Key university dates
Our key university dates for the academic year include trimester dates, public and university holidays.
2026 key dates
September 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 7 | Trimester B resumes |
| Thursday 17 | Kīngitanga Day |
| Wednesday 30 |
Apply for accommodation by this date to be considered in the first round of offers for 2027 accommodation (later applications are still accepted). |
October 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 16 | Final teaching day of Trimester B |
| Monday 19 | Trimester B study week begins |
| Monday 19-Tuesday 20 |
Graduation ceremonies - Hamilton |
| Monday 26 |
Labour Day |
| Tuesday 27 |
Trimester B examinations begin |
November 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 6 |
Trimester B examinations end |
| Monday 9 | Teaching recess begins |
| Monday 16 | Trimester C and Teaching Period G begin |
December 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 18 | Teaching Period G ends |
| Monday 21 |
Trimester C mid-trimester recess begins — University Holiday begins (provisional dates) |
| Thursday 24 | Christmas Eve — University closed until Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Friday 25 | Christmas Day |
| Monday 28 | Boxing Day observed |
2027 key dates
January 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 4 | New Years Day observed |
| Tuesday 5 | Teaching Period H begins and Trimester C continues. University open |
| Monday 18 | Jumpstart begins (End varies) |
February 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 1 | Auckland Anniversary Day |
| Friday 5 | Final teaching day of Trimester C |
| Monday 8 | Waitangi Day observed |
| Tuesday 9 | Trimester C study break and examinations begin |
| Friday 12 | Final day of Teaching Period H |
| Monday 15 | Teaching recess begins |
| Monday 22 | Enrolment and O week begins |
| Friday 26 | Teaching recess ends |
March 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 1 | Trimester A and full-year classes begin |
| Friday 26 | Good Friday |
| Monday 29 | Easter Monday |
| Tuesday 30 | University Holiday |
April 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
|
Monday 19 |
Teaching recess begins |
|
Monday 20-Friday 23 |
Graduation ceremonies - Hamilton |
|
Monday 26 |
ANZAC Day observed |
|
Wednesday 28 |
Graduation ceremony - Tauranga |
May 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
|
Monday 3 |
Trimester A resumes |
|
Friday 21 |
Hamilton Open Day |
June 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 4 | Trimester A ends |
| Monday 7 |
King's Birthday |
| Tuesday 8 |
Study week |
| Monday 14 |
Trimester A examinations begin |
| Thursday 24 |
Trimester A examinations end |
| Friday 25 |
Matariki Holiday |
| Monday 28 |
Teaching recess begins |
| Wednesday 30 |
Tauranga Open Day |
July 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 5 |
Enrolment and O week begins |
| Monday 12 |
Trimester B begins |
| Saturday 17 |
Community Open Day |
August 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 23 |
Trimester B mid-trimester teaching recess begins |
September 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday 6 |
Trimester B resumes |
| Thursday 16 |
Kīngitanga Day (provisional) |
October 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 15 |
Trimester B ends |
| Monday 18 |
Study week begins |
| Monday 25 |
Labour Day Holiday |
| Tuesday 26 |
Trimester B examinations begin |
November 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 5 |
Trimester B examinations end |
| Monday 8 |
Teaching recess begins |
| Monday 15 |
Trimester C and Teaching Period G begin |
December 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday 17 |
Teaching Period G ends |
| Monday 20 |
Trimester C teaching recess begins and University Holiday begins (provisional dates) |
| Friday 24 |
Christmas Eve. University closed until Wednesday 5 January 2028 |
| Monday 27 |
Christmas Day observed |
| Tuesday 28 |
Boxing Day observed |
| Wednesday 29 - Friday 31 |
University Holiday |
January 2028
Application and enrolment dates
It's never too early to start your application to study at Waikato. You can apply online (opens in a new tab) or contact us on 0800 WAIKATO.
New students and all returning students
- Any person who wishes to enrol at the University must submit an application to enrol by the relevant deadline.
- Applications submitted after the deadline may be accepted if space is available.
- Apply online at waikato.ac.nz/study/apply
Contact us about choosing a programme of study
Change of enrolment dates
Deadlines for changing the papers you're enrolled in, deleting papers (with a refund of the prescribed fees) or withdrawing from papers (without a refund) are found in the Change of Enrolment Regulations.
Contact us about application and enrolment
Research/thesis programmes dates
Application closing dates will be 31st January, 31st May and 30th September. Applications must be completed online and received before midnight (NZ time) on the deadline of the application round for which you are applying.