Academic important dates
In recognition of the fact that the University of Victoria is a diverse community, the Office of Equity and Human Rights has compiled a list of high holy days. Faculty and staff may wish to refer to this list in responding to requests from members of religious groups for variations in examination schedules due to religious observances.
Classes are cancelled on all statutory holidays and during reading breaks. Administrative offices and academic departments are closed on statutory holidays. Holidays that fall on a weekend are observed on the next available weekday, normally on a Monday. The UVic Libraries are normally closed on holidays; exceptions are posted in advance.
2020/2021 Official academic year begins
Summer session
See this page for summer session add and drop dates.
May 2020
May-August courses begin for all faculties
Monday, May 4th
Last day for Faculty of Law course changes
Monday, May 11th
For more details regarding Summer 2020 Important Dates, see www.uvic.ca/law/jd/courseregistration/index.php
May and May-June courses begin
Monday, May 11th
Last day for graduate students to register in a personal leave in summer
Sunday, May 17th
Victoria Day
Monday, May 18th
Senate Committee on Academic Standards meets to approve Convocation lists
Thursday, May 21st - postponed to July 15th, 2020
Fees deadline for summer
Sunday, May 31st - extended to June 15th, 2020
June 2020
May courses end
Wednesday, June 3rd
June courses begin
Thursday, June 4th
Spring Convocation
Monday, June 8th until Friday, June 12th - postponed, see convocation for details
Fees deadline for summer
Monday, June 15th
May-June and June courses end
Friday, June 26th
July 2020
Canada Day
Wednesday, July 1st
Reading Break May-August sections only
Wednesday, July 1st until Thursday, July 2nd
July and July-August courses begin
Monday, July 6th
Senate Committee on Academic Standards meets to approve Convocation lists
Wednesday, July 15th
Deadline to apply to graduate for Fall Convocation (all faculties)
Wednesday, July 15th
July courses end
Tuesday, July 28th
August courses begin
Wednesday, July 29th
Supplemental and deferred examinations for Winter Session (2019-2020)
Wednesday, July 29th until Friday, July 31st
Except for Business and Law courses
May-August classes end for all faculties
Friday, July 31st
August 2020
British Columbia Day
Monday, August 3rd
May-August examinations begin for all faculties
Tuesday, August 4th
May-August examinations end for all faculties
Monday, August 17th
July-August and August courses end
Friday, August 21st
Winter session - first term
September 2020
Labour Day
Monday, September 7th
First year registration and opening assembly for Faculty of Law
Tuesday, September 8th
First term classes begin for all faculties
Wednesday, September 9th
Last day for course changes in Faculty of Law
Thursday, September 17th
Last day for 100% reduction of tuition fees for standard first term and full year courses
Tuesday, September 22nd
50% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses, see Course add and drop dates
Last day for graduate students to register in a personal leave in first term
Tuesday, September 22nd
Last day for adding courses that begin in the first term
Friday, September 25th
Last day for paying first term fees without penalty
Wednesday, September 30th
October 2020
Senate meets
Friday, October 2nd
Thanksgiving Day
Monday, October 12th
Last day for 50% reduction of tuition fees for standard courses
Tuesday, October 13th
100% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses see Course add and drop dates
Senate Committee on Academic Standards meets to approve Convocation lists
Wednesday, October 21st
Last day for withdrawing from first term courses without penalty of failure
Saturday, October 31st
November 2020
Senate meets
Friday, November 6th
Fall Convocation
Monday, November 9th until Tuesday, November 10th
Reading Break (except Faculty of Law)
Monday, November 9th until Wednesday, November 11th
Remembrance Day
Wednesday, November 11th
Faculty of Graduate Studies deadline to apply to graduate for Spring Convocation
Sunday, November 15th
Students completing in the Fall term only
December 2020
Last day of classes in the first term for Faculty of Law
Thursday, December 3rd
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Friday, December 4th
Classes and exams cancelled from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Last day of classes in first term for all faculties except the Faculty of Law
Friday, December 4th
Senate meets
Friday, December 4th
First term examinations begin for all faculties
Monday, December 7th
Undergraduate deadline to apply to graduate for Spring Convocation
Tuesday, December 15th
First term examinations end for all faculties
Monday, December 21st
Christmas Day
Friday, December 25th
University closed
Friday, December 25th until Sunday, January 3rd
Boxing Day
Saturday, December 26th
Winter session - second term
January 2021
New Year’s Day
Friday, January 1st
University closed
Friday, January 1st until Sunday, January 3rd
Second term classes begin for all faculties
Wednesday, January 6th
