The Institute of Buddhist Studies follows the academic calendar of the Graduate Theological Union. All registration dates and deadlines are set by the GTU consortial registrar. Please consult the GTU website for a complete extended calendar of dates or deadlines if you have any questions.
For information about our upcoming public events, view the event listings here.
2018-2019 Academic Calendar
Fall Semester, September 4 through December 14, 2018
| Fall 2018 certificate application deadline | August 6 |
| Fall 2018 general registration | August 13-31 |
| IBS new and returning student orientation | August 22 |
| GTU MA new student orientation | August 23 |
| UCB instruction begins | September 3 |
| IBS/GTU instruction begins | September 4 |
| Deadline to register, petition for part time or leave of absence | September 14 |
| Thesis defense deadline (to avoid fall 2018 registration) | September 14 |
| Thesis filing deadline (for fall 2018 graduation) | October 1 |
| Spring 2019 degree program application deadline | October 1 |
| Graduate Student Symposium | October 5 |
| Reading week | October 22-28 |
| Spring 2019 scholarship applications due | November 1 |
| IBS Annual Memorial Service | November 1 |
| Early registration for Spring 2019 | November 5-16 |
| Annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion | November 16-20 |
| Thanksgiving Holiday | November 22-23 |
| IBS/GTU semester ends; petition for incomplete due | December 14 |
| IBS winter holiday (administrative offices closed) | December 25-January 1 |
| Deadline to make up an incomplete | January 4 |
| Spring 2019 certificate application deadline | January 7 |
Spring Semester, February 4 through May 24, 2019
| Spring 2019 early registration | November 5-16 |
| Spring 2019 certificate application deadline | January 7 |
| Shinran Shonin Memorial Day (administrative offices closed) | January 16 |
| Martin Luther King Day (administrative offices closed) | January 21 |
| UCB instruction begins | January 22 |
| Degree program application deadline for fall 2019 | February 1 |
| IBS/GTU instruction begins | February 4 |
| Deadline to register, petition for par time or leave of absence | February 15 |
| Thesis defense deadline (to avoid spring registration) | February 15 |
| President's Day (administrative offices closed) | February 18 |
| BCA National Council Meeting | March 7-10 |
| Reading week | March 25-29 |
| Thesis filing deadline (for spring graduation) | April 1 |
| Spring Colloquy | April 12 |
| Early registration for fall semester | April 8-19 |
| GTU Commencement and Graduation | May 9 |
| IBS Commencement and Graduation | May 24 |
| IBS/GTU semester ends; petition for incomplete due | May 24 |
| Memorial Day (administrative offices closed) | May 27 |
| International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies Biennial Conference | May 24-26 |
| Deadline to make up an incomplete | June 4 |
| Independence Day (administrative offices closed) | July 4 |