Brown Academic Calendar 2025‑2026: Important Dates

The Brown Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 brings together every essential date you need from enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop windows, to university holidays and final exam schedules.

The Brown academic calendar allows students to lock in Brown term dates, plan around the Brown exam schedule, track priority registration deadlines, and never miss the last day to withdraw without a “W” or the start of Intersession courses.

Brown University follows a semester system enriched by an optional January Intersession and a flexible Summer Session:

• Fall Semester (late August/early September to mid-December; 14 instructional weeks + finals week)
• Intersession (4 weeks in January for intensive courses and research projects)
• Spring Semester (late January to mid-May; 14 instructional weeks + finals week)
• Summer Session (May through August; multiple accelerated modules ranging from 4 to 8 weeks)

Whether you’re mapping out your 14‑week semester workload, squeezing in a 4‑week Intersession course, or choosing among Summer Session modules, the Brown University Academic Calendar 2025‑2026 is your guide, keeping all Brown enrollment deadlines, add/drop cut‑offs, holiday schedules, and exam periods front and center so you can focus on thriving at Brown.

Brown Academic Calendar Fall 2025

1. Registration opens for Fall 2025 for Online and Professional Master’s programs (except Cybersecurity and PRIME) students at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
2. The last day for payment of charges is Friday, August 1, 2025.
3. Graduate School All-Student Orientation begins on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
4. College Orientation begins on Thursday, August 28, 2025.
5. Registration of new undergraduate and all graduate students (residential programs, Cybersecurity, and PRIME) for the fall semester begins at 4:00 pm EDT on Friday, August 29, 2025, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, September 1, 2025 (maximum of 4 credit hours allowed for undergraduates).
6. Opening Convocation occurs at 4:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
7. Registration reopens for all students for the fall semester at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 (up to 5 credit hours allowed).
8. Fall semester classes begin on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
9. RISD Fall Session begins on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
10. Theses/Dissertations of candidates for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in October are due on Friday, September 5, 2025.
11. The last day to register for a Fall RISD course without a fee or change a grade option is Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
12. The last day to add a course without a fee is Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
13. The last day to add a course (with $15 late fee), change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration is Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
14. The deadline for undergraduates on personal leave or Full-time Study Away status to request return for Spring is Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
15. The last day to receive any partial tuition refund is Saturday, October 11, 2025, according to the Brown academic calendar 2025-2026.
16. Indigenous Peoples’ Day (no University exercises) is observed on Monday, October 13, 2025.
17. The last day to change from credit to audit in a course is Friday, October 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
18. Mid-semester occurs on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
19. Sophomores entering their 5th semester must file concentration declaration forms by Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
20. Advising period for spring pre-registration begins on Monday, October 27, 2025.
21. Registration opens for Spring 2026 for undergraduate students (semester levels 05-06) at noon EST on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 (concentration approval required for 5th semester).
22. Registration opens for Spring 2026 for undergraduate students (semester levels 03-04) at noon EST on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
23. Students on serious warning who wish to drop a course after this date must meet with an academic dean beginning Thursday, November 13, 2025.
24. The deadline for submission of proposals for College Curriculum Council-approved projects is Friday, November 14, 2025.
25. Registration opens for Spring 2026 for Online and Professional Master’s programs at 9:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
26. Thanksgiving recess runs from Wednesday, November 26, 2025, to Sunday, November 30, 2025.
27. Classes resume, and the last day of Fall RISD classes is Monday, December 1, 2025.
28. The deadline for undergraduates to request personal leave or Full-time Study Away status for Spring is Monday, December 1, 2025.
29. The Midyear Completion Ceremony occurs on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
30. Reading Period begins (optional) on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
31. Classes end for courses not observing Reading Period on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
32. The last day to drop a course or request an incomplete is Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
33. Undergraduate certificates must be declared by students in their 6th semester by Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
34. Second/third concentrations must be declared by students in their 7th semester by Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
35. The deadline for 7th-semester undergraduates to submit writing for the concentration requirement is Friday, December 12, 2025.
36. Final examinations run from Friday, December 12, 2025, to Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Brown Academic Calendar Winter 2026

