The University of Fort Hare (UFH) publishes its sessional dates in its General Prospectus each year. UFH had not published its 2027 sessional dates when we checked in November 2026, so the dates below come from the General Prospectus 2026. They show how the UFH year is structured on the Alice, East London and Bhisho campuses. Check the official 2027 dates once they are out.
The 2026 year at a glance
- First semester: Monday, 2 February to Friday, 26 June 2026
- Mid-term break: 27 March to 5 April
- Winter vacation: 26 June to 10 July
- Second semester: Monday, 13 July to Friday, 27 November 2026
- Mid-term break: late September to early October
Before the semester
- University offices open: Monday, 5 January
- Online registration starts: Tuesday, 6 January
- Deadline for exclusion appeal applications: 9 January, or 5 January for Nursing and Rehabilitative Sciences
- Online registration for continuing students: 12 to 16 January, continuing for all campuses and levels from 19 January
- Orientation for new students: 26 to 30 January
- Registration ends for undergraduate, honours and coursework master's students: 30 January
First semester in 2026
- Official opening, and lectures begin: Monday, 2 February, in Alice and East London
- Late registration and module changes: 2 to 6 February
- Graduation for all campuses, held in Alice: 4 to 8 May
- Lectures end: 15 May, followed by a study period from 16 to 20 May
- Main examinations: 21 May to 11 June
- Supplementary examinations: 17 to 26 June
Second semester in 2026
- Second semester and lectures begin: Monday, 13 July
- Graduation for all campuses, held in Alice: 2 October
- Lectures end: 16 October
- Main examinations: 22 October to 12 November
- Supplementary examinations: 18 to 27 November
- Publication of results: 10 December, before the university closes in mid-December
Teaching days
Each semester in 2026 had 65 lecture days, a five-day study period, 16 days of main examinations and eight days of supplementary examinations.
How the UFH year works
Each semester runs for about 20 weeks, with a 10-day mid-term break in the middle. Lectures end in mid-May and mid-October, and a short study period comes before the main examinations. Supplementary examinations follow soon after the main examinations, within the same semester, so students know their results before the next semester or the year-end break.
Planning tips
Register online in January, and finish before the registration deadline at the end of January. New students should attend orientation in the last week of January. Put both main examination periods and both supplementary periods in your diary as soon as you register. If you live in residence, plan your travel around the mid-term breaks and the winter vacation, and check the official dates before each semester.
Related pages
See how to apply to Fort Hare, Fort Hare fees and Fort Hare residences.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Fort Hare's 2026 first semester start?
On Monday, 2 February 2026.
When were Fort Hare's June 2026 exams?
Main exams ran from 21 May to 11 June 2026.
Has Fort Hare published its 2027 sessional dates?
Not when we checked in November 2026.