Emerson College Academic Calendar 2026‑2027: Important Dates

The Emerson College Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 is your go‑to roadmap for every milestone from Emerson College enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop periods to college holidays and final exam schedules.

The Emerson Academic Calendar allows students to lock in Emerson term dates, plan around the Emerson exam schedule, and never miss critical cut‑offs such as the last day to withdraw without a “W”, Priority Registration windows, or the opening of Summer Session and Winter Mini‑Term registration.

Emerson College follows a traditional semester system enhanced by short‑term sessions:

• Fall Semester (mid-September to mid-December; 14 instructional weeks + 1 finals week), so if you’re asking how long a semester is at Emerson, expect about 15 weeks in total.
• Winter Mini‑Term (3 weeks in early January for intensive courses) is ideal if you need to catch up or accelerate your degree progress.
• Spring Semester (mid-January to mid-May; 14 instructional weeks + 1 finals week) with a mid‑semester Spring Recess in March.
• Summer Session (late May through early August), split into Session I and Session II (every 6 weeks), providing flexible options for makeup courses or accelerated study.

Whether you’re mapping out a 15‑week semester course load, squeezing in a 3‑week Winter Mini‑Term class, or choosing the best Summer Session module, the Emerson College Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 ensures you have all the dates and deadlines at your fingertips, so you can focus on thriving in Boston’s creative arts community.

Emerson College Academic Calendar Spring 2027

1. Writing for Film & TV students may withdraw from the College for Fall with a full refund on Friday, January 1, 2027, with required filing by 5:00 p.m. ET.
2. Writing for Film & TV students arrive in Los Angeles for residency on Sunday, January 3, 2027.
3. Writing for Film & TV Los Angeles residency runs from Monday, January 4, 2027 to Friday, January 8, 2027.
4. New student move-in takes place on Friday, January 8, 2027 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with scheduled times assigned.
5. Graduate orientation for all programs is held online on Friday, January 8, 2027.
6. New student orientation runs from Saturday, January 9, 2027 to Tuesday, January 11, 2027.
7. Returning student move-in occurs from Sunday, January 10, 2027 to Monday, January 11, 2027, with self-selected housing portal times.
8. The last day to register for a spring internship in Boston without prior approval from the Career Development Center is Monday, January 11, 2027.
9. The last day to withdraw from the College for Fall with a full refund is Monday, January 11, 2027, with required filing by 5:00 p.m. ET (excluding Writing for Film & TV students).
10. The last day to add to spring waitlists is Monday, January 11, 2027.
11. Boston spring classes begin on Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
12. The first day to register for spring non-tuition co-curriculars is Tuesday, January 12, 2027.
13. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027, and there are no classes.
14. A Monday schedule is observed on Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
15. The last day to add a class without instructor permission is Tuesday, January 19, 2027.
16. Spring waitlisting closes and all remaining students are removed from waitlists on Tuesday, January 19, 2027 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
17. Students may petition department chairs for permission to over-enroll into classes on Wednesday, January 20, 2027.
18. The last day to add or drop a Spring class is Tuesday, January 26, 2027.
19. The course withdrawal period begins on Wednesday, January 27, 2027, with no tuition refund.
20. The last day to file an Intent to Graduate form for students intending to graduate in May is Wednesday, January 27, 2027.
21. Summer 2027 course listings are released on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.
22. Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027, and there are no classes.
23. Summer 2027 registration opens on Tuesday, February 16, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
24. A Monday schedule is observed on Wednesday, February 17, 2027.
25. Picture Yourself at Emerson is held on Saturday, February 20, 2027.
26. Fall 2026 incomplete grades that have not been updated will revert to default follow-up grades on Monday, March 1, 2027.
27. The first seven-week session of Boston classes ends on Wednesday, March 3, 2027.
28. The last day to register for fall non-tuition co-curriculars is Wednesday, March 3, 2027.
29. The second seven-week session of Boston campus classes begins on Thursday, March 4, 2027.
30. Summer registration is closed on Friday, March 5, 2027.
31. Emerson Spring Break 2027 runs from Monday, March 8, 2027 to Friday, March 12, 2027, and there are no classes. Residence halls close at 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 6, 2027 for Spring Break, and reopen on Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 12:00 noon ET. Classes resume on Monday, March 15, 2027 at 8:00 a.m. ET.
32. Midterm grades (C- or below only) for undergraduates are due on Tuesday, March 9, 2027 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and grades for the first seven-week session are also due.
33. Fall 2027 course listings are released on Friday, March 12, 2027.
34. Summer registration reopens on Monday, March 15, 2027.
35. Fall 2027 registration advising for all currently enrolled students runs from Monday, March 15, 2027 to Friday, April 2, 2027.
36. The last day to file an Intent to Graduate form for summer graduating students intending to receive their degree in August and participate in a May ceremony is Sunday, March 21, 2027.
37. Fall 2027 registration for currently enrolled students runs from Monday, March 29, 2027 to Tuesday, April 13, 2027, with assigned registration dates.
38. Official Make-Up Day occurs on Thursday, April 1, 2027.
39. New graduate students admitted for the upcoming summer semester may register online on Thursday, April 1, 2027 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
40. The last day to withdraw from an individual fall course is Thursday, April 9, 2027, with required submission by 5:00 p.m. ET.
41. The last day to withdraw from the College for the Spring semester is Thursday, April 9, 2027, with required filing by 5:00 p.m. ET.
42. Master’s theses and projects are due to committee chairs for approval for May degree candidates on Thursday, April 9, 2027.
43. Picture Yourself at Emerson is held on Saturday, April 10, 2027.
44. Registration is closed for 24 hours on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
45. Eligible students may register for an overload and registration reopens on Thursday, April 15, 2027.
46. Summer 2027 tuition and fee payments are due on Thursday, April 15, 2027.
47. Patriot’s Day is observed on Monday, April 19, 2027, and there are no classes.
48. A Monday schedule is observed on Friday, April 23, 2027.
49. An official make-up day is held on Thursday, April 22, 2027.
50. The last day of Boston Spring classes is Friday, April 30, 2027.
51. The last day for graduate students to submit Master’s theses or projects to the Graduate Studies Office for May degree candidates is Friday, April 30, 2027.
52. The last day to file an Intent to Graduate form for summer graduating students intending to receive their degree in August (but not participating in May commencement) is Friday, April 30, 2027.
53. The last day to submit Summer and Fall directed study proposals for approval is Friday, April 30, 2027.
54. Residence halls close at 12:00 noon on Saturday, May 1, 2027 for students not participating in graduation.
55. Final spring grades are due on Tuesday, May 4, 2027 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and grades become viewable to students.
56. Commencement weekend takes place on Friday, May 7, 2027 and Saturday, May 8, 2027.

