Semesters

The academic year is made up of two semesters - plus a summer semester for postgraduate taught students.

Exceptions: Some courses are structured differently, typically those which include professional placements - check with your department or school. If you are studying on a York Online programme, please see Online Learning Periods for the York Online academic year.

What is a semester?

You study three 20-credit modules each semester. The idea is that you begin, complete and are assessed on your teaching and learning within each semester. Each semester consists of:

One week for induction
11 weeks of teaching
Four weeks for revision and assessment

Semesters guide

Download our semesters poster to plan your teaching, assessment and vacation weeks:

University of York semesters 2025/26 (PDF , 115kb)

Semester dates 2025/26

Semester 1 (Sep 2025 - Jan 2026)

Date	Week
8 Sep	Postgraduate welcome activities begin
15 Sep	Freshers week
22 Sep	Teaching week 1
29 Sep	Teaching week 2
6 Oct	Teaching week 3
13 Oct	Teaching week 4
20 Oct	Teaching week 5
27 Oct	Consolidation week*
3 Nov	Teaching week 6
10 Nov	Teaching week 7
17 Nov	Teaching week 8
24 Nov	Teaching week 9
1 Dec	Teaching week 10
8 Dec	Teaching week 11
15 Dec	Vacation*
22 Dec	Vacation*
29 Dec	Vacation*
5 Jan	Revision week*
12 Jan	Revision and assessment
19 Jan	Revision and assessment
26 Jan	Revision and assessment

*Attendance on campus is not compulsory these weeks

Semester 2 (Feb 2026 - Jun 2026)

Date	Week
2 Feb	Refreshers week
9 Feb	Teaching week 1
16 Feb	Teaching week 2
23 Feb	Teaching week 3
2 Mar	Teaching week 4
9 Mar	Teaching week 5
16 Mar	Teaching week 6
23 Mar	Teaching week 7
30 Mar	Vacation*
6 Apr	Vacation*
13 Apr	Teaching week 8
20 Apr	Teaching week 9
27 Apr	Teaching week 10
4 May	Teaching week 11
11 May	Revision week*
18 May	Revision and assessment
25 May	Revision and assessment
1 Jun	Revision and assessment

*Attendance on campus is not compulsory these weeks

Attendance

You will be expected to be on campus for the 11 Teaching and Learning Weeks each semester and also whilst you are undertaking assessments. It is also highly recommended you attend during Freshers/Refreshers weeks as these contain key orientation events for all students.

You aren’t required to be on campus for the consolidation, vacation or revision weeks but University resources will continue to be available throughout the year.

Taught postgraduate students also have a summer semester and are required to attend over the summer period.

Semester dates