Term Dates

2024/25 Academic Year

Undergraduate Programmes

Welcome Week (Freshers' Week) is from Monday 23rd September 2024 until Friday 27th September 2024. New students are expected to attend this week as it is an important opportunity to adjust to University life.

New students:

*Term

From

To

Autumn

23rd September 2024

20th December 2024

Spring

6th January 2025

11th April 2025

Summer

28th April 2025

13th June 2025

* The dates above are for new students, returning students are advised to check Portal for details of the 2024/25 academic calendar.

The weeks commencing 16th December 2024 and 7th April 2025 are ‘Digital Skills Weeks’ the study in these two weeks will be conducted online and does not require attendance at the University.

Please note that these term dates do not apply to some professional programmes within the School of Education, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, e.g., PGCE, or the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Society e.g. Nursing or Midwifery. For more information please contact your Academic Division.

Postgraduate Taught Programmes

As a postgraduate student, you will study over a calendar, rather than academic year. The standard dates for Postgraduate Taught full-time students are as follows:

  • October 2024 intake:
    7th October 2024 – 10th October 2025
  • January/February 2025 intake:
    Specific start dates vary depending on programme.
  • May intake:
    29th April 2024 – 9th May 2025

The vacation dates below apply to all intakes, including students who start their programme in October, January or May.

Student Vacation Weeks:

  • 23rd December 2024 – 3rd January 2025
  • 14th April 2025– 25th April 2025
  • 18th August 2025 – 29th August 2025

Please note that you will need to refer to your individual programme timetable for details on specific start dates and induction sessions and if you are studying part time.

International Students Vacation Dates

In order to assist both international students who have Student visas, and their potential employers, the University has published the following vacation dates for the current academic year. 

These dates apply to all intakes, including students who start their programme in September, October, January or May.

These are the official vacation dates during which international students can work full-time.

Postgraduate Programmes

For students on full-time programmes of study leading to the award of Master's Degrees (MA, MSc, MBA, LLM and MTh) or full-time Research Degrees (MPhil, PhD and Professional Doctorates) study takes place over a calendar, rather than the academic year. 

Standard vacation dates for PG programmes are:

First Day of Vacation

Last Day of Vacation

Saturday,10 August 2024

Monday, 26 August 2024 (public holiday)

Saturday, 21 December 2024

Sunday, 5 January 2025

Saturday, 12 April 2025

Sunday, 27 April 2025

Saturday, 10 August 2025

Sunday, 31 August 2025

Undergraduate Programmes

For students on full-time programmes of study leading to an award from the Centre for Foundation Studies or the award of a Bachelor's Degree (BA, BSc, BA (QTS), BN, LLB and Integrated Masters MEng.).

First Day of Vacation

Last Day of Vacation

Saturday, 8 June 2024

Sunday, 22 September 2024 - New students
Sunday, 29 September 2024 - Returning students

Saturday, 21 December 2024

Sunday, 5 January 2025

Saturday, 12 April 2025

Sunday, 27 April 2025

Saturday, 14 June 2025

TBC

All dates are inclusive.

Guidance Notes

Under the UKVI rules students studying in the United Kingdom on a student visa, are restricted to specified working hours per week during the term-time as detailed in the individual student’s visa contained either on their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or their digital visa.  The restrictions are usually 20 hours per week, being the seven-day period from Monday to Sunday, for Master's Degrees, Research Degrees and Bachelor's Degree and 10 hours per week (Monday to Sunday) for the Foundation programmes. 

However, during vacation periods, as detailed above, students on a student visa may be employed on a full-time basis. There are still some restrictions on the type of work that can be done at these times. Those on a student visa who are seeking employment can never:

  • be employed as a doctor in training;
  • be employed as a professional sportsperson (including a sports coach);
  • be employed as an entertainer;
  • be self-employed;
  • engage in business activity; or
  • fill a full-time, permanent vacancy

International students entering the UK with a Standard Visitor Visa may not take any paid or unpaid employment.

Potential employers are strongly advised to check both the restrictions detailed in an individual student’s visa and seek guidance from the UKVI directly or via the UKVI website regarding a migrant student’s legal right to work.  Employers are also advised to undertake a Right to Work check or use the Employer Checking Service available through UKVI. Our document Employing International Students from the University of Chester highlights some useful information for those employing student visa holders from the University of Chester.

Both employers and students are reminded that for the purposes of employment or working the UKVI define a 'week' as the seven-day period commencing on a Monday and ending on the following Sunday. Training also counts towards the total hours per week.