Academic Calendar

Brown Academic Calendar 2026‑2027: Important Dates

By eriq elikplim
Brown academic calendar.

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The Brown Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 brings together every essential date you need from enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop windows, to university holidays and final exam schedules.

The Brown academic calendar allows students to lock in Brown term dates, plan around the Brown exam schedule, track priority registration deadlines, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W” or the start of Intersession courses.

Brown University follows a semester system enriched by an optional January Intersession and a flexible Summer Session:

  • Fall Semester (late August/early September to mid-December; 14 instructional weeks + finals week)
  • Intersession (4 weeks in January for intensive courses and research projects)
  • Spring Semester (late January to mid-May; 14 instructional weeks + finals week)
  • Summer Session (May through August; multiple accelerated modules ranging from 4 to 8 weeks)

Whether you’re mapping out your 14‑week semester workload, squeezing in a 4‑week Intersession course, or choosing among Summer Session modules, the Brown University Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 is your guide, keeping all Brown enrollment deadlines, add/drop cut‑offs, holiday schedules, and exam periods front and center so you can focus on thriving at Brown.

Brown Academic Calendar Fall 2026

  1. Registration for Fall 2026 opens for Online and Professional Master’s programs (except Cybersecurity and PRIME) students at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
  2. The last day for payment of charges is Saturday, August 1, 2026.
  3. Graduate School All-Student Orientation begins on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
  4. College Orientation begins on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
  5. Registration for new undergraduate students and all graduate students in residential programs, Cybersecurity, and PRIME begins at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, September 4, 2026 and continues through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 7, 2026.
  6. Opening Convocation takes place at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
  7. Registration reopens for all students at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 for the Fall semester.
  8. Classes for the first semester begin on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
  9. The RISD Fall Session begins on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
  10. The last day to register for a Fall RISD course or change a grade option for a Fall RISD course is Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  11. The last day to add a course without a fee is Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  12. The deadline for undergraduates on personal leave or Full-time Study Away status to request a return to studies at Brown for Spring is Thursday, October 1, 2026.
  13. The last day to add a course with a late fee, change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration is Tuesday, October 6, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  14. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, and there are no university exercises.
  15. The last day to receive any partial tuition refund is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
  16. The last day to change from credit to audit in a course is Friday, October 16, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  17. Mid-semester occurs on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
  18. Sophomores entering their fifth semester must file concentration declaration forms through ASK by Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  19. The advising period for Spring pre-registration begins on Monday, October 26, 2026.
  20. United States Election Day is observed on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and there are no university exercises.
  21. Registration for Spring 2027 opens for undergraduate students at semester level 07 and above, as well as continuing graduate students, at noon EST on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 and remains open until Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
  22. Registration for Spring 2027 opens for undergraduate students at semester levels 05–06 at noon EST on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 and remains open until Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
  23. Registration for Spring 2027 opens for undergraduate students at semester levels 03–04 at noon EST on Thursday, November 12, 2026 and remains open until Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
  24. Students on serious warning who wish to drop a course after Thursday, November 12, 2026 must meet with an academic dean to obtain a drop code.
  25. Registration for Spring 2027 opens for undergraduate students at semester levels 01–02 at noon EST on Friday, November 13, 2026 and remains open until Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
  26. The deadline for submission of proposals for College Curriculum Council-approved undergraduate group study projects, independent study projects, and internships for credit for Semester II is Friday, November 13, 2026.
  27. General registration for Spring 2027 continues from Saturday, November 14, 2026 through Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
  28. Brown Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026 through Sunday, November 29, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, November 30, 2026.
  29. The deadline for undergraduates to request personal leave, employment leave, military leave, or Full-time Study Away status for Spring is Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
  30. Registration for Spring 2027 opens for Online and Professional Master’s programs (except Cybersecurity and PRIME) students at 9:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
  31. The Midyear Completion Celebration takes place at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2026, in the Salomon De Ciccio Family Auditorium.
  32. The Reading Period begins on Monday, December 7, 2026.
  33. The last day of Fall RISD classes is Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
  34. Classes end for courses not observing the Reading Period on Friday, December 11, 2026.
  35. The last day to drop a course or request an incomplete from an instructor is Friday, December 11, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  36. The last day for students in their penultimate semester to declare a second concentration through ASK is Friday, December 11, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  37. The last day for students in their ante-penultimate semester to declare an undergraduate certificate through ASK is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  38. The final examination period runs from Saturday, December 12, 2026 through Monday, December 21, 2026, inclusive of Sunday, December 20, 2026.

