Term dates
Check the University’s term dates for teaching, exams, graduation, holidays and minimum service days.
Academic year dates 2020-21
These dates are for all students, although the exact dates and assessment periods will depend on your course. Masters and PhD students study throughout the academic year.
Check your term, semester and assessment dates by contacting your school or checking Canvas. Assessment information is published on your study pages on Sussex Direct.
Examinations are held in the assessment periods and may be 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.
If you’re an international student and considering working during your studies, see our information for students with visas.
| Arrivals 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 | January 2021 - postponed | |
| 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 | |
| Summer term ends | Sat 29 May 2021 | |
| Semester Two ends | Sat 29 May 2021 | |
| Summer vacation | Sun 30 May to Sun 19 Sept 2021 | |
| Summer graduation | TBC | |
| Resit assessment period (all modules) | Mon 9 Aug to Sat 21 Aug 2021* |
*Take Away Papers (TAPs) will be set in the early part of the following week.
Minimum service days 2020-21
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.
| Wed 23 Dec 2020 | Minimum service day |
| Thurs 24 Dec 2020 | Minimum service day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2020 | Christmas Day bank holiday |
| Mon 28 Dec 2020 | Boxing Day bank holiday |
| Tues 29 Dec 2020 | Minimum service day |
| Wed 30 Dec 2020 | Minimum service day |
| Thurs 31 Dec 2020 | Minimum service day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2021 | New Year’s Day bank holiday |
| Thurs 1 April 2021 | Minimum service day |
| Fri 2 April 2021 | Good Friday public holiday |
| Mon 5 April 2021 | Easter Monday public holiday |
| Tues 6 April 2021 | Minimum service day |
| Mon 3 May 2021 | Early May bank holiday |
| Mon 31 May 2021 | Spring bank holiday |
| Mon 30 Aug 2021 | Summer bank holiday |