Academic term deadlines

Table of academic term deadlines
Terms and Deadlines Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
Terms and Deadlines Graduate Open Class Enrolment Begins Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
November 29 (W)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
March 27 (T) 
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
August 2 (Th)
Terms and Deadlines Term Begins Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
January 1 (M)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 1 (T)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
September 1 (S)
Terms and Deadlines Co-operative Work Term Begins Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
January 2 (T)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 1 (T)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
September 4 (T)
Terms and Deadlines Classes Begin Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
January 3 (W)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 1 (T)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
September 6 (Th)
Terms and Deadlines 100% Tuition Refund Deadline Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
January 23 (T)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 22 (T)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
September 26 (W)
Terms and Deadlines Graduate Open Class Enrolment Ends Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
January 30 (T)*
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 28 (M)*
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
TBA
Terms and Deadlines Registration/Enrolment Closes - Last day for students to pay fees/enrol or change status Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
February 1 (Th)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
June 30 (S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
November 1 (Th)
Terms and Deadlines Government Reporting Date Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
February 1 (Th)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
June 30 (S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
November 1 (Th)
Terms and Deadlines Mid-Term Study Break Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
 February 19-23 (M-F)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
N/A
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
October 9, 10 (T, W)
Terms and Deadlines 50% Tuition Refund Deadline Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
February 20 (T)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
June 19 (T)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
October 24 (W)
Terms and Deadlines Convocation Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
N/A
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
June 12-16 (T-S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
October 19, 20 (F, S)
Terms and Deadlines Classes End Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 4 (W)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
July 25 (W)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 3 (M)
Terms and Deadlines Make-up Day(s) for in-term holidays and Mid-Term Study Break Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 4 (W)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
May 22 (T), July 25 (W)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
October 11, 12 (Th, F), December 3 (M)
Terms and Deadlines Pre-Examination Study Days Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 5, 6 (Th, F)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
July 26, 27 (Th, F)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 4, 5 (T, W)
Terms and Deadlines On-Campus Examinations Begin Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 9 (M)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
July 28 (S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 6 (Th)
Terms and Deadlines Online Class Examination Days Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 13, 14 (F, S)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
July 28 (S), August 3 (F)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 7, 8 (F, S)
Terms and Deadlines On-Campus Examinations End Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 24 (T)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
August 11 (S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 21 (F)
Terms and Deadlines Co-operative Work Term Ends Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
April 27 (F)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
August 24 (F)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
December 21 (F)
Terms and Deadlines Program Completion Deadline for Convocation (see below) Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
Spring Convocation
April 30 (M)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
Fall Convocation
August 31 (F)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
Spring Convocation
April 30, 2019 (T)
Terms and Deadlines Grades available on Quest Winter 2018
January 1 - April 30
May 1 (T)
Spring 2018
May 1 - August 31
September 1 (S)
Fall 2018
September 1 - December 31
January 1 (T)

*The following dates were corrected on 12/21/2017.
**The fall 2018 dates were added on 03/22/2018.

Note: For information on payment instructions and graduate student fees please refer to the Finance website.

Deadlines for submission of the Graduate studies intention to graduate/program completion form to Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) are:  

Table of convocation ceremonies and deadlines
Convocation ceremony Deadline
Convocation ceremony Spring Convocation
(June)
Deadline April 30 - for students degree completing in the Fall (Sept-Dec) and Winter (Jan-April) terms
Convocation ceremony Fall Convocation
(October)
Deadline August 31 - for students degree completing in the Spring (May-Aug) term

Note:

  1. Students who have completed all program requirements must submit the Graduate studies intention to graduate/program completion form to their department to initiate a formal review and verification of their program completion status and approval to graduate. Once approved by the department the form will be submitted to GSPA for completion processing.
  2. Receipt of this completed form (in GSPA) by the deadline indicated above, acknowledges a student's intention to graduate and completion of all degree requirements (for programs with a thesis, completion includes submission and approval from GSPA of the thesis in UWSpace).
  3. The completion, degree, and convocation dates will appear on student academic records/transcripts.

Full Convocation information is available through the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs website.

Holidays

Table of holidays
Holidays Winter 2018 Spring 2018 Fall 2018
Holidays New Year's Day Winter 2018 January 1 (M) Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Family Day Winter 2018 February 19 (M) Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Good Friday Winter 2018 March 30 (F) Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Victoria Day Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 May 21 (M) Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Canada Day Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 July 2 (M) Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Civic Holiday Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 August 6 (M) Fall 2018 N/A
Holidays Labour Day Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 September 3 (M)
Holidays Thanksgiving Day Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 October 8 (M)
Holidays Closure for the Holiday Season Winter 2018 N/A Spring 2018 N/A Fall 2018 December 24-28, 31 (M-F, M)

Note: Some University departments may be open for limited service on these days.

Mid-term study break

A mid-term break (e.g., Winter Reading Week) is intended to act as a pause for students in an academic term, to reflect upon and catch up on their term’s work to date and, as necessary, prepare for any upcoming mid-term assignments and assessments.

During this pause, there are to be no scheduled meetings or assignments for students (e.g., classes, labs, tutorials, seminars, exams, TA-related work). While exceptions may exist (e.g., co-operative employment interviews, clinical rotations, PhD comprehensive exams, graduate thesis defenses), the pause applies to meetings involving both undergraduate and graduate students.

Deadlines for student submissions will not be scheduled during the break. Student services such as student advising support, Health Services, Counselling Services, the library, and residences are expected to continue to provide service.

The above terms of reference are not meant to include responsibilities associated with graduate students in their roles as research assistants or in any other employment capacity (excluding TA-related work as mentioned above) with the university. In these situations, students and employers should clarify their mutual expectations concerning work-related responsibilities during the mid-term break.

University of Waterloo Committees and meeting dates

Legend

Table of abbreviations
Key Description
Key (M) Description Monday
Key (T) Description Tuesday
Key (W) Description Wednesday
Key (Th) Description Thursday
Key (F) Description Friday
Key (S) Description Saturday
Key (U) Description Sunday
Key (TBA) Description To be announced
Key (N/A) Description Not applicable