An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called "terms", "semesters", "quarters", or "trimesters", depending on the institution and the country.
In most northern hemisphere countries an academic year begins with the start of autumn and ends the following summer.
Australia and New Zealand
In most of Australia and New Zealand, the school year lasts from late January to early December, and is split into four terms.
- Term 1: Starts late January or early February and ends one or two weeks before Easter
- Term 2: Starts one or two weeks after Easter and ends in late June.
- Term 3: Starts mid-July and ends mid September.
- Term 4: Starts early October and ends mid December.
The exact dates vary from year to year, as well as between states, and for public and private school. In Tasmania, the school year is split in to three terms, the first one being the longest and including an extended Easter holiday. The following is a link with details on Australian term dates for 2008.
In New Zealand, the law requires schools to be open a minimum of 380 half-days for secondary schools and 394 half-days (384 half-days from 2008) for primary and intermediate schools.
Australian universities have two semesters a year, between February and November. Many universities offer an optional short summer semester. One recent innovation in Australian higher education has been the establishment of the fully distance / online Open Universities Australia (formerly Open Learning Australia) that offers continuous study opportunities of individual units of study (what are called courses in North America) that can lead to full degree qualifications. Open Universities Australia operates four 13-week study periods each year. Since students study only part-time and off campus these study periods mesh reasonably easily with existing university offerings based on semesters. In some cases a "Semester" is referred to as a "Study Period", for example, by the Centerlink.
Austria
The Austrian school year for primary and secondary schools is split into two terms, the first one starts on the first Monday in September in the states of Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland and on the second Monday of September in Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Most schools have holidays between the national holiday on October 26 and All Souls Day on November 2, but those are unofficial holidays not observed by all schools in Austria. Christmas holidays start on December 24 and end on the first weekday after January 6. The first term ends in Vienna and Lower Austria on the first Friday of February, in Burgenland, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg on the second Friday of February and in Upper Austria and Styria on the third Friday of February.
There is a one-week break between the two terms. In the second term there are the Easter holidays, the Mayday Holiday on May 1 and the long weekends of Pentecost, Ascension and Corpus Christi. The school year ends in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland on the last Friday of June, in Upper Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Salzburg, Tyrol and Vorarlberg on the first Friday in July.
Barbados
See also: Education in BarbadosThe Barbadian school year is fashioned after the British system, and as such, it follows a scheduling with three terms per school year. The first term begins the second week of September, adjourning in mid-December. The second term begins in the second week of January, adjourning in the first week of April. The final third term begins at the end of April and concludes in the first week of July.
Brazil
In Brazil, due to the Law of Directives and Bases of Brazilian Education, the academic year must have 200 days, both at schools and at universities. The school year usually begins during the first week of February. There is a 3-week long winter break in July. The Brazilian school year ends in December, summer in Brazil.
In Brazilian universities academic terms are defined as periods or semesters ( período , semestre ). The majority of undergraduate courses are 8 semesters (four-year) long or 10 semesters (five-year) long.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the kindergarten, elementary, middle schools and universities follow yearly, bi-semester or tri-semester system. Most of the public universities follow a yearly system except universities that teach Applied Sciences. Most engineering and agricultural universities follow a bi-semester system with each semester being six months long. Engineering universities describe the academic year system as LEVEL-X(1-4), TERM-X(1-4).This system is followed by universities like BUET, and SUST. Most of the private universities (e.g. East West University) follow a tri-semester system though there are few exceptions that follow a bi-semester system (e.g. Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology).
Some of the universities and their semester titles are as follows:
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Shahjalal University of Science and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Khulna University of Engineering and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Bangladesh Agriculture University: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Patuakhali University of Science and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology: Term 1 and Term 2.
- United International University: Spring, Summer and Fall.
- American International University - Bangladesh: Spring, Summer and Fall.
- BRAC University: Spring, Summer (short semester) and Fall.
- East West University: Spring, Summer and Fall.
- North South University: Spring, Summer and Fall.
Belgium
In Belgium, school begins on 1 September and ends on June 30.
