Categories: University Application 2025

Yale Academic Calendar 2026-2027

Yale Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Yale Gsas Calendar 2026-2027

The Yale Academic Calendar for 2026–2027 outlines all major dates and events for the academic year, including the start and end of each semester, holidays, breaks, and important academic deadlines. Having this information helps students, faculty, and families plan their schedules for classes, campus activities, and vacation periods. Yale University operates on a semester system, with each semester typically lasting 13 weeks. To graduate, students must complete 36 courses, usually taking four or five courses each term. This structure offers flexibility for students to balance their workload while exploring a range of academic interests.

For the 2026–2027 year, the calendar will include both fall and spring semesters, reading periods, exam schedules, and recognized holidays. It also features winter and spring breaks, giving students time to recharge or engage in extracurricular and personal growth opportunities. Staying informed about registration deadlines, add/drop dates, financial aid submissions, and examination periods is essential for smooth academic planning. This is particularly useful for incoming students applying through Early Action, QuestBridge, or Regular Decision, as these admission timelines align closely with the academic calendar.

The dates provided are based on Yale’s current and past academic schedules. Finalized details for the 2026–2027 academic year will be released by mid-2026. To ensure accuracy, students and families should regularly check updates from the Yale Registrar’s office and individual school websites. This overview helps guide students in organizing their academic journey, ensuring they meet requirements and make the most of their Yale experience.

READ ALSO: Yorku Academic Calendar 2026-2027

Yale Academic Calendar

Fall 2026

August 16: Residences open for new students at 9:00 a.m.
August 19: Registration for first-year, Eli Whitney, and transfer students from 12:00–3:00 p.m.
August 21: Residences open for upper-level students at 9:00 a.m.
August 24: Add/drop period opens at 8:00 a.m.
August 25: Required check-in meetings for returning classes.
August 26: Fall classes begin.
August 28: Friday classes canceled; Monday schedule observed.
September 7: Labor Day – no classes.
September 4: Add/drop period ends at 5:00 p.m.
September 9: Last day to withdraw for a full tuition rebate; deadline for fall-term leave of absence.
September 14: Petition deadlines for degree completion, dual majors, major changes, and certificates for final-term students.
September 17: Last day to withdraw from first-half courses without a transcript mark.
September 19: Withdrawal eligible for half-term tuition rebate.
October 1: Applications close for Spring 2027 Term Abroad.
October 9: Last day of first-half courses; withdrawal and grade conversion deadlines.
October 12: Second-half courses begin.
October 13–19: October recess; classes resume October 19.
October 23: Midterm; withdrawal deadline for full-term courses; double-credit petition deadline.
November 5: Withdrawal deadline for second-half courses without transcript mark.
November 13–19: Spring 2027 registration opens for graduate students and undergraduate classes.
November 20–29: November recess.
November 30: Classes resume.
December 4: Classes end; reading period begins; last day for Cr/D/F conversion and withdrawal from full-term courses.
December 9–16: Final exams period; winter recess begins after exams.
December 17: Residences close at noon; spring registration closes at 5:00 p.m.
December 21: Official degree conferral date for fall term.

