2026
Academic calendar
The Justo Mwale University 2026 Academic Calendar provides a comprehensive schedule of all key academic and administrative activities for the year, serving as an essential guide for students, staff, and stakeholders. It outlines semester teaching periods, examinations, study weeks, academic breaks, postgraduate contact sessions, committee meetings, public lectures, and major institutional events, ensuring clarity and effective planning across the university community. The calendar reflects the university's commitment to academic order, quality assurance, and timely delivery of programs while supporting effective teaching, learning, research, and governance throughout the 2026 academic year.
ACADEMIC CALENDAR (JANUARY – DECEMBER 2026)
| DATES | ACTIVITY / DESCRIPTION |
| 5 – 9 January | Orientation for New and Returning Students |
| 12 January | Workshop for Full-time Lecturers |
| 12 January | Workshop for Supervisors of Vocational Training |
| 12 January – 20 March | Teaching Period – Term One (10 Weeks) |
| 15 January | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Theology |
| 16 January | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Education |
| 21 January | Senate Meeting |
| 29 – 31 January | Deferred and Supplementary Examinations |
| 9 – 20 February | Postgraduate Contact Session |
| 16 – 20 February | Mid-Term Assessments (Week 6) |
| 20 March | Public Lecture |
| 27 March (Morning) | Orientation on Consultancy |
| 27 March (Afternoon) | Research Committee Meeting |
| 23 – 27 March | Study Week (Week 11) |
| 30 March – 2 April | End of Semester I Examinations (Week 12) |
| 13 – 24 April | Academic Break (3 Weeks) |
| 6 – 24 April | ODL Undergraduate Examinations / Contact Session |
| 27 April – 3 July | Teaching Period – Semester II (10 Weeks) |
| 7 May | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Theology |
| 8 May | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Education |
| 12 May | Senate Meeting |
| 13 May | Research Committee Meeting |
| 30 May | Faculty Retreat |
| 1 – 5 June | Mid-Term Assessments (Week 6) |
| 12 June | University Human Resource Committee Meeting |
| 19 June | Public Lecture |
| 20 June | Sports Day |
| 27 June | University Finance Committee Meeting |
| 2 July | Defence of Master of Theology Theses |
| 3 July | Defence of Master of Education Theses |
| 5 July | University Council Meeting |
| 6 – 10 July | Study Week (Week 11) |
| 13 – 17 July | End of Semester II Examinations (Week 12) |
| 20 July – 29 August | Academic Break (6 Weeks) |
| 26 July – 30 August | Practical Attachments in Congregations (5 Weeks) |
| 10 – 28 August | ODL Undergraduate Examinations / Contact Session |
| 7 September – 13 November | Teaching Period – Term 3 (10 Weeks) |
| 9 September | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Theology |
| 10 September | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Education |
| 15 September | Senate Meeting |
| 17 September | Research Committee Meeting |
| 2 October | Public Lecture |
| 5 – 9 October | Mid-Term Assessments (Week 6) |
| 5 – 16 October | Postgraduate Contact Session |
| 20 – 23 October | Annual Reports (2026) and Academic Planning for 2027 |
| 22 October | Extraordinary Senate Meeting |
| 26 October | Submission of Postgraduate Research Proposals |
| 30 October | Research Output Reporting |
| 31 October | 38th Graduation Ceremony |
| 2 November | University Council Meeting |
| 3 November – 4 January 2027 | End-of-Year Academic Break (6 Weeks) |
| 6 November | University Finance Committee Meeting |
| 9 – 13 November | Study Week (Week 11) |
| 13 November | University Human Resource Committee Meeting |
| 16 – 20 November | End of Term 3 Examinations (Week 12) |
| 30 November – 18 December | ODL Undergraduate Examinations / Contact Session |
| 3 December | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Theology |
| 4 December | Academic Affairs Committee Meeting – Education |
| 15 December | Senate Meeting |
| 22 December | Research Committee Meeting |