See the School of Graduate Studies website for full 2025–26 Sessional Dates.
For students currently enrolled, see below for the academic year dates.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | Canada Day (University closed) |
| July 6, 2026 | Final date to enrol in July-August S courses |
| July 13, 2026 | Registration for fall session opens |
| July 27, 2026 | Final date to drop July-August S section courses without academic penalty |
| August 3, 2026 | Civic Holiday (University closed) |
| August 25, 2025 | TA Orientation Workshop #1 |
| August 21, 2026 | Recommended tuition fee payment deadline to ensure payment is received by the deadline of September 12 |
| September 2, 2026 | Orientation Events Begin - Department Welcome |
| September 2, 2026 | Orientation - GASPS introduction and tour |
| September 3, 2026 | Orientation - MA Wine & Cheese Meet and Greet |
| September 12, 2025 | Orientation - Student LIfe Panels |
| September 7, 2026 | Labour Day (University closed) |
| September 8, 2026 | Courses begin |
| September 13, 2026 | Orientation - Department Potluck Picnic |
| September 18, 2026 | Registration for Fall session ends |
| September 23, 2026 | Final date to register for Fall/Full-Year courses |
| September 28, 2026 | Final date to submit PhD theses to SGS to avoid the fee charges for 2025-2026 |
| October 12, 2026 | Thanksgiving Day (University closed) |
| October 26, 2026 | Final date to drop fall session full or half courses without academic penalty |
| December 8, 2026 | Last day of class for Fall session |
| December 24, 2026 until January 5, 2027 |
Holidays (University closed) |
| January 6, 2027 | Winter courses begin. Full-Year courses resume |
| January 8, 2027 | Deadline to apply for PhD program |
| January 15, 2027 | Deadline to apply for MA program |
| January 15, 2027 | Deadline to submit PhD thesis without fee payment for January session |
| January 18, 2027 | Final date to add winter session courses |
| January 22, 2027 |
Deadline for receipt of degree recommendations for MA students without fees being charged for January session (applies to only 2nd year+ students) Deadline to request degree conferral in absentia for March |
| February 15, 2027 | Family Day (University closed) |
| February 16-19, 2027 | Reading Week (University open but no classes) |
| February 26, 2027 | Deadline to drop second-term or full-year courses without academic penalty |
| March 26, 2027 | Good Friday (University closed) |
| April 5, 2027 | Classes end |
| April 9, 2027 |
Deadline for instructors to submit final grades to Grad Office for second-term and full-year courses for MA students convocating in June. Deadline for final PhD theses submission for degrees to be conferred at June Convocation. Deadline for MAs to be recommended for graduation for degrees to be conferred at June convocation. |
| May 19, 2027 | Field Exams — Canadian Politics, Comparative Politics |
| May 20, 2027 | Field Exams — Political Theory, Public Policy |
| May 21, 2027 | Field Exams — Development Studies, International Relations, Methods |
| August 11, 2027 | Major Field Exams — Canadian, Comparative, IR, Theory, Public Policy, Development Studies, Methods |
Dates Tentative, as of May 7th, 2026