UCLA Academic Calendar: A Comprehensive Guide

The UCLA academic calendar is an essential resource for students, faculty, and staff, providing a comprehensive overview of important dates and deadlines throughout the academic year. These calendars include term and instruction start and end dates, school holidays, and crucial deadlines related to enrollment, dropping courses, and submitting petitions. UCLA publishes a year-at-a-glance calendar summarizing these dates, and maintains an archive of past academic years' calendars for reference. Understanding and utilizing the academic calendar is crucial for academic planning and success, allowing students to navigate the quarter system efficiently.

Key Components of the UCLA Academic Calendar

The UCLA academic calendar is structured around the quarter system, dividing the academic year into four quarters: Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. Each quarter has specific dates for instruction, enrollment, deadlines, and holidays. Here's a breakdown of the key components:

Quarter Begins: The official start date of the academic quarter.
Instruction Begins: The date when classes actually start.
Study List Deadline (Becomes Official): The deadline to finalize your course enrollment. Missing this deadline may result in late fees or enrollment issues. Students need to be enrolled in classes with unit credit by the deadline to avoid a late study list fee.
Holidays: Dates when the university is closed, including Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth and Labor Day.
Instruction Ends: The last day of regular classes before the final examination period.
Common Final Exams: Some courses may have common final exams scheduled on specific dates, often on a weekend.
Final Examinations: A period typically spanning five days, during which final exams are administered.
Quarter Ends: The official end date of the academic quarter.
Final Grades Available to Students: The date when final grades are officially available for students to view.

Fall Quarter

Fall Quarter serves as the commencement of the academic year, setting the stage for subsequent quarters.

Fall Quarter 2021

Quarter begins: Monday, September 20
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 23
Study list deadline (becomes official): Friday, October 8
Veterans Day holiday: Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 25-26
Instruction ends: Friday, December 3
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 6-10
Quarter ends: Friday, December 10
Winter campus closure: Saturday, December 18, 2021-Sunday, January 2, 2022
Christmas holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 23-24
New Year’s holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 30-31

Fall Quarter 2025

Quarter begins: Monday, September 22
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 25
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, October 10
Veterans Day holiday: Tuesday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 27-28
Instruction ends: Friday, December 5
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 6-7
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 8-12
Quarter ends: Friday, December 12
Christmas holiday: Wednesday-Thursday, December 24-25
New Year’s Eve/Day holiday: Wednesday-Thursday, December 31-January 1, 2026
Winter campus closure: TBD

Fall Quarter 2025 Deadlines & Holidays (Regular Format - 6 or more weeks of instruction)

Enrollment opens: Jul. 28, 2025
Instruction begins: Sep. 22, 2025
Last day to enroll or transfer into a course: Sep. 28, 2025
Last day to drop and request a refund: Oct. 5, 2025
Last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to submit petition for an Incomplete: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to withdraw from courses: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Veterans Day Holiday: Nov. 11, 2025
Thanksgiving Holiday: Nov. 27-28, 2025
Instruction ends: Dec. 14, 2025
Final grades available to students: Dec. 30, 2025
Winter Holiday Campus Closure: Dec. 24, 2025 - Jan. PT.

Fall Quarter 2026

Quarter begins: Monday, September 21
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 24
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, October 9
Veterans Day holiday: Wednesday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 26-27
Instruction ends: Friday, December 4
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 5-6
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 7-11
Quarter ends: Friday, December 11
Christmas holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 24-25
New Year’s Eve/Day holiday: Thursday-Friday, December 31-January 1, 2027
Winter campus closure: TBD

Fall Quarter 2027

Quarter begins: Monday, September 20
Instruction begins: Thursday, September 23
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, October 8
Veterans Day holiday: Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 25-26
Instruction ends: Friday, December 3
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 6-10
Quarter ends: Friday, December 10
Christmas holiday: Friday/Monday, December 24, 27
New Year’s holiday: Friday/Monday, December 31, January 3, 2028
Winter campus closure: TBD

Fall Quarter 2028

Quarter begins: Wednesday, September 27
Instruction begins: Monday, October 2
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, October 13
Veterans Day holiday: Friday, November 10
Thanksgiving holiday: Thursday-Friday, November 23-24
Instruction ends: Friday, December 8
Common final exams: Saturday-Sunday, December 9-10
Final examinations: Monday-Friday, December 11-15
Quarter ends: Friday, December 15
Christmas holiday: Monday-Tuesday, December 25-26
New Year’s holiday: Monday-Tuesday, January 1-2, 2029
Winter campus closure: TBD

Winter Quarter

Winter Quarter marks the beginning of the new calendar year and brings a fresh start to academic pursuits.

