The University of Johannesburg (UJ) teaches in two semesters, and its Senate approved the 2027 academic calendar as item S 221/2025. UJ publishes the calendar as a PDF on its website, alongside a separate circular on religious days. The calendar lists the semester dates, recesses, registration, assessments, closures and public holidays, and it says UJ may change dates without notice. This page summarises the main 2027 dates, as checked on 5 November 2026.
Registration and the start of the year
- Online registration for returning and first-year students: 11 January to 5 February 2027
- Support staff return: 5 January 2027
- Academic staff return: 11 January 2027
- First semester starts: 8 February 2027
First semester
- Mid-semester recess: 27 March to 4 April 2027
- Study period: 22 to 26 May 2027
- First semester ends: 21 May 2027
- Final assessments: 27 May to 18 June 2027
- Winter recess: 21 June to 2 July 2027
Second semester
- Second semester starts: 12 July 2027
- Mid-semester recess: 30 August to 3 September 2027
- Second semester ends: 15 October 2027
- Study period: 16 to 20 October 2027
- Final assessments: 21 October to 12 November 2027
- December break begins for students: 27 November 2027
- Special assessments for second-semester modules: 10 to 14 January 2028
Supplementary assessments
UJ sets supplementary assessments in early July and late November, after the main assessments. If you fail narrowly or miss a paper for a valid reason, these are your second chance, so do not make travel plans for those weeks.
A timetable change to remember
The calendar notes that on Thursday 23 September 2027, UJ switches to the Friday lecture timetable. On that day your Thursday classes follow the Friday timetable, so check which lectures apply before you travel.
How the semester pattern affects you
UJ's first semester is about fourteen and a half weeks, from 8 February to 21 May, with a break of about a week at Easter. The second semester runs for about thirteen and a half weeks, from 12 July to 15 October, with another recess at the end of August. Between the end of first-semester lectures on 21 May and the start of the winter recess on 21 June, UJ fits in a study period and the final assessments, so the weeks after lectures are busy. First-year students should register before 5 February so that they are not caught in late registration.
Religious days and public holidays
UJ issues a separate circular on religious days for 2027, and its calendar also lists the public holidays and the public school holidays. Check both if you observe a religious day that falls on an assessment date, and talk to your lecturer well before the paper. The calendar adds that UJ may change dates without notice, so look at the website again before you finalise travel or accommodation.
Next steps
See how to apply to UJ, the UJ fees page and UJ bursaries. Always check the calendar on the UJ website before you finalise travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the UJ academic year start in 2027?
The first semester starts on 8 February 2027, and online registration runs from 11 January to 5 February.
When are the UJ final assessments in 2027?
First semester final assessments run from 27 May to 18 June, and second semester assessments from 21 October to 12 November.
When does the UJ second semester end?
On 15 October 2027, and the December break begins for students on 27 November.
Can UJ change the 2027 calendar?
Yes. The calendar says dates may change without notice.