Nelson Mandela University (NMU) publishes its academic calendar for each year on its website. The 2027 calendar divides the year into four teaching cycles of 33 days each, with recesses between them, a mid-year assessment period and a year-end assessment period. The Business School follows a separate trimester calendar. Here are the key 2027 dates, based on NMU's official 2027 academic calendar.
Start of the year
- Recess: 1 to 4 January 2027
- University opens: Monday, 11 January 2027
- First Year Welcoming Ceremony: Saturday, 23 January
- First Year Student Success Programme: 25 January to 5 February, over 10 days
First semester
- Teaching Cycle 1: Monday, 8 February to Thursday, 25 March
- Recess: 26 March to 4 April, over 10 days
- Teaching Cycle 2: Monday, 5 April to Friday, 21 May
- Mid-year assessment period: Monday, 24 May to Tuesday, 15 June, over 17 days
- Recess: 16 June to 4 July, over 19 days
- Mid-year re-assessment period: 5 to 9 July
Second semester
- Teaching Cycle 3: Monday, 12 July to Thursday, 26 August
- Recess: 27 August to 1 September
- Teaching Cycle 4: Thursday, 2 September to Tuesday, 19 October
- Year-end assessment period: Thursday, 21 October to Friday, 12 November, over 17 days
- Recess: 13 to 28 November
- Year-end re-assessment period: Monday, 29 November to Tuesday, 7 December
- Year-end recess: from 8 December
- University closes: Tuesday, 21 December 2027
Graduation ceremonies
- Autumn graduation in George: 1 and 2 April 2027
- Autumn graduation in Gqeberha: 7 to 21 April 2027
- Summer graduation in Gqeberha: 14 and 15 December 2027
Business School trimesters
The Business School runs three trimesters in 2027. Trimester 1 runs from 18 January to 30 April, with assessments from 3 to 7 May. Trimester 2 runs from 10 May to 30 July, with assessments from 2 to 6 August. Trimester 3 runs from 10 August to 5 November, with assessments from 8 to 12 November.
Health Sciences
For the Faculty of Health Sciences, the work-integrated learning period runs from 14 January to 15 December 2027, so these students follow a longer year than the main teaching cycles.
How the NMU year works
Each semester has two teaching cycles separated by a short recess, followed by an assessment period and then a re-assessment period. Students who qualify for a re-assessment write it after a recess, in July for the first semester and from late November for the second. NMU says it reserves the right to amend the planned dates, so check the calendar before each cycle.
Planning tips
First-year students should arrive for the Welcoming Ceremony on 23 January and the Student Success Programme that follows. Keep early July and early December free in case you need a re-assessment. Put both assessment periods in your diary as soon as you register, and book transport home for the June recess early, because it is the longest break of the year.
Related pages
See how to apply to NMU, NMU fees and the NMU student portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does NMU's 2027 teaching start?
Teaching Cycle 1 starts on Monday, 8 February 2027.
When are NMU's mid-year assessments in 2027?
From 24 May to 15 June 2027.
When is NMU's summer graduation in 2027?
On 14 and 15 December 2027 in Gqeberha.