Term dates and normal periods of residence
Full Term Dates for 2023/24
2023/24 | Full Term |
---|---|
Michaelmas 2023 | Tuesday 3 October - Friday 1 December |
Lent 2024 | Tuesday 16 January - Friday 15 March |
Easter 2024 | Tuesday 23 April - Friday 14 June |
General Admission (Graduation): Friday 28 June 2024
Future Term Dates
2024/2025 | Full Term |
Michaelmas 2024 | Tuesday 8 October - Friday 6 December |
Lent 2025 | Tuesday 21 January - Friday 21 March |
Easter 2025 | Tuesday 29 April - Friday 20 June |
2025/2026 | Full Term |
Michaelmas 2025 | Tuesday 7 October - Friday 5 December |
Lent 2026 | Tuesday 20 January - Friday 20 March |
Easter 2026 | Tuesday 28 April - Friday 19 June |
2026/2027 | Full Term |
Michaelmas 2026 | Tuesday 6 October - Friday 4 December |
Lent 2027 | Tuesday 19 January - Friday 19 March |
Easter 2027 | Tuesday 27 April - Friday 18 June |
2027/2028 | Full Term |
Michaelmas 2027 | Tuesday 5 October - Friday 3 December |
Lent 2028 | Tuesday 18 January - Friday 17 March |
Easter 2028 | Tuesday 25 April - Friday 16 June |
2028/2029 | Full Term |
Michaelmas 2028 | Tuesday 3 October - Friday 1 December |
Lent 2029 | Tuesday 16 January - Friday 16 March |
Easter 2029 | Tuesday 24 April - Friday 15 June |
Term dates and calendars are available from the University website or the Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge.
Keeping Term
The University requires all candidates for the B.A. degree to have spent no less than nine Terms in Cambridge and the College has to certify to the University that this is the case for each undergraduate. In order to 'keep term' an undergraduate must be residing in accommodation approved by the Tutor for no less than 59 nights during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms and 52 nights in the Easter Term. These nights must be between 1 October and 19 December (Michaelmas), 5 January and 25 March (or in any leap year on 24 March) (Lent) and 17 April and 25 June (except for any year in which full Easter Term begins before 22 April, in which case the dates are 10 April and 18 June).
This does not mean that you are obliged to stay in Cambridge for this period continuously, but if you wish to be away from Cambridge for any number of nights you should let your Tutor know, in advance, the reasons for your planned absence and advise how long you expect to be away from Cambridge. You should not leave Cambridge without the permission of your Tutor.
If an undergraduate student fails to 'keep term' it is not possible for the College to certify to the University that the term in question has been kept and this may then prevent or delay you graduating.
Normal Periods of Residence
Downing College operates a system of Normal Periods of Residence (NPR) which allows students to be in residence for a few days at either end of Full Term.
Junior Members wishing to apply for accommodation outside the Normal Periods of Residence (NPR) should complete an application online no fewer than two weeks prior to the first date of requested residence. Apply for residence outside NPR on our Student Forms portal.
Please note, residence outside of NPR will not be granted to students who opt to attend the General Admission Dinner and Drinks in their penultimate year and must arrange their own accommodation.
For NPR dates, please see below:
2023/2024 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2023 | Saturday 30 September - Saturday 9 December |
Lent 2024 | Saturday 6 January - Saturday 16 March |
Easter 2024 | Saturday 13 April - Saturday 22 June |
2024/2025 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2024 | Saturday 5 October* - Saturday 14 December** *Freshers arrive on 5 October and returning students on Sunday 6 October. **Freshers vacate a week early. |
Lent 2025 | Saturday 11 January - Saturday 22 March |
Easter 2025 | Saturday 19 April - Saturday 28 June |
2025/2026 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2025 |
Saturday 4 October* - Saturday 13 December** *Freshers arrive on 4 October and returning students on Sunday 5 October. |
Lent 2026 | Saturday 10 January - Saturday 21 March |
Easter 2026 | Saturday 18 April - Saturday 27 June |
2026/2027 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2026 |
Saturday 3 October* - Saturday 12 December** *Freshers arrive on 3 October and returning students on Sunday 4 October. |
Lent 2027 | Saturday 9 January - Saturday 20 March |
Easter 2027 | Saturday 17 April - Saturday 26 June |
2027/2028 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2027 |
Saturday 2 October* - Saturday 11 December** *Freshers arrive on 2 October and returning students on Sunday 3 October. |
Lent 2028 | Saturday 8 January - Saturday 18 March |
Easter 2028 | Saturday 15 April - Saturday 24 June |
2028/2029 | NPR |
Michaelmas 2028 |
Saturday 30 September* - Saturday 9 December** *Freshers arrive on 30 September and returning students on Sunday 1 October. |
Lent 2029 | Saturday 6 January - Saturday 17 March |
Easter 2029 | Saturday 14 April - Saturday 23 June |
*Please check your room agreement to verify the date you need to vacate your room by in Michaelmas, as for some buildings in College NPR ends a week earlier. If in doubt, please contact the Accommodation Officer.