Academic Calendar

UCSC Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates

By eriq elikplim
UCSC Academic Calendar.

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The UCSC Academic Calendar 2026–2027 is your go-to resource for tracking all essential academic milestones covering quarter start and end dates, course enrollment periods, tuition deadlines, add/drop windows, final exams, and campus holidays.

Whether you’re planning your schedule as a first-year Banana Slug or managing your final year, the UC Santa Cruz academic calendar helps you stay ahead.

Unlike semester-based campuses, UCSC uses a quarter system, offering three main academic terms:

  • Fall Quarter (Late September – Early December): 10 weeks of instruction + 1 week of final exams. Includes Thanksgiving break and Veterans Day.
  • Winter Quarter (Early January – Mid-March): Begins just after New Year’s and includes MLK Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day. Finals wrap up before Spring Break.
  • Spring Quarter (Late March – Mid-June): Includes Memorial Day and ends with final exams before Commencement in mid-June.

Optional Summer Session(s) (June – September):

Choose from Session 1, Session 2, or 8-week/full-length sessions ideal for completing extra units or accelerating graduation.

The UCSC term schedule includes critical dates that every student should bookmark:

  • Enrollment opens via the MyUCSC portal
  • Instruction begins and final add/drop deadlines
  • Tuition and fee payment due dates
  • Withdrawal deadlines and “No Record” grade cutoffs
  • Grade submission dates
  • Reading days and final exam week

Each quarter has its own timeline, so always consult the official UCSC Academic Calendar for the latest updates.

Whether you’re balancing coursework with research at Long Marine Lab or enjoying UCSC’s redwood-lined campus between classes, having the UCSC academic calendar on hand keeps you aligned with university expectations and deadlines. From registration to finals, don’t miss a beat.

UCSC Academic Calendar Fall 2026

The following are the important dates and deadlines for Fall 2026 from the UCSC Academic Calendar 2026–2027.

  1. The deadline to file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application for priority consideration is Monday, March 2, 2026.
  2. The enrollment deadline to ensure summer financial aid disburses on time is Monday, June 1, 2026.
  3. The deadline to submit all requested supporting documentation through MyAid Verify is Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
  4. The documentation deadline for new transfer students is Thursday, July 1, 2026.
  5. The deadline to petition for a Graduate Leave of Absence (except for emergencies) is Thursday, August 6, 2026.
  6. EBills including registration and housing fees become available on Thursday, August 27, 2026.
  7. New undergraduate student enrollment occurs from Friday, August 7, 2026, to Thursday, August 20, 2026.
  8. Labor Day is observed on Monday, September 7, 2026.
  9. Financial aid is disbursed to student accounts on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
  10. The minimum credit limit is enforced on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
  11. Housing and dining fees are due on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
  12. Undergraduate registration fees are due on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
  13. The deadline to apply for a Student Health Insurance waiver is Friday, September 18, 2026.
  14. The quarter begins on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
  15. UCSC Fall 2026 classes begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
  16. The deadline to petition for a Graduate Late Leave of Absence with a full refund is Thursday, September 24, 2026.
  17. The deadline to withdraw from the university with a full registration fee refund is Thursday, September 24, 2026.
  18. Waitlists end and class permission numbers are required starting Monday, October 3, 2026.
  19. The deadline for graduate student enrollment, fee payment, and part-time or in-absentia status applications is Thursday, October 8, 2026.
  20. The deadline to announce candidacy for a graduate degree or pay the filing fee is Thursday, October 8, 2026.
  21. The add/drop/swap classes deadline, opt-out deadline for UCSA/UCGPAC fees, and undergraduate part-time program application deadline is Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
  22. Late add by permission begins and undergraduate withdrawal from a class begins on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
  23. The deadline to declare or change a major/minor and the undergraduate deadline to announce candidacy for a degree is Friday, October 23, 2026.
  24. Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
  25. The deadline to withdraw from a class with a “W” notation, withdraw from UCSC/Leave of Absence, and undergraduate credit by petition ends is Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
  26. The deadline to file a petition for a change of college is Friday, November 20, 2026.
  27. The deadline to change grade options, file for a No Pass grade, and add a class by permission ends is Sunday, November 29, 2026.
  28. Thanksgiving Holidays are observed from Thursday, November 26, 2026, to Friday, November 27, 2026.
  29. Instruction ends on Friday, December 4, 2026.
  30. Final examinations take place from Monday, December 7, 2026, to Friday, December 11, 2026.
  31. The quarter ends and the deadline for undergraduates/graduates to remove incomplete grades from the preceding quarter is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  32. The deadline to complete all requirements for an undergraduate degree and receive transcripts is Friday, December 11, 2026.
  33. New graduate student enrollment begins on Thursday, December 10, 2026.
  34. Grades from instructors are due on Friday, December 16, 2026.
  35. Housing and dining fees for the next term are due on Friday, December 16, 2026.
  36. Undergraduate registration fees for the next term are due on Friday, December 16, 2026.
  37. The deadline to submit a Student Health Insurance waiver for the next term is Sunday, December 18, 2026.
  38. Winter Holidays and Campus Closure begin on Thursday, December 24, 2026.

