Harvard Academic Calendar 2023/2024

Harvard Academic Calendar – Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States. As one of the most prestigious universities globally, Harvard continues to set the standard for academic excellence. To empower student success, Harvard outlines critical dates and deadlines for each academic period that students should follow to stay on track.

The academic calendar provides details related to the 2023-2024 academic year at Harvard. This covers key events, deadlines, break periods, and milestones for the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. Students will find specifics on registration timelines, class adjustment cutoffs, course withdrawal policies, examination schedules, grading periods, graduation requirements, and more. Monitoring these details facilitates effective planning and program completion.

Within every academic session, there are important markers for students to be aware of. This includes deadlines for tuition payments, enrollment minimums, adding/dropping classes, degree application submissions, dissertation revisions, and filing for requests and petitions. Adhering to these critical cutoffs enables students to avoid penalties or fees. Tracking recess days, closure periods, and holidays also allows students to coordinate schedules and obligations appropriately.

2023 Fall Semester

• June 30, Friday Degree applications for November 2023 candidates open in my.harvard
• July 1, Saturday Start of the term for continuing Harvard Griffin GSAS students; Applications for non-resident status for the fall term or academic year due; Applications for part-time study due
• July 31, Monday Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due
• August 1, Tuesday Final degree applications for November 2023 degree candidates due through my.harvard; Final application for a November 2023 secondary field due through my.harvard
• August 9, Wednesday Fall check-in opens in my.harvard; Crimson Cart opens to allow shopping for courses for fall 2023 term
• August 15, Tuesday Harvard Griffin GSAS deadline for paying fall tuition and fees
• August 21, Monday Course registration opens to allow enrolling in fall 2023 courses; Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the fall 2023 term. Students who fail to check in will be charged a late check-in fee of $50.
• August 31, Thursday Fall full-term course registration for all students due. Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Students who do not submit enrollments by this time will be charged $40 for each week late. If students incur a late registration fee as a result of an administrative delay, they can apply for a fee waiver through the Office of Student Affairs. Enrollment deadline for fall term HUSHP coverage for dependents
• September 5, Tuesday Academic year begins for incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS students. The first meeting of fall term courses.
• September 6, Wednesday Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations for November 2023 degree candidates who wish to have the Student Health Fee and Student Health Insurance Plan removed from their student account. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT. Students who submit dissertations on or before this date will have health coverage canceled retroactive to July 31, 2023. After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses.
• September 7, Thursday November 2023 degree candidates can submit their dissertation electronically, will retain the Student Health Fee and the Student Health Insurance Plan through January 31, 2023, and will be charged accordingly.
• September 9, Saturday Last day on which master’s students may withdraw from their program and cancel registration for the fall term without payment of tuition. Students withdrawing after this date will be charged tuition pursuant to Tuition Associated with Mid-Term Withdrawal.
• September 12, Tuesday Deadline to add or drop a fall course; instructor permission needed after this date
• September 26, Tuesday (3rd Monday) Deadline to add or drop a fall course without paying a fee
• September 30, Saturday Fall Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan late waiver deadline
• October 2, Monday Degree applications for March 2024 candidates open in my.harvard
• October 10, Tuesday (5th Monday) University Holiday: Columbus Day (federal); Indigenous Peoples’ Day (City of Cambridge)
• October 23, Monday (7th Monday) Last day to add (or enroll in) fall 2023 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses. Students who fail to register by this date for a minimum required course load, withdraw from their academic program, or submit an application for non-resident status for the fall 2023 term are subject to disciplinary action and may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence, also known as an administrative leave of absence, for the remainder of the academic term.
• October 24, Tuesday Degree recommendations from academic programs for November 2023 degree candidates are due
• October 25, Wednesday Spring 2024 Crimson Cart Opens in my.harvard
• November 1, Wednesday Course registration opens to allow enrolling in spring 2024 courses
• November 6, Monday (9th Monday) Last day to drop a fall course via my.harvard. To withdraw from a fall course after this date, an approved Petition to Withdraw must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved.
• November 14, Tuesday Conferral date for November 2023 degrees
• November 15, Wednesday Spring 2024 full-term course registration for all students due. Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EST.
• November 22, Wednesday Thanksgiving recess begins
• November 26, Sunday Thanksgiving recess ends
• December 1, Friday Final degree applications for March 2024 degree candidates due in my.harvard; Final application for a March 2024 secondary field due to the Registrar’s Office; Applications for part-time study for spring 2024 due
• December 5, Tuesday Last day of fall term classes
• December 6, Wednesday Fall term reading period begins
• December 10, Sunday Last day on which students may submit an approved Petition to Withdraw from fall term course to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved.
• December 11, Monday Fall term examinations begin
• December 20, Wednesday Fall term examinations end
• December 21, Thursday Winter recess begins. (Most University offices closed during recess.)

