Fall 2026 Academic Calendar

All dates are tentative until closer to the beginning of the semester.

UG = Undergraduate students; GRAD = Graduate students

Part of Term (POT) values indicate the time frame for the course.  The Class Schedule shows what part of term each course is scheduled in to assist with identifying deadlines. 

• 1 = full 16 week semester (approximately 8/24/2026 – 12/9/2026 plus finals)
• A = first 8 weeks of the semester (approximately 8/24/2026 – 10/16/2026)
• B = second 8 weeks of the semester (approximately 10/19/2026 – 12/9/2026 plus finals)

Non-standard course offerings will not have a POT and do not follow the dates and deadlines on this calendar. Please refer to the non-standard tables on the withdrawal and refund webpages for deadline details. Start and end dates are shown in the Section Details on Course Explorer.

2026-2027 Senate Academic Calendar

Undergraduate student registration deadlines by POT in an easy to read chart
Graduate and Professional student registration deadlines by POT in an easy to read chart

Graduation and Degree Certification deadlines

March 9

• Fall and Summer Class Schedules are available on Course Explorer

March 30

• Time Tickets (earliest registration times) for Summer and Fall 2026 priority registration available to view on Student Self-Service
• Open time tickets will be assigned the following day

April 6

• Priority registration begins for Summer and Fall 2026 for eligible continuing and returning students

April 23

• Open registration for Fall 2026 begins for all except non-degree students

July 14

• Fall advanced registration verification available from NSC via Student Self-Service under Registration & Records/Enrollment Verification

July 15

• Open registration begins for Fall 2026 for non-degree students

August 17

• Fall tuition and fee charges first appear on student accounts

August 16-23

• University Housing Fall 2026 Move-In

August 23

• 11:59 PM CST Deadline to cancel registration (drop all Fall 2026 classes) for full reversal of tuition and campus fees for classes scheduled in a regular semester
• This date does not apply to Non-standard course offerings. The deadline to cancel is the day prior to the first day of the course.

August 22 – Sept 25

• Health Insurance Change/Waiver Period

August 24

• First day of instruction for Fall POT 1 (full semester) and POT A (1st 8 week) courses

August 28

• Deadline for ALL to add a POT A course via Student Self-Service
• Deadline for ALL to drop POT A course for refund if tuition range changes or billing hours decrease
• Deadline to suppress directory information

September 4 – “10th day” add/drop deadline

• Deadline for ALL to drop or reduce POT 1 (full semester) hours and receive refund if tuition range changes or billing hours decrease
• Deadline for ALL to add a POT 1 (full semester) course via Student Self-Service
• Deadline for ALL to change credit hours on variable credit courses via Student Self-Service
• Deadline for ALL to submit request to Audit a class
• Deadline for GRAD to submit request for in-absentia status via the Graduate College Student Portal
• Deadline for Undergraduate & Vet Med students to apply to graduate in December via Student Self-Service. After this date, please contact your Academic Office for assistance.

September 5

• Official fall enrollment information transmitted to NSC for processing to NSLDS to provide loan deferment if applicable. Notification to federal loan providers should occur within 2 – 3 weeks.

September 7

Labor Day (all-campus holiday) – no classes

September 18

• Deadline for ALL to drop POT A (1st 8 week) course via Student Self-Service without grade of W
• Deadline for UG to elect credit/no credit or change credit/no credit to regular grade basis in POT A course
• Deadline for UG to file intent to use Campus Grade Replacement option in POT A course

September 28

• Full payment due for Fall 2026 charges unless on a payment plan.  Visit Pay My Bill for more information regarding payment options and due dates.