Spring 2026

January 5: Fall grades due; add/drop opens.
January 7: Residences open at 9:00 a.m.
January 12: Spring classes begin.
January 15: Petition deadlines for dual majors, major changes, and certificates.
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no classes.
January 20: Summer Session Abroad applications close.
January 21: Add/drop closes at 5:00 p.m.
January 23: Friday classes canceled; Monday schedule observed.
January 26: Spring leave of absence deadline; full tuition rebate cutoff.
February 3: Last day to withdraw from first-half spring courses without transcript mark.
February 5: Withdrawal eligible for half-term tuition rebate.
February 25: Last day of first-half courses; withdrawal and Cr/D/F conversion deadlines.
February 26: Second-half courses begin.
March 3: Applications for Non-Yale Summer Abroad close.
March 6: Midterm; spring recess begins; withdrawal and double-credit petition deadlines; quarter-term tuition rebate cutoff.
March 23: Classes resume.
April 1: Applications close for Fall 2026 Term Abroad and Year Abroad.
April 2: Withdrawal deadline for second-half courses without transcript mark.
April 10–15: Fall 2026 registration opens for graduate students and undergraduate classes.
April 24: Classes end; reading period begins; last day for Cr/D/F conversion and withdrawal from full-term courses.
April 29–May 6: Final exam period.
May 1: Fall leave of absence applications due.
May 4: Reading period ends; deadline for course assignments (excluding term papers/projects).
May 6: Exams end; final paper/project deadline.
May 7: Residences close for non-seniors at 3:00 p.m.
May 8: Final grades due for graduating seniors.
May 13: Final grades due for continuing students.
May 15: Registration closes.
May 18: University Commencement.
May 19: Residences close for seniors at noon.

Holidays

September 1, 2025: Labor Day – no classes.
October 14, 2025: October recess begins after the last academic obligation.
November 21, 2025: November recess begins after the last academic obligation.
December 17, 2025: Winter recess begins after final examinations conclude at 5:30 p.m.
January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – no classes.
March 6, 2026: Spring recess begins after the last academic obligation.

Yale Application Dates & Deadline 2026-2027

For first-year applicants, the following deadlines apply:

Single-Choice Early Action: November 1
QuestBridge National College Match: November 1
Regular Decision: January 2

Applications must be submitted online through the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge National College Match Application by these dates.

Financial Aid Submission Dates

Single-Choice Early Action: November 1
QuestBridge National College Match: November 1
Regular Decision: February 15

Although there is no strict deadline for applying for financial aid, it is recommended to submit all required documents by these dates. Doing so ensures that if you are admitted, you will receive a financial aid award letter at the same time as your admission offer.

Admissions Decision Notifications

Early Action decisions: Available online in mid-December
Regular Decision decisions: Posted online by April 1

Both Early Action and Regular Decision applicants must reply to offers of admission by May 1. All admissions decisions are released only through the Yale Admissions Status Portal.

How To Apply At Yale 2026-2027

Applying to Yale for the 2026–2027 academic year is straightforward, but it’s important to follow each step carefully and meet all deadlines. Here’s what you need to know:

Choose Your Application Type

You can apply to Yale using one of the following platforms:

Common Application
Coalition Application
QuestBridge National College Match Application

Only one application is needed, and there is no preference for which platform you choose.

Select an Admission Plan

Single-Choice Early Action: Deadline is November 1, 2026.
QuestBridge National College Match: Deadline is November 1, 2026.
Regular Decision: Deadline is January 2, 2027.

Prepare and Submit Required Documents

You will need to complete your chosen application and provide:

Personal essay
Yale-specific short-answer questions
Official school reports and transcripts
Standardized test scores (if applicable)

Apply for Financial Aid (Optional)

If you want to be considered for financial aid, submit the required documents by:

November 1, 2026 for Early Action and QuestBridge
February 15, 2027 for Regular Decision

Submitting by these dates ensures that financial aid decisions are available with your admission offer.

Check Admissions Decisions

Early Action applicants will receive decisions online in mid-December 2026.
Regular Decision applicants will receive decisions by April 1, 2027.

All decisions are posted exclusively on the Yale Admissions Status Portal. Admitted students must reply by May 1, 2027.

Contact Yale

Street Address

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Yale University
 38 Hillhouse Avenue

New Haven, CT 06511

Walk-in Hours

M-F 9:00am-4:00pm

Yale’s 2026–2027 Academic Calendar is based on official schedules and past academic timelines. Final dates may change, so it is best to check with Yale’s Registrar or the individual school websites for the most up-to-date information, especially as mid-2026 approaches. Visit the official website of Yale for more information. I hope the provided information is helpful. Share your thoughts below in the comment section.

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