The UNCW Academic Calendar 2026‑2027 brings together every crucial date from application and enrollment deadlines, tuition payment due dates, and course add/drop windows to campus holidays and final exam schedules.
The University of North Carolina Wilmington operates on two main semesters plus flexible summer sessions:
- Fall Semester: 14 instructional weeks
- Spring Semester: Spans 14 instructional weeks.
- Summer Sessions:
- Session 1 May – June.
- Session 2 June – July.
Each term’s add/drop deadline, withdrawal cutoff, and grade‐submission date are clearly listed in the calendar, making it your go‑to guide for registering, budgeting, and planning your UNCW academic year.
Table of Contents
UNCW Academic Calendar Fall 2026
- Convocation is held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
- The first day of classes is on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
- The last day to add or drop classes is on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
- Census Day for Fall 2026 is on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
- No classes are held on Monday, September 7, 2026, due to Labor Day holiday.
- The residency change deadline for Fall 2026 is on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
- UNCW Fall Break 2026 occurs from Wednesday, October 8, 2026, through Friday, October 10, 2026, with no classes.
- The graduation application deadline is on Monday, October 19, 2026.
- The undergraduate last day to withdraw with a “W” is on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
- The graduate last day to withdraw with a “W” is on Sunday, November 9, 2026.
- No classes are held on Tuesday, November 25, 2026, although the university remains open.
- No classes are held from Wednesday, November 26, 2026, through Friday, November 28, 2026, due to a university holiday.
- Swap Day is observed on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, and is treated as a regular Thursday in which Tuesday/Thursday and Thursday-only courses meet, while Tuesday-only courses do not meet.
- Swap Day is observed on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, and is treated as a regular Friday in which Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Friday-only courses meet, while Wednesday-only and Monday-only courses do not meet.
- Reading Day is on Thursday, December 3, 2026.
- Final examinations take place from Friday, December 4, 2026, through Thursday, December 10, 2026.
- Commencement is held from Friday, December 11, 2026, through Saturday, December 12, 2026.
- Fall semester grades are due by Monday, December 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
UNCW Academic Calendar Spring 2026
- The Spring 2026 semester begins on Monday, January 5, 2026.
- The first day of classes is Monday, January 12, 2026.
- No classes are held on Monday, January 19, 2026 (MLK Day Holiday).
- The last day to add/drop classes is Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
- Census Day for Spring 2026 is on Monday, January 26, 2026.
- UNCW Spring Break 2026 (no classes) is from Monday, March 2, 2026, to Sunday, March 8, 2026. Classes resume on Monday, March 9, 2026.
- The last day for undergraduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Friday, March 18, 2026.
- No classes are held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (University open).
- No classes are held on Thursday, April 2, 2026, and Friday, April 3, 2026 (Easter Holiday).
- The last day for graduate students to withdraw from a course with a “W” grade is Monday, April 9, 2026.
- SWAP Day: Thursday classes meet on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
- SWAP Day: Friday classes meet on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
- The last day of Spring 2026 classes is Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
- Reading Day is held on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
- Final examinations occur from Friday, May 1, 2026, to Thursday, May 7, 2026.
- Commencement ceremonies are held on Friday, May 8, 2026, and Saturday, May 9, 2026.
- The Spring 2026 semester ends on Tuesday, May 11, 2026, with grades due by 2:00 p.m. on that date.
For more on the UNCW Academic Calendar 2026-2027, visit the University of North Carolina Wilmington Calendar website.
