Key dates - Bahrain campusAcademic session 2026-27

Please see below for key dates for Academic Year (AY) 2026-27. To access key dates for future 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.

Last updated: 22 October 2025

Semester 1 (S1)

13 September 2026 - 9 January 2027

Event Dates
Welcome and development week

13 September 2026 to 19 September 2026

S1 Teaching block 1

20 September 2026 to 5 December 2026

Formal assessment period

6 December 2026 to 19 December 2026, excluding 16 -17 December 2026 (non-teaching days, reduced campus opening)

Student holiday: Winter vacation 20 December 2026 to 9 January 2027 (inclusive)

Semester 2 (S2)

10 January 2027 - 20 May 2027

Event Dates
Consolidation and development week 10 January 2027 to 16 January 2027
S2 Teaching block 2 17 January 2027 to 3 April 2027, excluding from 10 March 2027 for 3-5 days (non-teaching days, reduced campus opening)
Student holiday: spring vacation

4 April 2027 to 17 April 2027 (inclusive)

Formal assessment period 18 April 2027 to 20 May 2027,  excluding 1 May 2027 and 16 May 2027 for 3-5 days (non-teaching days, reduced campus opening).

Other key dates

21 May 2027 - 11 September 2027

Event Dates Standard academic year structure*
Student holiday: summer vacation

21 May 2027 to 11 September 2027 (inclusive)

16 weeks
Formal assessment period

28 July 2027 to 10 August 2027

Bank holidays AY 2026 - 2027

All bank holidays are non-teaching days with reduced campus opening.

Event Date
National Day 1 16 to 17 December 2026
New Year’s Day 1 1 January 2027
Eid Al Fitr (3–5 days duration) 2 Starting 10 March 2027
Labour Day 1 1 May 2027
Eid Al Adha (3–5 days duration) 2 Starting 16 May 2027
Al Hijra New Year 2 TBC
Ashoora 2 TBC
Prophet’s Birthday 2 TBC

Reference:

  • Ramadan (non-bank holiday): 8 February 2027 – 9 March 2027. Eid Al Fitr bank holidays mark the end of Ramadan
  • [1] Fixed bank holiday
  • [2] Variable bank holiday – exact timings subject to confirmation nearer the time

Please note: this information may be subject to change.