Brandeis academic calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

Brandeis academic calendar 2026-2027 key dates and deadlines are officially established to help undergraduate students, graduate scholars, faculty, and administrative staff plan their upcoming academic year.

Whether you need to verify registration appointment windows, track pass/fail election deadlines, or schedule travel around major campus holidays—including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Jewish religious observances—staying informed on the Brandeis academic calendar 2026 schedule is essential for smooth course planning.

Brandeis University operates on a primary two-semester academic structure (Fall and Spring), complemented by optional half-semester module courses and summer sessions. Each standard semester encompasses roughly 15 weeks of rigorous instruction, inclusive of dedicated study periods and final examination weeks.

Most standard undergraduate courses carry 4 credit units, with full-time standing requiring at least 12 credit hours per semester (typically 16 credits across four courses) toward the 128 total credits required for a bachelor’s degree graduation.

To maintain instructional balance across federal and religious holidays, Brandeis incorporates special designated schedule conversions known as “Brandeis Days”. On these specific dates—such as September 10, 2026 (running a Friday class schedule) or September 23, 2026 (running a Monday class schedule)—classes follow a different weekday timetable to make up for days lost to holiday closures.

Additionally, the university observes extended breaks, including a mid-February recess and a multi-day spring recess aligned with Passover in late April.

On this page, you will find complete breakdowns for the Brandeis academic calendar fall 2026 and Brandeis academic calendar spring 2027, including class start dates, registration periods, reading days, and the complete Brandeis final exam schedule.

Brandeis Academic Calendar Fall 2026

1. Priority registration for new undergraduates begins on Monday, July 13, 2026.
2. Early registration for new undergraduates takes place from Tuesday, July 14, 2026, through Thursday, July 16, 2026.
3. The registration period for all graduate and undergraduate students takes place from Friday, July 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. through Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
4. Grades for Summer 2026 courses for August degree recipients are due on Friday, August 21, 2026.
5. Bandeis Fall 2026 classes start on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. It is the first day of instruction.
6. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
7. The last day to add classes is Wednesday, September 9, 2026. All work for Summer 2026 undergraduate and graduate incompletes is due to instructors, and it is the last day for seniors graduating in December to declare or drop a major or minor.
8. Brandeis Friday takes place on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with a Friday class schedule in effect.
9. Erev Rosh Hashanah is observed on Friday, September 11, 2026, and there are no university exercises.
10. The first day for undergraduates to elect a pass/fail option for a class taken in the current term is Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
11. The first day for students to apply for midyear graduation is Thursday, September 17, 2026.
12. Grades replacing Summer 2026 undergraduate and graduate incompletes are due on Friday, September 18, 2026.
13. Yom Kippur is observed on Monday, September 21, 2026, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
14. Brandeis Monday takes place on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with a Monday class schedule in effect.
15. The last day to drop Module I courses is Friday, September 25, 2026.
16. The last day for graduate students to change the grading option of Module I courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Friday, September 25, 2026.
17. The last day to apply for midyear graduation is Monday, October 5, 2026.
18. The last day for undergraduates to submit a Reduced Rate Senior application for Spring 2027 is Monday, October 5, 2026.
19. Indigenous Peoples Day is observed on Monday, October 12, 2026, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
20. Brandeis Monday takes place on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, with a Monday class schedule in effect.
21. The last day for undergraduates to elect a pass/fail option for the current term and request a P grade for the preceding term is Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
22. Module II instruction begins on Friday, October 16, 2026.
23. Fall Module I grades are due on Monday, November 2, 2026.
24. The last day to add Module II classes is Monday, November 2, 2026.
25. The last day to drop semester courses is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
26. The last day for graduate students to change the grading option of semester courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
27. The last day to request a medical underload is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
28. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and classes are in session.
29. The last day to drop Module II courses is Monday, November 16, 2026.
30. The last day for graduate students to change the grading option of Module II courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Monday, November 16, 2026.
31. Priority registration for Spring 2027 classes begins on Monday, November 16, 2026.
32. Early registration for Spring 2027 classes takes place from Tuesday, November 17, 2026, through Thursday, November 19, 2026.
33. Brandeis Thanksgiving Break 2026 takes place from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026. There are no university exercises, and staff members have holidays on Thursday and Friday.
34. The last day of instruction and the last day to voluntarily withdraw from the term with written notification is Thursday, December 3, 2026.
35. Study days take place from Friday, December 4, 2026, through Monday, December 7, 2026.
36. The final examination period takes place from Tuesday, December 8, 2026, through Wednesday, December 16, 2026.
37. Fall term grades are due on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.
38. The last day for graduating seniors to convert current term pass/fail enrollments to a “P” is Monday, January 4, 2027.
39. All work for Fall Term 2026 incompletes is due to instructors on Monday, February 1, 2027.

