Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Term Date 2025/2026
ACADEMIC CALENDAR: 2025/2026
LECTURE BLOCKS
- First teaching block: Monday 6 February – Friday 24 March (34 days)
- Second teaching block: Monday 27 March – Friday 26 May (36 days)
- Third teaching block: Monday 17 July – Friday 1 September (34 days)
- Fourth teaching block: Monday 4 September – Friday 27 October (35 days)
NORMAL EXAMINATION PERIODS
- First Semester: Wednesday 31 May – Tuesday 20 June (16 days)
- Second Semester: Thursday 2 November – Wednesday 22 November (18 days)
RE-EXAMINATION PERIODS
- January re-examinations: Monday 9 January – Tuesday 24 January (including extension of 2016 normal examinations)
- February re-examinations: Thursday 9 February – Friday 17 February (during term time)
- Second Semester: Monday 10 July – Friday 14 July
- December re-exam: Monday 11 December – Wednesday 13 December
NOTE:
In the event of exams being disrupted, the University reserves the prerogative to extend the exam period for a reasonable time beyond the planned end of exams.
GRADUATION CEREMONIES
Autumn graduation
- Thursday 30 March – Friday 31 March (George)
- Tuesday 4 April – Tuesday 11 April (Port Elizabeth)
Summer graduation
- Thursday 14 December 2025/2026
- Friday 15 December 2025/2026
STUDENT RECESS PERIODS
- 14 April – 23 April
- 21 June – 16 July
- 23 September – 1 October
- 23 November – 31 December
* University re-opens: 3 January 2025/2026
PUBLIC AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2025/2026
Semester 1 | Sun | 1 January | New Year’s Day |
Mon | 2 January | Public Holiday | |
Tues | 21 March | Human Rights Day | |
Fri | 14 April | Good Friday | |
Mon | 17 April | Family Day | |
Thurs | 27 April | Freedom Day | |
Fri | 28 April | University Holiday | |
Mon | 1 May | Workers’ Day | |
Fri | 16 June | Youth Day | |
Semester 2 | Wed | 09 August | National Women’s Day |
Sun | 24 September | Heritage Day | |
Mon | 25 September | Public Holiday | |
Sat | 16 December | Day of Reconciliation | |
Mon | 25 December | Christmas Day | |
Tues | 26 December | Day of Goodwill |
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS (COASTAL SCHOOLS)
Term 1
- Sat 1 April – Mon 17 April
- Mon 20 March – School Holiday
- Fri 28 April – School Holiday
Term 2
- Sat 1 July – Sun 23 July
Term 3
- Sat 30 September – Sun 8 October
Term 4
- Thurs 7 December – Tues 16 Jan 2025/2026
Did You Know : Top 15 Free Online Learning Platforms
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Coursera:
Coursera partners with universities and organizations worldwide to offer a wide range of courses. While many courses are free, a fee is often required for certification.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: edX:
Founded by MIT and Harvard, edX offers high-quality courses from top universities and institutions around the world. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Khan Academy:
Khan Academy provides free educational content in various subjects, especially mathematics and science, using instructional videos and practice exercises.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Udacity:
Udacity focuses on tech-related courses and nanodegree programs, offering free content as well as more in-depth paid programs.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW):
MIT OCW provides a vast array of MIT's course content for free, covering a wide range of disciplines.
-
Free Online Education Degrees : Harvard Extension School:
Harvard Extension School offers a selection of free online courses. While some courses are free, others may require payment for a certificate.
-
Free Online Education Degrees: Stanford Online:
Stanford Online offers a variety of free courses in different disciplines, including computer science, engineering, and business.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI):
OLI offers free online courses and resources designed to improve learning outcomes through research-based methodologies.
-
Best Free Online Courses : FutureLearn:
FutureLearn partners with universities and institutions to offer a diverse range of free online courses. Certificates are available for a fee.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Alison:
Alison offers a wide range of free online courses, including diploma and certificate programs, covering various subjects.
-
Best Free Online Courses: Open Yale Courses:
Yale University provides free access to a selection of introductory courses through Open Yale Courses.
-
Best Free Online Courses : UC Berkeley Online:
UC Berkeley offers free online courses on a variety of subjects, ranging from computer science to humanities.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Google Digital Garage:
Google Digital Garage provides free courses on digital skills, including online marketing, data analysis, and more.
-
Best Free Online Courses : Codecademy:
Codecademy offers free coding courses, interactive exercises, and coding projects to help individuals learn programming languages.
-
Best Free Online Courses : LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com):
LinkedIn Learning provides a variety of video courses on professional development, technology, and creative skills. It offers a free trial period.
Did you know : International Scholarships 2024
There are several international scholarships available for South Africans to study abroad. Here are a few examples:
- Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Program: This program provides fully funded scholarships to study at selected universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. It is open to African students, including South Africans, who are committed to giving back to their communities.
- Commonwealth Scholarships: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers scholarships for postgraduate study in the UK for citizens of Commonwealth countries, including South Africa. The scholarships cover tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright program offers scholarships for South Africans to study at U.S. universities for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses, and health insurance.
- Erasmus+ Programme: The Erasmus+ programme offers scholarships for South Africans to study in Europe for a Master’s or PhD degree. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel, and living expenses.
- Australia Awards Scholarships: The Australian government offers scholarships for South Africans to study at Australian universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a living allowance.
These are just a few examples of the many international scholarships available to South Africans. It is important to research the eligibility requirements and application deadlines for each scholarship program.