[Revised] UKZN Academic Calendar 2026 Term Dates

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has released its UKZN academic calendar for 2026 academic sessions, newly admitted and returning students are to take note.

The academic calendar hints about University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN resumption date for new and returning students 2025 , examination date and other academic activities for the year. See below, the academic calendar for term dates for the 2026 academic year.

Further Readings: University of KwaZulu-Natal Full Tuition & Fees

UKZN TERM DATES FOR 2026 ACADEMIC SESSIONS

The academic calendar for 2026 academic session as approved by senate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UKZN.

• FIRST SEMESTER : Monday, 09 February – Thursday, 25 June
• EASTER VACATION : Saturday, 28 March – Monday, 06 April (inclusive)
• WINTER VACATION : Friday, 26 June – Sunday, 19 July (inclusive)
• SECOND SEMESTER : Monday, 20 July – Tuesday, 01 December
• MID-TERM BREAK : Saturday, 19 September – Sunday, 27 September (inclusive)

	Thur, 01 – Fri, 02 Jan	Thur, 01 Jan	New Year’s Day (Public holiday)
		Fri, 02 Jan	University Holiday
	Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Jan	Mon, 05 Jan	University opens
		Tue, 06 Jan	Remote online registration opens for returning students. Schools to communicate dates for individual programmes on a per programme basis, including FTEN students.
		Fri, 09 Jan
			Deadline for applications for remarks of those modules with formal sit-down examinations in Semester 2, 2025.
			Deadline for submission of undergraduate readmission applications for potential readmission into Semester 1, 2026
	Sun, 11 – Fri, 16 Jan	Tue, 13 Jan	Release of NSC results by the DBE (provisional date)
		Wed, 14 Jan	Deadline for the submission of exclusion appeals from Undergraduate, Honours and PG Dip students
			Deadline for submission of re-registration appeals to School Higher Degree offices for Masters and Doctoral students
		Fri, 16 Jan
			Deadline for applications to be submitted for Senate Concessionary Special Examinations (SCSEs) as per GR 23 (b)
	Mon, 19 – Fri, 23 Jan	Fri, 23 Jan	School Higher Degree Committees to consider re-registration appeals from Masters and Doctoral students, for recommendation to CAAB
	Mon, 26 Jan – Sat, 31 Jan	Mon, 26 Jan	CAECOM meetings
		Mon, 26 -Thu, 29 Jan	SCSEs week (Schools to arrange for students with a maximum of 2 modules outstanding, having been registered for the modules in 2025)
		Fri, 30 Jan	Residences open for registered (both academic and residence registered) students
		Fri, 30 Jan – Wed, 04 Feb	Marking of SCSEs and release of results
		Sat, 31 Jan	Online Parents Day (to be confirmed)
	Mon, 02 – Sat, 07 Feb	Mon, 02 – Sat, 07 Feb	Dedicated remote online registration week and orientation for First Time Entering Undergraduate (FTEN) students
		Tue, 03 Feb – Wed, 04 Feb	AEACOM meeting (Wednesday, 4 February to be used only if needed)
		Thu, 05 Feb	For higher degrees students: Deadline for submission of bound/final examination copies with respect to any intention to submit received in Semester 2, 2025 without having to register for Semester 1, 2026
		Fri, 06 Feb	Deadline for payment of minimum fee required for registration
SEMESTER 1:
1	Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Feb	Mon, 09 Feb	First semester and lectures commence
		Fri, 13 Feb
			Deadline for submission of curriculum change requests
			Deadline for submission of requests for extended DPs for those modules that had DPs in 2025
			Deadline for first semester academic registration