Brandeis Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. The registration period for graduate and undergraduate students takes place from Friday, November 20, 2026, through Monday, February 1, 2027.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
3. The first day of instruction is Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
4. The last day to add semester and Module I classes is Monday, February 1, 2027. All work for Fall Term 2026 incompletes is due to instructors, and it is the last day for seniors graduating in May to declare or drop a major or minor.
5. The first day for undergraduates to elect a pass/fail option for a class taken in the current term is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
6. Grades replacing Fall 2025 incompletes are due on Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
7. The last day to drop Module I courses is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
8. The last day for graduate students to change the grading option of Module I courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Tuesday, February 9, 2027.
9. The first day to apply for spring graduation is Thursday, February 11, 2027.
10. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
11. Brandeis February Break 2027 takes place from Monday, February 15, 2027, through Friday, February 19, 2027, and there are no university exercises.
12. The last day to apply for spring graduation is Monday, March 1, 2027.
13. The last day for undergraduates to elect a pass/fail option for the current term and request a “P” grade for the preceding term is Thursday, March 11, 2027, at 5:00 p.m.
14. Module II instruction begins on Tuesday, March 16, 2027.
15. Spring Module I grades are due on Monday, March 22, 2027.
16. The last day to add Module II courses is Tuesday, March 30, 2027.
17. The last day to drop semester courses is Monday, April 5, 2027.
18. The last day for graduate students to change the grading basis for semester courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Monday, April 5, 2027.
19. The last day to request a medical underload is Monday, April 5, 2027.
20. The last day to drop Module II courses is Monday, April 12, 2027.
21. The last day for graduate students to change the grading option of Module II courses to audit, with instructor permission required, is Monday, April 12, 2027.
22. Priority registration for Fall Term 2027 begins on Tuesday, April 13, 2027.
23. The early registration period for Fall Term 2027 takes place from Wednesday, April 14, 2027, through Sunday, May 9, 2027.
24. Patriots Day is observed on Monday, April 19, 2027. Classes are in session, and staff members have a floating holiday.
25. Brandeis Friday takes place on Tuesday, April 20, 2027, with a Friday class schedule in effect.
26. Passover 2027 is observed from Wednesday, April 21, 2027, through Thursday, April 29, 2027, and there are no university exercises.
27. The last day of instruction and the last day to voluntarily withdraw from the term with written notification is Thursday, May 6, 2027.
28. The study day is Friday, May 7, 2027.
29. The final examination period takes place from Monday, May 10, 2027, through Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
30. Grades for May degree recipients are due on Sunday, May 16, 2027, at noon.
31. Department degree meetings take place on Tuesday, May 18, 2027.
32. The last day for graduating seniors to convert current term pass/fail enrollments to a “P” is Wednesday, May 19, 2027.
33. The faculty meeting takes place on Thursday, May 20, 2027, at 2:00 p.m.
34. Commencement takes place on Sunday, May 23, 2027.
35. All other Spring Term grades are due on Tuesday, May 25, 2027.
36. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2027, and staff members have a holiday.
37. Summer School instruction begins on Tuesday, June 1, 2027.
38. The first day to apply for August graduation is Tuesday, June 1, 2027.
39. Shavuot is observed on Friday, June 11, 2027.
40. All work for Spring Term 2027 incompletes is due to instructors on Tuesday, June 15, 2027.
41. Juneteenth (observed) is on Friday, June 18, 2027, and there are no university exercises. Staff members have a holiday.
42. Grades replacing Spring Term 2027 incompletes are due on Tuesday, June 22, 2027.
43. The last day to apply for August graduation is Tuesday, June 22, 2027.

For more on the Brandeis Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Brandeis University Registrar website.