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The academic year is divided into two terms (semesters). The autumn or fall semester runs from September through December, and the spring semester runs from the middle of January through early May. A one-month winter vacation, between mid-December and mid-January, divides the two semesters.

There are generally two semesters per academic year: Fall (beginning in August or September) and Spring (beginning in January). Some semester-based schools also offer a Summer session that is shorter than a regular semester and is not a part of the regular academic year.

There are generally two semesters per academic year: Fall (beginning in August or September) and Spring (beginning in January).

Semester System Fall semester begins anywhere from mid-August to early September and runs through the beginning of December, with one to two weeks devoted to finals. Spring semester runs from January (or February, depending on when your school resumes post-winter break) through May.

Some universities call this the winter semester. This is the shortest of the three semesters and spans for two months and usually, starts in June. Very few universities have summer intake.

Most universities and colleges usually run from early September until the end of April or early May. Often, this winter session is split into two terms running September to December and January to April. Various forms of summer studies may be offered May to August.

So when does college start? Most schools on the semester system will have a fall and spring semester. Fall semesters typically start in mid to late August and run through December. Spring semesters will start in mid to late January of the following year.

However, if you're taking classes relevant to your degree and don't swap disciplines, then four semesters two years should be enough to earn an associate's. If you took full-time classes in the summer, as well, you could even graduate early.

Summer classes are short usually six to eight weeks long. Although they usually contain the same amount of material, they work intensively. For some students, this shorter time period allows them to maintain a focus they might find difficult for a traditional 13-15 week semester.