The academic calendar of Washington University in St. Louis is designed to provide an optimal amount of classroom instruction and examination within a manageable time frame, facilitating our educational mission to promote learning among both students and faculty. The dates listed here are the outline of the standard semester calendar, applicable to traditional undergraduate and many graduate programs. Certain schools or programs may have varying calendars due to the nature of particular fields of study. Please refer to the Academic Calendar page of the Office of the University Registrar's website for more information.
Fall Semester 2026
| Date | Day | Description |
|---|---|---|
| August 24 | Monday | First day of classes |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day holiday (no classes) |
| October 3-6 | Saturday-Tuesday | Fall Break (no classes) |
| November 25-November 29 | Wednesday-Sunday | Thanksgiving Break (no classes) |
| December 7 | Monday | Last day of classes |
| December 8-9 | Tuesday-Wednesday | Reading days |
| December 10-16 | Thursday-Wednesday | Final exams |
Spring Semester 2027
| Date | Day | Description |
|---|---|---|
| January 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (no classes) |
| January 19 | Tuesday | First day of classes |
| March 14-21 | Sunday-Sunday | Spring Break (no classes) |
| May 3 | Monday | Last day of classes |
| May 4-5 | Tuesday-Wednesday | Reading days |
| May 6-12 | Thursday-Wednesday | Final exams |
Commencement
| Date | Day | Description |
|---|---|---|
| May 21 | Friday | Class of 2027 Commencement |
Summer Semester 2027
| Date | Day | Description |
|---|---|---|
| May 24 | Monday | First Summer Session begins |
| May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day holiday (no classes) |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day holiday observed (no classes) |
| August 19 | Thursday | Last Summer Session ends |
Religious Holiday Class Absence Policy
As home to students, faculty, and staff of all the world’s major religions and as a non-sectarian institution, Washington University in St. Louis values the rich diversity of spiritual expression and practice found on campus. It is therefore the policy of the university that students who miss class, assignments, or exams to observe a religious holiday should be accommodated as follows:
- Absences should be counted as excused in any course in which attendance is a measure of academic performance;
- Reasonable extensions of time should be given, without academic penalty, for missed assignments; and
- Exams should be reasonably rescheduled without academic penalty.
To ensure that accommodations may be made, students who plan to miss class for a religious holiday must inform their instructors in writing before the end of the third week of class or as soon as possible if the holiday occurs during the first three weeks of the semester. Instructors should inform students on their syllabus and/or at the start of the class how they would like students to notify them of any accommodation needs related to religious observance.
Absence for religious reasons does not lessen students’ responsibility for coursework or material covered during their absence. It is incumbent on the student who misses a class to catch up on any material discussed and assignments given during that class period. If a student believes that they have not received a reasonable accommodation despite engaging with their instructor on the topic, they should follow the course grievance process outlined by their school.
The Office for Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life provides a list of Religious & Spiritual Holidays that fall within the academic year. This list is not a designation of religious holidays recognized by the university, and it is not meant to be comprehensive; it is simply a guide to help students and instructors plan their courses and assignments.
For Faculty
Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling exams on religious holidays, particularly those with work restrictions as noted on the holiday calendar.
Faculty should be supported in establishing a teaching schedule that allows them to avoid conflict with their observance of religious holidays. Where this is not possible, faculty should make up any missed class(es) in the method most appropriate to student learning in their course (e.g., rescheduling for an alternate time, providing asynchronous material, engaging a guest lecturer). Appropriate advance notice should be provided to students.
Any instructor with concerns regarding either a given holiday or the academic implications of a particular student's religious observance of holidays may seek guidance from the chair of their department, the dean of their school, or the Director for Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life.