Williams College Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

The Williams College academic calendar 2026-2027 serves as the primary operational blueprint for undergraduate students, faculty, and administrative departments across the Williamstown campus.

Whether you are an incoming freshman preparing for orientation, a junior scheduling study-away terms, or a senior monitoring degree clearance cutoffs, keeping up with the official Williams College academic calendar 2026-2027 ensures you meet key course registration windows, drop/add deadlines, and residential move-in timelines without interruption.

Williams College operates on a distinctive 4-1-4 academic calendar system, consisting of a 15-week Fall semester, a required 4-week Winter Study period during January, and a 15-week Spring semester. Rather than using traditional semester hours, Williams utilizes a course-unit structure.

To maintain full-time standing and satisfy degree requirements for graduation, students typically enroll in 4 courses per semester plus 1 Winter Study project per year, completing 32 courses and 4 Winter Study units over four years.

The intensive January Winter Study allows Ephs to delve into specialized topics, independent research, or experiential projects outside their primary majors.

Important tradition-rich dates mark the cadence of the full academic year. For new students, campus life begins during Williams College’s first days (orientation running from September 3–9, 2026), leading directly into the start of Fall classes on Thursday, September 10, 2026.

Following Winter Study in January 2027, the Spring term launches in early February, highlighted by Williams College spring break 2027 running from March 20 through April 4, 2027.

Seniors planning for year-end celebrations can also reference the Williams College graduation 2026 schedule—featuring Class Day on Saturday, June 6, 2026, and Commencement Exercises on Sunday, June 7, 2026—as a benchmark for the upcoming 2027 ceremony dates.

Use the detailed sections below to navigate complete PeopleSoft drop/add deadlines, Reading Period and final exam timetables, official holiday campus closures, and residence hall opening and closing schedules for the entire academic year.

Williams College Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The first-year fall 2026 pre-registration period takes place from Monday, August 3, 2026, through Friday, August 7, 2026.
2. The fall 2026 registration period takes place from Monday, August 17, 2026, through Monday, August 24, 2026.
3. The First Days program takes place from Thursday, September 3, 2026, through Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
4. The drop/add period takes place from Tuesday, September 8, 2026, through Friday, September 18, 2026.
5. First-year student advising takes place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
6. The tutorial drop deadline is Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
7. William College Fall 2026 semester classes start on Thursday, September 10, 2026. It is the first day of classes.
8. Independent Study forms are due on Friday, September 18, 2026.
9. Convocation takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
10. Mountain Day takes place on one of the first three Fridays in October 2026, and no classes are held.
11. The mid-term advisory deadline is Monday, October 12, 2026.
12. The reading period, during which no classes are held, takes place from Monday, October 12, 2026, through Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
13. The last day to drop an extra-graded course is Friday, October 16, 2026.
14. Friends & Family Weekend takes place from Friday, October 23, 2026, through Sunday, October 25, 2026.
15. The spring 2027 pre-registration period takes place from Monday, October 26, 2026, through Monday, November 2, 2026.
16. The Winter Study registration period takes place from Wednesday, November 4, 2026, through Sunday, November 8, 2026.
17. The last day to withdraw from a course is Friday, November 13, 2026.
18. Homecoming takes place on Saturday, November 14, 2026.
19. William College Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026.
20. The last day to claim an exam hardship is Monday, December 7, 2026.
21. Fall semester classes end on Friday, December 11, 2026.
22. The reading period, during which no classes are held, takes place from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
23. The self-scheduled and take-home final examination period takes place from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Sunday, December 20, 2026.
24. The last day to submit written work for courses with final examinations is Tuesday, December 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
25. The scheduled final examination period takes place from Wednesday, December 16, 2026, through Monday, December 21, 2026.
26. The last day to submit written work for courses without final examinations is Saturday, December 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
27. Fall semester grades are due on Saturday, December 26, 2026.
28. The last day to change a fall course grading option to pass/fail is Friday, January 1, 2027.

Williams College Academic Calendar Winter & Spring 2027

1. The last day to change a fall course grading option to pass/fail is Friday, January 1, 2027.
2. Winter Study begins on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
3. The spring 2027 registration period takes place from Wednesday, January 13, 2027, through Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and no classes are held.
5. Winter Study ends on Friday, January 29, 2027.
6. The drop/add period takes place from Monday, February 1, 2027, through Friday, February 12, 2027.
7. Winter Study grades are due on Monday, February 1, 2027.
8. The tutorial drop deadline is Tuesday, February 2, 2027, at 4:00 p.m.
9. Spring 2027 semester classes begin on Wednesday, February 3, 2027, and classes follow a Thursday schedule.
10. Claiming Williams Day is observed on Thursday, February 4, 2027, and no classes are held. Classes resume on their assigned schedule on Friday, February 5, 2027.
11. Independent Study forms are due on Friday, February 12, 2027.
12. Winter Carnival takes place from Friday, February 19, 2027, through Saturday, February 20, 2027, and no classes are held.
13. The last day to drop an extra-graded course is Friday, March 19, 2027.
14. William College Spring Break 2027 takes place from Saturday, March 20, 2027, through Sunday, April 4, 2027.
15. The mid-term advisory deadline is Monday, April 12, 2027.
16. The last day to withdraw from a course is Friday, April 16, 2027.
17. The fall 2027 pre-registration period takes place from Wednesday, April 21, 2027, through Friday, April 30, 2027.
18. The major or concentration declaration deadline is Wednesday, April 28, 2027.
19. The last day to claim an exam hardship is Friday, May 7, 2027.
20. Spring semester classes end on Friday, May 14, 2027.
21. The reading period, during which no classes are held, takes place from Saturday, May 15, 2027, through Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
22. The self-scheduled and take-home final examination period takes place from Saturday, May 15, 2027, through Sunday, May 23, 2027.
23. The last day to submit written work for courses with final examinations is Tuesday, May 18, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
24. The scheduled final examination period takes place from Wednesday, May 19, 2027, through Monday, May 24, 2027.
25. The last day to submit written work for courses without final examinations is Saturday, May 22, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
26. Senior grades are due on Friday, May 28, 2027, at 12:00 p.m.
27. The deadline for seniors to change a course grading option to pass/fail is Monday, May 31, 2027, at 12:00 p.m.
28. Spring semester grades for all other students are due on Monday, May 31, 2027.
29. The Baccalaureate Service takes place on Saturday, June 5, 2027.
30. Class Day takes place on Saturday, June 5, 2027.
31. Commencement takes place on Sunday, June 6, 2027.
32. The last day for all other students to change a spring course grading option to pass/fail is Monday, June 7, 2027.
33. Alumni Reunions take place from Thursday, June 10, 2027, through Sunday, June 13, 2027.

For more on the Williams College academic calendar 2026-2027, visit the Williams College calendar website.