Georgetown Academic Calendar 2026: Key Dates, Registration Windows, And Policy Deadlines

This guide provides verified scheduling data for Georgetown University's Main Campus (Georgetown College, Walsh School of Foreign Service, McDonough School of Business, and School of Health/Nursing), with comparative timelines for the Law Center and School of Medicine.

Planning an academic term at Georgetown University requires navigating strict administrative milestones set by the Office of the University Registrar. Whether coordinating course selections via MyAccess, filing for degree conferral, or tracking the add/drop refund periods, staying aligned with official deadlines protects your academic standing and financial balance.

The 2026 academic calendar incorporates critical operational updates across Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026. This comprehensive overview details key dates, administrative policies, break schedules, and school-specific distinctions across the Hilltop and Capitol Campus locations.

Spring 2026 Term: Detailed Schedule and Milestones

The Spring 2026 semester runs from early January through mid-May. Students must adhere strictly to registration adjustment windows to avoid grade penalties or forfeiture of tuition adjustments.

Key Dates for Spring 2026

• January 5, 2026: University offices reopen; faculty and administrative preparation begins.
• January 7, 2026: First day of undergraduate and graduate Main Campus classes.
• January 16, 2026: Last day for late registration, course additions, and dropping classes without a transcript notation (End of Add/Drop Period at 11:59 PM EST).
• January 19, 2026: Martin Luther King Jr. Day; university closed, no classes held.
• February 16, 2026: Presidents' Day; university closed, no classes.
• March 2 – March 6, 2026: Spring Break; no classes across Main Campus undergraduate and graduate programs.
• March 27, 2026: Last day to withdraw from a Main Campus undergraduate course with an official grade of "W".
• April 2 – April 6, 2026: Easter Holiday Break; university offices closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
• April 27, 2026: Last day of Spring 2026 undergraduate classes (follows a designated Friday class pattern to compensate for holiday schedules).
• April 28 – April 29, 2026: Designated Study Days; no undergraduate examinations or required academic exercises.
• April 30 – May 8, 2026: Final Examinations period.
• May 14 – May 17, 2026: Commencement Weekend across all schools.

Summer 2026 Sessions: Modular Term Dates

Georgetown offers multi-tier summer sessions administered by the School of Continuing Studies and Main Campus departments. Accelerating credits or clearing prerequisites requires close attention to the compressed add/drop and withdrawal timetables.

Summer 2026 Master Breakdown

1. Pre-Session (May Term): Runs from May 18 through June 5, 2026. This high-density format covers intensive coursework over a 3-week span.
2. Session I (First 5-Week Block): Runs from June 8 through July 10, 2026. Covers foundational language sequences, core prerequisites, and standard introductory modules.
3. Session II (Second 5-Week Block): Runs from July 13 through August 14, 2026. Completes sequence courses (such as general chemistry or economics components).
4. Full 8-Week and 12-Week Cross-Sessions: Run concurrently from June 1 through August 7, 2026, accommodating specialized lab sciences, graduate practica, and executive cohorts.

Fall 2026 Term: Course Enrollment, Breaks, and Finals

The Fall 2026 semester begins the 2026–2027 academic cycle. Incoming first-year students and transfer cohorts report to the Hilltop for New Student Orientation prior to the start of instruction.

Key Dates for Fall 2026

• August 21 – August 25, 2026: New Student Orientation (NSO) and residence hall move-in for first-year and transfer undergraduates.
• August 26, 2026: First day of classes for Main Campus programs.
• September 4, 2026: End of the official Add/Drop Period at 11:59 PM EST. Last day to drop courses with a 100% tuition refund credit.
• September 7, 2026: Labor Day; university closed, no classes held.
• October 12, 2026: Indigenous Peoples' Day / Mid-Semester Holiday; no classes.
• November 20, 2026: Last day to withdraw from a standard full-term Main Campus course with a transcript grade of "W".
• November 25 – November 29, 2026: Thanksgiving Recess; university operations suspend at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, resuming the following Monday.
• December 7, 2026: Last day of Fall 2026 classes.
• December 8 – December 9, 2026: Fall Study Days; dedicated review periods prior to final assessments.
• December 10 – December 18, 2026: Final Examinations period.
• December 24, 2026 – January 3, 2027: Winter Administrative Recess; university offices closed.

Master Comparison: Georgetown Academic Programs in 2026

Georgetown University operates specialized calendars for specific professional divisions. The table below provides an aligned view of semester start dates, examination windows, and conferral milestones across primary university divisions.

