Academic year
The academic year runs from late September or early October to June with usually a month off at Christmas and Easter. Some institutions start courses at other times of the year.
Traditionally the academic year is split into three terms - Autumn (late September/early October to midDecember), Spring (January to late March/early April) and Summer (April to mid-July).
However, an increasing number of universities and colleges are adopting a semester system, dividing the year into two 15 week periods of study. Research students can often start at other times.