The UC Merced Academic Calendar 2026–2027 outlines all essential academic dates covering enrollment deadlines, registration periods, add/drop windows, tuition due dates, final exams, and official campus holidays.
Whether you’re a first-year student, transfer, or continuing Bobcat, knowing UC Merced’s important dates is key to staying on track.
UC Merced follows the University of California’s semester system, with two main academic terms and an optional summer session:
- Fall Semester (August – December): Includes 15 weeks of instruction + 1 week for final exams. It begins in late August and ends in mid-to-late December, with Thanksgiving Break and Veterans Day as key holidays.
- Spring Semester (January – May): Mirrors Fall with 15 weeks of classes + finals week. Starts mid-January (after Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and concludes in mid-May. Features a Spring Break around March.
- Summer Session(s) (May – August): Multiple options (Session A, B, or full session), ideal for accelerating degree progress, retaking courses, or earning credits over break.
Use the UC Merced academic calendar to stay on top of:
- First and last day of instruction
- Course add/drop and withdrawal deadlines
- Pass/No Pass grading option cutoffs
- Enrollment appointment periods via MyRegistration
- Fee payment deadlines to avoid late charges or disenrollment
- Final exam periods and reading days
- Official university-observed holidays
Whether you’re planning around Bobcat Day, preparing for midterms, or balancing a summer internship, the UC Merced term schedule ensures you’re always informed and prepared.
Stay synced with UC Merced’s official deadlines so you can focus on thriving academically to commencement.
Table of Contents
UC Merced Academic Calendar Fall 2026
The following are the important dates and deadlines for Fall 2026 from the UC Merced Academic Calendar 2026–2027.
- The fall semester begins on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
- Fall instruction and the first 8-week session classes begin on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
- Labor Day Holiday is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026.
- The last day to add or drop courses is Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
- The first 8-week session classes end on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Mid-semester grades are due by noon on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- The second 8-week session classes begin on Monday, October 19, 2026.
- The course withdrawal deadline is Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Veterans Day Holiday is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- A non-instructional day is observed on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
- The Thanksgiving Holiday occurs from Thursday, November 26, 2026, to Friday, November 27, 2026.
- Fall instruction and the second 8-week session classes end on Friday, December 11, 2026.
- Final exams take place on Saturday, December 12, 2026, and from Monday, December 14, 2026, to Friday, December 18, 2026.
- The fall semester ends on Friday, December 18, 2026.
- Final grades are due by noon on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
UC Merced Academic Calendar Spring 2027
The following are the important dates and deadlines for Spring 2027 from the UC Merced Academic Calendar 2026–2027.
- Spring 2027 registration takes place from Monday, November 2, 2026, to Friday, November 13, 2026.
- The spring semester begins on Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
- The Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027.
- Spring instruction and the first 8-week session classes begin on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
- The last day to add or drop courses is Monday, February 8, 2027.
- Presidents Day Holiday is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027.
- Summer 2027 registration takes place from Monday, February 22, 2027, to Friday, February 26, 2027.
- The first 8-week session classes end on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
- Mid-semester grades are due by noon on Tuesday, March 16, 2027.
- The second 8-week session classes begin on Monday, March 15, 2027.
- UC Merced Spring Break 2027 from Monday, March 22, 2027, to Thursday, March 25, 2027.
- Farmworkers Day Holiday is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027.
- Fall 2027 registration takes place from Monday, April 5, 2027, to Friday, April 16, 2027.
- The course withdrawal deadline is Tuesday, April 6, 2027.
- Spring instruction and the second 8-week session classes end on Friday, May 7, 2027.
- Final exams take place on Saturday, May 8, 2027, and from Monday, May 10, 2027, to Friday, May 14, 2027.
- The spring semester ends and the Graduate Spring Commencement Ceremony is held on Friday, May 14, 2027.
- The Undergraduate Spring Commencement Ceremonies are held on Saturday, May 15, 2027, and Sunday, May 16, 2027.
- Final grades are due by noon on Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
UC Merced Academic Calendar Summer 2026
The following are the important dates and deadlines for Summer 2026 from the UC Merced Academic Calendar 2025–2026.
- Summer 2026 course registration occurs from Monday, February 23, to Friday, February 27, 2026.
- Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 25, 2026.
- Summer Session A (First Six-Week Session) runs from Tuesday, May 26, to Thursday, July 2, 2026.
- Summer Session D (Twelve-Week Session) runs from Tuesday, May 26, to Friday, August 14, 2026.
- Summer Session B (Eight-Week Session) runs from Monday, June 22, to Friday, August 14, 2026.
- Juneteenth is observed on Friday, June 19, 2026.
- Summer Session C (Second Six-Week Session) runs from Monday, July 6, to Friday, August 14, 2026.
- Independence Day is observed on Friday, July 3, 2026.
For more on the UC Merced Academic Calendar 2026-2027 and to download the PDF, visit the University of California, Merced Calendar website.
