Term dates
We are open throughout the year, with events and activities taking place over the summer and during vacations.
The academic year dates below are for all students, undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research, although the exact dates and assessment periods that apply to you will depend on your course. Masters and PhD students study throughout the academic year.
You can check your term, semester and assessment dates by contacting your school or checking Canvas. If you’re an international student and considering working during your studies, see our information for Tier 4 students.
You will need to come to the University during assessment periods if you have exams and if you have assessments to hand in at your School Office.
Assessment information is published on your study pages on Sussex Direct. Examinations are held in the assessment periods and may be scheduled during evenings, on Saturdays or over bank holidays. Assessment submission deadlines may be scheduled in the Winter or Spring vacation and in the revision week.
2019/20 academic year dates
| Arrival Weekend | Sat 21 Sep to Sun 22 Sep 2019 | |
| Autumn term begins | Mon 23 Sep 2019 | |
| Welcome Week | Mon 23 Sep to Fri 27 Sep 2019 | |
| Semester One |
Semester One begins | Mon 30 Sep 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching begins | Mon 30 Sep 2019 | |
| Teaching ends | Fri 13 Dec 2019 | |
| Autumn term ends | Fri 13 Dec 2019 | |
| Winter vacation | Sat 14 Dec 2019 to Sun 5 Jan 2020 | |
| Spring term begins | Mon 6 Jan 2020 | |
| Semester one assessment period begins | Mon 6 Jan 2020 | |
| Semester one assessment period ends | Sat 18 Jan 2020 | |
| Semester One ends | Sat 18 Jan 2020 | |
| Intersemester week | Mon 20 Jan to Fri 24 Jan 2020 | |
| Winter graduation | Wed 22 Jan to Fri 24 Jan 2020 | |
| Semester Two |
Semester Two begins | Mon 27 Jan 2020 |
| Teaching begins | Mon 27 Jan 2020 | |
| Spring term ends | Fri 27 March 2020 | |
| Spring vacation | Sat 28 March to Sun 19 April 2020 | |
| Summer term begins | Mon 20 April 2020 | |
| Teaching resumes | Mon 20 April 2020 | |
| Teaching ends | Fri 1 May 2020 | |
| Assessment preparation period | Mon 4 May to Fri 22 May 2020 | |
| Semester two assessment period begins | Tue 26 May 2020 | |
| Semester two assessment period ends | Sat 13 June 2020 | |
| Summer vacation | Sun 7 Jun to Sun 20 Sept 2020 | |
| Summer term ends | Sat 13 June 2020 (TBC) | |
| Semester Two ends | Sat 13 June 2020 (TBC) | |
| Summer graduation | Mon 20 July to Fri 24 July 2020 | |
| Resit assessment period (semester one modules) | Mon 17 Aug to Sat 22 Aug 2020* | |
| Resit assessment period (semester two and year-long modules) | Mon 24 Aug to Sat 29 Aug 2020** |
*Take Away Papers (TAPs) will normally be set during the previous week.
**Take Away Papers (TAPs) will be set in the early part of the following week.
2020/21 term and semester dates
| Arrival Weekend | Sat 19 Sep to Sun 20 Sep 2020 | |
| Autumn term begins | Mon 21 Sep 2020 | |
| Welcome Week | Mon 21 Sep to Fri 25 Sep 2020 | |
| Semester One |
Semester One begins | Mon 28 Sep 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching begins | Mon 28 Sep 2020 | |
| Teaching ends | Fri 11 Dec 2020 | |
| Autumn term ends | Fri 11 Dec 2020 | |
| Winter vacation | Sat 12 Dec 2020 to Sun 3 Jan 2021 | |
| Spring term begins | Mon 4 Jan 2021 | |
| Semester one assessment period begins | Mon 4 Jan 2021 | |
| Semester one assessment period ends | Sat 16 Jan 2021 | |
| Semester One ends | Sat 16 Jan 2021 | |
| Intersemester week | Mon 18 Jan to Fri 22 Jan 2021 | |
| Winter graduation | Wed 20 Jan to Fri 22 Jan 2021 | |
| Semester Two |
Semester Two begins | Mon 25 Jan 2021 |
| Teaching begins | Mon 25 Jan 2021 | |
| Spring term ends | Fri 26 March 2021 | |
| Spring vacation | Sat 27 March to Sun 18 April 2021 | |
| Summer term begins | Mon 19 April 2021 | |
| Teaching resumes | Mon 19 April 2021 | |
| Teaching ends | Fri 30 April 2021 | |
| Revision week | Mon 3 May to Fri 7 May 2021 | |
| Semester two assessment period begins | Mon 10 May 2021 | |
| Semester two assessment period ends | Sat 29 May 2021 | |
| Resit assessment period (semester one modules) | Mon 31 May to Sat 5 June 2021* | |
| Summer term ends | Sat 5 June 2021 | |
| Semester Two ends | Sat 5 June 2021 | |
| Summer vacation | Sun 6 Jun to Sun 19 Sept 2021 | |
| Summer graduation | Mon 19 July to Fri 23 July 2021 | |
| Resit assessment period (semester two and year-long modules) | Mon 16 Aug to Sat 21 Aug 2021* |
*Take Away Papers (TAPs) will be set in the early part of the following week.
Graduation dates
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | |
|---|---|---|
|
Winter graduation |
23 to 25 January 2019 |
22 to 24 January 2020 |
|
Summer graduation |
22 to 26 July 2019 |
20 to 24 July 2020 |
Minimum service days
There are a number of minimum service days. These usually coincide with national holidays and UK bank holidays, when most campus facilities are closed.
Our 24-hour IT facilities, residences and 24-hour security continue to operate throughout the year.
| 2019-20 | |
|---|---|
| 23 December 2019 | Minimum service day |
| 24 December 2019 | Minimum service day |
| 25 December 2019 | Christmas Day bank holiday |
| 26 December 2019 | Boxing Day bank holiday |
| 27 December 2019 | Minimum service day |
| 30 December 2019 | Minimum service day |
| 31 December 2019 | Minimum service day |
| 1 January 2020 | New Year’s Day bank holiday |
| 9 April 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 10 April 2020 | Good Friday public holiday |
| 13 April 2020 | Easter Monday public holiday |
| 14 April 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 8 May 2020 | Early May bank holiday |
| 25 May 2020 | Spring bank holiday |
| 31 August 2020 | Summer bank holiday |
| 2020-21 | |
|---|---|
| 24 December 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 25 December 2020 | Christmas Day bank holiday |
| 28 December 2020 | Boxing Day bank holiday |
| 29 December 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 30 December 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 31 December 2020 | Minimum service day |
| 1 January 2021 | New Year’s Day bank holiday |
| 1 April 2021 | Minimum service day |
| 2 April 2021 | Good Friday public holiday |
| 5 April 2021 | Easter Monday public holiday |
| 6 April 2021 | Minimum service day |
| 3 May 2021 | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May 2021 | Spring bank holiday |
| 30 August 2021 | Summer bank holiday |