Senate meets
Friday, January 8th
Last day for course changes in Faculty of Law
Thursday, January 14th
Last day for 100% reduction of second term fees for standard courses
Tuesday, January 19th
50% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses see Course add and drop dates
Last day for graduate students to register in a personal leave in second term
Tuesday, January 19th
Last day for adding courses that begin in the second term
Wednesday, January 20th
Last day for paying second term fees without penalty
Sunday, January 31st
February 2021
Senate meets
Friday, February 5th
Last day for 50% reduction of tuition fees for standard courses
Sunday, February 7th
100% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses see Course add and drop dates
Faculty of Graduate Studies deadline to apply to graduate for Spring Convocation
Monday, February 15th
Students completing in the Spring term only
Family Day
Monday, February 15th
Reading Break for all faculties
Monday, February 15th until Friday, February 19th
Last day for withdrawing from full year and second term courses without penalty of failure
Sunday, February 28th
March 2021
Senate meets
Friday, March 5th
April 2021
Good Friday
Friday, April 2nd
Easter Monday
Monday, April 5th
Last day of classes for all faculties except Faculty of Law
Wednesday, April 7th
Last day of class for the Faculty of Law
Friday, April 9th
Senate meets
Friday, April 9th
Examinations begin for all faculties except Faculty of Law
Saturday, April 10th
Examinations begin for the Faculty of Law
Monday, April 12th
Examinations end for all faculties
Monday, April 26th
End of Winter Session
2021/2022 Official academic year begins
Summer session
See this page for summer session add and drop dates.
May 2021
May - August courses begin for all faculties
Wednesday, May 5th
Senate meets
Friday, May 7th
May and May-June courses begin
Monday, May 10th
Last day for Faculty of Law course changes
Wednesday, May 12th
For more details regarding Summer 2021 Important Dates, see www.uvic.ca/law/jd/courseregistration/index.php
Last day for graduate students to register in a personal leave in summer
Tuesday, May 18th
Victoria Day
Monday, May 24th
Senate Committee on Academic Standards meets to approve Convocation lists
Thursday, May 27th
Fees deadlines for summer
Monday, May 31st
June 2021
May Courses End
Wednesday, June 2nd
June Courses Begin
Thursday, June 3rd
Spring Convocation
Monday, June 7th until Friday, June 11th
May-June and June Courses End
Friday, June 25th
July 2021
Canada Day
Thursday, July 1st
Reading Break May-August sections only
Thursday, July 1st until Friday, July 2nd
July and July-August courses begin
Monday, July 5th
Deadline to apply to graduate for Fall Convocation (all faculties)
Thursday, July 15th
July courses end
Tuesday, July 27th
August courses begin
Wednesday, July 28th
Supplemental and deferred examinations for Winter Session 2020-2021 (except for Business and Law courses)
Wednesday, July 28th until Friday, July 30th
May-August classes end for all faculties
Friday, July 30th
August 2021
British Columbia Day
Monday, August 2nd
May-August examinations begin for all faculties
Tuesday, August 3rd
May-August examinations end for all faculties
Thursday, August 19th
July-August and August courses end
Friday, August 20th
Winter session - first term
September 2021
Labour Day
Monday, September 6th
First year registration and opening assembly for Faculty of Law
Tuesday, September 7th
First term classes begin for all faculties
Wednesday, September 8th
Last day for course changes in Faculty of Law
Thursday, September 16th
Last day for 100% reduction of tuition fees for standard first term and full year courses
Tuesday, September 21st
50% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses see Course add and drop dates
Last day for graduate students to register in a personal leave in first term
Tuesday, September 21st
Last day for adding courses that begin in the first term
Friday, September 24th
Last day for paying first term fees without penalty
Thursday, September 30th
October 2021
Senate meets
Friday, October 1st
Thanksgiving Day
Monday, October 11th
Last day for 50% reduction of tuition fees for standard courses
Tuesday, October 12th
100% of tuition fees will be assessed for courses dropped after this date. For non-standard courses see Course add and drop dates
Senate Committee on Academic Standards meets to approve Convocation lists
Wednesday, October 20th
Last day for withdrawing from first term courses without penalty of failure
Sunday, October 31st
November 2021
Senate meets
Friday, November 5th
Fall Convocation
Wednesday, November 10th
Reading Break (except Faculty of Law)
Wednesday, November 10th until Friday, November 12th
Remembrance Day
Thursday, November 11th
Fall Convocation
Friday, November 12th
Faculty of Graduate Studies deadline to apply to graduate for Spring Convocation
Monday, November 15th
Students completing in the Fall term only
December 2021
National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Friday, December 3rd
Classes and exams cancelled from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm