Spring 2021 Date Changes
The Spring 2021 dates have been updated to reflect the recent decision by the Faculty Senate to adjust the academic calendar.
See other changes to campus operations.
Tuition refund deadline flexibility for students impacted by COVID-19
Dates below that have been updated due to COVID-19 are denoted by an *.
Dates below that have yet to be finalized due to COVID-19 are denoted by an **.
Fall 2020
(Regular 15-week session)
| Deadline for students to cancel fall enrollment and have no fall term record on transcript (after: students will be required to withdraw, transcript will show term information and withdrawal date) | September 1, 2020 |
| Instruction for Fall 2020 term begins | September 2, 2020 |
| Deadline for students (except Special and Guest) to begin initial Fall term enrollment without $50 late fee | September 4, 2020 |
| Deadline for students to drop a course or withdraw from the university without having the course(s) appear on the transcript (after: will show as a DR grade for individual courses) | September 11, 2020* |
| Deadline for students to drop a Fall term course and receive 100% tuition adjustment | September 11, 2020 |
| Deadline for students to add, swap, or change sections in a Fall term course (after: need department permission) | September 11, 2020 |
| Deadline for students to begin initial Fall enrollment (after: $50 late fee, need dept. & academic dean permission) | September 11, 2020 |
| Deadline for students to drop a Fall term course and receive 50% tuition adjustment | September 25, 2020 |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to request pass/fail or credit/audit options for a Fall term course | September 25, 2020 |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to change variable credits (after: need instructor permission & dean approval) | September 25, 2020 |
| Deadline for students to add a Fall term course with department permission (after: need academic dean approval) | October 30, 2020 |
| Deadline for Graduate students to request pass/fail or credit/audit options for a Fall term course | October 30, 2020 |
| Deadline for Graduate students to change variable credits (after: need instructor permission & dean approval) | October 30, 2020 |
| Enrollment appointment times for Spring term assigned to students (throughout week) | November 9, 2020* |
| Deadline for students to drop a Fall term course (after: need academic dean approval) | November 20, 2020* |
| Deadline for students to change Honors Optional course status (after: need instructor permission & academic dean approval) | November 20, 2020 |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to withdraw from Fall term | November 20, 2020 |
| Students begin enrolling for Spring term courses according to their appointment times | December/January* |
| Deadline for Graduate students to withdraw from the Fall term | December 10, 2020 |
| Last day of instruction for Fall 2020 term | December 10, 2020 |
| Official degree conferral date on diploma for students graduating at the end of Fall term 2020 | December 20, 2020 |
Spring 2021
(Regular 15-week session)
| Deadline for students to cancel spring enrollment and have no spring term record on transcript (after: students will be required to withdraw, transcript will show term information and withdrawal date) | January 24, 2021* |
| Instruction for Spring 2021 term begins | January 25, 2021* |
| Deadline for students (except Special and Guest) to begin initial Spring term enrollment without $50 late fee | January 29, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to drop a course or withdraw from the university without having the course(s) appear on the transcript (after: will show as a DR grade for individual courses) | February 3, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to drop a Spring term course and receive 100% tuition adjustment | February 5, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to begin initial Spring enrollment (after: $50 late fee, need dept. & academic dean permission) | February 5, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to add, swap, or change sections in a Spring term course (after: need department permission) | February 5, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to drop a Spring term course and receive 50% tuition adjustment | February 19, 2021* |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to request pass/fail or credit/audit options for a Spring term course | February 19, 2021* |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to change variable credits (after: need instructor permission & dean approval) | February 19, 2021* |
| Enrollment appointment times for Summer term assigned to students (throughout week) | March 22, 2021* |
| Deadline for Graduate students to request pass/fail or credit/audit options for a Spring term course | March 26, 2021* |
| Deadline for Graduate students to change variable credits (after: need instructor permission & dean approval) | March 26, 2021* |
| Deadline for students to drop a Spring term course (after: need academic dean approval) | March 26*, 2021 |
| Deadline for students to add a Spring term course with department permission (after: need academic dean approval) | March 26, 2021* |
| Students begin enrolling for Summer term courses according to their appointment times | March 29, 2021* |
| Enrollment appointment times for Fall term assigned to students (throughout week) | March 29, 2021* |
| Students begin enrolling for Fall term courses according to their appointment times | April 5, 2021 |
| Deadline for students to change Honors Optional class status (after: need instructor permission & academic dean approval) | April 16, 2021 |
| Deadline for students (except Graduate) to withdraw from Spring term | April 16, 2021 |
| Deadline for Graduate students to withdraw from Spring term | April 30, 2021 |
| Last day of instruction for Spring 2021 term | April 30, 2021 |
| Official degree conferral date on diploma for students graduating at the end of the Spring term 2021 | May 9, 2021 |
Summer 2021
Summer term offers a variety of sessions. Each session has its own unique deadlines. View Session Dates for specific Summer term dates.
Selected dates, deadlines, and tuition adjustment dates for all sessions, including Summer term:
Find the right dates for your enrolled classes in the section details of your course in the Course Search & Enroll app. Session dates and deadlines will open a pop-up — which will show the add and drop dates for that class.
Your school/college or major department may have other deadlines related to your courses and degree progress. Please pay attention to communications from your academic dean, your advisor, and your instructors about significant academic dates.
Dates related to tuition payments are set by the Bursar’s Office.
The academic calendar for UW–Madison is published by the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty. Using these dates, our office determines important academic deadlines for each session.