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 2021

Date Event
September
3 Summer degree conferral
13 Late registration for Fall 2021 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies
20 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
21 Fall 2021 quarter begins
27 Last day to add a Fall 2021 course
October
29 Last day to drop a Fall 2021 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
5 Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation
5 Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2021
12 Last day to change a Fall 2021 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
15 Registration for Winter 2022 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST
24 Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through November 28
December
11 Fall 2021 quarter ends
13 Grades for Fall 2021 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
14 Grades for Fall 2021 available through CAESAR
17 Fall degrees conferred
26 Registration for Winter 2022 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST
27 Late registration for Winter 2022 begins; $75 late registration fee applies

Winter Quarter 2022

Date Event
January
2 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
3 Winter 2022 quarter begins
7 Last day to add a Winter 2022 course
17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session
February
4 Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation
4 Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2021
11 Last day to drop a Winter 2022 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.)
21 Registration for Spring 2022 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT
25 Last day to change a Winter 2022 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
March
13 Registration for Spring 2022 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT
14 Late registration for Spring 2022 begins; $75 late registration fee applies
20 Winter 2022 quarter ends; spring break begins
21 Grades for Winter 2022 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
22 Grades for Winter 2022 available through CAESAR
25 Winter degrees conferred

Spring Quarter 2022

Date Event
March
27 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
28 Spring 2022 quarter begins
April
1 Last day to add a Spring 2022 course
8 Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation
11 Summer Session 2022 registration opens
May
6 Last day to drop a Spring 2022 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)
6 Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2022
20 Last day to change a Spring 2022 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
30 Memorial Day, no classes in session
June
12 Spring 2022 quarter ends
13 Grades for Spring 2022 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
14 Grades for Spring 2022 available through CAESAR
17 Spring degrees conferred

Summer Quarter 2022

Date Event
June
19 Students who drop a course after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
20 Summer Session 2022 begins; late registration for Summer 2022 begins
24 Late registration for Summer 2022 ends
July
4 Independence Day, no classes in session
15 Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation
18 Registration for Fall 2022 opens
29 Last day to drop a Summer 2022 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
12 Last day to change a Summer 2022 course to P/NP via CAESAR for courses eligible to be taken as P/NP
27 Summer Session 2022 ends
29 Summer Session 2022 grades are due by 3pm
September
2 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 2021

Date Event
September
3 August 2021 degrees awarded.
7 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.
20 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
21 Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
27 End of Fall Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
October
15 Application for readmission for Winter Quarter due. Application for admission for Winter Quarter due.
29 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
15 Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.
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).
27 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
28 Thanksgiving break (No sync sessions for online classes).
December
4 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a December degree.
11 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
13 Fall quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
13 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.
17 December 2021 degrees awarded.

Winter Quarter 2022

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.
7 End of Winter Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
15 Application for readmission for Spring Quarter due. Application for admission for Spring Quarter due.
17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).
February
4 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.
11 Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript)
21 Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.
March
11 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.
14 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.
19 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
21 Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
25 March 2022 degrees awarded.

Spring Quarter 2022

Date Event
March
27 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
28 Spring Quarter SPS on-ground and online classes begin
April
1 End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
8 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.
11 Registration for Summer Quarter begins
May
6 Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).
13 All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.
30 Memorial Day; Northwestern University closes (No sync sessions for online classes).
June
7 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.
12 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
13 Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
17 June 2022 degrees awarded.

Summer Quarter 2022

Date Event
June
19 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
20 Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
24 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).
15 Application for program transfer for Fall Quarter due. Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive an August degree.
18 Registration for Fall 2022 quarter opens in CAESAR.
29 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
12 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.
27 Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes (Sat. night).
29 Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
September
2 August 2022 degrees awarded.