2	Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Feb
3	Mon, 23 – Fri, 27 Feb
4	Mon, 02 – Fri, 06 Mar
5	Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Mar	Fri, 13 Mar	Final date for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Bachelors, Honours, Diplomas and Certificates)
6	Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Mar	Thur, 19 Mar	Eid ul Fitr (provisional date) (condoned day of absence)
7	Mon, 23 – Fri, 27 Mar	Fri, 27 Mar	Lectures end
			Deadline for withdrawal from a module and for withdrawal from the University (Semester 1)
	Sat, 28 Mar – Mon, 6 Apr	EASTER VACATION: STUDENT MID-TERM BREAK
	Mon, 30 Mar – Fri, 03 Apr	Fri, 03 Apr	Good Friday (Public Holiday)
8	Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Apr	Mon, 06 Apr	Family day (Public holiday)
		Tue, 07 Apr	Lectures resume
			Final date for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Masters and Doctoral Students)
			Final timetable for main and supplementary examinations released
			Tuesday, 7 April follows a Friday timetable (compensatory timetable day)
9	Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Apr	Wed, 15 Apr	Wednesday, 15 April follows a Monday timetable (compensatory timetable day)
10	Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Apr
11	Mon, 27 Apr – Fri, 1 May	Mon, 27 Apr	Freedom Day (Public Holiday)
		Fri, 01 May	Workers’ Day (Public Holiday)
12	Mon, 04 – Sat, 09 May	Mon, 04 – Sat, 09 May	Graduation ceremonies (Westville)
13	Mon, 11 – Sat, 16 May	Mon, 11 – Sat, 16 May	Graduation ceremonies (Westville)
		Fri, 15 May	DP refusals to be published for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
14	Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 May	Tue, 19 May	Lectures end for those modules with formal sit-down examinations. Lectures continue for those modules taught online and/or with continuous assessment
		Wed, 20 May @ 16h30	Deadline for submission of DP refusal appeals to School offices for those modules with formal sit-down examinations.
	Mon, 25 – Sat, 30 May	Mon, 25 May	First semester main examinations commence (including Saturdays) for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Wed, 27 May	Eid al-Adha (provisional date). (No examinations)
	Mon, 01 – Sat, 06 Jun	Mon, 01 – Sat, 06 Jun	First semester main examinations continue
	Mon, 08 – Sat, 13 Jun	Wed, 10 Jun	First semester main examinations end for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Thu, 11 – Wed, 17 Jun	Break between examinations for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
	Mon, 15 – Sat, 20 Jun	Tue, 16 Jun	Youth day (Public holiday)
		Thu, 18 Jun	First semester supplementary examinations commence (including Saturday) for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Fri, 19 Jun	Semester 1 lectures end for all modules taught online including all continuous assessment opportunities
	Mon, 22 – Fri, 26 Jun	Thu, 25 Jun	First semester supplementary examinations end
			First semester ends for all students
		Fri, 26 Jun	Deadline for submission of readmission applications for potential readmission into Semester 2, 2026
			All residences to be vacated by 16h00 on 26 June 2026
Semester 1: Teaching days for modules with formal sit-down examinations Teaching days:    Monday 14 , Tuesday 13 , Wednesday 12 , Thursday 13 , Friday 13 : 64 days Compensatory days:   Compensatory days: Tuesday, 7 April follows a Friday timetable; Wednesday, 15 April follows a Monday timetable Study leave:  5 days;     Main Examinations:  14 days;  Supplementary Exams:  7 days;
Fri, 26 Jun – Sun, 19 Jul		MID-YEAR BREAK  (Winter Vacation)

