Caltech Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

Caltech academic calendar 2026-2027 provides the essential term schedules, course registration deadlines, add/drop dates, final examination periods, and holiday recesses for undergraduate and graduate students at the California Institute of Technology.

Whether you are coordinating course loads through the REGIS student portal, arranging laboratory research, or tracking Institute holidays in Pasadena, maintaining alignment with the official schedule is vital for navigating Caltech’s rigorous STEM curriculum.

Caltech operates on an intensive quarter system consisting of three required 10-week instructional terms (Fall, Winter, and Spring) plus an optional Summer term dedicated primarily to undergraduate research (SURF) and graduate study.

Academic credit is measured in Caltech units rather than standard credit hours; 1 unit represents roughly one hour of total effort per week divided among lectures, laboratory work, and homework preparation.

A standard course carries 9 units (typically 3 hours of lecture and 6 hours of homework weekly), and full-time undergraduates routinely register for 36 to 48 units per quarter. Each 10-week quarter features structured instruction followed by a dedicated study period and a 5-day final exam period.

Understanding the Caltech academic calendar 26-27 structure ensures you meet critical academic checkpoints, including the 3rd-week add/drop deadline, pass/fail grading declarations, and midterm deficiency evaluations.

From new student orientation week and winter recess to the Caltech spring break 2027 recess and annual Commencement, tracking Caltech calendar events keeps your academic schedule, lab obligations, and personal travel seamlessly organized.

Below is the complete section-by-section breakdown of important dates and term deadlines for the upcoming academic year.

Caltech Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. International Student Orientation: iBegin@Caltech is held from Thursday, September 17, 2026, through Saturday, September 19, 2026.
2. New Student Check-In for Undergraduates is held on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
3. Yom Kippur is observed from Sunday, September 20, 2026, through Monday, September 21, 2026.
4. New Student Orientation for Undergraduates is held from Sunday, September 20, 2026, through Sunday, September 27, 2026.
5. New Student Check-In for Graduates is held on Monday, September 21, 2026.
6. New Student Orientation for Graduates is held from Monday, September 21, 2026, through Friday, September 25, 2026.
7. The Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee meeting is held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
8. The Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee Appeals meeting is held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
9. Caltech Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. It is the first day of classes.
10. The last day for adding courses and removing conditions and incompletes is Friday, October 16, 2026.
11. The midterm examination period is from Wednesday, October 28, 2026, through Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
12. Midterm grades are due on Monday, November 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
13. The last day for dropping courses, exercising the pass/fail option, and changing sections is Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
14. Registration for Winter Term 2026-27 begins on Thursday, November 19, 2026.
15. The last day to register for Winter Term 2026-27 without a $50 late fee is Friday, December 4, 2026.
16. Caltech Thanksgiving Break 2026 is observed as an Institute holiday from Thursday, November 26, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026.
17. The last day of classes for the Fall 2026 term is Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
18. The study period is from Thursday, December 3, 2026, through Sunday, December 6, 2026.
19. Final examinations for the Fall 2026 term are held from Monday, December 7, 2026, through Friday, December 11, 2026.
20. The Fall Term 2026-27 ends on Friday, December 11, 2026.
21. Caltech Winter Break 2026 is from Saturday, December 12, 2026, through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
22. Instructors’ final grade reports are due on Wednesday, December 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

Caltech Academic Calendar Winter 2027

1. The beginning of instruction for the Winter 2027 term is Monday, January 4, 2027, at 8:00 a.m.
2. The Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee meeting is held on Tuesday, January 5, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
3. Martin Luther King Day is observed as an Institute holiday on Monday, January 18, 2027.
4. The last day for adding courses and removing conditions and incompletes is Friday, January 22, 2027.
5. The midterm examination period is from Wednesday, February 3, 2027, through Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
6. Presidents’ Day is observed as an Institute holiday on Monday, February 15, 2027.
7. Midterm grades are due on Tuesday, February 16, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
8. The last day for dropping courses, exercising the pass/fail option, and changing sections is Wednesday, February 24, 2027.
9. Registration for Spring Term 2026-27 begins on Thursday, February 25, 2027, and continues through Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
10. The last day to register for Spring Term 2026-27 without a $50 late fee is Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
11. The last day of classes for the Winter 2027 term is Wednesday, March 10, 2027.
12. The study period is from Thursday, March 11, 2027, through Sunday, March 14, 2027.
13. Final examinations for the Winter 2027 term are held from Monday, March 15, 2027, through Friday, March 19, 2027.
14. The Winter Term 2026-27 ends on Friday, March 19, 2027.
15. Caltech Spring Break 2027 is from Saturday, March 20, 2027, through Sunday, March 28, 2027.
16. Instructors’ final grade reports are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.

Caltech Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The beginning of instruction for the Spring 2027 term is Monday, March 29, 2027, at 8:00 a.m.
2. The Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee meeting is held on Tuesday, March 30, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
3. The last day for adding courses and removing conditions and incompletes is Friday, April 16, 2027.
4. The midterm examination period is from Wednesday, April 28, 2027, through Tuesday, May 4, 2027.
5. Midterm grades are due on Monday, May 10, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
6. The last day for seniors to remove conditions and incompletes is Monday, May 10, 2027.
7. The last day for admission to candidacy for the degrees of Master of Science and Engineer is Friday, May 14, 2027.
8. The last day for scheduling examinations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Engineer is Friday, May 14, 2027.
9. The last day for dropping courses, exercising the pass/fail option, and changing sections is Wednesday, May 19, 2027.
10. Registration for Fall Term 2027-28 and registration for summer research begin on Thursday, May 20, 2027, and continue through Friday, June 4, 2027.
11. The last day of classes for seniors and graduate students is Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
12. The last day for presenting theses for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy and Engineer is Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
13. The study period for seniors and graduate students is from Thursday, May 27, 2027, through Monday, May 31, 2027.
14. Memorial Day is observed as an Institute holiday on Monday, May 31, 2027.
15. Final examinations for seniors and graduate students for the Spring 2027 term are held from Tuesday, June 1, 2027, through Friday, June 4, 2027.
16. The last day of classes for undergraduates is Wednesday, June 2, 2027.
17. The last day to register for Fall Term 2027-28 without a $50 late fee is Wednesday, June 2, 2027.
18. The study period for undergraduates is from Thursday, June 3, 2027, through Sunday, June 6, 2027.
19. Instructors’ final grade reports for seniors and graduate students are due on Monday, June 7, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
20. The Curriculum Committee meeting is held on Wednesday, June 9, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
21. The Faculty Meeting is held on Wednesday, June 9, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.
22. Final examinations for undergraduates for the Spring 2027 term are held from Monday, June 7, 2027, through Friday, June 11, 2027.
23. Commencement is held on Friday, June 11, 2027, at 10:00 a.m.
24. The third term of the 2026-27 academic year ends on Friday, June 11, 2027.
25. Instructors’ final grade reports for undergraduates are due on Wednesday, June 16, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.
26. Juneteenth is observed as an Institute holiday on Friday, June 18, 2027.
27. The Undergraduate Academic Standards and Honors Committee meeting is held on Wednesday, June 23, 2027, at 9:00 a.m.

For more information on the Caltech Academic Calendar 2026-2027, including real-time registration updates, examination guidelines, and official catalog changes, visit the official California Institute of Technology Registrar’s Office webpage.