UCSC Academic Calendar Winter 2027

The following are the important dates and deadlines for Winter 2027 from the UCSC Academic Calendar 2026–2027.

  1. Winter Holidays and Campus Closure continue through Sunday, January 3, 2027.
  2. The quarter begins and instruction begins on Monday, January 4, 2027.
  3. The deadline to petition for a Graduate Late Leave of Absence with a full refund is Monday, January 4, 2027.
  4. The deadline to withdraw from the university with a full registration fee refund is Monday, January 4, 2027.
  5. Waitlists end and class permission numbers are required starting Friday, January 13, 2027.
  6. The deadline for graduate student enrollment, fee payment, and part-time or in-absentia status applications is Saturday, January 14, 2027.
  7. The deadline to announce candidacy for a graduate degree or pay the filing fee is Saturday, January 14, 2027.
  8. The add/drop/swap classes deadline, opt-out deadline for UCSA/UCGPAC fees, and undergraduate part-time program application deadline is Wednesday, January 25, 2027.
  9. Late add by permission begins and undergraduate withdrawal from a class begins on Thursday, January 26, 2027.
  10. Financial aid is disbursed to student accounts on Monday, December 28, 2026.
  11. The minimum credit limit is enforced on Monday, December 28, 2026.
  12. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is observed on Monday, January 18, 2027.
  13. The deadline to declare or change a major/minor and the undergraduate deadline to announce candidacy for a degree is Friday, February 5, 2027.
  14. The deadline to petition for a Graduate Leave of Absence (except for emergencies) is Thursday, February 11, 2027.
  15. Enrollment preparation week takes place from Friday, February 17, 2027, to Tuesday, February 21, 2027.
  16. Priority enrollment begins on Thursday, February 24, 2027.
  17. EBills including registration and housing fees become available on Wednesday, February 25, 2027.
  18. The deadline to change of college is Friday, February 26, 2027.
  19. Presidents Day is observed on Monday, February 15, 2027.
  20. The deadline to withdraw from a class with a “W” notation, withdraw from UCSC/Leave of Absence, and undergraduate credit by petition ends is Tuesday, February 16, 2027.
  21. The deadline to change grade options, file for a No Pass grade, and add a class by permission ends is Friday, March 5, 2027.
  22. Instruction ends on Friday, March 12, 2027.
  23. The deadline to submit a Student Health Insurance waiver is Friday, March 12, 2027.
  24. Final examinations take place from Monday, March 15, 2027, to Friday, March 19, 2027.
  25. The quarter ends and the deadline for undergraduates/graduates to remove incomplete grades from the preceding quarter is Friday, March 19, 2027.
  26. The deadline to complete all requirements for an undergraduate degree and receive transcripts is Friday, March 19, 2027.
  27. Financial aid is disbursed to student accounts on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  28. The minimum credit limit is enforced on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  29. Housing and dining fees are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.
  30. Undergraduate registration fees are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.
  31. Grades from instructors are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.