SEMESTER 2:
	Mon, 29 Jun – Fri, 03 Jul	Wed, 01 Jul	Supplementary exam marks for formal sit-down examinations and all continuous assessment marks from Semester 1, 2026 to be captured on SMS by 12h00
	Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Jul	Wed, 08 Jul	School Examination Boards
		Thur, 09 Jul	Release of results at 00h01
	Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Jul	Mon, 13 Jul	Second semester registration commences
		Thu, 16 Jul	For higher degrees students: Final date for submission of bound examination copies with respect to any intention to submit received in Semester 1, 2026, without having to register for Semester 2, 2026
			Deadline for submission of exclusion appeals
		Fri, 17 Jul	Deadline for submission of applications for re-marks for those modules with formal sit-down examinations in Semester 1, 2026
			Residences open for registered students
1	Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Jul	Mon, 20 Jul	Second semester and lectures commence
			CAECOM meetings
		Fri, 24 Jul	AEACOM meeting
2	Mon, 27 Jul – Fri, 31 Jul	Fri, 31 Jul	Deadline for submission of curriculum change requests
			Deadline for submission of requests for extended DPs for those modules that had DPs in Semester 2, 2025
			Deadline for minimum fee payment required for registration
			Final date for second semester academic registration
3	Mon, 03 – Fri, 07 Aug
4	Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Aug	Mon, 10 Aug	Public holiday in lieu of Sunday, 9 August: National Women’s Day
		Fri, 14 Aug	Final date for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Bachelors, Honours, Diplomas and Certificates)
5	Mon, 17 – Fri, 21 Aug	Tue, 18 Aug	Tuesday, 18 August follows a Monday timetable (compensatory day)
6	Mon, 24 – Fri, 28 Aug	Fri, 28 Aug	Final date for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Masters and Doctoral Students)
7	Mon, 31 Aug – Fri, 04 Sep	Fri, 04 Sep	Deadline for withdrawal from a module and for withdrawal from the University (Semester 2)
8	Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Sep	Fri, 11 Sep	Final timetable for main and supplementary examinations released
9	Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Sep	Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Sep	Spring graduation ceremonies (Westville)
		Fri, 18 Sep	Lectures end
	Sat, 19 – Sun, 27 Sep	STUDENT MID-TERM BREAK
	Mon, 21 – Fri, 25 Sep	Thu, 24 Sep	Heritage Day (Public holiday)
10	Mon, 28 Sep – Fri, 02 Oct	Mon, 28 Sep	Lectures resume
11	Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Oct
12	Mon, 12 – Fri, 16 Oct
13	Mon, 19 – Fri, 23 Oct
14	Mon, 26 – Fri, 30 Oct	Mon, 26 Oct	DP refusals to be published for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Tue, 27 Oct	Lectures end for those modules with formal sit-down examinations. Lectures continue for modules taught online and assessed by continuous assessment
		Thu, 29 Oct	Final date for submission of DP appeals to School offices for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
	Mon, 02 – Sat, 07 Nov	Mon, 02 Nov	Second semester main examinations commence (including Saturdays) for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
	Mon, 09 – Sat, 14 Nov	Mon, 09 – Sat, 14 Nov	Second semester main examinations continue
	Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Nov	Tue, 17 Nov	Main Examinations end for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Wed, 18 – Mon, 23 Nov	Break between examinations for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
	Mon, 23 – Sat, 28 Nov	Tue, 24 Nov	Second semester supplementary examinations commence for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
		Fri, 27 Nov	Deadline for submission of theses/dissertations to the School/College higher degrees offices for possible May 2027 graduation
			Semester 2 lectures end for all modules taught online including all continuous assessment opportunities
	Mon, 30 Nov – Fri, 04 Dec	Tue, 01 Dec	Second semester supplementary examinations end for those modules with formal sit-down examinations
			Second semester ends for all students
		Wed, 02 Dec	All residences to be vacated by 16h00 on Wednesday, 2 December 2026.
Semester 2: For modules with formal sit-down examinations Teaching days:   Monday 13  ,  Tuesday 13  ,  Wednesday 13 ,  Thursday 13 ,  Friday 13  :  65 days Compensatory days: Tuesday, 18 August follows a Monday timetable Study leave:  5 days;     Examinations:  14 days;     Supplementary Exams:  7 days

 

YEAR-END BREAK:
	Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Dec	Wed, 9 Dec	Supplementary exam marks for formal sit-down examinations and all continuous assessment marks from Semester 2, 2026 to be to be captured on SMS by 12h00
	Mon, 14 – Sat, 19 Dec	Wed, 16 Dec	Day of Reconciliation (Public holiday)
		Fri, 18 Dec	School Examination Boards
		Sat, 19 Dec	Release of results at 00h01
	Mon, 21 – Thu, 24 Dec	Thu, 24 Dec	University Offices close at 12h00

  PLEASE NOTE: 

• The University of KwaZulu-Natal reserves the right to change any of the said Sessional Dates, solely in its discretion, and without any liability for inconvenience and/or loss occasioned thereby.
• Sessional Dates for both the School of Medicine and the School of Education will be published separately.
• PGDip(Acc) : Dates will vary from the above and be published separately by the School concerned.
• All Bachelor of Nursing students are required to attend clinical training and community work during vacations in the year from the 01 January 2026 until 31 December 2026.

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