Exams
Guidance on what to be aware of before, during and after exams.
Exam Dates for 2026/27
Semester 1: Monday 18 January to Wednesday 3 February 2027
— timetable released Wednesday 16 December 2026
Semester 2: Monday 17 May to Wednesday 9 June 2027
— timetable released Monday 26 April 2027
SAP: Monday 16 to Thursday 26 August 2027
— timetable released Monday 02 August 2027
Note:
- Thursday 26 August reserved solely for reassessment of Language modules.
The teaching and assessment timeline
Lectures, tutorials and other classes are timetabled on weekdays between 9am and 6pm. Teaching does not take place on Saturdays, Sundays or University closure days (Bank Holidays etc), but assessed activities such as exams or field trips may occur on these days.
Exams and time-limited tests held in academic departments may be scheduled to begin at any time between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday (inclusive).
Centrally managed University examinations are scheduled:
Details of the date, format, start and finish time of your centrally managed examinations will be detail in your Exam Timetable. This will be released on Learn no later than 3 weeks before the start of an examination period.
Special Assessment Period examinations are scheduled:
The complexity of the University’s teaching and assessment timetable means that it is not currently possible to make special teaching and assessment timetable arrangements in individual student cases. If you feel that you will be unable to participate in assessments due to an unavoidable event (such as elite sporting activity or necessary religious observance) please contact your department at the earliest opportunity.
Your exam timetable
Exam timetables are published to Learn, under 'Exams & Assessments', and all students are emailed when it is available to view.
Make sure to familiarise yourself with your exam timetable and with any specific exam guidance provided for your modules. The timetable includes the start and final submission times planned for any online exams, including 30 minutes for download and upload.
Academic Registry produces a central timetable on behalf of all Schools and departments for exams in Semester 1, Semester 2 and the Special Assessment Period (SAP). The Examination Timetabling Policy is approved by Learning and Teaching Committee.
The final day of the advertised Special Assessment Period is reserved only for the reassessment of Language modules (see dates above).
The four types of exam
Exams will be either online or in-person will take one of the following forms (your exam timetable and module specification will advise which form will be used for each exam):
In-person exam: An invigilated in-person exam (normal exam length)
"In-person exam" will appear on your timetable. The exam will be held in a central exam venue on campus. You will have a fixed amount of time to complete your exam, which will vary based on exam length. Exam hall rules will apply.
Online long-window exam: An open book long window online exam (23 hours, downloadable paper)
"Online long-window exam" will appear on your timetable. You have 23 hours to download the paper, complete your exam, and upload your answers. You should spend the recommended time on your paper but can do this at any time within the 23 hour time period given.
Online short-window exam: An open book short window online exam (normal length + 30 minutes for download/upload, downloadable paper)
"Online short-window exam" will appear on your timetable. The online short-window exam includes the allocated time for the paper, plus an additional 30 minutes to download the paper, and collate and upload your answers.
Learn Quiz type: An open book short window online exam (normal length, hosted online)
A Learn Quiz,鈥痑ppearing as "Quiz" on your timetable, is a short window exam which typically includes at least some multiple-choice questions and is taken entirely online through Learn. There is no need to download a paper or upload your answers, and therefore no additional time is allocated for this.