UWM Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates and Deadlines

UWM academic calendar 2026-2027 provides the official schedule of course registration appointment windows, instructional start dates, fee assessment deadlines, campus recesses, and final examination periods for students and faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Whether you are planning undergraduate coursework, conducting graduate research, or coordinating travel around university breaks, following official Panther timelines ensures smooth academic progression, timely financial aid disbursement, and the prevention of registration holds.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee operates on a traditional semester-based academic calendar divided into two primary 15-to-16-week instructional terms: the Fall Semester (running early September through mid-December) and the Spring Semester (spanning late January through mid-May).

Full-time undergraduate students generally enroll in 12 to 18 credit hours per semester to maintain continuous progress toward completing the standard 120-credit bachelor’s degree requirement.

Alongside traditional 16-week semesters, UWM offers an intensive 3-week winter term (UWinteriM) in January and multiple multi-week summer sessions (including 4-week, 6-week, 8-week, and 12-week options) to support continuous degree completion and prerequisite fulfillment.

This comprehensive overview outlines essential administrative checkpoints and enrollment milestones across all undergraduate and graduate divisions for the UWM academic calendar 2026-2027 cycle.

You will find verified timelines for priority and open registration appointment dates inside the PAWS student portal, the release of the UWM Fall 2026 class schedule and UWM Spring 2027 class schedule, initial fee payment deadlines, 100% and partial tuition refund cutoffs, and final deadlines to drop classes or withdraw with a “W” grade.

Staying ahead of these benchmarks allows you to coordinate effectively with your academic advisor, navigate prerequisite sequences, and resolve enrollment holds before class capacities fill up.

In addition to lecture schedules, this guide highlights official university holidays and campus closures—including Labor Day, Thanksgiving recess, winter break, and the official UWM Spring Break 2027—alongside designated study days, final examination periods, and commencement ceremonies.

UWM Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. The contractual period runs from Monday, August 24, 2026, through Thursday, January 7, 2027.
2. Orientation and advising take place from Monday, August 24, 2026, through Friday, August 28, 2026.
3. UWM Fall 2026 classes start on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
4. Fall recess takes place with no classes held from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Sunday, November 29, 2026. Classes resume after the Thanksgiving Break week on Monday, November 30, 2026.
5. The last day of semester classes and Experiential Learning Day fall on Monday, December 14, 2026.
6. Study Day takes place on Tuesday, December 15, 2026.
7. Final examinations run from Wednesday, December 16, 2026, through Saturday, December 19, 2026, and continue from Monday, December 21, 2026, through Wednesday, December 23, 2026.
8. Graduation takes place on Sunday, December 20, 2026.
9. Winter recess takes place from Thursday, December 24, 2026, through Friday, January 1, 2027.

UWM Academic Calendar UWinteriM 2027

1. Instruction begins on Monday, January 4, 2027.
2. The last day of UWinteriM classes is Thursday, January 21, 2027.

UWM Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The contractual period runs from Friday, January 8, 2027, through Sunday, May 23, 2027.
2. Orientation and advising take place from Tuesday, January 19, 2027, through Friday, January 22, 2027.
3. Instruction begins on Monday, January 25, 2027.
4. UWM Spring Break 2027 takes place from Sunday, March 21, 2027, through Sunday, March 28, 2027.
5. The last day of semester classes and Experiential Learning Day fall on Wednesday, May 12, 2027.
6. Study Day takes place on Thursday, May 13, 2027.
7. Final examinations run from Friday, May 14, 2027, through Saturday, May 15, 2027, and continue from Monday, May 17, 2027, through Friday, May 21, 2027.
8. Graduation takes place on Sunday, May 16, 2027.
9. The campus steam and heat shutdown takes place from Monday, May 24, 2027, through Friday, May 28, 2027.

UWM Academic Calendar Summer 2027

1. Instruction begins on Tuesday, June 1, 2027.
2. The last day of semester classes is Saturday, August 21, 2027.

For more on the UWM Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Office of the Registrar website.