NTU Academic Calendar AY2026/2027: Key Dates for Semester 1 and 2
NTU’s academic year 2026/2027 is divided into two main semesters — Semester 1 (August to December) and Semester 2 (January to May) — plus a Special Term over the summer. This page covers the NTU term dates for 2026/27, how the semester calendar is structured, what happens in each phase, and where to find the official dates for AY2026/2027.
Official source: Always confirm dates with the NTU Academic Calendar on NTU’s website. Dates are updated by NTU each academic year.
NTU term dates 2026/2027 at a glance
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| STARS Round 1 | July 2026 | December 2026 |
| STARS Round 2 | Late July / early Aug 2026 | Late Dec 2026 / early Jan 2027 |
| Semester begins | Mid August 2026 | Mid January 2027 |
| Recess Week | ~Week 8 (October) | ~Week 8 (March) |
| Teaching ends | Early November 2026 | April 2027 |
| Exam period | November–December 2026 | April–May 2027 |
| Semester ends | Mid-December 2026 | Mid-May 2027 |
Treat this table as a fast reference — the detailed breakdowns below cover STARS timing, Recess Week, and exam period in full, and the NTU Academic Calendar remains the authoritative source for exact dates once NTU publishes them.
AY2026/2027 Semester 1
Semester 1 covers approximately August to December 2026.
| Phase | Approximate timing |
|---|---|
| STARS Round 1 | July 2026 (before semester starts) |
| STARS Round 2 | Late July / early August 2026 |
| Semester begins | Mid August 2026 |
| Add/Drop period | First two weeks of semester |
| Recess Week | Mid-semester break, typically October |
| Teaching ends | Early November 2026 |
| Exam period | November–December 2026 |
| Semester ends | Mid-December 2026 |
Exam data for AY2026/2027 Semester 1 is available at NTUMods Exam Schedule — 389 modules with scheduled exams, searchable by module code.
AY2026/2027 Semester 2
Semester 2 covers approximately January to May 2027.
| Phase | Approximate timing |
|---|---|
| STARS Round 1 | December 2026 |
| STARS Round 2 | Late December 2026 / early January 2027 |
| Semester begins | Mid January 2027 |
| Add/Drop period | First two weeks of semester |
| Recess Week | Mid-semester break, typically March |
| Teaching ends | April 2027 |
| Exam period | April–May 2027 |
| Semester ends | Mid-May 2027 |
Special Term
The NTU Special Term runs over the summer (May–August) and offers a limited selection of modules. Not all modules are available in Special Term. Special Term is optional — most NTU students do not take it unless they need to catch up on AUs, accelerate graduation, or take a specific module only offered in that window.
How the NTU semester is structured
Each NTU semester is roughly 17 weeks long:
- Weeks 1–2 — Add/drop period. Classes begin, but you can still adjust your module registration. Modules dropped during this period do not appear on your transcript.
- Weeks 3–7 — Teaching weeks. Regular lectures, tutorials, and labs.
- Week 8 — Recess Week. No scheduled classes. Used for self-study, catching up on assignments, or midterm preparation.
- Weeks 9–13 — Teaching weeks continue. Project submissions and midterms often fall in this window.
- Reading Week (Week 14) — No new content. Final revision period before exams.
- Weeks 15–17 — Examination period. Centrally scheduled exams for modules with final exams.
Not all modules have a final exam. Project-based modules and some BDEs use continuous assessment only — these do not appear in the exam schedule.
STARS registration and the academic calendar
STARS (NTU’s module registration system) runs in rounds before each semester starts:
- Round 1 — Main bidding window. The most competitive modules (especially popular BDEs like Japanese, Korean, and analytics modules) can fill during Round 1. Prepare your shortlist before the window opens.
- Round 2 — A second window after Round 1. Seats dropped after Round 1 become available. Less oversubscribed modules are often still accessible.
- Add/Drop — Continues into the first two weeks of the semester. Students who decide to drop modules free up seats that others can take.
For a detailed walkthrough of how STARS works, see NTU STARS: How the Module Registration System Works.
For step-by-step module planning before STARS opens, see How to Plan NTU Modules Before STARS Opens.
Using NTUMods alongside the academic calendar
NTUMods provides tools that align with each phase of the academic calendar:
- Before STARS opens — Use the Timetable Planner to build your ideal schedule and check for index clashes before you bid.
- During STARS — Know exactly which index numbers you want before the window opens. The timetable planner shows timeslots, venues, and class types for all 4,846 indexes.
- During add/drop — Use the Module Browser to check whether alternative modules still have seats.
- Before exam period — Use the Exam Schedule to check all your exam dates, identify any clashes, and plan your revision timetable around the exam period.
Export the calendar to your phone
Once your timetable is built on the Timetable Planner, use Save to Calendar to download an .ics file with your semester’s class times, recess week gap, and exam period already mapped to the correct dates. Import it into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook so your NTU semester schedule shows up alongside the rest of your calendar — no manual date entry needed.
Frequently asked questions
When does NTU Semester 1 AY2026/2027 start?
Semester 1 AY2026/2027 begins in mid-August 2026. The exact date is confirmed each year on the NTU academic calendar.
When is NTU Recess Week?
Recess Week is the mid-semester break, typically in October for Semester 1 and March for Semester 2. There are no scheduled classes during Recess Week. Exact dates are on the official NTU academic calendar.
When does STARS open for Semester 1?
STARS Round 1 for Semester 1 typically opens in July, about a month before the semester begins. Round 2 follows shortly after. Exact round dates are published by NTU on StudentLink and the academic calendar.
When is the NTU exam period?
The Semester 1 exam period is in November–December. The Semester 2 exam period is in April–May. Specific exam dates for each module are listed at NTUMods Exam Schedule.
How long is each NTU semester?
Each semester is approximately 17 weeks: 13 teaching weeks, one Recess Week, one Reading Week, and two to three exam weeks.
What is NTU’s academic year structure?
NTU follows an academic year divided into Semester 1 (August–December) and Semester 2 (January–May), with an optional Special Term over the summer. Most undergraduate programmes span four academic years (eight semesters).
Is there an NTU calendar 2026/27 I can add to my phone?
Yes — build your semester timetable on NTUMods and use Save to Calendar to export an .ics file with your class times and semester dates already set, ready to import into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook.