Please see below for key dates for Academic Year (AY) 2028-29. To access key dates for future standard academic years, please follow the links on the right-hand side of this page.
Teaching at the University typically takes place across two semesters (‘Semester 1’ and ‘Semester 2’). Each semester encompasses an initial welcome/consolidation and development week, an 11-week teaching block, a formal assessment period and vacation dates.
Please note: Teaching Block dates below primarily relate to the standard academic year structure for undergraduate students. Postgraduate Taught programmes may have alternative start dates – Please check with your Department or School for further details.
Last updated: 22 October 2025
Semester 1 (S1)
11 September 2028 – 7 January 2029
| Event | Dates | Standard academic year structure* |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome and development week | 11 September 2028 to 17 September 2028 | 1 week |
| S1 Teaching block 1 | 18 September 2028 to 3 December 2028, excluding 25 September 2028 (non-teaching day, reduced campus opening) | 11 weeks |
| Autumn Graduations | Dates to come | |
| Formal assessment period | 4 December 2028 to 15 December 2028 |
2 weeks |
| Student holiday: Winter vacation | 16 December 2028 to 7 January 2029 (inclusive) | 3 weeks |
Semester 2 (S2)
8 January 2029 to 18 May 2029
| Event | Dates | Standard academic year structure* |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidation and development week | 8 January 2029 to 14 January 2029 | 1 week |
| S2 Teaching block 2 | 15 January 2029 to 1 April 2029, excluding 30 March 2029 (non-teaching day, reduced campus opening) | 11 weeks |
| Spring Graduations | Dates to come | Find out more about Graduations |
| Student holiday: spring vacation |
2 April 2029 to 15 April 2029 (inclusive) |
2 weeks |
| Formal assessment period | 16 April 2029 to 18 May 2029, excluding 7 May 2029 (non-teaching day, reduced campus opening) | 5 weeks |
Other key dates
19 May 2029 - 9 September 2029
| Event | Dates | Standard academic year structure* |
|---|---|---|
| Student holiday: summer vacation |
19 May 2029 – 9 September 2029 (inclusive) |
16 weeks |
| Summer Graduations |
Dates to come |
Find out more about Graduations |
| Formal assessment period |
25 July 2029 to 7 August 2029 |
|
Bank & public holidays AY 2028 - 2029
All bank holidays and public holidays are non-teaching days with reduced campus opening.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Holiday | 25 September 2028 |
| Christmas Day (or substitute day) | 25 December 2028 |
| Boxing Day (or substitute day) | 26 December 2028 |
| New Year’s Day | 1 January 2029 |
| 2nd January (or substitute day) | 2 January 2029 |
| Easter Good Friday Holiday | 30 March 2029 |
| Easter Monday Holiday | 2 April 2029 |
| Early May Holiday | 7 May 2029 |
| Spring Holiday | 28 May 2029 |
| Glasgow Fair Weekend | 13 July 2029 to 16 July 2029 |
Please note: this information may be subject to change.
*This represents the University’s standard academic year structure as outlined in the Policy on the Academic Year and Teaching Calendar. Senate has overall responsibility for determining the shape of the standard academic year.