Academic Calendar

Below are the session dates for NYU Abu Dhabi’s 2026–2027 academic year. For a full list of operational deadlines, please consult the NYUAD Academic Calendar.

Please keep in mind that Islamic holidays are based on lunar sightings and are subject to change. Should these dates shift, Legislative Days may be added after the semester has already begun. To ensure timely processing, all registration deadlines are strictly 4:00 PM GST (Abu Dhabi time) on the dates listed.

2026–2027

Orientation

Date Event
August 23-24 First-Year student arrival window
August 24 Domestic Student Marhaba
August 25-30 Marhaba (student orientation)
August 26 Visiting student arrival window
August 26 Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (PBUH)*
August 27-30 Visiting student Marhaba
August 28-30 Faculty Orientation
August 29-30 Returning student arrival window

Fall Semester I

Date Event
August 31 First day of classes
September 4 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses
September 11 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses
October 2 Withdrawal deadline for 7-week course
October 9 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses
October 16 Last day of classes for 7-week course
October 17 Reading Day
October 18-22 No classes: Final exams for 7-week courses
October 23-25 No classes: Fall break
October 24 Final Grade due for first 7-week classes

Fall Semester II

Date Event
October 26 Classes resume
October 30 Add/drop deadline for Second 7-week courses
November 20 Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses
November 27 Withdrawal deadline for Second 7-week courses
November 27 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses
December 2-3 No classes: Commemoration Day and National Day Holiday*
December 4 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses
December 6 Possible legislative day if National Holiday is longer than two days
December 14 Last day of classes
December 15 Reading day
December 16-22 Final exams
December 23 Departure day: Winter break begins
December 24 Final grades due
February 1 Conferral for Fall 2026 and January 2027 degree completers

Winter Break

Date Event
December 23 - January 3 No classes: Winter break

January Term in Abu Dhabi

Date Event
January 2 Faculty arrive
January 2-3 Students arrive
January 3 Required Faculty Orientation
January 4 Classes begin / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
January 4 Classes begin / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
January 15 Last day of January Term courses in Abu Dhabi
January 16 Students and Faculty depart (if needed)
January 17 Final Grades due for January-Term classes

January Term at Global Sites

Date Event
January 4 Faculty and Students arrive at their site
January 5 Classes begin / Withdraw deadline - classes are letter graded after this date
January 5 AM: Orientation and PM: First Class Meetings
January 9 Legislative day / J-Term classes meet - see syllabus for class schedule
January 15 Last day of January Term courses at Global sites
January 16 Students and Faculty depart
January 17 Final Grades due for January-Term courses

Spring Semester 1

Date Event
January 13 Visiting student arrival
January 14-17 Visiting student Marhaba
January 17-18 Returning student arrivals
January 19 Classes begin
January 25 Add/drop deadline for 7-week courses
February 1 Add/drop deadline for 14-week courses
February 7-March 8 Ramadan*
February 22 Withdrawal deadline for first 7-week courses
March 1 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for first 7-week courses
March 6 Legislative Day (classes meet on a Monday schedule)
March 6 Last day of classes for first 7-week courses
March 7 Reading Day (No classes)
March 8-12 No classes: Spring Break / Eid Al-Fitr Holiday
March 13-17 Final Exams for first 7-week courses (no 14-week courses meet)
March 19 Grades Due for first 7-week classes

Spring Break

Date Event
March 8-12 No classes: Spring Break / Eid Al-Fitr Holiday

Spring Semester 2

Date Event
March 18 Classes begin for second 7-week courses
March 24 Add/drop deadline for second 7-week courses
April 1 Withdrawal deadline for 14-week courses
April 22 Withdrawal deadline for second 7-week courses
April 22 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for 14-week courses
April 29 Grading basis change (pass/fail) deadline for second 7-week courses
May 5 Last day of classes
May 6 Reading Day (No classes or exams)
May 7-14 Final exams
May 15 Visiting students depart
May 15 Returning students depart
May 17 Final grades due (4:00pm)
May 17-19 Eid Al-Adha (Holiday)*
May 20 NYUAD Commencement (No classes)* Final Date to be determined in January 2027
May 21 NYUAD Seniors depart
June 1 Conferral date for spring 2026 degree completers

Four-Week Summer Session in Abu Dhabi

Date Event
April 15 Add deadline for summer courses (4pm deadline) - Tentative, refer to the online academic calendar for summer schedule
May 4 Drop deadline for summer courses (4pm deadline). Classes dropped after this time will appear as a "W" on the transcript up until May 25, when classes will then be letter graded.
May 24 First day of Summer classes
May 25 End of course swap for enrolled students who did not complete prerequisites successfully/Last day to withdraw without a letter grade - "W" grade will appear on the transcript (4pm deadline). Classes are letter graded after this deadline. End of course Swap/Withdraw (Course enrollment ends April 15, 2027)
June 4 Last day for D&I coursework
June 6 Holiday: No classes. Hijri New Year 1449. Potential Legislative Day on Saturday, June 12 if holiday is observed on Monday, June 7.
June 12 Potential Legislative Day if the Hijri New Year 1449 is observed on a day other than Saturday or Sunday
June 17 Last day of classes for classes that do not have final exams
June 18 Final Exams
June 21 Final grades due
July 15 Conferral date for summer 2027 4-week course degree completers. (Diplomas will be mailed after August 25.)