If you are planning to study in the UK, you might be wondering how long the academic year in the UK is and how it is divided into terms. 



Here we will find the structure and duration of the academic year in the UK for different levels of education.

Academic Year for Primary and Secondary Education


The academic year for primary and secondary schools in the UK is divided into three terms, each term is 13 weeks long. The school year lasts at least 38 weeks (190 days), which means there are about 39 weeks in an academic year. The school week lasts from 25 to 27 hours depending on the school level. There are 9 academic months from September to July, with 3 months of school holidays spread throughout the year.

The terms and holidays for primary and secondary schools are as follows:-

•  Term 1: Autumn term
  • Starts in early September and ends in mid-December
  • Has a one-week half-term break in late October
  • Has a two-week Christmas holiday in late December and early January
•  Term 2: Spring term
  • Starts in early January and ends in late March or early April
  • Has a one-week half-term break in mid-February
  • Has a two-week Easter holiday in late March or early April
•  Term 3: Summer term
  • Starts in mid-April and ends in mid-July
  • Has a one-week half-term break in late May or early June
  • Has a six-week summer holiday from mid-July to early September

Academic Year for Higher Education

The academic year for higher education institutions such as universities and colleges in the UK is also divided into three terms, but they are usually shorter than those for primary and secondary schools. The academic year lasts from 30 to 39 weeks depending on the institution and the course. The week usually consists of 15 to 20 hours of contact time, which includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, and workshops. There are also independent study hours, which vary depending on the course and level of study.

The terms and holidays for higher education institutions are as follows:

•  Term 1: Autumn term or Semester One
  • Starts in late September or early October and ends in mid-December
  • Has a one-week reading week or mid-term break in late October or early November
  • Has a three-week Christmas holiday in late December and early January
•  Term 2: Spring term or Semester Two
  • Starts in mid-January and ends in late March or early April
  • Has a one-week reading week or mid-term break in mid-February
  • Has a four-week Easter holiday in late March or early April
•  Term 3: Summer term or Semester Three
  • Starts in late April or early May and ends in late June or early July
  • Has no breaks except for public holidays such as May Day and Spring Bank Holiday
  • Has a twelve-week summer holiday from late June or early July to late September or early October

Some higher education institutions may use a different system of dividing the academic year, such as quarters or trimesters. Some courses may also have different start and end dates, such as Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Law, and Education. Therefore, it is important to check with the institution or the course provider for more specific information.

Q.  How many days are in a school year in the UK?
Per local regulations, schools must be open for at least 190 school days per year in the UK (380 sessions), and each school year must begin after July. For the 2023/24 school year, local laws require schools to be open for 195 days (around 390 sessions). This equates to 39 weeks.

Q. How many terms are in a school year in the UK?
The school year in the UK is divided into three terms, each term is 13 weeks long. The academic year is split into six half terms six weeks long with school holidays in between.

Q. How do I know which academic year applies to me?
The academic year which applies to you depends on your course start date. If your course starts between:
•  1 August 2022 to 31 July 2023, your academic year is 2022 to 2023
•  1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022, your academic year is 2021 to 2022
•  1 August 2020 to 31 July 2021, your academic year is 2020 to 2021

Q. How many credits are in an academic year in the UK?
The number of credits in an academic year in the UK depends on the institution and the course. However, a common system is that one credit represents 10 hours of learning, which includes contact time and independent study time. Therefore, a typical full-time undergraduate student would need to complete 120 credits per academic year, which equals 1200 hours of learning.

Q. How many hours are in a school day in the UK?
The school day in the UK usually lasts from 25 to 27 hours depending on the school level. For primary schools, the school day typically starts at 9 am and ends at 3 pm or 3.30 pm. For secondary schools, the school day usually starts at 8.30 am or 9 am and ends at 3.30 pm or 4 pm.

In summary:

The academic year in the UK is divided into three terms for both primary/secondary and higher education levels. But, The length and dates of the terms may vary depending on the region, school, institution, and course. 

The academic year usually lasts from 30 to 39 weeks, with an average of about 52 weeks in a Gregorian calendar year. There are also school holidays between the terms, which range from one week to six weeks. Studying in the UK can be an enriching and rewarding experience, but it also requires careful planning and preparation.