Academic Calendars: Office of the Registrar - Northwestern University (2024)

August

Thursday, August 10, 2023

New Transfer Student Registration at 9:00 a.m.

September

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Continuing Student Registration for Fall Quarter 2023 ends 11:59 p.m

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Fall registration for new TGS students and most Evanston graduate programs

Friday, September 15, 2023

New Undergraduate Fall 2023 Registration

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Change of Registration (Drop/Add)/Late registration for returning students begins

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Fall classes begin (No Northwestern Monday in Fall)

Monday, September 25, 2023

Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time) No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date

Monday, September 25, 2023

Last day to add a class or change a section for Fall

October

Monday, October 9, 2023

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Fall term (5W1)

Friday, October 13, 2023

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Fall term (5W1) 5:00 pm

Friday, October 20, 2023

Application for degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Fall Quarter

Friday, October 27, 2023

Last day to drop a FULL-TERM class for Fall in CAESAR. Any requests after this date result in a W on the transcript and must go through the course withdrawal process. (No tuition adjustment after 9/25/2023)

Monday, October 30, 2023

November

Monday, November 6, 2023

Pre-registration for Winter Quarter begins

Friday, November 10, 2023

Last day for undergraduate or TGS students to change grading status to or from P/N for Fall classe, where allowed - ends at 11:59 PM CST

Monday, November 13, 2023

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Fall term (5W2)

Monday, November 13, 2023

Registration for Winter 2024 begins

Friday, November 17, 2023

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Fall PhD candidates

Friday, November 17, 2023

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Fall term (5W2) 5:00 pm

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Term withdrawal and full-term course withdrawal petition deadline for Fall 5:00 pm

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Thanksgiving vacation begins 6:00 pm

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thanksgiving Day

Monday, November 27, 2023

Fall classes resume

Monday, November 27, 2023

WCAS Reading period begins

December

Friday, December 1, 2023

Master’s completion form due for TGS Fall master’s candidates

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Fall Classes End

Sunday, December 3, 2023

WCAS Reading Period ends

Monday, December 4, 2023

Fall examinations begin

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Fall examinations end

Monday, December 11, 2023

Fall 2023 Grades due by 3:00 pm

Friday, December 15, 2023

Fall Degrees Conferred

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Registration for Winter Quarter Opens for new TGS and Evanston Grad students

Friday, December 22, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

Monday, December 25, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

Friday, December 29, 2023

Winter Recess - University Closed

January

Monday, January 1, 2024

New Year's Day - University Closed

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Winter Classes begin

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Last day to add a class or change a section for Winter

Monday, January 15, 2024

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - University Closed

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Winter term (5W1)

Friday, January 26, 2024

Application for a degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Winter Quarter

Friday, January 26, 2024

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Winter term (5W1) 5:00 pm

February

Friday, February 2, 2024

Application for a degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Spring Quarter

Monday, February 5, 2024

Friday, February 9, 2024

Last day to drop a FULL-TERM class for Winter via CAESAR. Any requests after this date result in a W on the transcript and must go through the course withdrawal process.

Monday, February 12, 2024

Pre-Registration for Spring 2024 begins

Monday, February 19, 2024

Registration for Spring 2024 begins

Friday, February 23, 2024

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Winter PhD candidates

Friday, February 23, 2024

Last day for undergraduate, TGS, and most graduate programs to change grading status to or from P/N for Winter classes, where allowed.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Winter term (5W2)

March

Friday, March 1, 2024

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Winter term (5W2) 5:00 pm

Friday, March 1, 2024

Term withdrawal and full-term course withdrawal petition deadline for Winter 5:00 pm

Thursday, March 7, 2024

WCAS Reading Period begins

Friday, March 8, 2024

Master's completion form due for TGS Winter master's candidates

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Winter Classes End

Sunday, March 10, 2024

WCAS Reading Period ends

Monday, March 11, 2024

Winter Examinations Begin

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Spring Break Begins

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Winter Examinations End

Monday, March 18, 2024

Winter grades due by 3:00 pm

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Registration for Spring Quarter Opens for new TGS and Evanston Grad students

Friday, March 22, 2024

Winter Degrees Conferred

Monday, March 25, 2024

Spring Break Ends

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Spring Change of Registration (Drop/Add)/Late registration begins

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Spring Classes Begin - Northwestern Monday: Classes scheduled to meet on Mondays meet on this day.

April

Monday, April 1, 2024

Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time) No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date.