2024 Spring Semester

• January 2, Tuesday University offices reopen; Winter recess ends
• January 8, Monday January@HarvardGriffinGSAS begins; Spring term online check-in opens in my.harvard; Open Add/Drop for Spring 2024 begins in my.harvard; instructor permission not needed to enroll in courses
• January 19, Friday January@HarvardGriffinGSAS ends
• January 22, Monday Deadline for all students, including special students and visiting fellows, to check in for the spring term. Students who fail to check in through my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EST will be charged a late check-in fee of $50.; Spring term begins. First meeting of spring term courses.
• January 23, Tuesday Deadline for electronic submission of approved dissertations to ProQuest ETD for March 2024 degree candidates
• January 29, Monday Open Add/Drop deadline for Spring 2024. After this date, students must obtain permission from all instructors to enroll in courses. Students who do not submit enrollments by this time will be charged $40 for each week late.
• January 30, Tuesday Degree recommendations by academic programs for March 2024 degree candidates due
• January 31, Wednesday Spring Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan waiver application due
• February 5, Monday(3rd Monday) Deadline to add or drop a spring course in my.harvard without paying a $10 late add/drop fee; Make-up examinations for fall 2022 term begin
• February 19, Monday University holiday: President’s Day
• February 20, Tuesday (5th Monday) Last day students from other Schools may file cross-registration petitions for spring term with the FAS Registrar’s Office. Some schools have earlier deadlines.
• March 4, Monday(7th Monday) Last day to add (or enroll in) spring 2024 courses. To add a course after this date, an approved Petition to Add must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs.; Last day to change to or from SAT/UNS grading option for designated language courses; Students who fail to register by this date for a minimum required course load, withdraw from their academic program, or submit an application for non-resident status for the spring 2024 term are subject to disciplinary action and may be placed on an involuntary leave of absence, also known as an administrative leave of absence, for the remainder of the academic term.
• March 5, Tuesday Conferral date for March 2024 degrees
• March 6, Wednesday Degree applications for May 2024 degree candidates open in my.harvard
• March 9, Saturday Spring recess begins
• March 17, Sunday Spring recess ends
• March 18, Monday(9th Monday) Last day to drop a spring course via my.harvard. To withdraw from a spring course after this date, an approved Petition to Withdraw must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved.
• April 1, Monday Final degree applications for May 2024 degree candidates due in my.harvard; Final application for a May secondary field due to the Registrar’s Office
• April 3, Wednesday Course registration opens to allow enrolling in fall 2024 courses
• April 17, Wednesday Fall 2024 full-term course registration for all students due. Students must submit enrollments for minimum course load (typically 16 credits) at my.harvard by 11:59 p.m. EDT.
• April 24, Wednesday Last day of spring term classes
• April 25, Thursday Spring term reading period begins
• May 1, Wednesday Spring term reading period ends; Last day on which students may submit an approved Petition to Withdraw from spring term course to the Office of Student Affairs. A notation of WD will be recorded on the student’s transcript for the course if the petition is approved.
• May 2, Thursday Spring term examinations begin
• May 9, Thursday Deadline for May 2023 degree candidates to submit their dissertation electronically to ProQuest ETD. Submissions must be made by 11:59 p.m. EDT.
• May 11, Saturday Spring term examinations end
• May 16, Thursday Degree recommendations from academic programs for May 2023 degree candidates due in my.harvard
• May 23, Thursday Conferral date for May 2023 degrees and Commencement

Conclusion

By thoroughly reviewing Harvard’s academic calendar and identifying relevant dates and deadlines for their program, students can progress smoothly towards graduation. Meeting enrollment, registration, class adjustment, withdrawal, final exam, and degree conferral milestones for each semester empowers students to complete credentials on time. Consulting this calendar regularly facilitates informed decision making every step of the academic journey.

In summary, Harvard’s detailed academic calendar outlines the critical events and timelines for students to successfully navigate their studies. Carefully planning semesters using this calendar will enable students to capitalize on important deadlines and policies. As a result, students can complete their degrees and contribute positively to Harvard’s legacy of excellence.