Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine – Sessional Dates 2026
| 1 | Mon, 02 – Fri, 06 Jan | Tue, 03 Jan | University opens |
| 2 | Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Jan | Mon, 09 Jan | MBChB 6th Yr – Registration |
| MBChB 2nd Yr – Registration | |||
| Self-help registration system opens | |||
| Tue, 10 Jan | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 1 commences | ||
| MBChB 2nd Yr – Lectures commence | |||
| MBChB 3rd Yr – Registration | |||
| Deadline for applications for re-marks | |||
| Deadline for submission of Exclusion Appeals | |||
| Wed, 11 Jan | MBChB 3rd Yr – Lectures commence | ||
| 3 | Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Jan | Thu, 19 Jan | MBChB 4th Yr – Registration & Orientation |
| Fri, 20 Jan | MBChB 5th Yr – Registration & Orientation (in PMB only) | ||
| 4 | Mon, 23 – Sat, 28 Jan | Mon, 23 Jan | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 1 commences |
| Fri, 27 Jan | MBChB 1st Yr – On-campus registration | ||
| Sat, 28 Jan | Parents’ Day | ||
| 5 | Mon, 30 Jan– Sat, 04 Feb | Mon, 30 Jan– Fri, 03 Feb | MBChB 1st Yr – Orientation |
| 6 | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Feb | Mon, 06 Feb | MBChB 1st Yr – Lectures commence |
| Deadline for all transfer applications | |||
| 7 | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Feb | ||
| 8 | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Feb | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Feb | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 1 Exam Week |
| 9 | Mon, 27 Feb – Fri, 03 Mar | Mon, 27 Feb – Fri, 03 Mar | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 1 Exam Week |
| Mon, 27 Feb | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 2 commences | ||
| Fri, 03 Mar | Final date for minimum fee payment required for student registration | ||
| Final date for 1st Semester registration | |||
| Final date for requests for extended DPs | |||
| 10 | Mon, 06– Fri, 10 Mar | Mon, 06 Mar | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 2 commences |
| Fri, 10 Mar | Final date for submitting curriculum changes | ||
| Final registration date for returning Masters (by research) and Doctoral students. | |||
| Final day for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS for the students who had outstanding requirements. (Honours, Bachelors, Diplomas and Certificates) | |||
| 11 | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Mar | Fri, 17 Mar | Final day for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Doctoral and Masters Studies) |
| 12 | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Mar | Tues, 21 Mar | Human Rights Day (Public Holiday) |
| 13 | Mon, 27 Mar – Sat, 01 April | Sat, 01 (till Mon, 10 Apr) | Graduation Ceremonies (WVL) |
| 14 | Mon, 03 – Fri, 07 Apr | ||
| 15 | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Apr | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Apr | MBChB 4th, 5th & 6th Yr – Block 2 Exam Week |
| Tue, 11 – Wed, 12 Apr | Graduation Ceremonies (PMB) | ||
| Fri, 14 Apr | Good Friday (Public Holiday) | ||
| 16 | Mon, 17 – Fri, 21 Apr | Mon, 17 Apr | Family Day (Public Holiday) |
| Tue, 18 Apr | MBChB 4th, 5th & 6th Yr – Block 3 commences | ||
| Fri, 21 Apr | Final date for withdrawal from a module | ||
| Final date for withdrawal from the University (Semester 1) | |||
| Final timetable for main & supplementary exams released | |||
| 17 | Mon, 24 – Sun, 30 Apr | Thu, 27 Apr | Freedom Day (Public Holiday) |
| Sun, 30 Apr | Final date for payment of 60% of fees for year registrations or 100% for semester 1 registrations | ||
| 18 | Mon, 01 – Fri, 05 May | Mon, 01 May | Workers’ Day (Public Holiday) |
| 19 | Mon, 08 – Fri, 12 May | Mon, 08 – Fri, 12 May | |
| 20 | Mon, 15 – Fri, 19 May | Wed, 17 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – DP refusals published |
| Thu, 18 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Lectures end | ||
| Fri, 19 – Tue, 23 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Study period | ||
| 21 | Mon, 22 – Fri, 26 May | Mon, 22 – Fri, 26 May | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 3 Exam Week |
| MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 1 | |||
| Mon, 22 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Years – Final date for submission of DP Appeals to School Offices | ||
