The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for higher education in the world, with a rich history and culture of academic excellence. The UK boasts some of the oldest and most renowned universities, as well as some of the most innovative and cutting-edge ones. Whether you are interested in studying arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, or business, you will find a wide range of courses and programs to suit your interests and goals.
But before you apply to study in the UK, you need to know about the academic calendars of the universities you are considering. The academic calendar is the schedule of the academic year, which includes the start and end dates of the terms, the holidays, the exams, and the graduation ceremonies. The academic calendar can vary from university to university, and even from faculty to faculty within the same university. Knowing the academic calendar can help you plan your studies, your travel, and your budget accordingly.
In this blog post, we will give you an overview of the academic calendars of the top 10 universities in the UK, according to the latest QS World University Rankings 4 . These are the universities that have consistently ranked among the best in the world, based on their academic reputation, research impact, employer reputation, and international student ratio. We will also provide you with some links to the official websites of these universities, where you can find more detailed and updated information about their academic calendars.
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, dating back to the 12th century. It is also one of the most prestigious and selective universities, with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The university comprises 39 self-governing colleges and six permanent private halls, each with its own distinctive character and traditions. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as professional and continuing education courses.
The academic year at the University of Oxford is divided into three terms, each lasting eight weeks. The terms are named after the seasons of the church calendar: Michaelmas term (from October to December), Hilary term (from January to March), and Trinity term (from April to June). The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually six weeks long. The academic year starts in October and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Michaelmas term: 8 October 2023 – 2 December 2023
- Hilary term: 14 January 2024 – 9 March 2024
- Trinity term: 21 April 2024 – 15 June 2024
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is another ancient and prestigious university, founded in 1209. It is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world, and the fourth-oldest in the world. The university consists of 31 colleges and over 150 departments, faculties, schools, and institutes. The university offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at the University of Cambridge is also divided into three terms, similar to the University of Oxford. The terms are called Michaelmas term, Lent term, and Easter term. The terms are usually eight weeks long, except for the Easter term, which can be nine weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually six weeks long. The academic year starts in October and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Michaelmas term: 3 October 2023 – 1 December 2023
- Lent term: 16 January 2024 – 16 March 2024
- Easter term: 23 April 2024 – 14 June 2024
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a world-class university that focuses on science, engineering, medicine, and business. It was founded in 1907 as a constituent college of the University of London, and became an independent university in 2007. The university has four faculties: Engineering, Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Business. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation centers.
The academic year at Imperial College London is divided into three terms, similar to Oxford and Cambridge. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 11 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 12 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 25 September 2023 – 15 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 23 April 2024 – 28 June 2024
University College London
University College London, or UCL, is a public research university that was founded in 1826 as the first university in London, and the first in England to admit students regardless of their religion, gender, or social background. It is also one of the founding members of the University of London. The university has 11 faculties, covering arts and humanities, social and historical sciences, engineering, life sciences, medical sciences, and more. The university offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at UCL is organized into three terms, similar to Imperial College London. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 12 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 13 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 25 September 2023 – 15 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 23 April 2024 – 28 June 2024
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland, founded in 1413. It is also one of the most prestigious and selective universities in the UK, with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The university has four faculties: Arts, Divinity, Medicine, and Science. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at the University of St Andrews follows a semester system, with two semesters per year. The semesters are called Semester One and Semester Two. The semesters are usually 15 weeks long, including a one-week mid-semester break. The semesters are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in May.
The semester dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Semester One: 11 September 2023 – 15 December 2023
- Semester Two: 15 January 2024 – 18 May 2024
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is another ancient and prestigious university in Scotland, founded in 1582. It is also one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK, with over 40,000 students from more than 150 countries. The university has three colleges: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; and Science and Engineering. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at the University of Edinburgh is divided into three terms, similar to UCL and Imperial College London. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 11 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 12 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 18 September 2023 – 1 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 16 April 2024 – 29 June 2024
University of Glasgow
The academic year at the University of Glasgow is organized into three terms, similar to the University of Edinburgh. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 11 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 12 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 18 September 2023 – 1 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 16 April 2024 – 29 June 2024
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of the largest and most diverse universities in the UK, with over 38,000 students from more than 170 countries. It is also one of the most research-intensive and influential universities, with a reputation for excellence in teaching and innovation. The university has eight faculties: Arts, Humanities and Cultures; Biological Sciences; Business; Education, Social Sciences and Law; Engineering and Physical Sciences; Environment; Medicine and Health; and Performance, Visual Arts and Communications. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at the University of Leeds is divided into three terms, similar to UCL and Imperial College London. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 12 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 13 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 25 September 2023 – 15 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 23 April 2024 – 28 June 2024
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is the largest single-site university in the UK, with over 40,000 students from more than 190 countries. It is also one of the most prestigious and research-intensive universities, with a reputation for excellence in teaching and innovation. The university has four faculties: Biology, Medicine and Health; Humanities; Science and Engineering; and Social Sciences. The university offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at the University of Manchester is organized into three terms, similar to the University of Glasgow. The terms are called Autumn term, Spring term, and Summer term. The terms are usually 11 weeks long, except for the Summer term, which can be 12 weeks long depending on the date of Easter. The terms are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in June.
The term dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Autumn term: 18 September 2023 – 1 December 2023
- Spring term: 8 January 2024 – 23 March 2024
- Summer term: 16 April 2024 – 29 June 2024
Bangor University
Bangor University is a public university that was founded in 1884 as the University College of North Wales. It is one of the oldest and most historic universities in Wales, with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research. The university has five colleges: Arts, Humanities and Business; Education and Human Development; Environmental Sciences and Engineering; Health and Behavioural Sciences; and Natural Sciences. The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as research and innovation opportunities.
The academic year at Bangor University follows a semester system, with two semesters per year. The semesters are called Semester One and Semester Two. The semesters are usually 15 weeks long, including a one-week mid-semester break. The semesters are separated by vacations, which are usually four weeks long. The academic year starts in September and ends in May.
The semester dates for the academic year 2023-2024 are as follows:
- Semester One: 25 September 2023 – 19 January 2024
- Semester Two: 29 January 2024 – 25 May 2024
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has given you a useful overview of the academic calendars of the top 10 universities in the UK. As you can see, there are some variations in the term dates, the length of the terms, and the holidays among the different universities. Therefore, it is important to check the official websites of the universities you are interested in for the most accurate and up-to-date information. We wish you all the best in your academic journey in the UK!
Thanks for this
You’re welcome, Kylian! I’m glad you found the information helpful. If you have any further questions or need more details about any specific university’s academic calendar, feel free to ask.