Academic Calendar

The University reserves the right to make changes to this calendar. A detailed current calendar can be found at: https://sps.northwestern.edu/student-services/important-dates.php

Fall Quarter 2023

Date Event
September
1 Summer degree conferral
11 Late registration for Fall 2023 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies
18 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
19 Fall 2023 quarter begins
25 Last day to add a Fall 2023 course
October
27 Last day to drop a Fall 2023 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday before finals week.)
November
3 Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation
3 Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2023
10 Last day to change a Fall 2023 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
13 Registration for Winter 2024 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST
22 Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through November 26
December
9 Fall 2023 quarter ends
11 Grades for Fall 2023 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
12 Grades for Fall 2023 available through CAESAR
15 Fall degrees conferred
26 Registration for Winter 2024 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST
27 Late registration for Winter 2024 begins; $75 late registration fee applies

Winter Quarter 2024

Date Event
January
2 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
3 Winter 2024 quarter begins
9 Last day to add a Winter 2024 course
15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session
February
2 Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation
2 Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2023
9 Last day to drop a Winter 2024 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday before finals week.)
19 Registration for Spring 2024 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT
23 Last day to change a Winter 2024 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
March
10 Registration for Spring 2024 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT
11 Late registration for Spring 2024 begins; $75 late registration fee applies
16 Winter 2024 quarter ends; spring break begins
18 Grades for Winter 2024 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
19 Grades for Winter 2024 available through CAESAR
22 Winter degrees conferred

Spring Quarter 2024

Date Event
March
24 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
25 Spring 2024 quarter begins
29 Last day to add a Spring 2024 course
April
5 Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation
8 Summer Session 2024 registration opens
May
3 Last day to drop a Spring 2024 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday before finals week)
3 Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2024
17 Last day to change a Spring 2024 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
27 Memorial Day, no classes in session
June
8 Spring 2024 quarter ends
11 Grades for Spring 2024 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
12 Grades for Spring 2024 available through CAESAR
14 Spring degrees conferred

Summer Quarter 2024

Date Event
June
16 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
17 Summer Session 2024 begins; late registration for Summer 2024 begins
19 Juneteenth Observed no classes
21 Late registration for Summer 2024 ends
July
4 Independence Day, no classes in session
12 Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation
15 Registration for Fall 2024 opens
26 Last day to drop a Summer 2024 course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript. Requests for withdrawal can be initiated until the Friday before finals week)
August
9 Last day to change a Summer 2024 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
24 Summer Session 2024 ends
27 Summer Session 2024 grades are due by 3pm
30 Summer degrees conferred

The University reserves the right to make changes to this calendar. A detailed current calendar can be found at: https://sps.northwestern.edu/student-services/important-dates.php

Fall Quarter 2023

Date Event
September
1 August 2023 degrees awarded.
4 Labor Day (no classes)
5 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register form (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) and all other special registration requests for Fall Quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
18 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
19 Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
25 End of Fall Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
October
13 Application for readmission for Winter Quarter due. Application for admission for Winter Quarter due.
27 Last day to drop a Fall course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript) Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a December degree.
November
13 Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.
22 Thanksgiving break begins at 6 pm (No sync sessions for online classes).
23 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
24 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
25 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
26 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
December
8 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a December degree.
9 Official end of quarter
11 Fall quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for winter quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
15 December 2023 degrees awarded.

Winter Quarter 2024

Date Event
January
2 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
3 Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
9 End of Winter Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
12 Application for readmission for Spring Quarter due. Application for admission for Spring Quarter due.
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).
February
2 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.
9 Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript)
19 Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.
March
8 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.
11 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Spring Quarter registration by 5pm. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
16 Official end of quarter
18 Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
22 March 2024 degrees awarded.

Spring Quarter 2024

Date Event
March
24 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
25 Spring Quarter SPS evening on-ground and online classes begin
29 End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
April
5 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.
8 Registration for Summer Quarter begins
15 Application for program transfer for Summer Quarter due.
Application for Readmission for Summer Quarter due.
Application for admission for Summer Quarter due.
May
3 Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).
10 All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.
27 Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes).
June
3 Deadline to submit the Intent to Register (for 499, 579, 580) and Thesis Registration form (for 589 and 590) form and all other special registration requests for Summer Quarter by 5pm. Deadline to submit Graduate Change of Registration form for non-SPS (WCAS) courses. Deadline to submit the Application for Tuition Remission for MFA courses.
8 Official end of quarter
9 School of Professional Studies Convocation Ceremony
10 Commencement for all Northwestern graduates
11 Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
14 June 2024 degrees awarded.

Summer Quarter 2024

Date Event
June
16 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
17 Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
19 Juneteenth Observed (no classes)
21 End of Summer Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
July
4 Independence Day; Northwestern University closes (no sync sessions for online classes).
12 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive an August degree.
15 Registration for Fall 2024 quarter opens in CAESAR.
Application for program transfer for Fall Quarter due. Application for Readmission for Fall Quarter due. Application for admission for Fall Quarter due.
26 Last day to drop a summer course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).
August
9 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.
24 Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes
27 Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
30 August 2024 degrees awarded.