Mumbai University Unveils Academic Calendar for 2025–26 Under NEP Framework
The University of Mumbai (MU) has officially released its academic calendar for the academic year 2025–26, aligning its undergraduate programmes with the guidelines of the National Education Policy (NEP). The new calendar applies to degree colleges offering courses in humanities, commerce, and science streams.
The move marks a strategic shift towards structured academic planning. It ensures that colleges affiliated with MU maintain uniformity in teaching, evaluation, and vacation schedules while also reflecting the NEP’s broader objectives of flexibility, outcome-based learning, and timely academic delivery.
Semester Timeline Begins June 13, 2025
According to the MU circular issued to affiliated colleges, the first semester for first-year students and the third semester for second-year students will begin on June 13, 2025. This early commencement aims to ensure that the academic year remains tightly aligned with NEP recommendations for continuous engagement and timely completion of courses.
This streamlined scheduling is a step toward avoiding delays that previously disrupted admission timelines and course delivery in many institutions. The university intends to create adequate space for internal assessments, ATKT examinations, and result processing before the winter break by initiating classes by mid-June.
ATKT Exam Dates Finalized: October 9 to 25
One key component of the calendar is the announcement of ATKT (Allowed to Keep Terms) examination dates. These exams, crucial for students who did not clear one or more subjects in previous semesters, will be held between October 9 and 25, 2025.
The university has instructed all affiliated colleges to make appropriate arrangements to conduct these exams efficiently and comply with existing examination protocols. This window allows ample preparation time for students while maintaining enough buffer for internal and practical assessments in the latter half of the semester.
Internal Assessments and Practical Exams Must Follow MU Norms
The university has reinforced its directive that internal assessments and practical examinations must be carried out according to MU’s academic and evaluation norms. Colleges are expected to conduct these evaluations within the semester without deferring them toward the end, which aligns with the NEP’s emphasis on continuous assessment over rote or end-term evaluation.
This shift underlines the policy's goal of reducing academic pressure, enabling students to engage with their subjects more organically, and encouraging educators to use varied modes of evaluation, such as assignments, presentations, fieldwork, and project-based learning.
September 15: Deadline for Examination Form Submission
The University has set a firm deadline of September 15, 2025, for submitting examination forms and paying fees for the first and third semester university examinations. Colleges have been advised to communicate this to students well in advance and set up online and offline systems to collect and verify data smoothly.
Adhering to this deadline is critical for internal planning and enabling timely logistics for seating arrangements, paper setting, and invigilation.
November 28: Last Date for Uploading Assessment Data
To enhance transparency and data management, the university has directed colleges to upload internal assessment and practical exam data on the official MU portal by November 28, 2025. This centralized submission will help generate mark sheets promptly and reduce the likelihood of clerical errors that can delay results.
Colleges have been cautioned to double-check all uploaded data for accuracy before final submission, as this will form the official academic record for students.
Academic Year Breaks Announced
The academic calendar also details the vacation schedule for the 2025–26 academic year. These breaks are crucial for student and faculty well-being and allow time for preparation, travel, family engagements, and extracurricular development.
- Mid-Term Break: August 27 to August 31, 2025
- Diwali Holidays: October 21 to November 5, 2025
- Winter Vacation: December 5 to December 31, 2025
The Diwali vacation is scheduled to begin a few days before the ATKT exams conclude, ensuring no academic clash for students needing academic remediation and family time. The winter break offers nearly four weeks of rest before the start of the even semesters in January 2026.
NEP Compliance and Broader Significance
The academic calendar has been carefully curated in alignment with NEP guidelines, prioritizing academic efficiency, learner-centric flexibility, and a well-rounded semester structure. By setting clear timelines, Mumbai University is paving the way for smoother academic functioning across its vast network of affiliated colleges.
Moreover, this initiative encourages greater administrative accountability among colleges, which are now expected to adhere strictly to university-issued schedules to avoid student inconvenience or delayed results.
What This Means for Students and Faculty
This calendar offers students a structured view of the year ahead, allowing them to plan study schedules, vacation travel, internships, and project work well in advance. For faculty members, having a fixed semester schedule helps them plan course coverage, internal evaluations, and timely grade submissions.
In a system historically affected by erratic timelines, examination delays, and result backlogs, this calendar signifies a much-needed shift toward academic discipline and synchronization with national education reforms.
Final Thoughts
Mumbai University’s 2025–26 academic calendar is a critical step forward in operationalizing NEP principles at the undergraduate level. With fixed semester start dates, firm deadlines for exams and data submission, and marked holidays, the calendar represents a shift toward academic predictability and student-focused planning.
As India’s higher education system evolves, efforts like these are vital to ensure that policy reforms are reflected not just on paper but also in everyday academic practice. Mumbai University’s clarity and commitment to timelines set a precedent that other state and central universities may soon follow.
