To ensure a successful school year and to plan well, you must have an idea of the schedule for the year. The academic calendar helps you stay on track and prevents mistakes, such as missing important registration or exam dates.
The official ABU academic calendar for the 2025/2026 session has been released and approved by the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, management on Thursday, 25th September, 2025, after its 554th (regular) senate meeting was held.
After going through the school calendar, you should also check out the ABU School Fees Schedule (internal link)to help you plan your budget for the session.
ABU Academic Calendar 2025/2026
Find below the ABU's academic calendar to help you note and plan for important dates and events across the first and second semesters:
First Semester
Activity | Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Registration | 5th January - 17th January, 2026 | 2 weeks |
Lectures Begin | 12th January - 21st March, 2026 | 10 weeks |
Mid-Semester Break | 23rd March - 28th March, 2026 | 1 week |
Lectures Resume | 30th March - 25th April, 2026 | 4 weeks |
Final examinations | 27th April - 16th May, 2026 | 3 weeks |
End Of Semester Break | 18th May - 30th May, 2026 | 2 weeks |
The add or drop window begins early in the semester. It will run from Monday, 2nd February - Saturday, 14th February, 2026. Also, all national and state public holidays will be observed during this period.
Processing of First Semester Results
You do not need to worry about when your results will be released, as the ABU academic calendar also shows the dates for results processing and their approvals to help students know when results will be released. Find the dates below:
Process | Date |
|---|---|
Departmental Uploads | 5th January - 10th January, 2026 |
Course Evaluation and Exam Card Printing | 13th April - 18th April, 2026 |
Marking of Exams | 18th May - 13th June, 2026 |
Departmental Board Meetings | 15th June - 27th June 2026 |
Faculty Board Meetings | 29th June - 4th July, 2026 |
Senate Standing Committee | 6th July - 18th July, 2026 |
Graduating Results to Senate | 30th July, 2026 |
Second Semester
This semester is fast-paced, so you have to gear up for it!
Activity | Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|
Lectures Begin | 1st June - 25th July, 2026 | 8 weeks |
Mid-Semester Break | 27th July - 1st August, 2026 | 1 week |
Lectures Resume | 3rd August - 12th September, 2026 | 6 weeks |
Final examinations | 14th September - 3rd October, 2026 | 3 weeks |
The add or drop window begins early in the semester. It will run from Monday, June 22, to Saturday, July 4, 2026. Also, all national and state public holidays will be observed during this period.
Processing of Second Semester Results
The School has provided a breakdown of exam processes and results compilation with timelines to help ease tension.
Process | Date |
|---|---|
Departmental Uploads | 25th May - 30th May, 2026 |
Course Evaluation and Exam Card Printing | 31st August- 5th September, 2026 |
Marking of Exams | 5th October - 31st October, 2026 |
Departmental Board Meetings | 2nd November - 14th November, 2026 |
Faculty Board Meetings | 16th November - 21st November, 2026 |
Senate Standing Committee | 23rd November - 5th December, 2026 |
Graduating Results to Senate | 24th December, 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does the ABU academic year for 2025/2026 start?
A: Classes kick off on January 12, 2026. Registration for the first semester opens on January 5, and you have two weeks to get signed up.
Q: How long do first-semester classes run before exams?
A: Lectures come in two rounds. First, you’ll have 10 weeks of classes. Then there’s a one-week break in the middle before another 4 weeks of lectures. After that, it’s straight into exams.
Q: When can students add or drop courses?
A: There’s a short window early each semester. For the first semester, you can add or drop courses between February 2 and February 14, 2026. In the second semester, the window is June 22 to July 4, 2026.
Q: When will the results come out?
A: The calendar already sets result processing dates to help keep the stress down. Faculties upload and process results right after exams, then approvals happen. Most students will see first-semester results around July 2026, and second-semester results closer to the year’s end.
Q: Are public holidays included in the academic calendar?
A: Yes, all national and state public holidays are on the calendar. Even if they land during lectures or add/drop periods, ABU observes them.