| Wed, 24 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – First Semester Exams commence | ||
| 22 | Mon, 29 May – Fri, 02 Jun | Mon, 29 May – Fri, 02 Jun | MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 2 |
| MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Study Week | |||
| MBChB 6th Yr – Block 3 Exam Week | |||
| MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Exam Week. Exams end Friday, 02 June for MBCHB 2nd & 3rd year students | |||
| 23 | Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Jun | Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Jun | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week 1 |
| MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 1 Study Week | |||
| MBCHB 2nd & 3rd years study break between exams | |||
| 24 | Mon, 12 – Fri, 16 Jun | Mon, 12 – Thu, 15 Jun | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week 2 |
| MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week | |||
| Mon, 12 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Supplementary Exams commence | ||
| Fri, 16 Jun | Youth Day (Public Holiday) (no exams) | ||
| 25 | Mon 19 – Sun, 25 Jun | Mon 19 – Fri, 23 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Selectives Week 1 |
| MBChB 4th Yr – CEBP 3 Week 1 | |||
| Mon, 19 Jun | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Vacation commences | ||
| Ton, 19 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Supplementary Exams end | ||
| Sun, 25 Jun | Eid-Al-Fitr (condoned absence) | ||
| 26 | Mon, 26 – Fri, 30 Jun | Mon, 26 – Fri, 30 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Selectives Week 2 |
| MBChB 4th Yr – CEBP 3 Week 2 | |||
| Mon, 26 Jun | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 4 commences | ||
| Fri, 30 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – First Semester Ends | ||
| 27 | Mon, 03 – Fri, 07 Jul | Mon, 03 Jul | MBChB 4th Yr – Vacation commences |
| MBChB 5th Yr – Block 4 commences | |||
| Supplementary Exam marks to be captured on SMS by 12h00 | |||
| 28 | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Jul | Mon, 10 Jul | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 4 commences |
| MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yr Semester 2 Lectures commence | |||
| Release of 1st semester results after Exam Boards at 00:01 am | |||
| Second semester registration commences | |||
| 29 | Mon, 17 – Fri, 21 Jul | Mon, 17 Jul | MBChB 1st years – Semester 2 Lectures commence |
| Final date for requests for extended DPs | |||
| Wed, 19 Jul | Deadline for all transfers | ||
| Thu, 20 Jul | Deadline for submission of Exclusion Appeals | ||
| Fri, 21 Jul | Deadline for applications for re-marks | ||
| 30 | Mon, 24 – Fri, 28 Jul | Mon, 24 Jul | CEACOM meetings (College Exclusion Appeals Comm.) |
| On or before Thu, 27 Jul | AEACOM meeting | ||
| Fri, 28 Jul | Final date for payment of all fees required for student registration (2nd semester) | ||
| Final date for registration – 2nd Semester | |||
| Final date for submitting curriculum changes | |||
| 31 | Mon, 31 Jul – Fri, 04 Aug | ||
| 32 | Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Aug | Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Aug | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Block 4 Exam Week |
| Wed, 09 Aug | National Women’s Day (Public Holiday) | ||
| 33 | Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Aug | Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Aug | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 4 Exam Week |
| Mon, 14 Aug | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Block 5 commences | ||
| 34 | Mon, 21 – Fri, 25 Aug | Mon, 21 Aug | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 5 commences |
| 35 | Mon, 28 Aug – Fri, 01 Sep | Thu, 31 Aug – Fri, 01 Sep | Eid-Al-Adhah (condoned absence) |
| Thu, 31 Aug | Final date for payjment of all fees | ||
| 36 | Mon, 04 – Fri, 08 Sep | ||
| 37 | Mon, 11 – Fri, 15 Sep | Fri, 15 Sep | Final date for withdrawal from the University (Sem. 2) |
| Final date for withdrawal from a module | |||
| Final timetable for main and supplementary examinations released | |||
| 38 | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Sep | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Sep | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 5 Exam Week |
