Academic calendar

Academic calendar

The 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.

Academic calendar

Fall Semester

Day Date Event
Monday – Friday August 14 to 18 Students’ orientation
Monday August 21 First day of classes
Friday August 25 Last day to add / drop courses
Friday August 14 to September 06 Supervisors’ selection process
Monday – Wednesday September 1 Last day to apply for Course Withdrawal/Leave of Absence without penalty
Friday November 17 Publish the Spring 2024 Class Schedule
Monday – Friday November 20 to 24 Early Registration for Spring 2024 Semester
Tuesday December 5 Last day of Classes
Wednesday – Friday December 6 to 8 Final exams preparation period
Sunday – Thursday December 10 to 14 Final exams period
Friday December 15 Student 360 -All faculty meeting
Tuesday December 19 Faculty to submit grades
Monday December 25 Grades announcement
Thursday December 28 Students’ deadline to submit grade appeals

Winter break

Friday – Friday December 15 2023 to January 5 2024 Winter break for students
Thursday – Tuesday December 20 2023 to January 2 2024 Winter break for faculty

The official holidays observed by the university during the fall 2024 semester:

Occasion Date Holiday duration
Prophet Mohammed Birthday September 26 or September 27 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 8 First day of classes
Friday January 12 Last day to add / drop courses
Monday – Wednesday  January 15 to 30 April Fall 2022 cohort- MSc students/application for PhD articulation
Friday January 26 Last day to apply for Course Withdrawal/Leave of Absence without penalty
Monday March 25 Fall 2022 cohort-MSc students/ final deadline for thesis submission

Spring break

Monday – Friday March 25 to 29 Spring break for students and faculty

Spring semester continued

Thursday April 4 Fall 2022 cohort -MSc students/final deadline for thesis defense
Friday April 12 Publish the Fall 2024 Class Schedule
Monday April 15 Fall 2022 Cohort-PhD students/deadline to sit for the candidacy (oral) exam
Monday – Friday April 15 to 19 Early Registration for Fall 2024 Semester
Wednesday May 1 Last day of Classes
Thursday – Monday May 2 to 6 Final exams preparation period
Tuesday – Monday May 7 to 13 Final exams period
Tuesday May 14 Student 360 – All faculty meeting
Thursday May 16 Faculty to submit grades
Thursday May 23 Grades announcement
Wednesday May 29 Students’ deadline to submit grade appeals
Monday May 27 Qualifying exam for Ph.D. students – first attempt
Thursday June 6 Official Commencement Ceremony
Monday June 10 Qualifying exam for Ph.D. students – second attempt

Summer break

Wednesday May 15 Start of summer break for students
Monday May 20 Start of summer break for faculty

The official holidays observed by the University during the Spring 2024 semester:

Occasion Date Holiday duration
Eid Al Fitr April 10 to 12 Three days

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

Some of the above dates are subject to change.

Please contact the Registrar’s office  for the most up-to-date version.

University calendar