COVID-19: To keep Harvard healthy, if you will have an “on-campus presence,” you must comply with Harvard University’s COVID-19 immunization policy. You are required to submit documentation within 10 days of registering for any course with any on-campus presence. You risk being dropped from your on-campus courses, even after classes begin, if you do not upload your documentation in an expedited manner or if your status is non-compliant. Visit the Immunization Requirements page for details.
All deadlines are 11:59 pm eastern time unless otherwise specified below.
Fall Term: September 5 – December 21, 2023
| 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. |
Monday, July 10 at 9 am |
| 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 21 at 9 am |
| 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 24 at 9 am |
| Full payment deadline Pay your balance in full by this date. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through August 31. |
Monday, August 21 |
| English proficiency requirement deadline | Thursday, August 24 |
| Course registration deadline Last day to register for fall courses. Late registration is not permitted after this date. |
Thursday, August 31 |
| Course change period For registered students only. Only students who have met the COVID-19 vaccination requirement may add on campus courses during the Course change period. |
Friday, September 1 – Tuesday, September 12 |
| Classes begin There will be no classes on University Holidays. |
Tuesday, September 5 |
| Course changes deadline For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from fall courses. |
Tuesday, September 12 |
| Course drop and withdrawal deadlines: | |
| Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund | Tuesday, September 12 |
| Last day to drop courses for 50% tuition refund | Tuesday, September 19 |
| Last Day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund Course on record with WD (withdrawal) grade |
Tuesday, November 21 |
| Degree program application period for fall | Wednesday, November 1 – Friday, December 1 |
| Final exams and last class meetings | Friday, December 15 – Thursday, December 21 |
| Grades available online | Thursday, January 4 |
January Session: January 2 – 20, 2024
| 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 19 at 9 am |
| 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. |
Thursday, November 2 at 9 am |
| 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, November 6 at 9 am |
| Full payment deadline Pay your balance in full by this date. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through January 2. |
Thursday, December 7 |
| English proficiency requirement deadline | Thursday, December 14 |
| Course changes deadline For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from January session courses. |
Tuesday, January 2 |
| Classes begin There will be no classes on University Holidays. |
Tuesday, January 2 |
| Course drop and withdrawal deadlines: | |
| Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund | Tuesday, January 2 |
| Last day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund Courses on record with WD (withdrawal) grade |
Friday, January 12 |
| Final exams and last class meetings | Thursday, January 18 |
| Session ends | Saturday, January 20 |
| Grades available online | Thursday, February 1 |
Spring Term: January 22 – May 11, 2024
| 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 19 at 9 am |
| 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. |
Thursday, November 2 at 9 am |
| 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, November 6 at 9 am |
| Full payment deadline Pay your balance in full by this date. If you do not, you risk being dropped from all courses and waitlists. Registration with immediate full payment remains open through January 18. |
Thursday, January 4 |
| English proficiency requirement deadline | Thursday, January 11 |
| Course registration deadline
Last day to register for spring courses. Registration may close earlier for students who have not met the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. Late registration is not permitted after this date. |
Thursday, January 18 |
| Course change period For registered students only. |
Friday, January 19 – Sunday, January 28 |
| Classes begin There will be no classes on University Holidays. |
Monday, January 22 |
| Premedical Program application period Apply early; program often fills before deadline. |
Thursday, February 1 – Wednesday, May 1 |
| Course changes deadline For registered students only. Last day to change credit status, and add or drop from spring courses. |
Sunday, January 28 |
| Course drop and withdrawal deadlines: | |
| Last day to drop courses for 100% tuition refund | Sunday, January 28 |
| Last day to drop courses for 50% tuition refund | Sunday, February 4 |
| Last Day to withdraw from courses for no tuition refund Course on record with WD (withdrawal) grade |
Friday, April 19 |
| Degree program application period for spring | Friday, March 15 – Monday, April 15 |
| Final exams and last class meetings | Monday, May 6 – Saturday, May 11 |
| Grades available online | Tuesday, May 21 |
| Commencement | Thursday, May 23 |
| Degree program application period for summer | Monday, July 1 – Thursday, August 1 |
Summer Term: June 24 – August 9, 2024
Deadlines may differ for courses that do not follow the full academic calendar. If so, they are noted in course descriptions.
Holiday Calendar 2023–24
No classes meet on the following official University holidays* in 2023-24.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2023 | Labor Day Offices closed |
| October 9, 2023 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day No classes; offices closed |
| November 22–26, 2023 | Thanksgiving Break No classes; offices closed November 23-November 26 |
| December 22, 2023–January 1, 2024 | Winter Break No classes; offices closed |
| January 15, 2024 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day No classes; offices closed |
| February 19, 2024 | President’s Day No classes; offices closed |
| March 10-16, 2024 | Spring Break No classes |
| May 27, 2024 | Memorial 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.