| Thu, 21 – Fri, 22 Sep | Rosh Hashanah (condoned absence) | ||
| 39 | Mon, 25 – Sat, 30 Sep | Mon, 25 Sep | Heritage Day (Public Holiday observed) |
| Tue, 26 – Fri, 29 Sep | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Block 5 Exam Week | ||
| Tue, 26 Sep | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 6 commences | ||
| Sat, 30 Sep | Yom Kippur (condoned absence) | ||
| 40 | Mon, 02 – Fri, 06 Oct | Mon, 02 Oct | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Block 6 commences |
| Wed, 04 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – DP refusals published | ||
| Fri, 06 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Semester 2 Lectures end | ||
| MBChB 3rd Yr – DP appeals to be submitted to school office | |||
| 41 | Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Oct | Wed, 11 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Second Semester Exams commence |
| 42 | Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Oct | Thu, 19 Oct | Diwali/Deepavali (Condoned absence) |
| 43 | Mon, 23 – Sun, 29 Oct | Mon, 23 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Theme 3.6 commences |
| MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – DP refusals published | |||
| Tue, 24 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Semester 2 Lectures end | ||
| Wed, 25 – Sun, 29 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Study Period | ||
| Thu, 26 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – DP appeals to be submitted to school office | ||
| 44 | Mon, 30 Oct – Fri, 03 Nov | Mon, 30 Oct – Fri, 03 Nov | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 6 exam week |
| Mon, 30 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Exams commence | ||
| Final date for submission of College handbooks for 2026 | |||
| 45 | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Nov | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Exam Week |
| MBChB 4th Yr – Block 6 Exam Week | |||
| MBChB 5th Yr – Study Week | |||
| 46 | Mon, 13 – Sun, 19 Nov | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Nov | MBChB 4th Yr – Study Week |
| MBChB 5th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 1 | |||
| MBChB 6th Yr – Block 6 Exam Week | |||
| Tue, 14 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Exams end | ||
| Wed, 15 – Sun, 19 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Break between Exams | ||
| Fri, 17 Nov | MBChB 3rd Yr – Theme 3.6 ends | ||
| 47 . | Mon, 20 – Sat, 25 Nov | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Nov | MBChB 4th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 1 |
| MBChB 5th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 2 | |||
| MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 2 Study Week | |||
| MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 1 | |||
| Mon, 20 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Supplementary Exams commence | ||
| 48 | Mon, 27 Nov– Fri, 01 Dec | Mon, 27 Nov– Fri, 01 Dec | MBChB 4th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 2 |
| MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exams Week | |||
| MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 2 | |||
| Mon, 27 Nov | MBChB 5th Yr – Vacation commences | ||
| MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Supplementary Exams end | |||
| Fri, 01 Dec | Last day for submission of theses/dissertations to the Post-Graduate Administrative Offices for possible April 2026 Graduation | ||
| 49 | Mon, 04 – Fri, 08 Dec | Mon, 04 Dec | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Vacation commences |
| Fri, 08 Dec | Supplementary marks to be captured on SMS by 12h00 | ||
| 50 | Mon, 11 – Fri, 15 Dec | Fri, 15 Dec | Release of 2nd semester results after Exam Boards (00:01 am) |
| Sat, 16 Dec | Day of Reconciliation (Public Holiday) | ||
| 51 | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Dec | Fri, 22 Dec | University Offices close |
| 52 | Mon, 26 – Fri, 29 Dec | Mon, 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| Tue, 26 Dec | Day of Goodwill | ||
Please note: The University of KwaZulu-Natal reserves the right to change any of the said Sessional Dates, solely in its discretion, and without any liability for inconvenience and/or loss occasioned thereby.