When does the university year end? Whilst each university will have its own official date marking the start of the summer, the reality is that the answer to this question changes based on many different factors, such as which university you attend, which year of study you’re in and when you make the decision to pack up and move out.
So, when is that likely to be? Depending on your university, the answer is May or June, but it’s not always as simple as that. Although we can’t make the decision for you, here are the things you’ll need to consider when deciding that your year at university is done.
When does the summer break start?
Semesters
UK universities will generally divide their academic year up in one of two ways: three terms, or two semesters. The majority use semesters, with the first running from early/mid-September to mid-December, and the second from mid/late January all the way through to Summer. These universities tend to finish the academic year either in May or early June, immediately after the exam period.
Terms
Universities that split their year into terms, such as Oxford, Cambridge and Durham, finish slightly later, in mid-to-late June. The first term runs from late September or early October to early December, the second from early January to mid-March (although this may vary slightly, depending on when Easter falls), and the third between late April and June.
The third term tends to be split between the exam period in the first half, and the social period in the second, which allows time for things such as balls and fashion shows. Although there is no obligation to stay for these events, for many students this is an important chance to unwind at the end of the year and is arguably the most important period in the social calendar when you attend a term-based uni, so this an important thing to consider in terms of when the year ends for you.
Searching for dates
The main thing to keep in mind is that every university will have a different official end-of-term date, so you can’t assume that the answer that pops up at the top of your search engine will necessarily apply to your uni. You’ll need to be precise with your search: for example, searching ‘Edinburgh University semester dates’ will bring up an academic calendar which will show you exactly when each semester starts and ends, usually not just for the current academic year but also for the next 3-4 years.
When do exams end?
Whether your university uses terms or semesters, exams should end no later than the start of June. The second semester usually ends when the exam period ends, and it is up to students when they leave their university city or town after this. Since COVID-19, it is more common than not for exams to be online, so for many, there would be no obligation to be physically in attendance for the exam period. If this is the case, you could sit your exams from home if that’s your preference. If you do choose to do this, consider whether you’ll be coming back to uni after your exams, to save yourself the extra trip to collect your things.
Remember, some subjects and universities do still require in-person exams, so don’t assume that yours will be online; it’s always best to check with your department. Of course, not everyone will have exams right up until the final day of the exam period, and you could be finished long before this, so you’ll need to decide whether to remain at university until everyone else is finished, or whether to move home earlier.
If your university has terms instead of semesters, the term will most likely carry on for around three weeks after exams, so you won’t need to worry about packing up straight away. As mentioned earlier, it is up to you how long you stay after the exam period, and this usually depends on social commitments leading up to the official end of the term. If balls and socials aren’t really your thing, you may decide to leave when you finish your exams.
Do I stay until graduation?
First and second-year students
Another factor that determines when the university year ends is your year of study. For those in their first and second years of university, there is generally less obligation to stay after the end of exams, although this is up to the individual. Again, each university is different, so it’s best to check what the norm is for students at your uni.
Final year students
It’s more complicated for those in their third or fourth year of study. These students have graduation to consider, and this is something else which differs hugely from university to university. In some places (more often at term-based universities), it is normal to remain at uni until you graduate, and leave afterwards; at others, you may leave for a month or so between exams and graduation, and simply come back for the day. What you choose to do will probably depend on a few different considerations, such as what your friends do, how long the gap between exams and graduation is, and what your university recommends.
In many cases, the biggest deciding factor will be housing: often, a student tenancy will end when the term/semester ends, and if this is the case you may not be able to remain in your student house until you graduate. Some people look for alternative accommodation in the meantime, such as hotels, Airbnbs or staying with a friend, but many simply leave and come back for a day or two over graduation. Check out our blog for a comprehensive list of things to do before leaving uni as a final-year student.
Is the postgraduate year the same?
The university year looks very different for postgraduates and undergraduates. Generally, the postgraduate year will be a full 12 months, from September to September, rather than autumn to summer. Master’s students will write their dissertations (or equivalent) in the summer, and their dissertation deadline is usually the date that unofficially marks the end of their studies. Their graduation will then be in the winter, most often in November or January.
Luckily, it’s hard to confuse undergraduate and postgraduate dates when researching the end of the university year, as postgraduate dates are usually harder to find; universities revolve primarily around the undergraduate calendar. Universities will usually have a note on their webpage of term dates explaining the postgraduate calendar, or where postgraduates can find this information.
What should I be doing over the summer?
Forward planning
Whenever you decide that the university year is over, there’s always plenty to keep you busy until you return. The summer is the perfect time to start thinking about things like internships, grad jobs, placement years, years abroad – whatever it is that you need to plan. Or, if that’s not something you want to think about just yet, a little extra reading or research in preparation for the year ahead could help you stay on top of things when you come back in September.
Dissertation
If you’re going into your final year, getting ahead with your dissertation can help alleviate some stress when the time comes to start working on it. Even if it’s just jotting down a few potential areas of research to remember for next semester, the workload can be stressful in your final year, so getting a head start can be helpful.
You may simply want to take the summer to reset and forget all of your academic stress – which is perfectly okay too! It’s easy to feel burnt out as a student; starting the next year feeling calm and refreshed can be more productive in the long run.
Making the decision
Ultimately, you have a certain level of freedom when it comes to deciding when the university year ends for you. Whilst factors like exams, tenancies and social commitments do form the basis of that decision, the rest is in your hands; therefore, there’s no one answer to the question ‘when does the university year end?’, because that answer is different for everyone based on their circumstances.
Although there will be an official date that marks the end of the term or semester at your university, in reality, this will probably not be the date that you actually leave. People leave gradually, and there is no mass exodus of students going home for the summer. Although it may seem counterproductive, don’t plan your departure too many months in advance: it’s wise to leave yourself some flexibility, as the end of term is often a busy time, and there may be things that you need or want to stay for.
The university year does not follow the academic year in the simple way that schools do; each university has its own calendar, and students have much more autonomy when it comes to deciding where they want to be, and when. That decision is usually made as a result of many different contributing factors, and every student will have their own needs to consider. Remember to think about both your social and academic commitments, and this should give you the answer as to when your own university year ends.
No matter what your year at uni looks like, at Graduate Coach we want to help you succeed in whatever comes next. Take a look at our blog for the best tips on how to navigate graduate life, or browse our online courses to see how you can optimise your skills for the graduate job market.
Featured image by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels
Written by Isobel Bremner
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