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 2020

Date Event
September
4 Summer degree conferral
7 Late registration for Fall 2020 begins 12:00 a.m. CDT; $75 late registration fee applies
16 Fall 2020 quarter begins
22 Last day to add a Fall 2020 course, and change sections in CAESAR
25 Last day to add a Fall 2020 course, and change sections with Change of Registration Form
October
30 Last day to submit incomplete work for Summer 2020
30 Last day to submit Graduation Application for December graduation
November
6 Last day to drop a Fall 2019 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.)
16 Registration for Winter 2021 begins at 8:30 a.m. CST
26 Thanksgiving vacation begins; no classes through December 1
30 Last day to change to P/NP and audit, and change sections in CAESAR
December
8 Fall 2020 quarter ends
14 Grades for Fall 2020 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CST
15 Grades for Fall 2020 available through CAESAR
18 Fall degrees conferred
27 Registration for Winter 2021 ends at 11:59 p.m. CST
28 Late registration for Winter 2021 begins; $75 late registration fee applies

Winter Quarter 2021

Date Event
January
11 Winter 2021 quarter begins
17 Last day to add a Winter 2021 course, and change sections in CAESAR
18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; no classes in session
22 Last day to add a Winter 2021 course, and change sections with Change of Registration Form
February
5 Last day to submit Graduation Application for March graduation
5 Last day to submit incomplete work for Fall 2020
19 Last day to drop a Winter 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.)
22 Registration for Spring 2021 opens at 8:30 a.m. CDT
26 Last day to change a Winter 2021 course to P/NP
March
21 Registration for Spring 2021 ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT
22 Winter 2021 quarter ends; spring break begins
Late registration for Spring 2021 begins; $75 late registration fee applies
Grades for Winter 2021 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
23 Grades for Winter 2021 available through CAESAR
26 Winter degrees conferred

Spring Quarter 2021

Date Event
March
29 Spring 2021 quarter begins
April
2 Last day to add a Spring 2021 course, change to P/NP and audit, and change sections in CAESAR
9 Last day to submit Graduation Application for June graduation
Last day to add a Spring 2021 course, change to P/NP and audit, and change sections with Change of Registration Form
12 Summer Session 2021 registration opens
May
7 Last day to drop a Spring 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)
Last day to submit incomplete work for Winter 2021
31 Memorial Day, no classes in session
June
12 Spring 2021 quarter ends
14 Grades for Spring 2021 due from instructors by 3:00 p.m. CDT
15 Grades for Spring 2020 available through CAESAR
18 Spring degrees conferred

Summer Quarter 2021

Date Event
June
21 Summer Session 2021 begins; late registration for Summer 2021 begins
25 Late registration for Summer 2021 ends
July
5 Independence Day, no classes in session
6 Registration for Fall 2021 opens
15 Last day to submit Graduation Application for August graduation
August
29 Summer Session 2021 ends
30 Summer Session 2021 grades are due by 3pm
September
3 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 2020

Date Event
September
4 August 2020 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.
15 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
16 Fall Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
22 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.
November
6 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.
16 Registration for Winter Quarter opens in CAESAR.
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).
29 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.
8 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
14 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.
18 December 2020 degrees awarded.

Winter Quarter 2021

Date Event
January
10 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
11 Winter Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
15 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.
18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no classes (No sync sessions for online classes).
February
5 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a March degree.
19 Last day to drop a Winter course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript)
22 Registration for Spring Quarter opens in CAESAR.
March
12 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a March degree.
15 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.
20 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
22 Winter Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
26 March 2021 degrees awarded.

Spring Quarter 2021

Date Event
March
28 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition
29 Spring Quarter SPS on-ground and online classes begin
April
2 End of Spring Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
9 Application for a Degree due to the SPS Registrar’s Office to receive a June degree.
12 Registration for Summer Quarter begins
May
7 Last day to drop a spring course without academic penalty (withdrawals after this date will result in a “W” grade posted to the transcript).
14 All thesis requirements and approvals must be complete for students completing 590 Thesis to receive a June degree.
31 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.
13 Official end of quarter (does not affect graduate course end dates)
14 Spring Quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
18 June 2021 degrees awarded.

Summer Quarter 2021

Date Event
June
20 Students who drop a class after this date will not receive a 100% refund for tuition.
21 Summer Quarter on-campus and online classes begin.
25 End of Summer Quarter registration period in CAESAR. Students may not add a class after this date.
July
5 Independence Day; Northwestern University closes (no sync sessions for online classes).
6 Registration for Fall 2021 quarter opens in CAESAR.
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.
30 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
13 All thesis requirements and approvals due by 5pm for students completing 590 Thesis to receive an August degree.
29 Last day of Summer Quarter for on-campus classes and online classes (Sat. night).
30 Summer quarter grades due from instructors before 3pm.
September
3 August 2021 degrees awarded.