Transylvania uses a modified calendar called a “4-4-1 system.” The academic year is divided into three parts: two regular terms (fall and winter) and a one-month term in May.
A regular term is 14 weeks long, and students normally take four courses.
During the four‑week May term, students concentrate on one class and often get their first taste of international study. Many May term courses are team-taught and are highly interdisciplinary.
Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2017 must complete three May terms during their time at Transylvania. A fourth May term is optional.
Fall 2023
| August 25 | Friday | New students arrive on campus – Move In Day |
| August 26-27 | Saturday – Sunday | New Student Orientation |
| August 28 | Monday | First Engagements Class begins for First-Year students |
| August 31 | Thursday | First Engagements Class ends for First-Year students |
| September 3-4 | Sunday – Monday | Returning students arrive on campus |
| September 4 | Monday | Labor Day Holiday- No Classes/Offices Closed |
| September 5 | Tuesday | Classes begin |
| September 8 | Friday | Last day to add a first-half course |
| September 11 | Monday | Last day to add a full-term course Last day to change a grade option Tuition Charges become final |
| September 13 | Wednesday | Last day to drop a first-half course |
| September 22 | Friday | Last day to drop a full-term course |
| September 25 | Monday | Last day to withdraw from a first-half course |
| October 13 | Friday | Midterm Progress Reports Due |
| October 16–17 | Monday – Tuesday | Fall Break |
| October 1–20 | May Travel Course Registration | |
| October 24 | Tuesday | Second-half courses begin |
| October 27 | Thursday | Last day to add a second-half course |
| October 27 | Friday | Last day to withdraw from a full-term course |
| November 3 | Friday | Last day to drop a second-half course |
| November 7 | Tuesday | Last day to withdraw from a second-half course |
| November 13-17 | Monday – Friday | Registration for Winter & May 2024 Terms |
| November 22-24 | Wednesday – Friday | Thanksgiving Holiday |
| December 8 | Friday | Last day of regular classes |
| December 11 | Monday | Reading Day |
| December 12-15 | Tuesday – Friday | Final Exams |
| December 15 | Friday | Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for Winter Break |
| December 19 | Tuesday | Fall Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
Winter 2024
| January 7 | Sunday | Residence halls re-open at 10:00 AM |
| January 8 | Monday | Classes begin |
| January 10 | Wednesday | Last day to add a first-half course |
| January 12 | Friday | Last day to add a full-term course Last day to change a grade option Tuition Charges become final |
| January 15 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – No Classes/Offices Closed |
| January 18 | Thursday | Last day to drop a first-half course |
| January 26 | Friday | Last day to drop a full-term course |
| February 16 | Friday | Midterm Progress Reports Due |
| February 20 | Tuesday | Second-half courses begin |
| February 22 | Thursday | Last day to add a second-half course |
| February 26 | Monday | Last day to withdraw from a full-term course Last day to drop a second-half course Incomplete grades from Fall term due |
| March 8 | Friday | Residence halls close at 5:00 PM for Spring Break |
| March 11 – 15 | Monday – Friday | Spring Break |
| March 17 | Sunday | Residence halls re-open at 12:00 PM |
| March 20 | Wednesday | Last day to withdraw from a second-half course |
| March 25–March 29 | Monday – Friday | Registration for Fall term 2024 |
| April 12 | Friday | Last day of regular classes |
| April 15 | Monday | Reading Day |
| April 16–19 | Tuesday – Friday | Final Exams |
| April 19 | Friday | Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for students not enrolled in May term |
| April 23 | Tuesday | Winter Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
May 2024
| April 24 | Wednesday | Classes begin |
| April 25 | Thursday | Last day to Add/Drop a course Last day to change a grade option |
| May 2 | Thursday | Last day to withdraw from a course |
| May 21 | Tuesday | Last day of classes – Final Exams Residence halls close at 6:00 PM for non-graduates |
| May 25 | Saturday | Commencement Residence halls close at 5:00 PM for graduates |
| May 27 | Monday | Memorial Day Holiday – Offices Closed |
| May 28 | Tuesday | May Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |
Summer 2024
| June 3 | Monday | Classes begin |
| June 4 | Tuesday | Last day to Add/Drop a course Last day to change a grade option |
| June 14 | Friday | Last day to withdraw from a course |
| June 19 | Wednesday | Juneteenth Observed-Offices Closed |
| July 9 | Tuesday | Last day of classes – Final Exams |
| July 11 | Thursday | Summer Term Grades Available (after 2pm) |