Monday, April 1, 2024

Last day to add a class or change a section for Spring

Monday, April 1, 2024

Summer Courses Viewable in CAESAR

Monday, April 8, 2024

Registration begins for Summer term

Monday, April 15, 2024

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Spring term (5W1)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 5 of the Spring term (5W1) 5:00 pm

May

Friday, May 3, 2024

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam and change of grade forms due to TGS for Spring PhD candidates

Friday, May 3, 2024

Last day to drop a FULL-TERM class for Spring. Any requests after this date result in a W on the transcript and must go through the course withdrawal process.(No tuition adjustment after 4/1/2024)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Friday, May 10, 2024

Master's completion form due for TGS Spring master's candidates

Monday, May 13, 2024

Pre-Registration for Fall 2024 begins

Friday, May 17, 2024

Last day for undergraduate or TGS students to change grading status to or from P/N for Spring classes, where allowed.

Monday, May 20, 2024

Last day to drop a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Spring term (5W2)

Monday, May 20, 2024

Registration for Fall 2024 begins

Friday, May 24, 2024

Last day to withdraw from a five-week course ending in week 10 of the Spring term (5W2) 5:00 pm

Friday, May 24, 2024

Term withdrawal and full-term course withdrawal petition deadline for Spring 5:00 pm

Monday, May 27, 2024

Memorial Day (no classes)

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

WCAS Reading Period begins

June

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Spring classes end

Sunday, June 2, 2024

WCAS Reading Period ends

Monday, June 3, 2024

Spring examinations begin

Friday, June 7, 2024

Spring examinations end

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Graduation Weekend (June 8th through June 10th)

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Spring 2024 Commencement

Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Spring 2024 Grading Deadline

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Registration for Summer Quarter Opens for new TGS and Evanston Grad students

Friday, June 14, 2024

Spring Degrees Conferred

Monday, June 17, 2024

Summer Classes Begin. Summer Change of Registration (Drop/Add)/Late registration begins

Monday, June 17, 2024

Summer Session begins

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Juneteenth (no classes)

July

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Independence Day - University Closed

Friday, July 5, 2024

Application for degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Summer

August

Friday, August 2, 2024

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Summer PhD candidates

Friday, August 16, 2024

Master's completion form due for TGS Summer master's candidates

Friday, August 30, 2024

Summer degrees conferred

September

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Continuing Student Registration for Fall Quarter 2024 ends 11:59 p.m

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Registration for Fall Quarter Opens for new TGS and Evanston Grad students

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Fall 2024 Classes Begin

Monday, September 30, 2024

Last day to add or change classes (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

October

Friday, October 25, 2024

Application for degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Fall

November

Friday, November 1, 2024

Last day to drop a course for Fall term

Monday, November 4, 2024

Pre-Registration for Winter 2025 begins

Monday, November 11, 2024

Registration for Winter 2025 begins

Friday, November 15, 2024

Last day to change grading status to or from P/NP

Friday, November 22, 2024

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Fall PhD candidates

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Thanksgiving Vacation begins at 6:00 PM (No classes, University offices closed)

December

Monday, December 2, 2024

WCAS Reading period begins

Friday, December 6, 2024

Master's completion form due for TGS Fall master's candidates

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Fall classes end

Sunday, December 8, 2024

WCAS Reading period ends

Monday, December 9, 2024

Fall Exams Begin

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Fall exams end

Monday, December 16, 2024

Grades due by 3:00 pm

Friday, December 20, 2024

Fall 2024 Degrees Conferred

January

Monday, January 6, 2025

Winter classes begin

Friday, January 10, 2025

Last day to add or change classes (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

Monday, January 20, 2025

No Classes - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (University Offices Closed)

Friday, January 31, 2025

Application for degree due to The Graduate School to receive a degree in Winter

February

Monday, February 10, 2025

Pre-Registration for Spring 2025 begins

Friday, February 14, 2025

Last day to drop Winter term courses

Monday, February 17, 2025

Registration for Spring 2025 begins

Friday, February 28, 2025

Dissertation, PhD Final Exam, and change of grade forms due to TGS for Winter PhD candidates

Friday, February 28, 2025

Last day to change grading status to or from P/NP

March

Friday, March 7, 2025

Withdrawal petition deadline at 5:00 PM

Monday, March 10, 2025

WCAS Reading period begins

Friday, March 14, 2025

Master's completion form due for TGS Winter master's candidates

Sunday, March 16, 2025

WCAS Reading period ends

Monday, March 17, 2025

Winter exams begin

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Spring Break Begins

Saturday, March 22, 2025

Winter exams end

Monday, March 24, 2025

Grades due by 3:00 pm

Friday, March 28, 2025

Winter Degrees Conferred

Monday, March 31, 2025

Spring Break Ends

April

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Spring term courses begin

Monday, April 7, 2025

Last day to add or change classes for Spring term (Last day for tuition adjustment related to enrollment changes (to or from full-time). No reductions are made to bills for dropped or swapped classes after this date)

May

Friday, May 9, 2025

Last day to drop courses for Spring term.

