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.
2026 Spring Term
| Date | Event |
| January 14 | Master’s and Certificate May graduation application opens |
| January 14 | PhD May graduation application opens |
| January 14 | Spring term classes begin |
| January 27 | Course Selection period– last day to add/swap courses and last day to drop courses to receive a full refund for graduate students |
| February 23 | Drop period ends: Last day to drop a course |
| March 6 | Master’s and Certificate May graduation application closes |
| March 23 | Summer 2026 registration begins |
| March 23- April 6 | Advance registration begins for Fall 2026 (current students only) |
| March 30 | Last day to withdraw from a course for Spring term |
| April 29 | Last day of class |
| April 30-May 3 | Reading Days |
| May 4 | Thesis due for May 2026 graduates |
| May 4-12 | Final Examinations |
| May 12 | Spring term ends |
| May 14 | Doctoral Graduation Ceremony |
| May 15 | Master’s Graduation Ceremony |
| May 18 | Penn Commencement |
2026 Summer Sessions
| Date | Event |
| May 25 | Memorial Day observed (no classes) |
| May 26 | First Summer Session (SSI) classes begin |
| May 26 | 11-week full Summer Session classes begin |
| June 1 | August graduation application period opens |
| June 2 | (SSI): Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June 9 | (SSI): Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June 10 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June 19 | Juneteenth observed (no classes) |
| June 24 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June 26 | (SSI): Last day to withdraw from a course |
| July 1 | (SSI): First Session (SSI) classes end |
| July 2 | SSII: Second Session (SSII) classes begin |
| July 3 | Independence Day observed (no classes) |
| July 10 | August graduation application period closes |
| July 9 | SSII: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| July 16 | SSII: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| July 29 | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August 2 | SSII: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August 3 | Thesis due for August 2026 graduates |
| August 7 | SSII: classes end |
| August 7 | Full Summer 11 week session: classes end |
| August 7 | 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.
2026 Fall Term
| Date | Event |
| August 21 | Master’s and PhD New Student Orientation (NSO) |
| August 25 | Fall term classes begin |
| August 25 | PhD December graduation application opens |
| September 8 | Course Selection period- last day to add courses and last day to drop courses to receive a full refund for graduate students. |
| September (TBA) | Master’s and Certificate December graduation application opens |
| October 5 | Drop period ends: last day to drop a course |
| October 26 – November 9 | Advance Registration for Spring 2027 |
| November 2 | Last day to withdraw from a course for Fall term |
| November (TBA) | Master’s and Certificate December graduation application closes |
| November 30 | PhD December graduation application closes |
| December 7 | Fall term classes end |
| December 8-9 | Reading Days |
| December 10-17 | Final Examinations |
| December 10 | Thesis due for December 2026 graduates |
| December 17 | Fall term ends |
| December 17 | Degree conferral date |