Brown Academic Calendar Winter 2027

  1. Wintersession tuition is due on Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
  2. The last day to register for a Wintersession course is Wednesday, December 16, 2026, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  3. Wintersession courses begin on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
  4. The last day to change a grade option declaration is Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
  5. The last day to drop a course or request an incomplete from an instructor is Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
  6. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and there are no university exercises.
  7. Final examinations are held on Tuesday, January 26, 2027, and Wintersession ends on the same day.

Brown Academic Calendar Spring 2027

  1. The last day for payment of charges is Friday, January 1, 2027.
  2. The first day of RISD Winter Session is Thursday, January 7, 2027.
  3. Theses and dissertations for candidates for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in February are due on Friday, January 8, 2027.
  4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and there are no university exercises.
  5. Registration for new undergraduate and new graduate students (residential programs, Cybersecurity, and PRIME) for the spring semester begins at 2:00 p.m. EST on Friday, January 22, 2027 and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, January 25, 2027, with a maximum of 4 credit hours allowed for undergraduates.
  6. Registration reopens for all students at 9:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 26, 2027 for the spring semester, with a maximum of 5 credit hours allowed.
  7. Classes for the second semester begin on Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
  8. The last day to add a course without a fee is Tuesday, February 9, 2027, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  9. The last day of Winter RISD classes is Wednesday, February 10, 2027.
  10. A long weekend with no university exercises takes place from Saturday, February 13, 2027 to Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
  11. Classes resume on Wednesday, February 17, 2027.
  12. The first day of RISD Spring Session is Thursday, February 18, 2027.
  13. The last day to add a course (including late fee), change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration is Wednesday, February 24, 2027, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  14. The last day to register for a Spring RISD course or change a grade option is Thursday, February 25, 2027, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  15. The last day to receive any partial tuition refund is Tuesday, March 2, 2027.
  16. The last day to change from credit to audit in a course is Friday, March 12, 2027, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EST.
  17. Mid-semester occurs on Saturday, March 13, 2027.
  18. Sophomores entering their fifth semester must file concentration declaration forms via ASK by Monday, March 22, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  19. Brown Spring Break 2027 takes place from Saturday, March 27, 2027 to Sunday, April 4, 2027. Classes resume on Monday, April 5, 2027.
  20. Advising period for Fall pre-registration begins on Monday, April 5, 2027.
  21. Students on serious academic warning who wish to drop a course after Tuesday, April 6, 2027 must meet with an academic dean to obtain a drop code.
  22. The deadline for submission of College Curriculum Council-approved undergraduate group study projects, independent study projects, and internships for credit for Semester I is Friday, April 9, 2027.
  23. Registration for Fall 2027 opens for undergraduate and graduate students at various semester levels beginning Tuesday, April 20, 2027 at noon EDT and continues through Tuesday, April 27, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  24. Reading Period begins on Friday, April 30, 2027 and runs through Tuesday, May 11, 2027, at the discretion of the instructor.
  25. Theses for candidates for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in May are due on Monday, May 3, 2027.
  26. Classes end for courses not observing the Reading Period on Tuesday, May 11, 2027, and this is also the last day to drop a course or request an incomplete.
  27. The last day to declare undergraduate certificates or second concentrations (where applicable) is Tuesday, May 11, 2027, with a deadline of 5:00 p.m. EDT.
  28. The final examination period runs from Wednesday, May 12, 2027 to Friday, May 21, 2027, with no exams held on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
  29. The last day of Spring RISD classes is Wednesday, May 19, 2027.
  30. Commencement weekend takes place from Saturday, May 29, 2027 to Sunday, May 30, 2027.

For more on the Brown Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Brown University Calendar website.

eriq elikplim
eriq elikplimhttps://acadcalendar.com
Eric Elikplim is the lead editor of AcadCalendar.com. Eriq draws on 10 years of experience in edtech and project management. He has collaborated directly with multiple universities, establishing processes to cross-check term dates, registration deadlines, and exam schedules. Beyond calendar data, Eriq contributes thought leadership on academic productivity: he has authored articles on semester planning, and consulted with student organizations to refine reminder features and user experience.

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