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Posted July 14, 2025

When do UK universities return after the summer holidays?

When do UK universities return after summer holidaysStudents at UK universities experience a long summer break which often includes the months of June, July and August. The traditional start of the academic year in the UK (as with most of the northern hemisphere) is September, so students will usually return to – or start at – universities in the UK at the end of September or beginning of October. However, the start date can vary depending on the individual institutions, as well as the subject being studied, and the level and type of course.

Postgraduate courses versus undergraduate courses

The length of the summer break for undergraduate students and full-time postgraduate taught students can differ even if they are attending the same university. Undergraduate students will be studying over a longer period of time – usually three years versus one year – so they will usually enjoy a longer summer break than their postgraduate peers, breaking up for the summer holidays from their bachelors degree earlier than masters students (in May or June) and returning after summer at a later date.

When do undergraduate students return after the summer break?

Undergraduate students in the UK will start or return to their bachelors degree studies after the summer holidays at the end of September or the beginning of October.

First-year undergraduate students are likely to be required to be on campus one or two weeks earlier than second- or third-year undergraduate students. This gives them the opportunity to settle into the university accommodation, become accustomed to their new surroundings and enjoy Freshers’ week without the older, more experienced students around.

When do postgraduate students return after the summer break?

Postgraduate masters degree students in the UK will also start their taught master degree after the summer holidays at the end of September or the beginning of October.

However, most masters courses run for 12 months, from September to September. MA students are likely to finish any teaching in June but will then have the summer months to write up their dissertation, thesis or research project. MSc students will be able to access the university labs throughout the summer break if they need to for their research project.

Both PhD and research masters degree students will often spend their summer working on their academic research in the university libraries and laboratories. In this instance there may well be no official ‘return’ after the summer holidays.

January start-date postgraduate students

Postgraduate students that start their masters degree in January rather than the more traditional September start-date will be given a summer break from lectures and seminars, although they will be expected to continue working on the academics. They will return to university campus properly at the same time as other university students.

Summer holiday differences across the UK

Teaching on a one-year postgraduate masters degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland usually starts at the end of September or the beginning of October. Universities in Scotland structure their terms a bit differently, and they tend to start teaching in August or right at the beginning of September.

Terms and semesters

Some UK universities run their postgraduate and undergraduate courses on a term-time basis of three terms over the academic year, and others operate on a semester basis of two semesters over the academic year. Whether a university operates on a termly or semester basis, they will still provide undergraduate students with a two-to-three-month summer holiday period that will usually run from June until September.

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