The academic year
There are three terms to a University of Cambridge academic year: Michaelmas, Lent and Easter.
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Michaelmas | 1 October | 19 December |
| Lent | 5 January | 25 March |
| Easter | 17 April | 25 June |
As a research student you will normally pay tuition and College fees for nine terms. However, Graduate Students operate on the basis of the whole academic year which extends beyond the end of Easter Term. Your academic year begins on 1 October and ends on 30 September. College and tuition fees are not payable for the period between the end of Easter Term and the beginning of Michaelmas Term.
As a Postgraduate Student, you are expected to work around 40 hours per week and will be expected to be resident in Cambridge for this period unless you have
- leave to work away,
- are intermitting,
- will be attending a conference or short research visit,
- or taking a holiday.*
*You may take vacations during Computer Laboratory closure dates such as Christmas and Easter and, with your supervisor's agreement, a period over the summer.
See Cambridge Term dates for information about full term dates.
Registration and week 1
| Event | Notes | Where | Date & Time |
| Registration | Michaelmas admissions; students arriving in Lent term may register from 14 January. | FS05 | From 10:00, Thurs 8 October 2026 |
| Health and Safety Course | Compulsory (unless previously a UoC master's student) | Online | |
| Research Skills programme | Mandatory (unless previously a UoC MPhil in ACS student) | Online | Date TBC |
| Induction | All new research students and new research assistants | In person FW26 |
Thursday 15 October 2026 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Welcome event | Drinks and snacks (By invitation only) | The Street |
Date Thursday 15 October from 17:00 - 19:00 |
First, second and third-year report submissions
We need an electronic versions of all reports uploaded to the department's filer. The third-year progress statement should be no more than a couple of pages' long.
First-year report and thesis proposal/CPGS
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | 30 June |
| January | 30 October |
| April | 31 January |
Second-year report
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | by 30 June |
| January | by 30 October |
| April | by 31 January |
Third-year progress statement
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | by 30 September |
| January | by 30 December |
| April | by 31 March |
Researcher development: RSP Moodle 'logbooks' will normally be submitted annually with your reports (see above); annual Tally sheets are due on 31 July regardless of admission date
Other important dates
| Postgraduate Studies Open Day | 2-14 November 2026 |
| Industry Recruitment Fair: The Street | To be confirmed |
| Lab closure dates | |
| Christmas | 25 December 2026 - 4 January 2027 |
| Easter | 26 March - 29 March 2027 |
The Postgraduate Education Team
August 2026
