Table of Contents
The academic journey at UC San Diego (UCSD) is structured across four quarters — Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. The 2025–26 academic cycle runs from January 2, 2025 to June 12, 2026, beginning with Winter 2025 and ending after Spring 2026. The 2026–27 academic cycle continues from September 21, 2026 to September 6, 2027, starting with Fall 2026 and concluding after the last summer session. Knowing the full timeline helps students plan classes, travel, graduation goals, internships, and course load without uncertainty.
Below is a detailed and easy-to-follow explanation of each quarter across the two academic years — including start and end dates, holidays, final exam periods and planning tips for students.
UCSD Academic Calendar 2025–26
WINTER QUARTER 2025
Duration: January 2, 2025 – March 22, 2025
Key dates:
- Classes begin: January 2, 2025
- MLK Jr. Holiday: January 20, 2025
- Presidents’ Day: February 17, 2025
- Final Exams: Mid–March 2025
- Quarter ends: March 22, 2025
Student insight: Winter moves fast — two holidays reduce class time, so time management in the first month is critical.
SPRING QUARTER 2025
Duration: March 24, 2025 – June 13, 2025
Key dates:
- Quarter begins: March 24, 2025
- Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 28, 2025
- Memorial Day: May 26, 2025
- Instruction ends: Early June 2025
- Finals: June 2025
- Quarter ends: June 13, 2025
Student insight: This is a competitive quarter academically and professionally — early April is the peak time for internship applications.
SUMMER QUARTER 2025
Duration: June 23, 2025 – September 13, 2025
Key dates:
- Instruction begins: June 23, 2025
- Juneteenth Holiday: June 19, 2025
- Independence Day: July 4, 2025
- Final exams & quarter end: September 13, 2025
Student insight: Summer is ideal for earning credits without the pressure of the main academic year; courses are fast-paced but manageable with weekly planning.
FALL QUARTER 2025
Duration: September 22, 2025 – December 13, 2025
Key dates:
- Instruction begins: September 22, 2025
- Veterans Day: November 11, 2025
- Thanksgiving Break: November 27 – 29, 2025
- Final exams: December 2025
- Quarter ends: December 13, 2025
Student insight: The workload rises sharply after mid-October. If you manage the eight-week mark well, finals become easier to handle.
WINTER QUARTER 2026
Duration: January 5, 2026 – March 21, 2026
Key dates:
- Classes begin: January 5, 2026
- MLK Jr. Day: January 19, 2026
- Presidents’ Day: February 16, 2026
- Final Exams: March 2026
- Quarter ends: March 21, 2026
Student insight: This is one of the best quarters to improve GPA due to fewer distractions — great for heavy-credit courses.
SPRING QUARTER 2026
Duration: March 23, 2026 – June 12, 2026
Key dates:
- Quarter begins: March 23, 2026
- Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 27, 2026
- Memorial Day: May 25, 2026
- Final Exams: June 2026
- Quarter ends: June 12, 2026
Student insight: For final-year students, this is the quarter of final milestone checks: graduation audit, capstone deadlines, and commencement preparation.
UCSD Academic Calendar 2026–27
FALL QUARTER 2026
Duration: September 21, 2026 – December 12, 2026
Key dates:
- Instruction begins: September 24, 2026
- Veterans Day: November 11, 2026
- Thanksgiving break: November 26 – 27, 2026
- Final Exams: December 5 – 12, 2026
- Quarter ends: December 12, 2026
Student insight: Join clubs and campus opportunities early — most students finalize extracurricular commitments before October.
WINTER QUARTER 2027
Duration: January 4, 2027 – March 20, 2027
Key dates:
- Instruction begins: January 4, 2027
- MLK Jr. Day: January 18, 2027
- Presidents’ Day: February 15, 2027
- Final Exams: March 13 – 20, 2027
- Quarter ends: March 20, 2027
Student insight: Perfect quarter to take classes requiring consistency: math, science sequences, languages, etc.
SPRING QUARTER 2027
Duration: March 24, 2027 – June 11, 2027
Key dates:
- Instruction restarts: March 29, 2027
- Cesar Chavez Holiday: March 26, 2027
- Memorial Day: May 31, 2027
- Final Exams: June 5 – 11, 2027
- Quarter ends: June 11, 2027
- Commencement: June 12 – 13, 2027
Student insight: Best season for job fairs and networking — career events peak during April & May.
SUMMER 2027 (Session I, Session II & Special Session)
Duration varies by session and course, but key holidays include:
- Juneteenth: June 18, 2027
- Independence Day: July 5, 2027
- Labor Day: September 6, 2027
Student insight: Many students combine a 4-unit class with internships or part-time work during Summer to accelerate progress.
Quarter-Planning Strategy (Helpful for Students)
| Quarter | Focus Strategy |
|---|---|
| Fall | Build study routine & campus involvement |
| Winter | Concentrate on GPA & core requirements |
| Spring | Internship prep, career focus, graduation progress |
| Summer | Credits + flexibility (optional) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Does UCSD use the quarter or semester system?
The university uses the quarter system, not semesters.
Q2. How many weeks are in one quarter?
Around 10 weeks of instruction + final exams.
Q3. Is the Summer quarter mandatory?
No — Summer is optional but useful for early graduation or lighter regular-year course loads.
Q4. Can students travel during breaks?
Yes, but travel should not overlap with final exam dates.
Q5. Where should students verify official date changes?
Always cross-check with the official UCSD Academic Calendar before booking travel or registering for courses.
Conclusion
The UCSD Academic Calendar 2025–26 and 2026–27 clearly lays out instruction periods, holidays, and final examination windows across the four-quarter academic structure. With the full timeline now mapped out — from January 2, 2025 to June 12, 2026, and September 21, 2026 to September 6, 2027 — students can approach each quarter with preparation and confidence, whether focusing on coursework, internships, graduation or career planning.