Important Dates for Graduate Students: Academic Year 2026-2027
For registration, add/drop, and withdrawal deadlines, please see the Registrar's Calendar.
Fall Semester 2026
August 24 | Classes begin starting at 5:00PM (Full Semester, First Half-Semester, and First Third-Semester) |
September 7 | Labor Day (no classes; offices closed) |
September 15 | Applications for December Graduation due via Wingspan. A late fee of $25 is due for fall applications submitted after September 15. |
October 12-18 | Online program Fall Break; no classes for 100% online programs |
October 16-19 | Fall Break (no classes, offices open) |
November 25-29 | Thanksgiving Holiday; no classes (offices closed November 26-27) |
December 1 | Theses due to Graduate Studies Office, 211 Tillman Hall |
December 1 | Results of Comprehensive Examinations, Portfolios and Recitals due to the Graduate School, 211 Tillman Hall |
December 7 | Last day of Fall classes (full-semester, second half of the semester, after mid-semester and last third classes) |
December 8 | Study Day |
December 9-15 | Final Examinations |
December 19, 11 a.m. | Commencement for Summer and Fall 2025 graduates |
December 16 - January 10 | Holiday Break (offices closed December 24 – January 1) |
Spring Semester 2027
January 11 | Spring 2027 classes begin |
January 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday; no classes, offices closed |
February 1 | Applications for May Graduation due via Wingspan. A late fee of $25 is due for Spring applications submitted after February 1. |
March 1-7 | Online programs Spring Break; no classes |
March 15-19 | Spring Break; no classes |
April 7 | Registration for Summer and Fall Begins |
April 20 | Theses due to the Graduate School, 211 Tillman Hall |
April 26 | Last day of Spring courses |
April 26 | Results of Comprehensive Examinations, Portfolios and Recitals due to the Graduate School for Spring graduation |
April 27 | Study Day |
April 28 – May 4 | Final examinations |
May 1 | Applications for August Graduation due via Wingspan. A late fee of $25 is due for Summer applications submitted after May 1. |
May 8, 10 a.m. | Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement for students graduating from: College of Arts and Sciences |
May 8, 3 p.m. | Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement for students graduating from: College of Business and Technology |
Summer Session 2027
May 31 | Memorial Day Holiday; no classes, offices closed |
July 5 | Independence Day Holiday (observed); no classes, offices closed |
August 3 | Results of Comprehensive Examinations, Portfolios and Recitals due to the Graduate School for August graduates |
August 3 | Theses due to the Graduate School, 211 Tillman Hall |
Winthrop University courses are scheduled throughout the day and evening beginning at 8 a.m. and ending at 9:15 p.m. Many of the courses offered in the evening are graduate professional courses. Students are encouraged to refer to the current semester's online Schedule of Courses (http://www.winthrop.edu/recandreg/courses) for additional information.
Summer Session
Winthrop University's summer session is composed of an intensive 3-week Maymester, two 4.5-week terms, and a 9-week term that allow students to take advantage of many summer opportunities. The summer program reflects the same educational goals as those of the regular academic year. Winthrop summer terms also provide special advantages in allowing both current and new students an opportunity to accelerate their work toward a degree or to pursue academic directions they have been unable to explore during the regular school year. 7Due to weekend formats and graduate cohorts, other terms are offered. For more information, please refer to https://www.winthrop.edu/summer/index.aspx.