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 2026
| Fall Semester, September 8 through December 18, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Fall certificate program, special student, and auditor applications deadline | June 1 |
| IBS new and returning student orientation | August 22 |
| UCB instruction begins | August 26 |
| GTU orientation period, see GTU website for details | August 24-September 4 |
| New student registration/returning student late registration period | August 24-September 4 |
| Labor Day (administrative offices closed, no classes) | September 7 |
| IBS/GTU instruction begins | September 8 |
| Add/drop period; students may add/drop courses without charge | September 7-20 |
| Deadline to pay fall 2026 tuition | September 18 |
| Thesis defense deadline, to avoid fall 2026 registration and tuition charge | September 18 |
| Of Mud and Lotuses: Book Launch with Dr. Paula Arai | September 24 |
| Thesis filing deadline, for fall 2026 graduation | October 1 |
| Fall 2026 Chaplaincy Workshop | October 16 |
| Reading week (no classes) | October 26-30 |
| Spring 2027 degree and certificate programs application deadline | November 1 |
| Returning student registration for Spring 2027 | November 9-20 |
| Annual memorial service | November 12 |
| Board of Trustees Meeting | November 13 |
| Annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion in Denver, CO | November 21-24 |
| Thanksgiving Holiday (administrative offices closed, no classes) | November 26-27 |
| Jodo-e, Rohatsu, Bodhi Day, Buddha’s Enlightenment Day | December 8 |
| UCB instruction ends | December 18 |
| IBS/GTU semester ends; deadline to petition for incomplete | December 18 |
| IBS/GTU Winter Holiday (administrative offices closed) | December 25-January 1 |
| Deadline to make up an incomplete | January 8 |
| Deadline for faculty to submit grades for fall 2026 | January 8 |
Spring 2027
| Spring Semester, February 1 through May 21, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| Returning student registration for Spring 2027 | November 9-20, 2025 |
| Special student and auditor applications deadline | January 8 |
| Shinran Shonin Memorial Day (administrative offices closed) | January 15 |
| Martin Luther King Day (administrative offices closed) | January 18 |
| UCB instruction begins | January 19 |
| New student registration/returning student late registration period | January 18-29 |
| IBS/GTU instruction begins | February 1 |
| Add/drop period; students may add/drop courses without charge | February 1-February 12 |
| Deadline to pay spring 2027 tuition | February 12 |
| Thesis defense deadline, to avoid spring 2027 registration and tuition charge | February 12 |
| President's Day (administrative offices closed) | February 15 |
| BCA National Council Meeting, Los Angeles | February 25-27 |
| Priority application deadline for certificate programs, AY2026-27 | March 1 |
| Application deadline for degree programs, AY2026-2027 | March 1 |
| Ryukoku Lecture Series | March, TBD |
| Taitetsu Unno Memorial Lecture | TBD |
| Reading week/spring break (no classes) | March 22-26 |
| Good Friday (administrative offices closed, no classes) | March 26 |
| Thesis filing deadline, for spring 2027 graduation | April 1 |
| Returning student registration for Fall 2027 | April 5-16 |
| UCB instruction ends | May 14 |
| GTU Commencement | TBD |
| IBS Commencement | TBD |
| IBS/GTU semester ends; deadline to petition for incomplete | May 21 |
| Memorial Day (administrative offices closed) | May 31 |
| Certificate programs application deadline for fall 2027 | June 1 |
| Deadline to make up an incomplete | June 11 |
| Deadline for faculty to submit grades for spring 2026 | June 11 |
| Juneteenth (administrative offices closed) | June 18 |
| Independence Day observed (administrative offices closed) | July 5 |