Schools also take breaks/holidays:
- Autumn break: One week at start of November
- Christmas break Two weeks around Christmas and New Year
- Additional break One week of end of February.
- Easter break Two weeks around Easter.
- Summer break is the break from July 1 to September 1
Canada
Generally in Canada, high schools run on a two-semester arrangement (often with a between-semester school holiday including Christmas and New Year's Day), also known as fall and spring semester, the first semester starting from September to January and the second running from February until June. The semesters are often divided into two terms each. Some schools in Canada run on a three-trimester system, the first running from September to January, the second from January to March, and the third from March until June. The trimester is more common in elementary and middle schools (K-8) than in high schools (9-12). In Canada the school year for elementary and high school consists of 190 days. There are a few school boards in Canada experimenting with a year schooling.
Most Universities usually run from early September until the end of April or early May. Often this winter session is split into two terms running September to December and January to April. Various forms of summer studies may be offered May to August. Some, such as Simon Fraser University, run a full tri-semester system, providing full courses during summer.
Ontario Ministry of Education Academic School Year Information
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
China
In China, all schools including elementary, middle and high schools, colleges and universities have two semesters, one from February or March, depending on the date of Chinese New Year of that year, to July, the other from September to January.
Czech Republic
In the elementary and high schools in the Czech Republic, the school year usually runs from 1 September to 30 June of the following year. The start and end for every day is usually 8:00 am to 3:00 pm in most schools.
Denmark
In schools in Denmark, the school year runs from August to June. In universities, the academic year runs from around 1 September to 1 July, and is often divided into an autumn semester (with January set aside for exams) and a spring semester (with June set aside for exams). Since 2004, some Danish universities and faculties divide the academic year into four quarters, each of which may consist of eight weeks and an exam week, and being separated from the next quarter by a one-week break.
Estonia
In Estonia, elementary and high school begin at 1 September and end in the beginning of June. Universities start on the first Monday of September and usually end in the middle of May or in the beginning of June though in reality exam periods may continue until the end of June (e.g. University of Tartu).
Estonian Ministry of Education and Research
Germany
Schools
The school year in Germany runs from September to next September and includ
Wonderland Week - V&A Museum of Childhood
October half term workshops, trails and arts and crafts devoted to the fairytale world of Wonderland, a new exhibition by East London Printmakers.
October Half Term Holidays
October Half Term Holidays - find a fantastic choice of Half Term holidays departing in October.
October Half Term - V&A Museum of Childhood
October Half Term. Join us for a bumper October Half Term week packed with workshops, tours, trails, arts and crafts and more. See below for more information on Wonderland Week and ...
October Half Term 09
Mums and Dads! Are you looking for something a bit different and spooky, for your aspiring Mad Scientists during the October Half Term? Do you want to Spark their imagination ...
October Half Term Holidays & Breaks | Great Deals!
October Half Term breaks - prices start from just B#79 per apartment! BOOK NOW to receive up to B#25 to spend during your October Half Term break!
October Half Term : Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Caravan Park, Norfolk ...
October Half Term, Kelling Heath Holiday Park, Caravan Park, Norfolk, Caravan Site, North Norfolk, England, UK
HALF TERM – Cheap half term holidays & activities - lastminute.com ...
October half term is coming up and you might need some ideas to keep the kids entertained - never fear, we're here to help! Whether it's theatre tickets to a show that'll keep the ...
Half Term | Half Term activities | Half Term days out | Halloween ...
We offer half term activities and halloween fun including childrens craft workshops, a spooky walk and outdoor activities at the Christmas Adventure at Stockeld Park, Yorkshire ...
October Half Term 2009 Holidays l October 2009 Holidays from Haven
Book your October Half Term 2009 holidays at one of 35 Haven parks around the UK, and enjoy a fantastic October break for all the family.
Half Term Holidays in Cornwall, St .Ives and Carbis Bay
October Half Term Holidays for families, breaks in Carbis Bay and St Ives, luxury accommodation for school holidays.