Monday, May 26, 2025

No classes - Memorial Day (University offices closed)

June

Monday, June 9, 2025

Spring examinations begin

Friday, June 13, 2025

Spring examinations end

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Spring grades due by 3:00 PM

Thursday, June 19, 2025

No Classes - Juneteenth (University offices closed)

Friday, June 20, 2025

Spring Degrees Conferred

Monday, June 23, 2025

Summer classes begin

Academic Calendars: Office of the Registrar - Northwestern University (2024)

FAQs

Is Northwestern on trimesters? ›

Northwestern follows a quarterly academic schedule, which consists of three quarters lasting approximately 10 weeks each (Fall, Winter, and Spring), plus a summer term.

What is a northwestern Monday? ›

What is Northwestern Monday? When winter or spring quarter begin on a Tuesday, the Monday class schedule will be in effect. Classes that meet on a Tuesday/Thursday schedule will meet for their first class on Thursday.

How long is the Northwestern Thanksgiving break? ›

Fall Quarter 2023
DateEvent
22Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through November 26
December
9Fall 2023 quarter ends
11Grades for Fall 2023 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
17 more rows

Does Northwestern have winter break? ›

Winter Recess days are not holidays but are provided in addition to the already scheduled University holidays of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The goal of Winter Recess is to close the University.

Is the quarter system harder? ›

Smaller Course Loads: Full-time students on the quarter system take fewer classes at once (usually 3-4). As a result, they may find it easier to focus and succeed in their coursework.

Are trimesters better than semesters? ›

It's really up to one's personal strengths and weaknesses. Those who prefer to take extra classes while understanding it might be more difficult might do better in a trimester schedule, while those who would rather stick with the regular amount of work would likely do better in the semester schedule.

What is the acceptance rate of Northwestern? ›

What is the acceptance rate for NU? Northwestern admissions is extremely selective with an acceptance rate of 7%. Students that get into Northwestern have an average SAT score between 1490-1570 or an average ACT score of 33-35. The regular admissions application deadline for Northwestern is January 3.

How long is Thanksgiving break at Harvard? ›

1.3 Academic Calendar
DateEvent
November 10, 2023HBS Holiday (Veterans Day) - Other Harvard University schools may hold classes
November 22 – 24, 2023Harvard University Holiday (Thanksgiving Break)
December 7 – 15, 2023RC Exam Period (Fall Term)
December 8 – 14, 2023EC Exam Period (Fall Term)
26 more rows

How many days off for Thanksgiving College? ›

At most schools, Thanksgiving break is only three days long (the Wednesday before the holiday, Thanksgiving Day, and the Friday after) and classes resume the following Monday. Final exams are then two or three weeks after Thanksgiving break.

How many classes is full time at Northwestern? ›

Undergraduate students

Undergraduates are considered to be full time when they enroll in 3.00 units of credit or more.

How long is a semester at Northwestern? ›

Currently, Fall quarter is ten weeks and two days, excluding exams, and Winter and Spring quarters are nine weeks and three or four days, excluding exams.

Does Northwestern allow gap years? ›

Students in good academic standing in Weinberg College may generally take time off from their studies and return to Northwestern whenever they choose to do so. No special permission for a leave of absence is required.

What universities use trimester? ›

Colleges on a Trimester System
  • Baptist College of Health Sciences (Memphis, TN)
  • Boricua College (New York, NY)
  • Brigham Young University — Idaho (Rexburg, ID)
  • Bryn Athyn College (Bryn Athyn, PA)
  • Cambridge College (Boston, MA)
  • Carleton College (Northfield, MN)
  • Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario, CN)

Is Northeastern University on semesters or trimesters? ›

Northeastern operates on the 15 to 16 week semester, plus a three to four day final exam schedule. In addition, the college offers intensive courses, generally the two weeks prior to each term and summer: August term, January term, and May term.

Why is Northwestern on the quarter system? ›

Schools on the semester system have two semesters in their entire school year. And for Northwestern and other quarter system schools, It allows a lot of flexibility around which classes you're taking. For example, on average, we take around four classes a quarter, and that's 12 classes per quarter.

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