Sol Plaatje University Academic Calendar

Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley publishes an academic calendar for each year, approved by its Senate. SPU had not published its 2027 calendar when we checked in November 2026, so the dates below come from SPU's official 2026 academic calendar. They show how the SPU year is structured, and the 2027 calendar is likely to follow a similar pattern, but check the official version once it is out.

Start of the 2026 year

• University opened: 5 January 2026
• NSC results released: 12 January 2026, as a tentative date
• Online registration for returning, honours and postgraduate diploma students: 14 January to 6 February, over three and a half weeks
• Residence arrival and on-campus academic registration for first-year residence students: 23 and 24 January
• Online registration and orientation for first-year students: 26 January to 6 February
• Vice-Chancellor's Welcome to first-year students: 7 February, tentatively

First semester in 2026

• First teaching block: 9 February to 20 March, over 30 days
• Module change period: 9 to 20 February
• Student recess: 23 to 27 March
• Second teaching block: 30 March to 15 May, over 31 days
• Main mid-year examinations: 18 May to 5 June, over 15 days
• SPU holiday: 15 June, the day before Youth Day
• Supplementary examinations: 22 June to 3 July, over 10 days
• Student recess: 6 to 10 July

Second semester in 2026

• Third teaching block: 13 July to 21 August, over 29 days
• Module change period: 13 to 24 July
• Student recess: 24 to 28 August
• Fourth teaching block: 31 August to 16 October, over 33 days
• SPU holiday: 25 September, the day after Heritage Day
• Main year-end examinations: 19 October to 6 November, over 15 days
• Supplementary examinations: 23 November to 4 December, over 10 days
• Senate Assessment Committee: 11 December
• University closes: Friday, 18 December 2026

How the SPU year works

SPU's year has four teaching blocks, two in each semester, with a one-week student recess between the blocks. Each semester ends with a three-week main examination period, followed by a supplementary examination period. Students can change modules in the first two weeks of each semester. SPU adds university holidays next to some public holidays, such as the Monday before Youth Day and the Friday after Heritage Day in 2026.

Planning tips

First-year students who live in residence arrive before registration and orientation, so plan travel to Kimberley for the weekend before the first-year registration period. Finish registration before the closing date, and use the module change period if you need to adjust your modules. Check SPU's website for the 2027 calendar before the year starts. Put both main examination periods and both supplementary periods in your diary as soon as you register, so that you can plan work, travel and family commitments around them.

Related pages

See how to apply to SPU, SPU fees and SPU residences.