Here you will find all dates and other important information related to the academic year.
The Academic year 2024-2025
The academic year starts officially on 1 August 2024 and ends on 31 July 2025.
Period 1: 1.8–27.10.2024 (tuition starts on August 28/29* 2024)
Period 2: 28.10–31.12.2024
Winter break: 21.12.2024–6.1.2025 (no tuition)
Period 3: 1.1–16.3.2025
Period 4: 17.3–31.7.2025 (the tuition ends 30.5.2025)
*For new bachelor's students regular lectures start on 28.8.2024 at the earliest, for other bachelor's students lectures start on 29.8.2024 at the earliest (there can be exceptions at the Nursing programme in order to accommodate the practical training taking place during the autumn term).
Introductions days are held for all first-year bachelor's students 26–30 August 2024. There is also a first introduction day on 23 August aimed for our new international bachelor's students. During the introduction days students get acquainted with the Arcada building as a learning environment, their new degree programme, and get to meet their teachers, study counselors and tutors who will help them get started with their studies at Arcada.
The date of the common introduction for new master's students will be announced later. Each master's degree programme decide when tuition begins. These dates will be announced later.
Course registration: preliminary deadlines during the academic year 2024–25
Course registration for period 1 opens on 12 August 2024 and closes:
- first-year Bachelor students: 27 August 2024 at 11:59 pm
- most other Bachelor students: 28 August 2024 at 11:59 pm (the deadline for the Nursing programme may be earlier)
- Master students: 6 September 2024 at 11:59 pm, or earlier if the first lecture is before 6 September 2024.
Course registration for period 2 opens on 12 August 2024 and closes on 27 October 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Course registration for period 3 opens on 2 December 2024 and closes on 30 December 2024 at 11:59 pm.
Course registration for period 4 opens on 2 December 2024 and closes on 12 March 2025 at 11:59 pm.
Please note that changes to these dates may occur.
National Public Holidays during the academic year 2024–25
On these days all public institutions including Arcada are closed.
| Independence Day | 6 December |
| Christmas Eve | 24 December |
| Christmas Day | 25 December |
| Boxing Day | 26 December |
| New Year's Day | 1 January |
| Epiphany | 6 January |
| Good Friday* | 18 April |
| Easter Monday* | 21 April |
| May Day | 1 May |
| Ascension Day* | 29 May |
| Midsummer's Eve* | 20 June |
*Movable feast = the date changes from year to year.
The Academic year 2025-2026
The academic year starts officially on 1 August 2025 and ends on 31 July 2026.
Period 1: 1 August–26 October 2025 (tuition starts on 27 or 28 August 2025*)
Period 2: 27 October–31 December 2025
Winter break: 20 December 2025–6 January 2026 (no tuition)
Period 3: 1 January–22 March 2026
Period 4: 23 March–31 July 2026 (regular tuition ends on 29 May 2026 at the latest)
*For new bachelor's students regular lectures start on 27 August 2025 at the earliest, for other bachelor's students lectures start on 28 August 2025 at the earliest (there can be exceptions at the Nursing programme in order to accommodate the practical training taking place during the autumn term).
Each master's degree programme decide when tuition begins. These dates will be announced later, but for new master's students regular lectures may start on 28 August 2025 at the earliest.
Introductions days are held for all first-year bachelor's students 25–29 August 2025. There is also a first introduction day on 22 August aimed for our new international bachelor's students. The introduction day for new master's students takes place on 27 August 2025.
During the introduction days students get acquainted with the Arcada building as a learning environment, their new degree programme, and get to meet their teachers, study counselors and tutors who will help them get started with their studies at Arcada.
Opening of the Academic year
The opening of the Academic year is the most ceremonial celebration during the year. The ceremony takes place the first Wednesday in September. After the opening ceremony all guests are welcomed to a celebration with entertainment and finger food on the big square in the Arcada building. All first year students recieve an invitation to the opening ceremony (with an r.s.v.p. link) to their Arcada email. Dresscode: Jacket.
Thesis Forum
Thesis Forum is part of your Degree Thesis and means that you after your Thesis has been approved, present it to your supervisor, inspector and opponent as well as other interested students and members of the staff.
My Future Work
My Future Work is Arcada's annual networking event designed to help students, our UAS experts and employers get together and form valuable contacts. My Future Work gives you as a student a chance to find practical placement, a business partner for your degree thesis or maybe your first job after graduation.
Re-exam days
The degree programmes have their own systems. More information about re-exams and general guidelines for examinations are found here.
Graduation ceremony
Graduation ceremonies are held twice during every academic year. Please read more about the graduation ceremony and the deadlines for the degree certificate applications in the graduation chapter.