Winter Quarter 2022

Quarter begins: Monday, January 3
Instruction begins: Monday, January 3
Study list deadline (becomes official): Friday, January 14
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Winter Quarter 2026

Quarter begins: Friday, January 2
Instruction begins: Monday, January 5
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, January 16
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Winter Quarter 2026 Deadlines & Holidays (Regular Format - 6 or more weeks of instruction)

Enrollment opens: Nov. 3, 2025
Instruction begins: Jan. 5, 2026
Last day to enroll or transfer into a course: Jan. 11, 2026
Last day to drop and request a refund: Jan. 18, 2026
Last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to submit petition for an Incomplete: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to withdraw from courses: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Jan. 19, 2026
Presidents' Day Holiday: Feb. 16, 2026
Instruction ends: Mar. 22, 2026
Final grades available to students: Apr. PT.

Winter Quarter 2027

Quarter begins: Monday, January 4
Instruction begins: Monday, January 4
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, January 15
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Winter Quarter 2028

Quarter begins: Tuesday, January 4
Instruction begins: Tuesday, January 4
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, January 14
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Winter Quarter 2029

Quarter begins: Wednesday, January 3
Instruction begins: Thursday, January 4
Study List deadline (becomes official): Friday, January 19
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Spring Quarter

Spring Quarter marks the final stretch of the traditional academic year, leading into summer sessions.

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Spring Quarter 2026

Spring Quarter 2026 Deadlines & Holidays (Regular Format - 6 or more weeks of instruction)

Enrollment opens: Feb. 2, 2026
Cesar Chavez Day Holiday: Mar. 27, 2026
Instruction begins: Mar. 30, 2026
Last day to enroll or transfer into a course: Apr. 5, 2026
Last day to drop and request a refund: Apr. 12, 2026
Last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to submit petition for an Incomplete: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to withdraw from courses: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Memorial Day Holiday: May 25, 2026
Instruction ends: Jun. 14, 2026
Final grades available to students: Jun. PT.

Summer Quarter

Summer Quarter offers accelerated courses and special programs, allowing students to make progress towards their degrees during the summer months.

Summer Quarter 2026

Summer Quarter 2026 Deadlines & Holidays (Regular Format - 6 or more weeks of instruction)

Enrollment opens: Apr. 27, 2026
Juneteenth Holiday: Friday, June 19, 2026
Instruction begins: Jun. 22, 2026
Last day to enroll or transfer into a course: Jun. 28, 2026
Last day to drop and request a refund: Jul. 5, 2026
Last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to submit petition for an Incomplete: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Last day to withdraw from courses: Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first
Labor Day Holiday: Monday, September 7, 2026
Instruction ends: Sep. 13, 2026
Final grades available to students: Sep. PT.

Enrollment Deadlines and Procedures

Navigating enrollment deadlines is crucial for students to secure their desired courses and avoid penalties. Fall enrollment opens, and closes September 28. Students must be aware of the deadlines for enrolling, transferring into courses, and dropping courses with a refund. These deadlines vary depending on the format of the course (regular, short, or alternative).

Last day to enroll or transfer into a course: This deadline typically falls before the first class meeting for short and alternative format courses.
Last day to drop and request a refund: For regular format courses, this deadline is usually the Sunday at the end of the first week of the course. For short and alternative format courses, it's the day before the first class meeting.

Petition Deadlines and Procedures

Students may need to submit petitions for various academic adjustments, such as changing grading options, requesting incomplete grades, or withdrawing from courses.

Last day to submit a petition to Change Grading or Credit Option: This deadline is typically the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam, whichever comes first. See grading scale and credit options.
Last day to submit petition for an Incomplete: Similar to the grading option change, this deadline is usually the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam. 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. Learn more about the Incomplete petition process.
Last day to withdraw from courses: The deadline to withdraw from courses is generally the Sunday before the final week of the course or before the final exam. 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.

Additional Information and Resources

Where to see your course's drop, transfer or withdrawal date: This information can be found on your payment receipt or by logging into your student account, selecting My Enrollment History, and clicking the blue dot next to the course.
International Students (F1 Visa): Dropping or withdrawing from a course may jeopardize your immigration status. (PT) at the end of week 1.
Graduate Enrollment Pass: 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.
Study List Changes: 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.
Inclusive Access Changes: 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.
Standard MSOL exam dates.

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