The academic year begins on 1 August and ends on the last day of the following July. The autumn term begins on 1 August and ends on 31 December, and the spring term begins on 1 January and ends on 31 July. Teaching is arranged during the teaching periods.
The academic year is divided into four teaching periods, each of which lasts seven weeks. All except the degree programmes in Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine follow this schedule. There are two periods in both the autumn and spring terms. For exact dates, see below. Opening Carnival will be organised at the start of the 1st period. Please check the teaching schedules from WebOodi.
The academic year has three intensive periods: before the first and third teaching periods and at the end of the fourth one. Intensive periods are intended to increase the amount of instruction offered according to the needs of the faculty and the students. Various orientation sessions, special or language courses or preparatory courses may be organised during the intensive periods. More information about orientation and tutoring in the beginning of semester.
Autumn term |
Spring term |
| Intensive period 26 August – 1 September | Intensive period 2 – 12 January |
| 1st teaching period 2 September – 20 October | 3rd teaching period 13 January – 1 March |
| Examination and study week 21 – 27 October | Examination and study week 2 – 8 March |
| 2nd teaching period 28 October – 15 December | 4th teaching period 9 March – 3 May |
| Examination and study week 16 – 20 December | Examination and study week 4 – 10 May |
| Intensive period 4 – 29 May |
Autumn term |
Spring term |
| Intensive period 24 August – 30 August | Intensive period 4 – 17 January |
| 1st teaching period 31 August – 18 October | 3rd teaching period 18 January – 7 March |
| Examination and study week 19 - 25 October | Examination and study week 8 – 14 March |
| 2nd teaching period 26 October – 13 December | 4th teaching period 15 March – 9 May |
| Examination and study week 14 – 20 December | Examination and study week 10 – 16 May |
| Intensive period 10 – 31 May |
2019–2020
2020–2021
The exchange period includes 2-3 day long, mandatory orientation week.
There is a week’s break in teaching after each period to allow students to study and take examinations.
There is a break of approximately four weeks in teaching at the turn of the year, between the second and third teaching periods. However, orientation studies or separate special or intensive courses may be organised during these breaks.
There is a break in teaching for Easter (three days before and three days after Easter Sunday). In the spring term 2020 the break in teaching for Easter is from the 9th to the 15th of April.
The summer term begins after the fourth examination and study week, and continues until the beginning of the August intensive period. Summer examinations, placement tests, thesis and study supervision, special and intensive courses, summer schools and Open University studies may be organised during the summer term.
The opening of the academic year and the opening carnival are held in the afternoon on the first day of the first teaching period (of the term), and no teaching will be arranged during this time
Teachers have office hours during the academic year typically from the beginning of September until the end of May. The practices for office hours vary slightly between faculties and degree programmes.
Teachers must be available for students every week between 1 September and 31 May, with the exception of the period around the new year. This means either face-to-face office hours or contact via phone, mail or email.
Students working on theses or dissertations must receive supervision of their work between 1 September and 31 May.