Northern Ireland University Holidays include 18 major breaks. Getting your University Term Dates, Key dates, semester dates, and mid-term weeks sorted early makes planning simple.
This academic calendar page covers the Introductory period, Autumn Semester, Christmas vacation, Spring Semester, Easter vacation, Summer Semester, University closed days, and bank holidays at every Northern Ireland University, with Education NI as our reference.
Northern Ireland University Academic Calendar
The academic year here runs in three parts: Autumn Semester, Spring Semester, and Summer Semester. Most universities open with an Introductory period or freshers’ week in mid-September, then roll straight into teaching.
Each semester carries a mid-term break, usually matched to local school half-terms. The Christmas vacation and Easter vacation are the two longest rest windows, roughly three weeks and two weeks respectively.
Northern Ireland University Holidays 2026/2027
Below is the full breakdown for Northern Ireland University Holidays for the 2026-27 year.
| Day | Date | Term/Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 21 September 2026 | Teaching Begins (Autumn Semester) |
| — | 21 December 2026 – 1 January 2027 | Christmas vacation |
| Monday | 18 January 2027 | Teaching Begins (Spring Semester) |
| Wednesday | 17 March 2027 | St Patrick’s Day (University closed) |
| — | 22 March – 2 April 2027 | Easter vacation |
| Monday | 5 April 2027 | Teaching resumes |
| Monday | 3 May 2027 | May Day (University closed) |
| Monday | 31 May 2027 | Spring bank holiday (University closed) |
Northern Ireland University Holidays 2027/2028
Below is the full breakdown for Northern Ireland University Holidays for the 2027-28 year.
| Day | Date | Term/Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13 September 2027 | Introductory period |
| Monday | 20 September 2027 | Autumn Semester |
| Monday | 13 December 2027 | Christmas vacation |
| Tuesday | 4 January 2028 | Autumn examinations begin |
| Monday | 24 January 2028 | Spring Semester |
| Friday | 14 April 2028 | Easter vacation |
Northern Ireland University Holidays 2028/2029
Below is the full breakdown for Northern Ireland University Holidays for the 2028-29 year.
| Day | Date | Term/Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| — | Mid-September 2028 | Introductory period |
| — | Late September 2028 | Teaching Begins |
| — | Late December 2028 – early January 2029 | Christmas vacation |
| — | Mid-January 2029 | Spring Semester begins |
| Saturday | 17 March 2029 | St Patrick’s Day |
| — | Early April 2029 | Easter vacation |
| Monday | 7 May 2029 | May Day (University closed) |
| Monday | 28 May 2029 | Spring bank holiday (University closed) |
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Major Northern Ireland University Holiday Periods (2027)
Christmas Holidays: 13 December 2027 to 3 January 2028 — a full 22 days, the longest single break of the year.
Easter Holidays: 14 April to 28 April 2028 — 15 days, built around Good Friday and Easter Monday for a proper spring break.
Summer Holidays: From late May 2028 through to September. Exam Periods wrap up by Friday 26 May 2028.
Mid-term / Spring break: Each semester includes a week-long independent study or reading week, synced with local school half-terms.
Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 20 September 2027 | Autumn Semester begins |
| 13 December 2027 | Christmas vacation starts |
| 4 January 2028 | Autumn examinations begin |
| 24 January 2028 | Spring Semester begins |
| 17 March 2028 | St Patrick’s Day |
| 14 April 2028 | Easter vacation starts |
| 1 May 2028 | May Day |
| 29 May 2028 | Spring bank holiday |
| 28 August 2028 | Summer bank holiday |
| 25 December 2028 | Christmas Day |
List of Universities
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Ulster University
- Open University (Northern Ireland regional centre)
- Belfast Metropolitan College (higher education courses)
- North West Regional College (higher education courses)
Important Notes
Northern Ireland’s bank holidays differ from England and Scotland. St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July) are unique Northern Ireland bank holidays. Universities are usually closed on these dates, though libraries and labs may open on a limited basis.
Mid-term arrangements aren’t perfectly uniform. They generally follow the school holiday calendar published by Education NI. Queen’s University Belfast confirms its independent study weeks sync with Halloween and mid-term school breaks, with exact dates added to the academic calendar once the authority confirms them.
Explore UK University Holidays
Find useful information about university holidays, term dates, reading weeks, and other key academic dates.
All dates may shift before official publication, so always check your university’s own announcements.
Official Source
FAQs
Yes. Most universities set aside a week-long independent study or reading week mid-semester, usually matching local school holidays.
Yes. 17 March is a public holiday in Northern Ireland, so teaching pauses and campuses typically close.
About three weeks, running from mid-December into early January. Exact dates vary by university.
Yes. Northern Ireland universities normally close on 12 July, though you should confirm with your own institution.
Usually by late May or early June. Resits tend to fall in July or August.
Explore more UK university term dates and academic calendars at UK University Holidays.
Explore more Holidays: