Academic Calendar
Winter Quadmester 2027

All dates and deadlines (noted below) are for quadmester full-term courses. PLEASE NOTE: Part of Term Courses have different dates and deadlines that are posted on the Part of Term Courses web page.

Date Event
Monday, November 30, 2026 Registration: Registration Officially Opens
Friday, December 4, 2026 Deadline: Last day to register for the upcoming Quadmester without a $75 Late Registration Fee
Monday, January 4, 2027 START OF TERM
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
Monday, January 4, 2027 Registration: Start of Late Registration; Late Registration Fee increases to $125
Sunday, January 10, 2027 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 100% refund of tuition
Monday, January 11, 2027 Deadline: Last day to complete Late Registration
Deadline: Last day to add courses online via ESTHER
Sunday, January 17, 2027 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with an 80% refund of tuition
Monday, January 18, 2027 Deadline: Last day to drop courses online via ESTHER
Monday, January 18, 2027 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (HOLIDAY)
(Live Class Sessions Will Be Rescheduled)
Friday, January 22, 2027 Graduation Deadline: Last day for graduate-level students to submit an online Application for Degree for May (Spring) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar via ESTHER
Sunday, January 24, 2027

Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 60% refund of tuition

Friday, January 29, 2027 Deadline: Last day instructors to submit final grades to resolve “Incomplete” (INC) grades for courses taken in previous term
Sunday, January 31, 2027 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 40% refund of tuition
Sunday, February 7, 2027 Deadline: Last day to withdraw from the university with a 20% refund of tuition
Sunday, March 14, 2027 LAST DAY OF CLASSES
Monday, March 15, 2027 Final Examination Period Begins
Sunday, March 21, 2027 Final Examination Period Ends
Monday, March 22, 2027 ILE (Intensive Learning Experience) Begins
Sunday, March 28, 2027 ILE (Intensive Learning Experience) Ends
Sunday, March 28, 2027 END OF TERM
Monday, April 5, 2027 Deadline: Last day for instructors to submit Winter quadmester final grades for all students online via ESTHER
Friday, May 7, 2027 GRADUATION: Rice University's 114th Commencement
  • Jones School (MBA) Commencement Ceremony
    Tudor Fieldhouse (Afternoon)
Saturday, May 8, 2027 GRADUATION: Rice University's 114th Commencement
  • Doctoral Commencement Ceremony
    Tudor Fieldhouse (Morning)
  • Advanced Degree Commencement Ceremony
    Tudor Fieldhouse (Afternoon)
  • Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
    Rice Stadium (Evening)

Please visit commencement.rice.edu for more information