Academic Calendar

UNC Academic Calendar 2026-2027: Important Dates & Deadlines

By eriq elikplim
UNC Academic Calendar.

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UNC Academic Calendar 2026-2027 schedule includes admission application deadlines, course registration periods, tuition payment due dates, campus holidays, Fall Break, Spring Break, and final exam schedules for the upcoming academic year.

UNC Chapel Hill operates on a robust semester system, primarily featuring two comprehensive semesters: Fall (running from late August to mid-December) and Spring (from mid-January to early May).

Each of these main semesters provides approximately 15-16 weeks of instruction, culminating in dedicated examination periods.

Additionally, the university offers dynamic Summer Sessions (including Summer Session I, Summer Session II, and a Maymester) for accelerated learning opportunities.

UNC Academic Calendar Fall 2026

  1. The listing of all Fall 2026 classes becomes available online on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
  2. Graduate shopping carts become available on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  3. Enrollment for Graduate and Professional Priority Registration begins on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
  4. Enrollment appointments become available on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  5. Undergraduate shopping carts become available on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  6. Registration for all degree-seeking Graduate, Non-Degree Certificate, and Professional students begins on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  7. The application period for December 2026 graduation begins on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  8. The ConnectCarolina Graduation/Certification Completion application opens for eligible students on Friday, March 13, 2026.
  9. Wave 1 of undergraduate registration begins on Monday, March 23, 2026, and students may register for up to 13 credit hours.
  10. Enrollment for Undergraduate Priority Registration begins on Monday, March 23, 2026.
  11. Registration for undergraduates with 97 or more credit hours begins on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
  12. Registration for undergraduates with 83 to fewer than 97 credit hours begins on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
  13. Registration for undergraduates with 74 to fewer than 83 credit hours begins on Thursday, March 26, 2026.
  14. Registration for undergraduates with 61 to fewer than 74 credit hours begins on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  15. Registration for undergraduates with 48 to fewer than 61 credit hours begins on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  16. Registration for undergraduates with 33 to fewer than 48 credit hours begins on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
  17. Registration for undergraduates with 16 to fewer than 33 credit hours begins on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
  18. Registration for undergraduates with 0 to fewer than 16 credit hours begins on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  19. Well-Being Day is Thursday, April 2, 2026, and no classes are held.
  20. University Holiday is Friday, April 3, 2026, and no classes are held.
  21. Wave 1 of undergraduate registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  22. Waitlist additions begin on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  23. Wave 2 of undergraduate registration begins on Monday, April 6, 2026; students may register for up to 17 credit hours and waitlist up to 12 credit hours.
  24. Enrollment for Undergraduate Priority Registration begins on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  25. Registration for undergraduates with 97 or more credit hours begins on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  26. Registration for undergraduates with 83 to fewer than 97 credit hours begins on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
  27. Registration for undergraduates with 74 to fewer than 83 credit hours begins on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
  28. Registration for undergraduates with 61 to fewer than 74 credit hours begins on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  29. Registration for undergraduates with 48 to fewer than 61 credit hours begins on Monday, April 13, 2026.
  30. Registration for undergraduates with 33 to fewer than 48 credit hours begins on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
  31. Registration for undergraduates with 16 to fewer than 33 credit hours begins on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.
  32. Registration for undergraduates with 0 to fewer than 16 credit hours begins on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  33. Wave 2 of undergraduate registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  34. Registration for non-degree undergraduate students begins at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, and closes at 11:59 p.m. the same day.
  35. Open Enrollment begins at 12:00 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026.
  36. The undergraduate maximum credit limit increases to 18 credits on Monday, April 20, 2026.
  37. Undergraduate reserve capacities are released on Monday, April 27, 2026.
  38. ConnectCarolina registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, for all continuing undergraduate students. Waitlist additions for continuing students also end at 11:59 p.m. on this date.
  39. First-year undergraduate registration enrollment appointments run from Monday, July 6, 2026, through Thursday, July 30, 2026.
  40. The Fall billing and pre-payment period begins on Friday, July 17, 2026.
  41. The first-year undergraduate maximum credit limit increases to 18 credits on Monday, August 3, 2026.
  42. Open enrollment for first-year undergraduate students begins at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026.
  43. Waitlist additions begin for incoming first-year students on Monday, August 3, 2026.
  44. Open enrollment for first-year undergraduate students closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
  45. ConnectCarolina registration opens for all undergraduate students at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
  46. Waitlist additions open for all students on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
  47. Tuition and fees are due on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
  48. New Student Convocation is held on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
  49. UNC Fall 2026 classes start on Monday, August 17, 2026. Late registration begins on the same day.
  50. Waitlist additions end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
  51. The last day for students to add classes to their schedules in ConnectCarolina is Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
  52. Waitlists are purged at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
  53. Undergraduate academic progress reports become available to faculty in ConnectCarolina on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
  54. The undergraduate class drop (No Record) period ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026.
  55. The last day for undergraduate students to drop a class in ConnectCarolina without receiving a W grade is Friday, August 28, 2026.
  56. ConnectCarolina is closed from 5:00 p.m. to midnight for all students on Friday, August 28, 2026.
  57. The last day for schools and departments to add or drop courses for students using ConnectCarolina is Friday, August 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
  58. The Census Date Official University Enrollment Reporting Date begins at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026.
  59. The undergraduate class drop (On Record) period begins on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
  60. Labor Day is Monday, September 7, 2026, and no classes are held.
  61. Well-Being Day is Monday, September 21, 2026, and no classes are held.
  62. The graduation application priority deadline for inclusion in the Commencement Program is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
  63. The priority deadline for undergraduate Pass/Fail requests is Friday, October 2, 2026.
  64. Well-Being Day is Tuesday, October 6, 2026, and no classes are held.
  65. The last day for Graduate and Professional students to drop regularly scheduled classes in ConnectCarolina is Friday, October 9, 2026.
  66. The undergraduate class drop (On Record) period ends on Friday, October 9, 2026.
  67. The last day for undergraduate students to submit Pass/Fail declarations is Friday, October 9, 2026.
  68. University Day is Monday, October 12, 2026, and classes are held.
  69. Fall Break runs from Thursday, October 15, 2026, through Friday, October 16, 2026, and no classes are held.
  70. The prorated term withdrawal period ends on Monday, October 19, 2026.
  71. The Graduate Administrative Class Drop Period ends on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
  72. Graduate student ETDs are due on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
  73. The last day to submit a December 2026 Graduation/Certificate Completion application in ConnectCarolina is Wednesday, November 18, 2026.
  74. Thanksgiving Recess runs from Wednesday, November 25, 2026, through Friday, November 27, 2026, and no classes are held.
  75. Classes end on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
  76. Absences (ABs) and Incompletes (INs) from the previous Fall semester change to F grades for graduate students on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
  77. Undergraduate Academic Progress Reports close in ConnectCarolina on Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
  78. Final grade rosters become available in ConnectCarolina on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
  79. Reading Day is Thursday, December 3, 2026.
  80. Exam Days are Friday, December 4, 2026; Saturday, December 5, 2026; Monday, December 7, 2026; Tuesday, December 8, 2026; Thursday, December 10, 2026; and Friday, December 11, 2026.
  81. Reading Day is Wednesday, December 9, 2026.
  82. Absences (ABs) and Incompletes (INs) from Spring 2026 and Summer 2026 change to F grades for undergraduate students on Friday, December 11, 2026.
  83. Fall Commencement is Sunday, December 13, 2026.
  84. The degree conferral date for Fall degree recipients is Sunday, December 13, 2026.