1. Registration for Winter Session courses begins at 9:00 A.M. EST on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, and continues through Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
2. The last day to register for a Winter Session course is Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
3. Winter Session tuition is due on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, according to the Brown academic calendar 2026.
4. Winter Session courses begin on Monday, December 22, 2025.
5. The last day for payment of charges is Thursday, January 1, 2026.
6. RISD Winter Session begins on Monday, January 5, 2026.
7. Theses/Dissertations of candidates for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in February are due on Friday, January 9, 2026.
8. The last day to register for a Winter RISD course without a fee or change a grade option is Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Brown Academic Calendar Spring 2026

1. Registration opens for Spring 2026 for undergraduate students (semester level 07+) and continuing graduate students at noon EST on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (maximum 4 credits for undergraduates, open until November 18).
2. Registration opens for Spring 2026 for undergraduate students (semester levels 01-02) at noon EST on Friday, November 14, 2025.
3. Spring 2026 registration continues until Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
4. Registration of new students for the spring semester begins at 1:00 pm ET on Friday, January 16, 2026, and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, January 19, 2026 (maximum 4 credit hours for undergraduates).
5. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no University exercises) is observed on Monday, January 19, 2026.
6. Registration reopens for all students for the spring semester at 9:00 a.m. EST on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 (up to 5 credit hours allowed).
7. Spring semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
8. The last day to add a course without a fee is Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
9. Winter RISD classes end on Friday, February 6, 2026.
10. RISD Spring Session begins on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
11. Long weekend (no University exercises) runs from Saturday, February 14, 2026, to Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Classes resume, and the last day to add a course (with a late fee), change from audit to credit, or change a grade option declaration is Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
12. The last day to register for a Spring RISD course without a fee or change a grade option is Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
13. The last day to change from credit to audit in a course is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.
14. Mid-semester occurs on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
15. Sophomores entering their 5th semester must file concentration declaration forms by Monday, March 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
16. Brown Spring break 2026 runs from Saturday, March 21, 2026, to Sunday, March 29, 2026. Classes resume after Brown University Spring Break 2026, and the advising period for fall pre-registration begins on Monday, March 30, 2026, according to the Brown academic calendar 2026.
17. The deadline for undergraduates on personal leave or Full-time Study Away status to request return for Fall is Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
18. Students on serious warning who wish to drop a course after this date must meet with an academic dean beginning Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
19. The deadline for submission of proposals for College Curriculum Council-approved projects is Friday, April 10, 2026.
20. Registration opens for Fall 2026 for undergraduate students (semester level 07+) and continuing graduate students at noon EDT on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (open until April 21).
21. Registration opens for Fall 2026 for undergraduate students (semester levels 05-06) at noon EDT on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
22. Registration opens for Fall 2026 for undergraduate students (semester levels 04-) at noon EDT on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
23. Fall 2026 registration continues until Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
24. Reading Period begins on Friday, April 24, 2026, and ends on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
25. The deadline for undergraduates to request personal leave or Full-time Study Away status for Fall is Friday, May 1, 2026.
26. Theses of candidates for Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in May are due on Friday, May 1, 2026.
27. Classes end for courses not observing the Reading Period on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
28. The last day to drop a course or request an incomplete is Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
29. Reading Period ends on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
30. Undergraduate certificates must be declared by students in their 6th semester by Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
31. Second/third concentrations must be declared by students in their 7th semester by Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.
32. The deadline for 7th-semester undergraduates to submit writing for the concentration requirement is Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
33. Final examinations run from Wednesday, May 6, 2026, to Friday, May 15, 2026.
34. Spring RISD classes end on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
35. Commencement occurs on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

For more on the Brown Academic Calendar 2025-2026, visit the Brown University Calendar website.