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U.S. immigration updates: A federal court has granted Harvard’s motion for a temporary restraining order halting enforcement of the June 4 presidential proclamation while our case proceeds. The court also extended its previous order, stopping the federal government from revoking Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. A hearing has been scheduled for June 16.

All deadlines are 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time unless otherwise specified below.

2025-26

Fall Term: September 2 – December 20, 2025

Important Dates Date
Pre-registration opens
Confirm your personal information in your MyDCE account before registration opens. Carts open in the DCE Course Search and Registration platform.
Tuesday, July 8 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for degree candidates and Premedical Program admitted candidates
Register early for the best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Friday, July 18 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for all students
Register early for the best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Monday, July 21 at 9 a.m.
Full payment deadline
Pay your balance in full by this date. If you are not paid in full, or enrolled in an active payment plan by this date, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through August 29.
Monday, August 11
English proficiency requirement deadline Thursday, August 21
Course registration deadline
Last day to register for fall courses. Late registration is not permitted after this date.
Thursday, August 28
Course change period
For registered students only.
Friday, August 29 – Tuesday, September 9
Classes begin
There will be no classes on University Holidays.
Tuesday, September 2
Course change deadline
For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from fall courses.
Tuesday, September 9
Course drop and withdrawal deadlines:
Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund Tuesday, September 9
Last day to drop courses for 50% tuition refund Tuesday, September 16
Last day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund
Course on record with WD (withdrawal) grade
Friday, November 21
Degree program application period for fall Saturday, November 1 – Monday, December 1
Final exams and last class meetings Monday, December 15 – Saturday, December 20
Grades available online Tuesday, January 6

January Session: January 5 – 24, 2026

Important Dates Date
Pre-registration opens
Confirm your personal information in your MyDCE account before registration opens. Carts open in the DCE Course Search and Registration platform.
Thursday, October 23 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for degree candidates and Premedical Program admitted candidates
Register early for best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Monday, November 3 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for all students
Register early for the best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Thursday, November 6 at 9 a.m.
Full payment deadline
Pay your balance in full by this date. If you are not paid in full, or enrolled in an active payment plan by this date, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through January 6.
Thursday, December 4
English proficiency requirement deadline Thursday, December 11
Course registration deadline
Last day to register for January courses. Late registration is not permitted after this date. 
Monday, January 5
Course change deadline
For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from January session courses.
Monday, January 5
Classes begin
There will be no classes on University Holidays.
Monday, January 5
Course drop and withdrawal deadlines:
Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund Monday, January 5
Last day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund
Course on record with WD (withdrawal) grade
Friday, January 16
Final exams and last class meetings Thursday, January 22
Session ends Saturday, January 24
Grades available online Tuesday, February 6

Spring Term: January 26 – May 16, 2026

Important Dates Date
Pre-registration opens
Confirm your personal information in your MyDCE account before registration opens. Carts open in the DCE Course Search and Registration platform.
Thursday, October 23 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for degree candidates and Premedical Program admitted candidates
Register early for the best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Monday, November 3 at 9 a.m.
Course registration opens for all students
Register early for the best choice of courses. You must pay your balance in full by the payment deadline. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists.
Thursday, November 6 at 9 a.m.
Full payment deadline
Pay your balance in full by this date. If you are not paid in full, or enrolled in an active payment plan by this date, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through January 23.
Thursday, January 8
English proficiency requirement deadline Thursday, January 15
Course registration deadline
Last day to register for spring courses. Late registration is not permitted after this date. 
Thursday, January 22
Course change period
For registered students only.
Friday, January 23 – Monday, February 2
Classes begin
There will be no classes on University Holidays.
Monday, January 26
Premedical Program application period
Apply early; program often fills before deadline.
Saturday, January 10 – Friday, April 10
Course change deadline
For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from spring courses.
Monday, February 2
Course drop and withdrawal deadlines:
Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund Monday, February 2
Last day to drop courses for 50% tuition refund Monday, February 9
Last day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund
Course on record with WD (withdrawal) grade
Friday, April 17
Degree program application period for spring Sunday, March 15 – Wednesday, April 15, 2025
Final exams and last class meetings Monday, May 11 – Saturday, May 16
Grades available online Tuesday, May 26
Commencement Thursday, May 28
Degree program application period for summer Wednesday, July 1 – Saturday, August 1

Summer Term: June 23 – August 8, 2025

Please visit the Harvard Summer School calendar.

 

 

Deadlines may differ for courses that do not follow the full academic calendar. If so, they are noted in course descriptions.

Holiday Calendar 2025–26

Classes do not meet on the following official University holidays* in 2025-26.

DateHoliday
September 1, 2025Labor Day
Offices closed
October 13, 2025Indigenous Peoples’ Day
No classes; offices closed
November 26 – 30, 2025Thanksgiving Break
No classes; offices closed November 27 – 30
December 21, 2025 – January 4, 2026Winter Break
No classes; offices closed December 21 – January 1
January 19, 2026Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No classes; offices closed
February 16, 2026President’s Day
No classes; offices closed
March 16 – 22, 2026Spring Break
No classes
May 25, 2026Memorial Day
No classes; offices closed

*Some courses may have class meetings during spring break (see course descriptions).

Administrative offices are closed on weekends and University holidays.