For Full Academic Year: 1 April
2008-2009 Term Dates:
|
Semester | Start | End |
| Fall 2008 Semester and 1st Semester | Early September 2008 | Mid-December 2008 |
| Spring 2009 2nd and 3rd Trimester | Mid-January 2009 and Early April 2009 | Late March 2009 and Late June 2009 |
The academic calendar at Leiden University can be confusing at first. Most Faculties (i.e., the Faculty of Arts) have a semester calendar. The semesters are usually 15 weeks in duration, and the spring semester is bisected by a ten-day vacation for the Easter holiday. Students enrolling in the optional intensive Dutch language course will arrive 3 weeks earlier.
However, the Faculties of Law and Social & Behavioral Sciences have a trimester calendar. The trimester system is comprised of a 15-week first trimester that runs the same dates as the fall semester. The spring is bisected into two approximately 10-week terms, one from early January to the beginning of April, the other from early April until the end of June. Brockport program participants enrolling in these Faculties for the spring semester will attend both trimesters.
The fall semester at Leiden University officially ends in mid-January. A few departments have their final exams in January, but study abroad students usually are able to finish their course requirements and exams prior to departure in December. Some departments will assess with an additional paper or research and others may ask for the exam to be taken after returning to the US under the supervision of a proctor with prior approval for these arrangements.
