University of the Witwatersrand Term Date 2025/2026

University of the Witwatersrand Term Date 2025/2026

2025/2026 – University Term Dates

Activity Dates
Registration Monday 09 January – Friday 03 February
Orientation Sunday 29 January – Friday 03 February
First teaching block Monday 06 February – Friday 24 March (34 days)
Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break Saturday 25 March – Sunday 02 April (9 days)
Second teaching block Monday 03 April – Friday 19 May (31 days)
Examinations Wednesday 24 May – Friday 23 June (22 days)
Winter Vacation/Study/Research break Saturday 24 June – Sunday 23 July (30 days)
Third teaching block Monday 24 July – Friday 08 September (34 days)
Mid-term Vacation/Study/Research break Saturday 09 September – Sunday 17 September (9 days)
Fourth teaching block Monday 18 September – Tuesday 31 October (31 days)
Examinations Friday 03 November – Thursday 30 November (20 days)
Summer Vacation/Study/Research break Fri 01 December

Please note: The Faculty of Health Sciences’ term dates differ from those of the University and they may commence with lectures as early as the first working day in January.
Consult the University’s website for more detailed information about dates of registration for different cohorts of students.

Public and religious holidays/holydays recognised by the University in 2025/2026

<<<<<<<<

Date Name of holiday University status
Sunday 1 January New Year’s Day University closed
Monday 2 January Public Holiday University closed
Tuesday 21 March Human Rights Day University closed
Tuesday 11 April Pesach (day 1)**
Wednesday 12 April Pesach (day 2)**
Friday 14 April Good Friday University closed
Monday 17 April Family Day
Pesach (day 7)**
University closed
Tuesday 18 April Pesach (day 8)**
Thursday 27 April Freedom Day University closed
Monday 1 May Workers’ Day University closed
Saturday 27 May First day of Ramadan*
Wednesday 31 May Shavuoth**
Thursday 1 June Shavuoth**
Friday 16 June Youth Day University closed
Monday 26 June Eid-ul-Fitr*
Wednesday 9 August National Women’s Day University closed
Friday 01 September Eid-ul-Adha*
Thursday 21 September Rosh Hashanah (day 1)**
Friday 22 September Rosh Hashanah (day 2)**
Sunday 24 September Heritage Day University closed
Monday 25 September Public Holiday University closed
Saturday 30 September Yom Kippur**
Thursday 5 October Succot (day 1)**
Friday 6 October Succot (day 2)**
Thursday 12 October Sh’mini Atzeret **
Friday 13 October Simchat Torah**
Wednesday 18 October Diwali (South India)
Thursday 19 October Diwali (North India)
Saturday 16 December Day of Reconciliation University closed
Monday 25 December Christmas Day University closed
Tuesday 26 December Day of Goodwill University closed

* = Islamic Holy Day – commences the previous evening; exact date depends on sighting of new moon
** = Jewish Holy Day – commences the previous evening

School Term Dates in 2025/2026

Term All Provinces
Term 1 18 January – 31 March
Term 2 10 April – 23 June
Term 3 17 July – 29 September
Term 4 09 October – 06 December

– See more at: https://www.wits.ac.za/students/academic-matters/term-dates/2025/2026/#sthash.JMkJ9s5J.dpuf


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