Graduate Academic Calendar
The calendar below is to be used by Engineering Graduate, on-campus master’s and PhD, students. Students enrolled in Penn Engineering Online should only consult their calendar.
The below calendar supplements the university’s Three-Year Academic Calendar, which is created primarily for undergraduate use. Students enrolled in the Accelerated Master’s degree and still have not graduated with the undergrad degree, must follow undergrad deadlines for their home school. External 4+1 accelerated master’s students should discuss deadlines with their home school and Graduate Engineering Advisors to stay compliant with the 4+1 policies between the institutions.
2024 Fall Term
| Date | Event |
| August 23 | New Student Orientation |
| August 27 | Fall term classes begin |
| September 2 | Labor Day Holiday (no classes) |
| September 10 | Course Selection period- last day to add courses and last day to drop courses to receive a full refund for graduate students. |
| September 23 | Master’s December graduation application period opens |
| October 3-6 | Fall term break |
| October 7 | Last day to drop a course |
| Oct 28 – Nov 11 | Advanced Registration for Spring 2025 (on-campus programs only) |
| November 4 | Last day to withdraw from a course for Fall term |
| November 15 | Master’s December Graduation Application closes |
| Nov 28-Dec 1 | Thanksgiving Recess (no classes) |
| December 9 | Fall term classes end |
| December 10-11 | Reading Days |
| December TBD | May Master’s graduation application opens |
| December 12-19 | Final Examinations |
| December 16 | Thesis due for December 2024 graduates |
| December 19 | Fall term ends |
| December 19 | Degree conferral date |
| Dec. 25- Jan. 1 | University closed for Winter Break |
2025 Spring Term
| Date | Event |
| January 15 | Spring term classes begin |
| January 20 | Martin Luther King Day Observed |
| January 28 | Course Selection period– last day to add/swap courses and last day to drop courses to receive a full refund for graduate students |
| February TBD | May Master’s graduation application closes |
| February 24 | Last day to drop a course |
| March 8-16 | Spring Break |
| March 24 | Summer 2025 registration begins |
| March 24- April 7 | Advance registration begins for Fall 2025 (on-campus programs only) |
| March 31 | Last day to withdraw from a course for Spring term |
| April 30 | Last day of class |
| May 1-4 | Reading Days |
| May 5 | Thesis due for May 2025 graduates |
| May 5-13 | Final Examinations |
| May 13 | Spring term ends |
| May TBD | Doctoral Graduation Ceremony |
| May TBD | Master’s Graduation Ceremony |
| May 19 | Penn Commencement |
2024 Summer Sessions
| Date | Event |
| May 27 | Memorial Day observed (no classes) |
| May 28 | First Summer Session (SSI) classes begin |
| May 28 | 11-week full Summer Session classes begin |
| June 3 | August graduation application period opens |
| June 4 | (SSI): Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June 11 | (SSI): Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June 12 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June 19 | Juneteenth observed (no classes) |
| June 26 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June 27 | (SSI): Last day to withdraw from a course |
| July 3 | (SSI): First Session (SSI) classes end |
| July 4 | Independence Day observed (no classes) |
| July 5 | SSII: Second Session (SSII) classes begin |
| July 8 | August graduation application period closes |
| July 12 | SSII: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| July 18 | SSII: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| July 30 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August 3 | SSII: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August 5 | Thesis due for August 2025 graduates |
| August 9 | SSII: classes end |
| August 9 | Full Summer 11 week session: classes end |
| August 9 | Degree conferral date |
Please note: Engineering does not follow the change grade status in Summer sessions listed on the LPS Summer calendar. Please refer to our Summer calendar listed above only. If you have questions, please talk to Graduate Engineering advisors.