University of Washington Academic Calendar 2026-2027
Seattle, Washington
Public | Quarter System | ~52000 Students
Looking for important University of Washington academic calendar dates? Below you'll find registration periods, semester information, finals, commencement, and other resources.
Stay Organized at University of Washington with Course Sync
Keep your University of Washington classes, assignments, registration dates, exams, and important academic deadlines organized in one place. Course Sync helps you build a personalized term plan so you can stay ahead of deadlines, reduce stress, and stay focused throughout the entire academic year.
School Facts Card
School's Name
University of Washington
School's City
Seattle
School's State
Washington
School Semester System
Quarter
School's Enrollment
52000
School's Type
Public
Important Academic Dates
Fall Semester
Fall Semester Begins
September 29, 2026
Fall Add/Drop Deadline
Fall Withdrawal Deadline
Fall Finals Week Start Date
December 11, 2026
Fall Finals Week End Date
December 17, 2026
Spring Semester
Spring Semester Begins
March 28, 2027
Spring Add/Drop Deadline
Spring Break Start Date
March 19, 2027
Spring Break End Date
March 27, 2027
Spring Withdrawal Deadline
Spring Finals Week Start Date
June 4, 2027
Spring Finals Week End Date
June 10, 2027
Other Important Dates
Commencement Date
University of Washington
Summer Semester Begins
Seattle
University Overview
The University of Washington is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Unlike universities that use semesters, UW follows a quarter-based academic calendar with Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, along with multiple Summer sessions. The Office of the University Registrar maintains the official academic calendar.
Semester Overview
Fall Semester
The University of Washington does not use a traditional Fall semester. Autumn 2026 instruction begins September 30, classes end December 11, and final examinations run December 12-18. Winter Break follows from December 19 through January 3.
Spring Semester
The University of Washington does not use a traditional Spring semester. Spring 2027 instruction begins March 29, classes end June 4, and final examinations run June 5-11. Spring Break runs March 20-28 between the Winter and Spring quarters.
UW does not use a traditional Winter semester, but it has a Winter quarter. Winter 2027 instruction begins January 4, classes end March 12, and final examinations run March 13-19.
Summer Semester
UW offers a full-term Summer session as well as A-term and B-term sessions. Summer 2027 full-term and A-term instruction begins June 21, while B-term begins July 22.
Registration Overview
UW uses multiple registration periods. For Autumn 2026, continuing-student registration runs May 7-June 21, new-student registration runs June 22-September 29, and the final registration period runs September 30-October 6. Winter 2027 registration and Spring 2027 registration follow their own term-specific schedules.
Finals Overview
Autumn 2026 final examinations are December 12-18, Winter 2027 examinations are March 13-19, and Spring 2027 examinations are June 5-11. Summer courses generally hold final examinations on the last day of class.
Graduation Overview
UW's Spring 2027 commencement dates are June 11 for Tacoma, June 12 for Seattle, and June 13 for Bothell.
What Actually Works
Add every important academic deadline to one calendar
Review every course syllabus during the first week
Meet with your academic advisor before registration
Register as soon as your enrollment window opens
Track Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer sessions separately
Pay attention to course-specific withdrawal deadlines
Begin preparing for final exams before finals week
Check the official academic calendar regularly for updates
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the official University of Washington academic calendar?
The Oregon State University Office of the Registrar publishes the official academic calendar with term dates, registration deadlines, examinations, breaks, and commencement information.
Does the University of Washington use semesters or quarters?
The University of Washington uses a quarter-based academic calendar with Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, along with multiple Summer sessions.
Does the University of Washington offer Summer courses?
Yes. UW offers full-term Summer courses as well as A-term and B-term sessions. Summer 2027 full-term and A-term instruction begins June 21, while B-term begins July 22.
When is Spring Break at the University of Washington?
The University of Washington's Spring 2027 Break runs from March 20 through March 28.
Final Thoughts
The University of Washington academic calendar is more than a schedule of important dates. It helps students coordinate coursework, registration, shorter academic sessions, exams, internships, employment, and graduation throughout the academic year. Because UW uses a quarter system, regularly reviewing the calendar can be particularly helpful for avoiding missed deadlines.
Important Note
This page is intended for informational and planning purposes only. Academic calendars may vary by academic program, degree level, and course format. Always confirm registration dates, add/drop deadlines, withdrawal deadlines, examination schedules, and commencement information using University of Washington's official academic calendar before making academic decisions.