UCSC Academic Calendar Spring 2027

The following are the important dates and deadlines for Spring 2027 from the UCSC Academic Calendar 2026–2027.

  1. The quarter begins and instruction begins on Monday, March 29, 2027.
  2. The deadline to petition for a Graduate Late Leave of Absence with a full refund is Monday, March 29, 2027.
  3. The deadline to withdraw from the university with a full registration fee refund is Monday, March 29, 2027.
  4. Waitlists end and class permission numbers are required starting Wednesday, April 7, 2027.
  5. The deadline for graduate student enrollment, fee payment, and part-time or in-absentia status applications is Thursday, April 8, 2027.
  6. The deadline to announce candidacy for a graduate degree or pay the filing fee is Thursday, April 8, 2027.
  7. The add/drop/swap classes deadline, opt-out deadline for UCSA/UCGPAC fees, and undergraduate part-time program application deadline is Friday, April 16, 2027.
  8. Late add by permission begins and undergraduate withdrawal from a class begins on Monday, April 17, 2027.
  9. The deadline to declare or change a major/minor and the undergraduate deadline to announce candidacy for a degree is Friday, April 23, 2027.
  10. Farmworkers Day is observed on Friday, March 26, 2027.
  11. The deadline to file a petition for a change of college is Friday, May 21, 2027.
  12. The deadline to withdraw from a class with a “W” notation, withdraw from UCSC/Leave of Absence, and undergraduate credit by petition ends is Friday, May 7, 2027.
  13. Instruction ends on Friday, June 4, 2027.
  14. The deadline to change grade options, file for a No Pass grade, and add a class by permission ends is Friday, May 28, 2027.
  15. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 31, 2027.
  16. Final examinations take place from Monday, June 7, 2027, to Thursday, June 10, 2027.
  17. The quarter ends and the deadline for undergraduates/graduates to remove incomplete grades from the preceding quarter is Thursday, June 10, 2027.
  18. The deadline to complete all requirements for an undergraduate degree and receive transcripts is Thursday, June 10, 2027.
  19. Commencement ceremonies take place from Friday, June 11, 2027, to Sunday, June 14, 2027.
  20. Juneteenth Day is observed on Saturday, June 19, 2027.
  21. Financial aid is disbursed to student accounts on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  22. The minimum credit limit is enforced on Monday, March 22, 2027.
  23. Housing and dining fees are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.
  24. Undergraduate registration fees are due on Tuesday, March 23, 2027.
  25. EBills including registration and housing fees become available on Wednesday, February 25, 2027.
  26. The deadline to submit a Student Health Insurance waiver is Friday, March 12, 2027.
  27. Grades from instructors are due on Thursday, June 15, 2027.

UCSC Academic Calendar Summer 2026

The following are the important dates and deadlines for Summer 2026 from the UCSC Academic Calendar 2025–2026.

  1. Juneteenth will be observed on Thursday, June 19, 2026, during Summer Quarter.
  2. The Summer Quarter begins on Monday, June 22, 2026.
  3. Instruction for the Summer Quarter also begins on Monday, June 22, 2026.
  4. Independence Day (observed) will be on Friday, July 3, 2026.
  5. Instruction for the Summer Quarter ends on Friday, August 29, 2026.
  6. The Summer Quarter officially ends on Friday, August 28, 2026.

For more on the UCSC Academic Calendar 2026-2027 and to download the PDF, visit the University of California, Santa Cruz Calendar website.

eriq elikplim
eriq elikplimhttps://acadcalendar.com
Eric Elikplim is the lead editor of AcadCalendar.com. Eriq draws on 10 years of experience in edtech and project management. He has collaborated directly with multiple universities, establishing processes to cross-check term dates, registration deadlines, and exam schedules. Beyond calendar data, Eriq contributes thought leadership on academic productivity: he has authored articles on semester planning, and consulted with student organizations to refine reminder features and user experience.

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