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 2026/27 (PDF , 105kb)

Semester dates 2026/27

Semester 1 (Sep 2026 - Jan 2027)

Date	Week
21 Sep	Welcome Week
28 Sep	Week 1
5 Oct	Week 2
12 Oct	Week 3
19 Oct	Week 4
26 Oct	Week 5
2 Nov	Consolidation Week*
9 Nov	Week 6
16 Nov	Week 7
23 Nov	Week 8
30 Nov	Week 9
7 Dec	Week 10
14 Dec	Week 11
21 Dec	Vacation*
28 Dec	Vacation*
4 Jan	Revision Week*
11 Jan	Revision & Assessment Week
18 Jan	Revision & Assessment Week
25 Jan	Revision & Assessment Week

*Attendance on campus is not compulsory these weeks

Semester 2 (Feb 2027 - May 2027)

Date	Week
1 Feb	Welcome Back Week
8 Feb	Week 1
15 Feb	Week 2
22 Feb	Week 3
1 Mar	Week 4
8 Mar	Week 5
15 Mar	Week 6
22 Mar	Vacation*
29 Mar	Vacation*
5 Apr	Week 7
12 Apr	Week 8
19 Apr	Week 9
26 Apr	Week 10
3 May	Week 11
10 May	Revision Week*
17 May	Revision & Assessment Week
24 May	Revision & Assessment Week
31 May	Revision & Assessment Week

*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 Welcome/Welcome Back 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