Academic Policies, Deadlines, and Compliance

Maintaining registration compliance at Georgetown requires understanding key policy mechanisms governing credit hours, transcript records, and tuition responsibilities.

The Course Add/Drop Mechanism and Tuition Refund Schedule

The add/drop period lasts through the second Friday of each standard 15-week semester. Changes made within this window do not appear on official transcripts. Dropping courses after this deadline triggers the course withdrawal ("W") protocol, and financial liability scales as follows:

1. First Week of Classes: 100% tuition refund for dropped credits.
2. Second Week of Classes (Closing with Add/Drop): 80% tuition refund.
3. Third Week of Classes: 70% tuition refund; course withdrawal status applies.
4. Fourth Week of Classes: 50% tuition refund.
5. Fifth Week through End of Term: 0% tuition refund; student remains 100% financially liable for all registered credit hours.

Tuition refund schedules for executive cohorts, modular summer terms, and online degree programs follow accelerated pro-rata tables. Always verify your specific program's bursar schedule before dropping coursework.

Study Days Policy and Examination Safeguards

Georgetown strictly enforces reading period integrity. Under university senate regulations:

• Faculty cannot schedule mandatory quizzes, make-up lectures, presentations, or final examinations during official Study Days.
• Direct conflicts (e.g., three final examinations scheduled within a 24-hour window) allow undergraduate students to request administrative rescheduling through their respective academic dean's office before the final drop date.

Step-by-Step Registration Workflow for 2026 Terms

Proper navigation of registration ensures priority placement and prevents administrative holds.

1. Clear Outstanding Holds: Access MyAccess 30 days prior to registration opening. Verify resolution of Bursar balances, Student Health Center immunization compliance, and judicial holds.
2. Review Academic Advising Requirements: Schedule mandatory advising sessions with your College Dean, SFS Curricular Dean, or MSB Academic Advisor to secure PIN clearance if required by your department.
3. Build Course Schedules in Schedule Planner: Use the integrated Schedule Planner tool in MyAccess to populate primary and backup course schedules, noting CRN (Course Reference Numbers) for rapid entry.
4. Submit Live Registration during Designated Time Tickets: Registration windows open in staggered tiers based on completed credit hours (Seniors first, followed by Juniors, Sophomores, and First-Years). Submit selections immediately when your window opens.
5. Monitor Waitlists Daily: If placed on an automated waitlist, students receiving an open seat notification have exactly 24 hours to claim the seat in MyAccess before it passes to the next eligible student.

Strategic Advice for Managing the Academic Year

• Audit Degree Progress Early: Coordinate with your dean's office during the spring term to ensure all general education, minor, and major prerequisites align for timely graduation.
• Account for Washington D.C. Logistics: When planning travel for breaks, remember that flights out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) experience heavy traffic surrounding university move-out dates. Book departures after the completion of your last scheduled exam.
• Track Cross-Registration Deadlines: If you participate in the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (e.g., taking approved courses at George Washington University or American University), adhere to host-institution calendar dates for holidays and breaks.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Add/Drop period close for Georgetown in 2026?

For the Spring 2026 semester, the Add/Drop period officially closes on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. For the Fall 2026 semester, the Add/Drop deadline is Friday, September 4, 2026.

After these dates, no new courses can be added to your schedule, and any dropped course will be recorded as a formal course withdrawal ("W") on your academic transcript with partial or zero tuition refund.

Are Georgetown Law and Medical School on the same calendar as Main Campus?

No, the Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) and the School of Medicine (SOM) maintain distinct, specialized academic calendars.

While Main Campus follows a standard undergraduate schedule, GULC features different orientation, reading, and exam schedules. The School of Medicine operates on an extended, modular clerkship schedule starting earlier in August and running continuously through clinical rotations.

What happens if I have three final exams scheduled on the same day?

Under Georgetown University academic regulations, if you have three final examinations scheduled on the same calendar day or within a 24-hour period, you are entitled to request a rescheduled exam.

You must notify your respective academic dean's office and the course professors at least two weeks before the start of final exams to coordinate an alternate testing time.

When does Georgetown hold Commencement in 2026?

Georgetown University Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2026 take place from Thursday, May 14, through Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Individual ceremonies are staggered across the four days by school, including the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, McDonough School of Business, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown College, School of Health, School of Nursing, GULC, and the School of Medicine.

Ensure your course schedule and degree path remain on track by validating all term-specific dates directly inside the MyAccess portal and coordinating with your academic advising dean.