IPCA Academic Calendar

The academic calendar at Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave (IPCA), located in Portugal, typically follows a semester-based structure common to many European higher education institutions. The academic year is divided into two main semesters: the fall semester, which generally begins in late September or early October and runs through January, and the spring semester, which starts in February and concludes in June. This structure includes periods for lectures, practical training, and examinations at the end of each semester. Additionally, IPCA often incorporates breaks aligned with national holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, providing students with extended time for rest and personal projects. The calendar may also feature intensive periods for internships or project work, reflecting the polytechnic’s emphasis on applied learning.

• Fall Semester Start: Late September 2025 (typically around September 25–30), marking the beginning of lectures and academic activities.
• Christmas Break: Mid-December 2025 to early January 2026 (approximately December 20–January 5), coinciding with national holidays.
• Fall Semester Exams: Mid to late January 2026, concluding the first semester with assessment periods.
• Spring Semester Start: Early February 2026 (around February 5–10), initiating the second half of the academic year.
• Easter Break: Mid-April 2026 (aligned with Easter week, typically a 7–10 day break), offering a mid-semester pause.
• Spring Semester Exams: Late May to mid-June 2026, followed by project submissions or internships for some programs.
• Commencement Ceremony: Late June or early July 2026, celebrating graduating students with formal events.

• First Phase Application Deadline: Late June 2025 (typically around June 20–30), for national and EU students applying through the standard access regime.
• Second Phase Application Deadline: Mid-August 2025 (approximately August 10–20), for remaining vacancies after the first phase.
• International Student Application Deadline: Early May 2025 (often around May 1–15), with earlier deadlines to accommodate visa processing.
• Admission Results Notification: Early September 2025 for first-phase applicants, with subsequent notifications for later phases by mid-September.
• Enrollment and Registration Period: Mid to late September 2025, following the announcement of admission results.
• Financial Aid Application Deadline: Early October 2025, often tied to enrollment periods for scholarships and grants.

The academic calendar at IPCA aligns closely with Portugal’s national education framework, ensuring that major breaks correspond with public holidays like Christmas, Easter, and summer vacation periods. This synchronization facilitates planning for both domestic and international students. The semester structure offers a predictable rhythm, with flexibility for polytechnic-specific activities such as internships or industry collaborations, which are integral to IPCA’s mission. For international students, the early application deadlines and structured enrollment periods provide ample time to arrange visas and accommodations, though prospective students are encouraged to monitor official announcements for precise dates, as slight variations may occur year to year based on institutional or national adjustments.