NWU Academic Calendar 2026 Term Dates
The North-West University, NWU has released its academic calendar for 2026 academic sessions, newly admitted and returning students are to take note.
The academic calendar hints about North-West University, NWU resumption date for new and returning students 2025, examination date and other academic activities for the year.
See below, the academic calendar for sessional dates for the 2026 academic year.
For further inquiries, please contact the North-West University, NWU by visiting the institution’s official website.
The academic calendar hints about North-West University, NWU resumption date for new and returning students 2025, examination date and other academic activities for the year.
See below, the academic calendar for sessional dates for the 2026 academic year.
NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC SCHEDULE FOR 2026 ACADEMIC SESSIONS
The academic calendar for 2026 academic session as approved by the authority of the North-West University, NWU.| Category | Event/Period | Date(s) | Details/Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADMINISTRATION | University Administration Opens | 02 January 2026 | Corporate Services |
| University Recess | 02 Jan – 08 Feb 2026 | Until 8 February | |
| University Administration Opens 2027 | 04 January 2027 | — | |
| ACADEMIC YEAR | First Semester Classes Commence | 09 February 2026 | All campuses |
| First Semester Ends | 26 June 2026 | — | |
| Second Semester Classes Commence | 21 July 2026 | All campuses | |
| Second Semester Ends | 09 December 2026 | — | |
| REGISTRATION | First-Year Students Online Registration | 19 Jan – 06 Feb 2026 | Subject to enrolment plan |
| Senior/Returning Students Registration | 26 Jan – 06 Feb 2026 | UG and Higher Degrees | |
| Final Registration Deadline | 06 February 2026 | All outstanding students | |
| CURRICULUM CHANGES | UG Curriculum/Module Changes Period | 09 Feb – 27 Feb 2026 | First semester only |
| Final Date for Curriculum Changes | 27 February 2026 | Deadline | |
| ASSESSMENT PERIODS | No Events Period (First Semester) | 23 Mar – 13 Apr 2026 | Semester assessments |
| First Semester Exam Period | 12 May – 19 June 2026 | No events period | |
| No Events Period (Second Semester) | 25 Aug – 11 Sep 2026 | Semester assessments | |
| Second Semester Exam Period | 14 Oct – 20 Nov 2026 | No events period | |
| FINAL ASSESSMENT | Final Assessment Opportunity | 26 January 2026 | 09:00 start |
| Final Assessment Opportunity | 14 August 2026 | 09:00 start | |
| Submission of Module/Student Lists | 12 Jan & 04 Aug 2026 | To assessment departments | |
| Submission of Question Papers | Until 22 Jan & 07 Aug 2026 | Final assessment | |
| All Marks Recorded Deadline | 03 February 2026 | On appropriate platform | |
| Finalisation of Marks | 27 August 2026 | Final assessment | |
| MID-SEMESTER | Submit Mid-Semester Papers | Until 20 March 2026 | Contact/invigilated assessments |
| Submit Mid-Semester Papers | Until 21 August 2026 | Second semester | |
| EXAM OPPORTUNITIES | Exam Opportunity 1 Marks Capture | 30 June 2026 | Final day |
| Exam Opportunity 2 Marks Capture | 21 July 2026 | Final day | |
| Exam Opportunity 1 & Continuous Marks | 27 November 2026 | Final date to capture | |
| Exam Opportunity 2 Marks Capture | 10 December 2026 | Final date | |
| Finalisation of Exam Opportunity 2 | 11 December 2026 | — | |
| EXAM COMMITTEES | Drawing of Reports | 14-15 December 2026 | For exam committee purposes |
| Examination Committee Meetings | 17-18 December 2026 | — | |
| Processing of Findings | 21-22 December 2026 | — | |
| GRADUATION CEREMONIES | Graduation (Potchefstroom) | 17-27 March 2026 | Multiple ceremonies |
| Graduation (Mahikeng) | 28 Apr – 08 May 2026 | Spring ceremonies | |
| Graduation (Vanderbijlpark) | 14-22 May 2026 | Spring ceremonies | |
| Graduation (Mahikeng) | 15-17 July 2026 | Winter ceremony (HD) | |
| Graduation (Vanderbijlpark) | 21-24 July 2026 | Winter ceremony (HD) | |
| Graduation (Potchefstroom) | 29-31 July 2026 | Winter ceremony (HD) | |
| Graduation (Potchefstroom) | 14-18 Sep 2026 | Spring ceremonies | |
| Graduation (Vanderbijlpark) | 06-09 Oct 2026 | Spring ceremonies | |
| Graduation (Mahikeng) | 21-23 Oct 2026 | Spring ceremonies | |
| Graduation (Summer HD) | 26-27 Nov 2026 | Higher Degrees | |
| HIGHER DEGREES | HD Examinations: April-May Session | 01 Apr – 29 May 2026 | For Spring ceremonies |
| HD Examinations: June-July Session | 15 Jun – 10 Jul 2026 | For Summer ceremonies | |
| HD Examinations: Oct-Nov Session | 01 Oct – 30 Nov 2026 | For Autumn 2027 ceremonies | |
