Durham Term Dates

Knowing your Durham term dates early makes everything else easier, from booking trains home to planning part-time work and revision. Durham University runs on a traditional three-term system rather than semesters, which can confuse new students and parents used to a different setup. The three terms are Michaelmas, Epiphany, and Easter, each followed by a vacation. This guide gives you the key Durham university term dates, explains how the terms and exams fit together, and shares practical tips most calendars skip, like why the long Christmas break is great for international students and how exams cluster at the end of the year. Whether you are a fresher or a parent helping with planning, this should save you a lot of back and forth with the official calendar.

Quick Overview

Durham University divides the academic year into three terms. For 2026/27, Michaelmas Term runs from 5 October to 11 December 2026, Epiphany Term from 11 January to 19 March 2027, and Easter Term from 26 April to 25 June 2027. Each term is followed by a vacation, with a long four-week Christmas break. Most undergraduate exams fall in the summer exam period during May and June. Exact dates can vary slightly by department, so always confirm with your course.

Durham University Term Dates 2026/27

Here are the main term dates for the 2026/27 academic year. Induction week begins on Monday 28 September 2026, and teaching follows shortly after.

Michaelmas Term runs from Monday 5 October 2026 to Friday 11 December 2026. This is the first and often busiest term, with foundational teaching across most courses. Epiphany Term runs from Monday 11 January 2027 to Friday 19 March 2027. Easter Term runs from Monday 26 April 2027 to Friday 25 June 2027, and this is where the main exam period sits.

Vacation periods

The Christmas vacation runs from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, giving a generous four-week break. The Easter vacation falls between Epiphany and Easter terms, from around 20 March to 25 April 2027. These breaks are long enough for travel, rest, or short internships.

How Durham's Three-Term System Works

Durham uses three terms instead of two semesters, which changes how your year flows. Each term lasts around nine to ten weeks of teaching, with clear breaks in between. The structure suits intensive study followed by proper rest, but it also means your workload is concentrated into shorter bursts.

One quirk catches many students out. A lot of teaching happens in Michaelmas and Epiphany, while Easter Term is short and heavily focused on revision and exams. So even though Easter Term starts in late April, much of it is about assessment rather than new content.

Where exams sit in the calendar

For most undergraduates, exams for both Michaelmas and Epiphany modules take place during the summer exam period, usually in May and June, rather than right after each term. Results for those modules are typically released in late June or early July. Postgraduate and business students often follow different exam timing, so check your programme handbook.

Durham Term Dates 2025/26

If you are looking at the current year, the 2025/26 calendar follows the same pattern. Michaelmas begins in early October, Epiphany in January, and Easter in late April, with the same long Christmas break in between. Because exact start and end days shift slightly each year, confirm your specific 2025/26 dates on the official Durham calendar or your department page before booking travel.

Durham Term Dates Table (2026/27)

Why the Calendar Matters for Planning

The Durham calendar affects more than lecture attendance. The long Christmas break is a real advantage for international students, since four weeks is enough to travel home without missing teaching. Many students also use the Easter vacation for revision rather than holidays, so plan that period carefully.

Accommodation contracts, travel costs, and part-time work all tie back to these dates. If you book trains early around term boundaries, you usually save money, since fares rise as those dates fill up. Lining up your plans with the calendar early avoids expensive last-minute changes.

Student Tips for Using Term Dates

Put all three term dates and exam periods in your calendar at the start of the year. Book travel for the start and end of terms as soon as dates are confirmed, because those are the busiest and priciest days. Do not assume Easter Term is light just because it is short, since it carries the heaviest assessment load.

FAQs

What are Durham University's term dates for 2026/27?

For 2026/27, Michaelmas Term runs from 5 October to 11 December 2026, Epiphany Term from 11 January to 19 March 2027, and Easter Term from 26 April to 25 June 2027. Induction week starts on 28 September 2026. The Christmas vacation gives a four-week break, and most undergraduate exams fall in May and June. Exact dates can vary by department, so confirm with your course.

How many terms does Durham University have?

Durham University has three terms: Michaelmas, Epiphany, and Easter. This is different from the two-semester system used at many other UK universities. Each term lasts roughly nine to ten weeks of teaching, with a vacation in between. The Christmas break after Michaelmas is the longest, at about four weeks. This three-term structure shapes how teaching, breaks, and exams are spread across the academic year.

When are Durham exams held?

Most undergraduate exams for both Michaelmas and Epiphany modules take place during the summer exam period, usually in May and June, rather than straight after each term. Results are typically released in late June or early July. Postgraduate and business students often have different exam timing, sometimes including January assessments. Always check your specific programme handbook, since exact exam dates vary by department.

How long is the Christmas break at Durham?

The Christmas vacation at Durham is around four weeks long. For 2026/27 it runs from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027. This is one of the longer Christmas breaks among UK universities, which is especially helpful for international students who want to travel home. It also gives everyone time to rest before Epiphany Term begins and the busier part of the year continues.

Are Durham term dates the same every year?

No, the exact start and end dates shift slightly each year, although the overall pattern stays the same. Michaelmas always begins in early October, Epiphany in January, and Easter in late April, each followed by a vacation. Because the precise days change annually, you should always confirm your specific year's dates on the official Durham calendar or your department page before booking travel or accommodation.

Why does Durham use terms instead of semesters?

Durham follows a traditional three-term academic calendar rooted in long-standing UK university structure. Terms allow intensive blocks of teaching followed by proper breaks, which suits focused study and the university's collegiate life. While semester systems spread teaching more evenly, the term system concentrates work and then rewards it with longer vacations. New students often need a short adjustment, but most find the rhythm clear once the first term passes.

Conclusion

Durham term dates are easy to plan around once you understand the three-term system. With Michaelmas, Epiphany, and Easter terms set for 2026/27, plus a long Christmas break and exams clustered in summer, you can book travel early, plan revision properly, and avoid last-minute stress. Just remember that Easter Term is short but assessment-heavy, and exact dates can shift slightly by department.

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