Examination dates

Examination periods will be as follows:

Semester 1: Monday 19 January to Friday 6 February 2026 inclusive.

Semester 2: Monday 25 May to Friday 12 June 2026 inclusive

August re-sit period: Friday 21 August to Friday 4 September 2026 inclusive

For students on the International Foundation Programme (IFP) who start their course in January 2026, your exam periods are:

Semester 1: Tuesday 21 April to Friday 24 April 2026 inclusive

Semester 2: Monday 20 July to Friday 24 July 2026 inclusive

August re-sit period: Friday 21 August to Friday 4 September 2026 inclusive

Please note these are the dates for centrally timetables exams. For in class tests, these may take place during teaching weeks, and you should contact your School/Department for more details.

Your School or Department may run in class tests or alternative assessments outside of these dates and it is expected that all students be available for the entirety of the Summer Term. Please note that if you are taking a module outside of your Part your exam may fall outside of the dates above.

Taking modules outside of your Part

If you are taking a module (with an exam) from outside of your Part, the exam will be held within the exam period for the Part to which the module belongs.

This may mean that your exam clashes with teaching - for example, if you are a Part 1 or Part 2 student and are taking a finalist module, your exam could be held in week 2 of the Summer Term. In this situation you are expected to attend the exam; however, you are not permitted to miss teaching in order to revise.

If you are a Finalist taking a non-finalist module, your exam may be held after the Finals exam period, and this may lead to a delay in you receiving your result.

Scheduling of exams

Exams are typically held Monday - Friday during mornings and afternoons. Exams may also be scheduled during early evenings, and on Saturdays, but are not normally held on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

The University expects all students to prioritise their exams by being available for the entirety of the relevant exam period for their level of study (and, if taking a module from outside their Part, also for the exam period for the Part to which that module belongs).

If you are unable to attend an exam due to a significant event that cannot be rescheduled, please follow the exceptional circumstances procedure.

Publication of personal exam timetables

Your personal timetable is published on students' individual RISIS web portal, and we will email students when it is ready to view. Your personal timetable for Semester 1 January/February exams will be available to view no later than the end of week 12 of Semester 1. Your personal timetable for Semester 2 May/June exams will be available to view no later than the end of week 9 of Semester 2. If applicable, your personal timetable for the August/September resit period will be available to view no later than Wednesday of week 9 of the summer vacation period.

You will be able to login to the RISISweb portal to view your exam timetable under the 'Programmes and Modules' tab. If you have any trouble viewing your timetable, please contact risis@reading.ac.uk

Format of exams

Exams may take place either in person or online. Please contact your School or Department for details of the exact format of an individual exam. The University expects all students sitting in person exams to travel to the Reading campus in order to sit these exams. It is not possible for an in-person exam to be held online for an individual student or vice versa.

Please note that where an exam takes place in person at first attempt, the reassessment/DNS attempt held in August - September will also be in person. The University expects all students sitting in person exams to travel to the Reading campus in order to sit these exams. It is not possible for an in-person exam to be held online for an individual student or vice versa