Mark your calendars: key dates for the Fall 2022 semester

When is Reading Week? Find out here.

It’s almost here: your first semester of studies in Canada. Before you know it, the semester will be over and you’ll have forgotten all about the nerves you might be feeling right now.

But before then, a lot of important things are going to happen, both inside the classroom and outside. Here are some key dates to keep in mind as you look ahead to studying in Canada:

September 5: Labour Day.

The unofficial end of Canadian summer, because the next big date is…

September 6-9 (depending on your school): Classes begin.

October 10: Thanksgiving.

You might have a vision in your mind of Thanksgiving as a massive holiday, thanks to American TV and movies. It’s a bit more subdued in Canada and it’s a month earlier than in the U.S. You might score an invitation to “Friendsgiving,” which is exactly what it sounds like a nice meal with friends. Come together, cook together, have a lot of fun, and take a day off studying.

October 10-14: Reading Week

(sometimes called “Study Week”). Note: this is not the same across the country. Some universities and colleges have Reading Week later in the month and some in November. Check with your school.

October 17: Midterm exams.

This will vary greatly depending on where you’re enrolled, which program you’re in, etc. Midterms sometimes start before Thanksgiving, but generally, they fall mid-October.

October 31: Halloween.

This isn’t directly related to your studies, but Halloween is a big social event at many Canadian schools. You might want to plan a costume or two.

November 11: Remembrance Day.

Some schools close on this day because it’s a holiday in their province; others will hold a ceremony and/or a moment of silence at 11:00 to remember Canadian armed forces members who served in WWI & WWII.

December: Applications open.

If you’re thinking of extending your stay in Canada beyond your first program, it’s time to get working. Colleges will generally start accepting applications for Fall 2023 in December 2022; some universities may take them even earlier.

Early December: Final exams.

Good luck!

December 22: End of semester

(varies depending on your school). If you’re planning to travel over the holidays, start looking at tickets as soon as you know your exam schedule. Airports and train stations get very busy at this time of year.