Graduate Academic Calendar
Graduate Academic Calendar
The graduate academic calendar notes important dates throughout the academic year.
MBZUAI’s year is divided into two main semesters: Fall and Spring.
Classes are held Monday through Friday with the weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Graduate Academic Calendar
Fall Semester
| Day | Date | Event |
| Monday – Friday | August 12 to 16 | Students’ Onboarding and Orientation Program |
| Monday | August 19 | First day of classes |
| Friday | August 23 | Last day to add / drop courses |
| Friday | August 30 | Last day to apply for Course Withdrawal/Leave of Absence without penalty |
| Tuesday | October 1 at 8 AM (UAE Time) | Fall 2025 MSc PhD admission cycle opens (MSc students 2023 cohort can also apply at this time) |
| Thursday | October 24 | Spring 2021 cohort-PhD students/final deadline for thesis submission |
| Thursday | November 7 | Spring 2023 Cohort-PhD students/deadline to sit for the Candidacy (Oral) Exam |
| Monday | November 11 | Publish the Spring 2025 Class Schedule |
| Monday – Friday | November 18 to 22 | Early Registration for Spring 2025 Semester |
| Friday | November 29 | Last day of Classes |
| Wednesday – Friday | December 4 to 6 | Final exams preparation period |
| Sunday – Wednesday | December 8 to 11 | Final exams period |
| Monday | December 16 | Student 360 – Central Committee meeting |
| Wednesday | December 18 | Faculty to submit grades |
| Tuesday | December 24 | Grades announcement |
| Friday | December 27 | Students’ deadline to submit grade appeals |
Winter Break
| Thursday – Friday | December 12 2024 to January 3 2025 | Winter break for students |
The official holidays observed by the university during the Fall 2024 semester:
| Occasion | Date | Holiday duration |
| Prophet Mohammed Birthday | September 15 | One day |
| Commemoration Day | December 1 | One day |
| UAE National Day | December 2 and December 3 | Two days |
Spring Semester
| Day | Date | Event |
| Monday | January 6 | First day of classes |
| Friday | January 10 | Last day to add / drop courses |
| Wednesday | January 15 at 5 pm (UAE Time) | Regular deadline for Fall 2025 MSc and PhD applications |
| Friday | January 17 | Last day to apply for Course Withdrawal/Leave of Absence without penalty |
| Tuesday | February 11 | Graduate Opportunities and Internships Fair |
| Wednesday | April 2 | Fall 2021 cohort-PhD students/ final deadline for thesis submission |
| Wednesday | April 2 | Fall 2023 cohort-MSc students/ final deadline for thesis submission |
Spring Break
| Monday – Friday | March 24 to 28 | Spring break for Students |
Spring Semester Continued
| Tuesday | April 8 | Fall 2023 Cohort-PhD students/deadline to sit for the Candidacy (Oral) Exam |
| Monday | April 14 | Publish the Fall 2025 Class Schedule |
| Monday – Friday | April 21 to 25 | Early Registration for Fall 2025 Semester |
| Wednesday | April 30 | Last day of Classes |
| Thursday – Friday | May 1 to 2 | Final exams preparation period |
| Monday – Thursday | May 5 to 8 | Final exams period |
| Friday | May 9 | Student 360 – Central Committee meeting |
| Tuesday | May 13 | Faculty to submit grades |
| Friday | May 16 | Grades announcement |
| Wednesday | May 21 | Students’ deadline to submit grade appeals |
| Thursday | May 22 | Qualifying Exam for PhD students – 1st attempt |
| Saturday | May 31 at 5 PM (UAE Time) | Late deadline for Fall 2025 MSc and PhD applications. Late applications submitted after the ‘regular deadline’ may not be given full consideration |
| Thursday | June 5 | Qualifying Exam for PhD students – 2nd attempt |
Summer Vacation
| Friday | May 9 | Start of summer vacation for students |
The official holidays observed by the University during the Spring 2025 semester:
| Occasion | Date | Holiday duration |
| New Year’s Holiday | January 1 | One day |
| Eid Al Fitr Holiday | March 29 to April 1 | Four days |
Fall Semester
| Day | Date | Event |
| Monday – Friday | August 11 to 15 | Students’ Onboarding and Orientation Program |
| Monday | August 18 | First day of classes |
| Friday | August 29 | Last day to add / drop courses |
| Friday | October 17 | Withdrawal deadline |
| Thursday | October 30 | Research Showcase |
| Monday – Friday | November 10 to 14 | Registration for Spring 2026 Semester |
| Friday | November 21 | Last day of classes |
| Monday – Thursday | November 24 to 27 | Final Exams period |
| Friday | December 19 | Grades Announcement |
| Friday – Friday | November 28 2025 to January 9 2026 | No Classes |
The official holidays observed by the University during the Fall 2025 semester:
| Occasion | Date | Holiday duration |
| Prophet Mohammed Birthday | Friday, September 5 | One day |
| Commemoration Day | Monday, December 1 | One day |
| UAE National Day | Tuesday, December 2 and Wednesday, December 3 | Two days |
Spring Semester
| Day | Date | Event |
| Monday | January 12 | First day of classes |
| Friday | January 23 | Last day to add / drop courses |
| Wednesday | February 4 | Graduate Opportunities and Internships Fair |
| Friday | March 13 | Withdrawal deadline |
| Monday – Friday | March 16 to 20 | No Classes |
| Thursday | April 16 | Research Showcase |
| Monday – Friday | April 13 to 17 | Registration for Fall 2026 Semester |
| Friday | April 24 | Last day of classes |
| Monday – Thursday | April 27 to 30 | Final Exams period |
| Monday | May 18 | Grades Announcement |
| TBA | TBA | Official Commencement Ceremony |
| May — to August 15 | No Classes |
The official holidays observed by the University during the Spring 2026 semester:
| Occasion | Date | Holiday duration |
| New Year’s Holiday | Thursday, January 1 | One day |
| Eid Al Fitr | Wednesday, March 18 to Friday, March 20 | Three days |
Some of the above dates are subject to change.
Please contact the Registrar’s office for the most up-to-date version.