Academic Calendar
2025 -2026
YSM students: YSM deadlines, policies, and procedures pertaining to course registration, add/drop, pass/fail, course withdrawal, and course incompletes apply to all courses in your schedule, including non-YSM courses.
Fall 2025
July 9 | Fall-term course registration opens (Part 1) for YSM required courses and non-YSM courses, 11 am
Aug. 27 | Yale College fall-term classes begin, 8:20 am
Aug. 28-Sep. 5 | *Orientation and Opening Week (*attendance mandatory)
- Aug. 28-Sept. 4 | *New student orientation
- Sep. 1 | Labor Day; classes do not meet
- Sep. 2-4 | *Returning student orientation
- Sep. 2-4 | Ensemble auditions and opening week activities
- Sep. 3-4 | Fall-term academic advising
- Sep. 4 | *Convocation and Reception
- Sep. 5 | Fall-term course registration (Part 2) for YSM elective courses, 10 am – 4 pm
Sep. 5 | Fall-term YSM classes begin, 1 pm (morning classes do not meet)
Sep. 8-12 | Fall-term add/drop period. Add/drop closes Sept. 12, 4 pm
Oct. 14-19 | Yale College recess begins Oct. 14 after last scheduled class. YSM classes still meet this week.
Oct. 24 | Midterm
Nov. 7 | Fall-term pass/fail deadline, 4 pm
Nov. 14 | Spring-term course registration opens (Part 1) for YSM required courses and non-YSM courses, 11 am
Nov. 21 | November recess begins after last scheduled class
Dec. 1 | Classes resume (YSM 9 am, Yale College 8:20 am)
Dec. 1 | Deadline for fall 2026 admissions applications
Dec. 1-11 | Spring-term academic advising
Dec. 5 | Fall-term course withdrawal deadline, 4 pm
Dec. 5 | Yale College classes end
Dec. 12 | Spring-term course registration (Part 2) for YSM electives, 1-4 pm
Dec. 12 | Deadline to request an Incomplete for a fall course, 4 pm
Dec. 12 | Deadline to request degree recital date and location
Dec. 12 | YSM fall-term classes end after last scheduled class
Dec. 15-17 | YSM exams
Dec. 18 | Winter recess begins
Spring 2026
Jan. 12 | Spring-term classes begin (YSM 9 am, Yale College 8:20 am)
Jan. 12-16 | Spring-term add/drop period. Add/drop ends Jan. 16, 4 pm
Jan. 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day; classes do not meet
Feb. 16-22 | YSM auditions
Feb. 18-20 | YSM classes do not meet, with the exception of Philharmonia
Mar. 6 | Midterm
Mar. 6 | Spring recess begins after last scheduled class
Mar. 23 | Classes resume (YSM 9 am, Yale College 8:20 am)
Apr. 3 | Spring-term pass/fail deadline, 4 pm
Apr. 24 | Spring-term course withdrawal deadline, 4 pm
Apr. 24 | Yale College classes end
May 1 | Deadline to request an Incomplete for spring-term course, 4 pm
May 1 | YSM spring-term classes end after last scheduled class
May 3 | Annual Honors Banquet
May 4-6 | YSM exams
May 17 | Commencement Concert
May 18 | University Commencement and YSM Diploma Ceremony