Academic Calendar

2025–2026 Academic Year

Academic Calendar

Key dates for registration, classes, exams, holidays and graduation. Always cross-check the official OYS portal — exact dates are approved each year by the University Senate and may shift.

Academic Year Structure

HKU runs two 14-week semesters (Fall and Spring) plus an optional Summer School. Each semester includes a one-week midterm exam window and a two-week final exam period. The full academic year totals 60 ECTS credits for a normal undergraduate workload.

Fall Semester 2025

Event Date
New student orientation 8–12 September 2025
Course registration (online via OYS) 15–19 September 2025
Classes begin 22 September 2025
Add / drop deadline 3 October 2025
Midterm exam week 10–16 November 2025
Withdrawal deadline (W grade) 5 December 2025
Last day of classes 29 December 2025
Final exam period 5–18 January 2026
Make-up exams 26–30 January 2026

Spring Semester 2026

Event Date
Course registration 2–6 February 2026
Classes begin 9 February 2026
Add / drop deadline 20 February 2026
Midterm exam week 30 March – 5 April 2026
Withdrawal deadline (W grade) 24 April 2026
Last day of classes 22 May 2026
Final exam period 25 May – 7 June 2026
Make-up exams 15–19 June 2026
Graduation ceremonies 22–26 June 2026

Summer School 2026 (Optional)

Summer School lets students retake courses, accelerate graduation or pick up electives. Courses run intensively over six weeks.

  • Registration: 29 June – 3 July 2026
  • Classes: 6 July – 14 August 2026
  • Final exams: 17–21 August 2026
  • Tuition: charged per credit hour (separate from regular semester fees)

National Holidays During the Academic Year

No classes are held on Turkish national or religious public holidays. International students should plan around these dates — campus services run on reduced hours, and many local businesses close on religious holidays.

Republic Day — 29 October 2025

Anniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

New Year’s Day — 1 January 2026

Public holiday.

Ramadan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr) — 20–22 March 2026 (provisional)

Three-day religious holiday following Ramadan; dates set by the Diyanet annually.

National Sovereignty & Children’s Day — 23 April 2026

Commemorates the opening of the Grand National Assembly in 1920; dedicated to children.

Labour and Solidarity Day — 1 May 2026

Public holiday.

Atatürk Commemoration & Youth Day — 19 May 2026

Marks the start of the War of Independence in 1919; dedicated to youth and sport.

Kurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha) — 27–30 May 2026 (provisional)

Four-day religious holiday; major travel period across Türkiye.

Office of Student Affairs

Calendar exceptions — late registration, exam conflicts, medical absence and excused withdrawals — are handled by the Office of Student Affairs (Öğrenci İşleri Daire Başkanlığı).

  • Email: ogrenciisleri@hku.edu.tr
  • Phone: +90 342 211 80 80
  • Location: Rectorate Building, Ground Floor
  • Office hours: Monday–Friday, 09:00–17:00
Important note

Dates above are based on the Senate-approved 2025–2026 calendar at time of publication. Always confirm the current official version on the OYS student portal before making travel, visa or exam plans.

Need help with the calendar?

Open OYS Portal
Contact Student Affairs