2026 academic key dates

January 2026

Monday 5

University opens for 2026 January Summer School (partial campus)

Thursday 8

Deadline to enrol in, or change, January Summer School courses

Deadline to apply for prerequisite dispensations and partial waivers for January Summer School

Friday 9

Monday 12

University opens for 2026 (full campus)

Monday 12 January – Thursday 5 February

EAP Module 1

February 2026

Sunday 1

Deadline to apply for Semester 1 2026 (New domestic students and international students currently living in New Zealand).

Deadline for practical work reports if wishing to resubmit for Graduation 2026.

Graduation Application deadline for 2026 (except for Summer Semester and Research students – deadlines advised separately)

Thursday 5

January Summer School classes end

Friday 6

Waitangi Day – University closed

Monday 9 – Tuesday 10

Exams for Full Summer School and January 2026 Summer School

Monday 9 – Tuesday 17

Semester 1 Preparation Week

Wednesday 11

Submission of Full Summer School and January 2026 Summer School results by examiners (by 4pm)

Thursday 12

Faculty Examiners Meetings (from 10.00am)

AAC Examinations Meeting (3pm)

Friday 13

Monday 16

Semester 1 starts

Some courses have irregular key dates, please check details of these below.

University Mihi Whakatau

Monday 16 February – Friday 13 March

EAP Module 2

Friday 20

Final deadline for submission of Practical Work reports for Graduation 2026

Deadline for prerequisite applications and partial waiver applications for Semester 1 courses

Monday 23

Deadline to enrol in, or change, Semester 1 courses

Friday 27

Field Trip Day

March 2026

Friday 6

Last day to withdraw from Semester 1 (with refund)

Thursday 12

Field Trip Day

Friday 13

Deadline for recount/reconsideration applications and return of examination scripts for January Summer School

Monday 16 March – Friday 10 April

EAP Module 3

Monday 23

Field Trip Day

Friday 27

Last day of class before mid-term break

Monday 30 March – Friday 17 April

Mid-term break. Week 1 of the break may be used for Experiential Learning.

April 2026

Friday 3

Good Friday – University closed

Monday 6

Easter Monday – University closed

Tuesday 7

University Holiday – University closed

Monday 20

Semester 1 classes resume

Monday 20 April – Friday 15 May

EAP Module 4

Monday 27

ANZAC day observed – University closed

Wednesday 29

Field Trip Day

May 2026

Friday 8

Graduation ceremony

Monday 18

Semester 1 examination scripts due

Tuesday 19 

Field Trip Day

Monday 25 May – Friday 19 June

EAP Module 5

Friday 29

Last day of classes for Semester 1

June 2026

Monday 1

Deadline to apply for Semester 2, 2026 (New international students)

King’s Birthday  – University closed

Tuesday 2 – Friday 5 

Study break

Monday 8 – Friday 19 

Semester 1 examinations

Monday 22 June – Friday 10 July

Mid-year break

Tuesday 30

Deadline to apply for Semester 2, 2026 (New domestic students and international students currently in New Zealand)

July 2026

Monday 6

Faculty / AP&P Examiner’s Meetings

Monday 6 – Friday 31

EAP Module 6

Tuesday 7

AAC Examinations Meeting

Wednesday 8

Semester 1 results released

Final date for submission of honours dissertations for students enrolled in Semester 1

Wednesday 8 – Tuesday 14

Semester 2 Preparation Week

Friday 10

Monday 13

Semester 2 classes start

Some courses have irregular key dates, please check details of these below.

Friday 17

Deadline for prerequisite dispensations and partial waiver applications for Semester 2

Monday 20

Last day on which students may enrol in, or change courses for Semester 2

Wednesday 22

Field Trip Day

Saturday 25

Due date for Practical Work report and employer form for work undertaken in previous summer

Friday 31

Deadline to withdraw from Semester 2 courses (with refund)

August 2026

Monday 3

Field Trip Day

Monday 3 – Friday 28

EAP Module 7

Wednesday 5

Deadline for recounts / reconsiderations, and exam script returns for Semester 1

Tuesday 18

Field Trip Day

Friday 21

Last day of classes before mid-term break

Monday 24 August – Friday 4 September 

Mid-term break

September 2026

Tuesday 1

Deadline to apply for November 2026 intake (New international students)

Monday 7

Classes resume

Monday 7 September – Friday 2 October

EAP Module 8

Friday 18

Field Trip Day

October 2026

Thursday 1

Enrolment opens for 2027

Applications due for Halls of Residence accommodation for Semester 1 2027

Timetable for 2027 released

Field Trip Day

Monday 5

Semester 2 examination scripts due

Monday 12 October – Friday 6 November

EAP Module 9

Friday 16

Semester 2 classes end

Monday 19 – Friday 23

Study break

Monday 26

Labour Day – University closed

Tuesday 27

Deadline to apply for November 2026 intake (New domestic students and international students currently living in New Zealand)

Tuesday 27 October – Friday 6 November

Semester 2 examinations *

November 2026

Monday 9

November Summer School commences

Thursday 5 – Tuesday 10

Summer School Preparation Week

Thursday 12

Deadline to enrol in, or change November Summer School course (5-weeks)

Deadline for prerequisite dispensation or partial waiver applications for November Summer School (5-weeks)

Friday 13

Canterbury Anniversary Day – University closed

Monday 16

Last day to withdraw from November Summer School courses (5-weeks), with refund.

Deadline to enrol in November Summer School (full semester period)

Wednesday 18

Faculty Examiner’s Meetings

Thursday 19

AAC Examinations Meeting

Final date for submission of honours dissertations for students enrolled in Semester 2

Friday 20

Semester 2 results released

Friday 27

Last day to withdraw from November Summer School (full semester period) courses

December 2026

Tuesday 1 

Deadline to apply for Semester 1. 2027 (New International students)

Friday 11

November Summer School (5-week) classes end

Monday 14 – Tuesday 15

November Summer School exams*

Thursday 17

Submission of results by examiners

Faculty Examiner’s meetings (from 10.00am)

AAC Examinations Meeting (3.00pm)

Friday 18

November Summer School results released

Deadline for recounts / reconsiderations and return of examination scripts for Semester 2