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2023-24 Academic Calendar

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

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 2023–24

No classes meet on the following official University holidays* in 2023-24.

DateHoliday
September 4, 2023Labor Day
Offices closed
October 9, 2023Indigenous Peoples’ Day
No classes; offices closed
November 22–26, 2023Thanksgiving Break
No classes; offices closed November 23-November 26
December 22, 2023–January 1, 2024Winter Break
No classes; offices closed
January 15, 2024Martin Luther King Jr. Day
No classes; offices closed
February 19, 2024President’s Day
No classes; offices closed
March 10-16, 2024Spring Break
No classes
May 27, 2024Memorial 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.