Emerson College Academic Calendar Summer 2026

1. Transfer Picture Yourself at Emerson occurs on Friday, May 15, 2026.
2. The last day to drop a Summer Session 1 class for a full refund is Sunday, May 17, 2026.
3. Full Summer/Summer Session 1 waitlisting closes at 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, May 17, 2026.
4. Full Summer and Summer Session 1 classes begin on Monday, May 18, 2026.
5. Memorial Day (no classes) is observed on Monday, May 25, 2026.
6. New graduate students (excluding Speech@Emerson) admitted for summer can register online at 1:00 PM ET on Monday, June 1, 2026.
7. The last day to withdraw with a “W” for Summer Session 1 classes is Friday, June 5, 2026; forms must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET.
8. Juneteenth (no classes) is observed on Friday, June 19, 2026.
9. The last day to join a waitlist for Summer Session 2 is Monday, June 29, 2026.
10. Summer Session 1 classes end on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
11. The last day to drop a Summer Session 2 class for a full refund is Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
12. Summer Session 2 waitlisting closes at 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
13. Summer Session 2 classes begin on Thursday, July 2, 2026; Full Summer classes continue.
14. Monday classes follow a Friday schedule on Friday, July 3, 2026.
15. Independence Day (observed; no classes) is Monday, July 6, 2026.
16. Spring 2026 incomplete grades revert to default on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
17. The last day to withdraw with a “W” for Full Summer and Summer Session 2 classes is Friday, July 24, 2026; forms must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET.
18. Master’s Theses/Projects are due to Committee Chairs for August degree candidates on Friday, July 24, 2026.
19. Fall 2026 tuition, room, board, and fee payments are due on Friday, July 31, 2026.
20. Monday classes follow a Friday schedule on Friday, August 7, 2026.
21. Full Summer and Summer Session 2 classes end on Friday, August 21, 2026.
22. The last day for graduate students to submit Master’s Theses/Projects for August degree candidates is Friday, August 21, 2026.
23. Full Summer and Summer Session 2 grades are due at 12:00 PM ET on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

For more on the Emerson College Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the Emerson College Calendar website.