UNC Academic Calendar Spring 2026

  1. The Maymester late registration deadline is Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
  2. SSI and MM classes begin on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
  3. The SSI late registration deadline is Thursday, May 14, 2026.
  4. Memorial Day holiday (no classes) on Monday, May 25, 2026.
  5. Maymester classes/exams end on Thursday, May 28, 2026.
  6. Maymester classes/exams end on Friday, May 29, 2026.
  7. SSI classes end on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
  8. SSI Reading Day is on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
  9. SSI Final Exams on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
  10. Juneteenth holiday (no classes) on Friday, June 19, 2026.
  11. SSI Final Exams on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

UNC Academic Calendar Summer Session II (SSII) 2026

  1. SSII classes begin on Monday, June 22, 2026.
  2. The SSII late registration deadline is Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
  3. Independence Day holiday (no classes) on Friday, July 3, 2026.
  4. SSII classes end on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
  5. SSII Reading Day on Friday, July 24, 2026.
  6. SSII Final Exams on Monday, July 27, 2026.
  7. SSII Final Exams on Tuesday, July 28, 2026.

UNC Academic Calendar Summer Session I (SSI) & Maymester (MM) 2026

  1. UNC Spring 2026 classes begin on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
  2. The late registration deadline is Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
  3. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (no classes) is on Monday, January 19, 2026.
  4. Well-being day (no classes) is on Monday, February 9, 2026.
  5. UNC Spring Break 2026 begins at 5:00 PM on Friday, March 13, 2026, and ends on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Classes resume at 8:00 AM on Monday, March 23, 2026.
  6. Well-being day (no classes) is on Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  7. UNC Spring Holiday (Good Friday) is on Friday, April 3, 2026. There are no classes.
  8. Classes end on Monday, April 27, 2026.
  9. Reading Day is on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
  10. Final Exam Period includes Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
  11. Final Exam Period includes Thursday, April 30, 2026.
  12. Reading Day is on Friday, May 1, 2026.
  13. Final Exam Period includes Saturday, May 2, 2026.
  14. Final Exam Period includes Monday, May 4, 2026.
  15. Final Exam Period includes Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
  16. Reading Day is on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
  17. Final Exam Period includes Thursday, May 7, 2026.
  18. UNC Spring 2026 Commencement is on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

For more on the UNC Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Academic 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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