Duke Academic Calendar 2025‑2026: Important Dates

The Duke Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 is your essential roadmap for every deadline from enrollment and tuition payment due dates to course add/drop windows, withdrawal cut‑offs, campus holidays, and final exam schedules.

The Duke academic calendar 2025‑2026 helps students lock in Duke semester dates, plan around the Duke registration deadlines, track the Duke exam schedule, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W” ensuring seamless academic and financial planning at Duke.

Duke’s academic year unfolds in two main semesters: Fall and Spring…each comprising 14 instructional weeks plus a Reading Week and finals week (so when you’re wondering how long a semester is at Duke University, expect about 16 weeks total).

The calendar also features Summer Sessions (split into Session I and Session II, each 6 weeks) for accelerated or make‑up courses, with their own add/drop and fee deadlines.

Whether you’re mapping out your full‑term workload, squeezing in a Summer Session module, or registering during Priority Enrollment, the Duke University Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 keeps every key date—from orientation through commencement—right at your fingertips.

Duke Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. The new undergraduate student move-in day is on Saturday, August 16, 2025.
2. New undergraduate student orientation runs from Sunday, August 17, 2025, to Friday, August 22, 2025.
3. New graduate student orientation begins on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
4. First-Year Convocation is held on Sunday, August 24, 2025.
5. Fall semester classes begin, and Drop/Add continues on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 8:30 AM. It is the first day of classes.
6. Labor Day is observed with no classes on Monday, September 1, 2025.
7. Drop/Add ends on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
8. Founders’ Weekend occurs from Thursday, September 25, 2025, to Sunday, September 28, 2025, with classes held on Thursday and Friday.
9. The last day to report midsemester grades is Friday, October 10, 2025.
10. Duke Fall break 2025 begins on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM, and ends on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Classes resume on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
11. The last day to withdraw with a W from Fall 2025 classes (undergraduates only) is Friday, November 7, 2025.
12. Registration ends for Spring 2026 on Monday, November 10, 2025.
13. Drop/Add begins for Spring 2026 on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
14. Duke Thanksgiving Break 2025 begins on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 10:30 PM and ends on Sunday, November 30, 2025.
15. Graduate classes end on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
16. Graduate reading period runs from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
17. Undergraduate classes resume on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 8:30 AM.
18. Undergraduate classes end on Friday, December 5, 2025.
19. Undergraduate reading period runs from Saturday, December 6, 2025, to Tuesday, December 9, 2025.
20. Final examinations begin on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM.
21. Final examinations end on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 10:00 PM.

Duke Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Shopping carts open for Spring 2026 on Monday, October 20, 2025.
2. Registration begins for Spring 2026 on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
3. Spring semester begins and Drop/Add continues on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 8:30 AM (following a Monday class schedule). It is the first day of classes.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed with no classes on Monday, January 19, 2026.
5. Drop/Add ends on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
6. The last day to report midsemester grades is Friday, February 20, 2026.
7. Duke Spring Break 2026 begins on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM, and ends on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 8:30 AM.
8. Shopping carts open for Fall 2026 on Monday, March 23, 2026, according to the Duke academic calendar for Fall 2026.
9. The last day to withdraw with a W from Spring 2026 classes (undergraduates only) is Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
10. Registration begins for Fall 2026, and Summer registration continues on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
11. Registration ends for Fall 202,6 and Summer registration continues on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
12. Drop/Add begins for Fall 2026 on Friday, April 10, 2026.
13. Graduate classes end on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
14. Graduate reading period runs from Thursday, April 16, 2026, to Sunday, April 26, 2026.
15. Undergraduate classes end on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
16. Undergraduate reading period runs from Thursday, April 23, 2026, to Sunday, April 26, 2026.
17. Final examinations begin on Monday, April 27, 2026.
18. Final examinations end on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:00 PM.
19. Commencement begins on Friday, May 8, 2026.
20. Graduation exercises and conferring of degrees occur on Sunday, May 10, 2026.

Duke Academic Calendar Summer 2026

1. Shopping carts open for Summer 2026 on Monday, February 9, 2026.
2. Registration begins for Summer 2026 on Monday, February 16, 2026.
3. Summer Term 1 classes begin on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
4. Drop/Add for Summer Term 1 ends on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
5. Memorial Day is observed with no classes on Monday, May 25, 2026.
6. The last day to withdraw with a W from Summer Term 1 classes (undergraduates only) is Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
7. Juneteenth is observed with no classes on Friday, June 19, 2026.
8. Summer Term 1 classes end on Monday, June 22, 2026.
9. Summer Term 1 reading period runs until 7:00 PM, and final examinations begin at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
10. Summer Term 1 final examinations end on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
11. Summer Term 2 classes begin on Monday, June 29, 2026.
12. Drop/Add for Summer Term 2 ends on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM.
13. Independence Day is observed with no classes on Friday, July 3, 2026.
14. The last day to withdraw with a W from Summer Term 2 classes (undergraduates only) is Monday, July 27, 2026.
15. Summer Term 2 classes end on Friday, August 7, 2026, according to the Duke academic calendar 2025-2026.
16. Summer Term 2 reading period runs until 7:00 PM, and final examinations begin at 7:00 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
17. Summer Term 2 final examinations end on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 10:00 PM.

For more on the Duke Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the Duke University Calendar website.