Navigating the UCLA Academic Calendar: Key Dates, Deadlines, and Procedures

The UCLA academic calendar is a crucial resource for students, faculty, and staff, providing a comprehensive overview of important dates, deadlines, and holidays throughout the academic year. Understanding and utilizing this calendar effectively is essential for academic planning, enrollment, and adherence to university policies. This article aims to provide a detailed guide to navigating the UCLA academic calendar, covering key aspects such as enrollment, study list deadlines, holidays, and specific procedures related to course changes and withdrawals.

Understanding the Quarter System

UCLA operates on a quarter system, dividing the academic year into four terms: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Each quarter typically consists of ten weeks of instruction, followed by a final examination period. The academic calendar outlines the specific dates for the beginning and end of each quarter, as well as instruction start and end dates. Summary, year-at-a-glance calendars include term and instruction start and end dates, and school holidays. Calendars for past academic years are available in the calendar archive.

Key Dates and Deadlines

Enrollment

Graduate students eligible to enroll for the next term are randomly assigned one appointment time, and can enroll from the beginning of the appointment time through midnight on Friday of Week 2. Enrollment is a critical process that determines a student's access to courses and academic resources. The academic calendar specifies the dates for enrollment opening for each quarter. For instance, enrollment for Winter Quarter 2026 opens on November 3, 2025, Spring Quarter 2026 opens on February 2, 2026, Summer Quarter 2026 opens on April 27, 2026, and Fall Quarter 2026 opens on July 27, 2026.

Study List Deadlines

Students need to be enrolled in classes with unit credit by the deadline to avoid a late study list fee. The study list deadline is the date by which students must finalize their course selections for the quarter. It is important to note that the study list becomes official after this deadline. For example, in Fall Quarter 2025, the study list deadline is Friday, October 10. Similarly, for Fall Quarter 2026, it is Friday, October 9, and for Fall Quarter 2027, it is Friday, October 8. In Fall Quarter 2028, the Study List deadline (becomes official) Friday, October 13.

Holidays and Campus Closures

The UCLA academic calendar also includes a list of holidays and campus closures. These dates are important for students to be aware of, as classes are typically not held on these days. Some key holidays include:

Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Holiday
Christmas Holiday
New Year’s Eve/Day Holiday
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Presidents' Day Holiday
Cesar Chavez Day Holiday
Memorial Day Holiday
Juneteenth Holiday
Labor Day Holiday

The specific dates for these holidays may vary from year to year, so it is important to consult the academic calendar for the relevant academic year.

Instruction Start and End Dates

The academic calendar clearly marks the beginning and end dates of instruction for each quarter. For instance, instruction for Fall Quarter 2025 begins on Thursday, September 25, and ends on Friday, December 5. Instruction begins for Fall Quarter 2026 on Thursday, September 24, and ends on Friday, December 4. Instruction for Fall Quarter 2027 begins on Thursday, September 23, and ends on Friday, December 3. Instruction begins for Fall Quarter 2028 on Monday, October 2, and ends on Friday, December 8.

Final Examinations

The end of each quarter culminates in a final examination period. The academic calendar provides the dates for common final exams and final examinations. For example, in Fall Quarter 2025, common final exams are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, December 6-7, and final examinations are scheduled for Monday-Friday, December 8-12. In Fall Quarter 2026, common final exams are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, December 5-6, and final examinations are scheduled for Monday-Friday, December 7-11. In Fall Quarter 2027, common final exams are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5, and final examinations are scheduled for Monday-Friday, December 6-10. In Fall Quarter 2028, common final exams are scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, December 9-10, and final examinations are scheduled for Monday-Friday, December 11-15.

Making Changes to Your Study List

Graduate students may make study list changes through the Friday of Week 10. After Friday of Week 2, you may be subject to transaction fees. Students may need to make adjustments to their course schedules after the initial enrollment period. The UCLA academic calendar outlines the procedures and deadlines for making changes to the study list, including adding, dropping, or withdrawing from courses.

Adding or Transferring into a Course

The academic calendar specifies the last day to enroll or transfer into a course for each quarter. For regular format courses (6 or more weeks of instruction), this deadline is typically within the first week of instruction. For short format courses (2-5 weeks of instruction) and alternative format courses (1 day course or event), the deadline is typically the day before the first class meeting.

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Winter Quarter 2026: The last day to enroll or transfer into a course is January 11, 2026.
Spring Quarter 2026: The last day to enroll or transfer into a course is April 5, 2026.
Summer Quarter 2026: The last day to enroll or transfer into a course is June 28, 2026.
Fall Quarter 2026: The last day to enroll or transfer into a course is September 27, 2026.

Dropping a Course

Students may drop a course without it appearing on their transcript within a specified timeframe. The academic calendar indicates the last day to drop a course and request a refund. For regular format courses, this deadline is typically at the end of the first week of the course. For short format and alternative format courses, the deadline is usually the day before the first class meeting.

Winter Quarter 2026: The last day to drop and request a refund is January 18, 2026.
Spring Quarter 2026: The last day to drop and request a refund is April 12, 2026.
Summer Quarter 2026: The last day to drop and request a refund is July 5, 2026.
Fall Quarter 2026: The last day to drop and request a refund is October 4, 2026.

Withdrawing from a Course

Students have the option to discontinue enrollment in a course, with no refund, before taking the final and before a final course grade. Students who have taken or accessed or submitted a final exam, paper, or project may not withdraw from the class. The academic calendar specifies the last day to withdraw from courses. This deadline is generally set as the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first.

Special Considerations

Inclusive Access

Inclusive Access is a program that provides students with access to course materials at a reduced cost. The deadline to opt out of Inclusive Access is Friday of Week 2 for Fall/Winter/Spring, and Friday of Week 1 for Summer. Students who opt out are responsible for obtaining course materials on their own.

Petitioning for Grading or Credit Options

The academic calendar also notes the last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option, which typically falls on the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first.

Petition for an Incomplete

Students who have good cause may request an Incomplete by speaking with the Instructor and contacting the academic program unit. Requests must be made via the Incomplete petition form which is reviewed for approval/denial by the instructor and program director. The academic calendar specifies the last day to submit a petition for an Incomplete, which is usually the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first.

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International Students (F1 Visa)

International students on an F1 visa should be aware that dropping or withdrawing from a course may jeopardize their immigration status. It is crucial to consult with an international student advisor before making any changes to their enrollment.

Accessing the Academic Calendar

The UCLA academic calendar is readily available online through the UCLA Registrar's Office website. Students can access summary, year-at-a-glance calendars that include term and instruction start and end dates, and school holidays. Calendars for past academic years are also available in the calendar archive.

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