October 2

• Deadline for GRAD to drop a POT A (1st 8 week) course via Graduate Student Portal without a grade of W
• Deadline for GRAD to elect credit/no credit for a POT A course or to change credit/no credit to a regular grade

October 5

• Midterm grade entry enabled for Instructors in Faculty Self-Service
• Spring Class Schedule is available on Course Explorer

October 13 at 2:00 PM

• Faculty deadline for reporting midterm grades for freshmen

October 14

• Final Exam schedule posted to Office of Registrar website and Course Explorer
• POT A (1st 8 week) grade entry enabled for Instructors in Faculty Self-Service

October 16

• Deadline for ALL to drop POT 1 (full semester) course via Student Self-Service without grade of W 
• Deadline for UG to remove incomplete grade from previous semester to prevent change to F grade
• Deadline for UG to elect credit/no credit or change credit/no credit to regular grade basis in POT 1 course
• Deadline for UG to file intent to use Campus Grade Replacement option in POT 1 course
• Deadline for UG to withdraw from Fall 2026 semester (drop all courses) without grade of W
• Deadline for LAW to drop semester course without grade of W

October 19

• POT B (2nd 8 week) courses begin (non-traditional courses may begin earlier or later)

October 23

• Deadline for ALL to add POT B (2nd 8 week) course via Student Self-Service
• Deadline for ALL to drop POT B course for refund if tuition range changes or billing hours decrease 
• 2:00 PM Faculty deadline for reporting POT A (1st 8 week) grades. Students can view grades the following day via Student Self-Service or myIllini

October 26

• Priority registration Time Tickets (earliest registration times) for Spring 2027 available on Student Self-Service

October 30

• Deadline to withdraw from the university and receive the minimum 40% pro-rata refund if enrolled mainly in full semester classes

November 1

• Deadline for Graduate, Law & Medicine students to apply to graduate in December via Student Self-Service. After this date, please contact your Academic Office for assistance.

November 2

• Priority registration for Spring 2027 begins
• Graduation Application opens for Spring 2027 in Student Self-Service. Instructions can be found on the Graduation FAQs.

November 9

• POT A (1st 8 week) grade entry reenabled for instructors in Faculty Self-Service. Any grades submitted at this time will not be viewable until after final grade entry.

November 13

• Deadline for ALL to drop POT B course via Student Self-Service without grade of W 
• Deadline for UG to elect credit/no credit or change credit/no credit to regular grade basis in POT B course
• Deadline for UG to file intent to use Campus Grade Replacement option in POT B course
• Deadline for GRAD to drop POT 1 (full semester) course via Graduate Student Portal without a grade of W
• Deadline for GRAD to elect credit/no credit or change credit/no credit to regular grade basis in POT 1 course
• Last day for GRAD to withdraw from Fall 2026 semester without grade of W when enrolled mainly in full semester classes

November 19

• Open registration begins for Spring 2027

November 21 – 29

• Fall Break

December 4

• Deadline for GRAD to drop POT B (2nd 8 week) course via Graduate Student Portal without a grade of W
• Deadline for GRAD to elect credit/no credit or change credit/no credit to regular grade basis for POT B course

December 7

• Final grade entry enabled for Instructors in Faculty Self-Service

December 9

• Last day of instruction

December 10

• Reading day (no classes, no final examinations)
• Last day for GRAD to add/drop POT 1 or POT B course without petitioning Graduate College

December 11–17 Weekdays only

• Final examination period (Colleges of Law and Vet Med may extend to Dec. 18)

December 21

• Degree conferral. Diplomas will be shipped in approximately 9 weeks.

December 22 at 2:00 PM

• Faculty deadline for reporting grades.  Students can view final grades the following day via Student Self-Service or myIllini.

January 5 at 2:00 PM

• Faculty deadline for reporting LAW grades

January 7

• College deadline for reporting Academic Standing. Students can view status the following day via Student Self-Service.

January 8

• Transcripts on hold for Fall 2026 grades are released

TBD at 2:00 PM

• Faculty deadline for reporting ZJUI grades. Students can view final grades the following day via Student Self-Service or myIllini.

TBD

• College deadline for reporting Dean’s List. Undergraduate students can view status the following day via Student Self-Service.

TBD

• Transcripts on hold for Fall 2026 degrees are released