2023-24 Academic Calendar

The Institute of Buddhist Studies follows the academic calendar of the Graduate Theological Union, including registration and thesis filing dates and deadlines. Please visit the GTU website for the extended calendar which includes all dates, deadlines, holidays, and other events across the GTU consortium.

For more details about our course offerings, please review the extended course listings here.

For more information about our upcoming public events, view the event listings here.

Fall 2023

Fall Semester, September 5 through December 15, 2023
Fall certificate program, special student, and auditor applications deadlineAugust 4
UCB instruction beginsAugust 16
IBS new and returning student orientationAugust 23
GTU MA orientation period, see GTU website for detailsAugust 21-September 1
New student registration/returning student late registration periodAugust 21-September 1
Labor Day (administrative offices closed, no classes)September 4
IBS/GTU instruction beginsSeptember 5
Add/drop period; students may add/drop courses without chargeSeptember 5-15
Deadline to pay fall 2023 tuition September 15
Thesis defense deadline, to avoid fall 2023 registration and tuition chargeSeptember 15
Thesis filing deadline, for fall 2023 graduationOctober 2
Reading week (no classes)October 23-27
Spring 2024 degree program application deadlineNovember 1
Spring 2024 scholarship application deadlineNovember 1
IBS Annual Memorial ServiceNovember 9
Returning student registration for Spring 2024November 6-17
Annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in San Antonio, TXNovember 18-21
Thanksgiving Holiday (administrative offices closed, no classes)November 23-26
Bodhi Day, Rohatsu, Buddha’s Enlightenment DayDecember 8
UCB instruction endsDecember 8
IBS/GTU semester ends; deadline to petition for incompleteDecember 15
IBS Winter Holiday (administrative offices closed)December 25-January 1
Deadline to make up an incompleteJanuary 5
Deadline for faculty to submit grades for fall 2023January 5

Spring 2024

Spring Semester, January 29 through May 17, 2024
Returning student registration for Spring 2024November 6-17
Spring certificate program, special student, and auditor applications deadlineJanuary 5
Martin Luther King Day (administrative offices closed)January 15
Shinran Shonin Memorial Day (administrative offices closed)January 16
UCB instruction beginsJanuary 16
New student registration/returning student late registration periodJanuary 17-26
IBS/GTU instruction beginsJanuary 29
Add/drop period; students may add/drop courses without chargeJanuary 29-February 9
Deadline to pay spring 2024 tuitionFebruary 9
Thesis defense deadline, to avoid spring 2024 registration and tuition chargeFebruary 9
Presidents Day (administrative offices closed)February 19
BCA National Council Meeting in Sacramento, CAFebruary 22-25
Ryukoku Lecture SeriesMarch, TBD
Deadline for degree program applications for AY2024-25March 1
Reading week/spring break (no classes)March 25-29
Good Friday (administrative offices closed, no classes)March 29
Rev. Dr. Taitetsu Unno Memorial LectureTBD
Thesis filing deadline, for spring 2024 graduationApril 1
Returning student registration for Fall 2024April 8-19
UCB instruction endsMay 3
GTU CommencementMay 9
IBS/GTU semester ends; deadline to petition for incompleteMay 17
IBS CommencementMay 17
Memorial Day (administrative offices closed)May 27
Deadline to make up an incompleteJune 7
Deadline for faculty to submit grades for spring 2024June 7
Independence Day (administrative offices closed)July 4