day (No Classes): Monday, May 25, 2026
Juneteenth (No Classes): Friday, June 19, 2026
6-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Session II Starts (6-Week): Monday, June 29, 2026
Independence Day Observed (No Classes): Friday, July 3, 2026
8-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, July 11, 2026
10-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, July 25, 2026
6-Week Session II Ends: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Full-Term Session I Ends: Saturday, August 15, 2026
Summer Degree Conferral: Monday, August 31, 2026
Law Degree Conferral: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Fall 2026

Classes Start: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Labour Day: Monday, September 7, 2026
Fall Break: Thursday–Friday, October 8–9, 2026
Thanksgiving Break: Monday, November 23 – Saturday, November 28, 2026
Last Day of Classes: Monday, December 7, 2026
Make-Up/Reading Day: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Final Exams: Wednesday, December 9 – Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Degree Conferral: Friday, January 8, 2027

Spring 2027

Classes Start: Monday, January 11, 2027
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Monday, January 18, 2027
Presidents’ Day: Monday, February 15, 2027
Spring Break: Monday, March 8 – Saturday, March 13, 2027
Last Day of Classes: Monday, April 26, 2027
Make-Up Day: Tuesday, April 27, 2027
Designated Monday: Wednesday, April 28, 2027
Reading Days: Thursday, April 29 – Friday, April 30, 2027
Final Exams: Saturday, May 1 – Friday, May 7, 2027
Commencement Weekend: Thursday, May 13 – Sunday, May 16, 2027
Degree Conferral: Sunday, May 16, 2027

Summer 2027

Session I Starts: Monday, May 17, 2027
Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027
Juneteenth: Friday, June 18, 2027
6-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, June 26, 2027
Session II Starts: Monday, June 28, 2027
Independence Day Observed: Monday, July 5, 2027
8-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, July 10, 2027
10-Week Session I Ends: Saturday, July 24, 2027
6-Week Session II Ends: Saturday, August 7, 2027
Full-Term Session I Ends: Saturday, August 14, 2027
Summer Degree Conferral: Tuesday, August 31, 2027
Law Degree Conferral: Wednesday, September 1, 2027

Fall 2027

Classes Start: Thursday, August 19, 2027
Labour Day: Monday, September 6, 2027
Fall Break: Thursday–Friday, October 7–8, 2027
Thanksgiving Break: Monday, November 22 – Saturday, November 27, 2027
Last Day of Classes: Monday, December 6, 2027
Make-Up/Reading Day: Tuesday, December 7, 2027
Final Exams: Wednesday, December 8 – Tuesday, December 14, 2027
Degree Conferral: Friday, January 7, 2028

READ: UWaterloo Academic Calendar 2026-2027

GWU Application Dates & Deadlines 2026-2027

For the 2026-2027 academic year cycle, prospective students must apply using the following dates:

Early Decision I: Apply by November 1, receive a decision by late December.
Early Decision II: Apply by January 5, receive a decision by late February.
Regular Decision: Apply by January 5, receive a decision by April 1.
Seven-Year B.A./M.D. Program: Apply by November 15. Interview notifications are sent in mid-January, and final program decisions are made by April 1.
Spring Admission: Apply by October 1, receive a decision by early December.

However, the Common Application opens in early August for fall and spring admission. Applicants admitted through Early Decision I or II must submit a non-refundable enrollment fee by the deposit deadline and withdraw applications from other colleges.

Minimum Eligibility & Recommendations 2026-2027

For the 2026 admissions cycle, GWU recommends but does not require the AAMC PREview™ Professional Readiness Exam, a situational judgment test evaluating essential pre-professional skills. Choosing not to take it will not negatively affect your application. Details on preparation, registration, accommodations, and deadlines are available in our FAQs.

Eligibility:

Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, Canadian citizen, or hold confirmed DACA status at application time. International students must apply through the International Medicine Program.
Must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution before matriculation. Online or foreign transfer credits are not accepted.
MCAT scores (April 2022 – September 2025) are required; older versions are not accepted.
Must meet technical standards for admission.

Recommendations:

GWU follows a competency-based review, emphasizing academic performance, MCAT results, relevant experiences, and recommendation letters.
Applicants should demonstrate strong scientific knowledge and personal competencies, as outlined by AAMC/HHMI guidelines.

How To Apply At GWU 2026-2027| GWU Academic Calendar 2026-2027

Applying to George Washington University is simple when you know the steps. Provided below is a clear guide to help you through the process for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Choose Your Application Plan

Choose when and how you want to apply:

Early Decision I: Apply by November 1, hear back in late December.
Early Decision II: Apply by January 5, hear back in late February.
Regular Decision: Apply by January 5, get results by April 1.
Seven-Year B.A./M.D. Program: Apply by November 15. Interviews take place in mid-January, and final decisions are shared by April 1.
Spring Admission: Apply by October 1, results in early December.

Fill Out the Application

Use the Common Application to apply. Include your personal information, academic history, and extracurricular activities.

Send Supporting Documents

High school transcript
Recommendation letters (one from a counselor and one from a teacher)
Test scores (optional)
Personal essay

Pay the Application Fee

Submit the non-refundable application fee. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

Check Your Status

Once you apply, you will get access to the GW Admissions Portal to track your application and submit any missing documents.

Receive Your Decision

Admission decisions will be released according to the plan you chose. If admitted, confirm your enrollment and pay the deposit by the deadline.

Check Your Application Status

After you submit your application, it may take 7–10 business days for GW to receive and process it. Once received, you will get an acknowledgement email with instructions to access your GW Admissions Portal. This portal lets you track submitted materials and view your admission decision.

Please note that it can take a few weeks for all documents to be processed and displayed in the portal. During peak application times, the GW Admissions Portal is the best place to check updates, as it is regularly refreshed with the latest information about your application.

Contact GWU

You can get answers to Registrar-related questions from the Student Financial and Registration Services team. They can be reached by phone at 202-994-4900 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 10:00 am – 5:00 pm on Wednesdays.

Office of the Registrar

Academic Affairs

Enterprise Hall 44983 Knoll Square
Suite 260
Ashburn, VA 20147
Phone: 202-994-4900
E-mail: registrar@gwu.edu.

Visit the official website of George Washington University for more information. I hope the provided information is helpful. Share your thoughts below in the comment section.

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