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 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 11 | 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 6 | 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 graduates |
| December 17 | Fall term ends |
| December 17 | Degree conferral date |
2027 Spring Term
| Date | Event |
| January 14 | PhD May graduation application opens |
| January 20 | Spring term classes begin |
| January 22 | Master’s and Certificate May graduation application opens |
| February 2 | Course Selection period– last day to add/swap courses and last day to drop courses to receive a full refund for graduate students |
| March 1 | Drop period ends: Last day to drop a course |
| March 5 | Master’s and Certificate May graduation application closes |
| March 29 | Summer 2027 registration begins |
| March 29- April 12 | Advance registration begins for Fall 2027 (current students only) |
| April 5 | Last day to withdraw from a course for Spring term |
| May 4 | Last day of class |
| May 5-6 | Reading Days |
| May (TBA) | Thesis due for May graduates |
| May 7-17 | Final Examinations |
| May 17 | Spring term ends |
| May 20 | Doctoral Graduation Ceremony |
| May 21 | Master’s Graduation Ceremony |
| May 24 | Penn Commencement |
2027 Summer Sessions
| Date | Event |
| May 31 | Memorial Day observed (no classes) |
| June 1 | First Summer Session (SSI) classes begin |
| June 1 | 11-week full Summer Session classes begin |
| TBA | August graduation application period opens |
| June TBA | (SSI): Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June TBA | (SSI): Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June TBA | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| June 18 | Juneteenth observed (no classes) |
| June TBA | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| June TBA | (SSI): Last day to withdraw from a course |
| July 8 | (SSI): First Session (SSI) classes end |
| July 9 | SSII: Second Session (SSII) classes begin |
| July 5 | Independence Day observed (no classes) |
| July TBA | August graduation application period closes |
| July TBA | SSII: Last day to Add/Drop a course without financial implications |
| July TBA | SSII: Last day to drop a course with 50% obligation |
| July TBA | Full Summer 11 week session: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August TBA | SSII: Last day to withdraw from a course |
| August TBA | Thesis due for August 2027 graduates |
| August 13 | SSII: classes end |
| August 13 | Full Summer 11 week session: classes end |
| August 13 | Degree conferral date |
Please note: Graduate 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.