| Closing: Winter Graduation List | 25 February 2026 | For Oct/Nov 2025 exams | |
| Closing: Spring Graduation List | 17 August 2026 | For April/May 2026 exams | |
| Closing: Summer Graduation List | 19 June 2026 | For Feb/March 2026 exams | |
| Closing: Autumn 2027 Graduation List | 30 November 2026 | For Oct/Nov 2026 exams | |
| Notice to Submit (Feb/March 2027) | 16 Nov – 04 Dec 2026 | For Winter 2027 ceremonies | |
| Notice to Submit (Oct/Nov 2026) | 01 Jul – 27 Aug 2026 | For Autumn 2027 ceremonies | |
| HOLIDAYS | New Year’s Day | 01 Jan 2026 | Public Holiday |
| Human Rights Day | 21 Mar 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Good Friday | 03 Apr 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Family Day | 06 Apr 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Freedom Day | 27 Apr 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Workers’ Day | 01 May 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Youth Day | 16 Jun 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Women’s Day | 09 Aug 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Public Holiday | 10 Aug 2026 | Observed | |
| Heritage Day | 24 Sep 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Day of Reconciliation | 16 Dec 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Christmas Day | 25 Dec 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| Day of Goodwill | 26 Dec 2026 | Public Holiday | |
| UNIVERSITY CLOSURE | Schools Close | 26 June 2026 | End of first semester |
| Schools Close | 23 September 2026 | End of second semester | |
| Schools Close | 09 December 2026 | End of academic year | |
| University Admin Closes | 24 Dec 2026 (12:00) | Christmas break | |
| CONCESSIONS | 2026 Concessions Application Closure | 23 February 2026 | Deadline |
| 2026 Concessions Application Closure | 20 July 2026 | Second deadline | |
| STUDENT LEADERSHIP | Election Period | 13 Jul – 27 Oct 2026 | NWU Student Leadership |
| PAYROLL DEADLINES | TAS Appointments Deadline | 09 Jan, 10 Feb, 10 Mar, 09 Apr, 08 May, 10 Jun, 10 Jul, 10 Aug, 10 Sep, 09 Oct, 10 Nov 2026 | Monthly deadline |
| TAS Claim Payments Deadline | 13 Jan, 13 Feb, 13 Mar, 13 Apr, 13 May, 12 Jun, 13 Jul, 13 Aug, 14 Sep, 13 Oct, 13 Nov 2026 | Monthly deadline | |
| ORIENTATION | Campus Welcoming Day | 31 January 2026 | All campuses |
| Institutional Welcoming Event | 07 February 2026 | Mahikeng (with live streaming) | |
| Orientation Programme | 31 Jan – 08 Feb 2026 | First-year students | |
| CEREMONIES | NWU Official Opening | 13 February 2026 | — |
| Inaugural Lectures | Multiple dates throughout year | Various campuses | |
| Long Service Awards (PC) | 11-12 August 2026 | Potchefstroom Campus | |
| AWARENESS WEEKS | National Water Week | 20-26 March 2026 | — |
| World Languages Day | 08-13 April 2026 | — | |
| Language Awareness Week | 21-25 September 2026 | — | |
| World Antimicrobial Awareness Week | 18-24 November 2026 | — | |
| Giving Week | 31 Aug – 04 Sep 2026 | — | |
| OTHER EVENTS | NWU Farmers Day | 12 March 2026 | Pienaarskamp Farm |
| Serenade Competition Final | 07 August 2026 | Potchefstroom Campus | |
| Eagi Campus Talent Festival | 20 August & 23 Sep 2026 | Potchefstroom Campus | |
| NWU Berts Bricks 10km Night Race | 07 October 2026 | — | |
| NWU Excellence Awards 2026 | 19 November 2026 | — | |
| NWU Cultural Event | 18 September 2026 | Cultural Integration | |
| 1st Varsity Indigenous Games | 09-11 September 2026 | Vanderbijlpark Campus | |
| CAREER SERVICES | CV & Interview Training | Multiple dates | All campuses |
| Career Coaching Sessions | Multiple dates | All campuses | |
| Career Fairs | Various dates (Mar-Oct) | Faculty-specific | |
| ACADEMIC SUPPORT | PGSC General Orientation | 11 March & 23 July 2026 | Postgraduate Support Centre |
| PGSC Postgraduate Support Forum | 03 July 2026 | Higher Degrees | |
| PGSC Funding Fair | 24 April 2026 | — | |
| PGSC Fun Fair | 21 August 2026 | — | |
| PGSC Institutional M&D Competitions | 02 October 2026 | — | |
| TRAINING | CTL Induction for Academics | 05 Feb, 23 Apr, 09 Jul, 27 Oct 2026 | Teaching & Learning |
| NEOP Induction Training | 10 Feb, 13 Apr, 11 Jun, 03 Dec 2026 | New Employee Orientation | |
| RICEP New Staff Induction | 23 Feb & 24 Jul 2026 | PGSC | |
| MEETINGS | University Management Committee (UMC) | Multiple dates | Weekly/bi-weekly |
| Senate | 26 Feb, 28 May, 20 Aug, 29 Oct 2026 | Quarterly | |
| Council | 22 Apr, 18 Jun, 17 Sep, 18 Nov 2026 | Quarterly | |
| Executive Committee of Council | Multiple dates | Monthly | |
| Finance Committee | 27 May, 29 Oct 2026 | Bi-annual | |
| University Budget Committee (UBC) | 21 Jan, 11 May, 01 Sep 2026 | — |
