The UCLA academic calendar 2025-26 governed the university's structured quarter system, outlining essential term start dates, enrollment windows, fee payment cutoffs, and examination periods across Fall 2025, Winter 2026, and Spring 2026. Managing these milestones effectively was crucial for students to maintain good standing, avoid late fees, and successfully navigate course registration.
For comprehensive official documentation and real-time updates, students referenced the UCLA Registrar's Office and monitored their MyUCLA student portals for personalized enrollment appointments and fee assessments.
Fall Quarter 2025 Milestones and Deadlines
Fall Quarter established the rhythm for the entire academic year, beginning with campus arrivals and administrative check-ins in late September 2025.
- Quarter Begins: Monday, September 22, 2025. Administrative offices opened for the term, and initial housing check-ins commenced across campus.
- Instruction Begins: Thursday, September 25, 2025. Lectures and seminars officially started across all undergraduate and graduate departments.
- Study List Becomes Official: Friday, October 10, 2025. By 11:59 p.m. on this date, course enrollments locked in for fee calculations, and unpaid classes faced dropping.
- Instruction Ends: Friday, December 5, 2025. The final day of regular lecture periods before the reading and examination cycles.
- Final Examinations: Monday, December 8 through Friday, December 12, 2025. Common final exams took place over the preceding weekend of December 6-7.
Winter Quarter 2026 Schedule and Critical Dates
Winter Quarter resumed shortly after the New Year holiday, featuring a compressed timeline running from early January through mid-March 2026.
- Quarter Begins: Friday, January 2, 2026. Administrative operations resumed following the winter closure.
- Instruction Begins: Monday, January 5, 2026. Classes kicked off immediately following the first full weekend of January.
- Study List Deadline: Friday, January 16, 2026. The final deadline to finalize course schedules without incurring administrative penalties or late drops.
- Instruction Ends: Friday, March 13, 2026. The conclusion of Winter instruction ahead of finals week.
- Final Examinations: Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, 2026. Term evaluations closed out the quarter, leading directly into spring break.
Spring Quarter 2026 Operations and Completion
Spring Quarter served as the final leg of the academic year, incorporating commencement activities and year-end evaluations.
- Quarter Begins: Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Administrative preparation began following the spring hiatus.
- Instruction Begins: Monday, March 30, 2026. Classes commenced immediately following the César Chávez holiday observance.
- Study List Deadline: Friday, April 10, 2026. Official study list lock-in date for fee assessments and waitlist adjustments.
- Instruction Ends: Friday, June 5, 2026. The last day of classes for the 2025-26 academic cycle.
- Final Examinations: Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12, 2026. Final exams concluded the term, paving the way for commencement weekend ceremonies.
Navigating Enrollment Passes and Fee Deadlines
Registration windows operated on a priority pass system via MyUCLA. Continuing students checked their assigned appointment times several weeks prior to enrollment periods. First-pass appointments allowed students to secure core major requirements, while second-pass appointments opened general electives and remaining open seats.
Fee payment deadlines required strict attention. For example, failing to pay registration fees by the Week 2 fee deadline resulted in late service charges and potential course cancellation. Students utilized the BruinPay Plan to spread tuition payments across manageable monthly installments when approved ahead of term deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did UCLA students handle dropped classes after the official study list deadline?
After Week 2, dropping non-impacted classes typically involved transcript notations depending on the specific college or school regulations. Undergraduates in Letters and Science submitted drops through MyUCLA within designated window periods, while later drops required formal petitions and instructor approval.
What happened if tuition fees weren't paid by Week 2?
Classes were subject to being dropped for nonpayment, and waitlists were cleared automatically. Students who missed these windows faced reinstatement fees and disruption to their financial aid disbursements.
How were graduation requirements verified on the calendar?
Candidates for bachelor's or master's degrees declared their candidacy by the Week 2 deadline of their final term. Graduate students submitted advancement to candidacy petitions and thesis filing fee applications directly to Graduate Academic Services according to term-specific cutoffs.
Where could students track official holiday closures?
Official campus closures included Veterans Day (November 11, 2025), Thanksgiving (November 27-28, 2025), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19, 2026), Presidents' Day (February 16, 2026), César Chávez Day (March 27, 2026), and Memorial Day (May 25, 2026). During these dates, administrative offices closed and classes were suspended.
