Checking the calendar is usually the first thing you do after that hit of dopamine from an acceptance letter. But honestly, pinning down a Concordia University start date is messier than just looking at a single Monday in September. Concordia isn't a monolith. Between the Sir George Williams campus downtown and the Loyola campus in NDG, plus the split between undergraduate and graduate schedules, things get granular fast.
You’ve got to navigate the Quebec "holiday" logic, the weirdness of mid-week starts, and the distinct rhythm of the Montreal academic cycle. It’s a lot.
Usually, the fall term kicks off right after Labor Day. For the 2026 academic year, you’re looking at Tuesday, September 8, 2026, as the likely primary start for most undergraduate lectures. Why Tuesday? Because Montreal loves a long weekend, and Labor Day Monday is the sacred final breath of summer. If you show up on Monday, you’ll be staring at locked doors and empty hallways.
Navigating the Fall 2026 Term
Most people think the Concordia University start date is just about when the first professor starts talking. It's not. There’s a whole "pre-game" that happens. Orientation, often called "Frosh" by the students, usually takes over the week prior. If you’re a new student, your actual start date is late August.
The fall semester is a sprint.
It lasts about 13 weeks.
Then, the exam period hits in December like a ton of bricks.
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The university follows a strict "DNE" (Did Not Enter) deadline. This is the most important date you’ll ever hear about. It’s usually about two weeks after classes start. If you hate a class, you have until this deadline to drop it without paying for it or having it scar your transcript. For Fall 2026, expect that DNE date to land around September 21. Miss it? You’re paying for that 8:00 AM Econ class whether you show up or not.
The Winter and Summer Shifts
The Concordia University start date for the winter term is a different beast entirely. It’s cold. It’s dark. And it starts surprisingly early in January. Typically, you’re back in the Hall Building or at Loyola by the end of the first week of January. For 2026, January 5 or 6 is the window.
Summer terms are split into "Summer 1" and "Summer 2." These are compressed, intense versions of classes that start in early May and late June. If you’re trying to fast-track your degree, these dates are your best friend, but be warned: a 13-week course crammed into 6 weeks is a recipe for burnout if you aren't careful.
Why the Start Date Varies by Faculty
John Molson School of Business (JMSB) students might have different orientation vibes than those in the Gina Cody School of Engineering. While the official "instructional" start date is centralized, departmental orientations and lab safety briefings can happen earlier.
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Engineering students often have to deal with iron ring ceremonies or specific lab intakes.
Fine Arts students might have studio access dates that pre-date the first lecture.
Grad students? You're often at the whim of your supervisor’s research schedule.
Check your MyConcordia portal. Don't rely on a friend's screenshot from three years ago. The university updates the academic calendar years in advance, but minor tweaks happen.
The "Reading Week" Misconception
A lot of students plan their lives around the "start" but forget the "break." Fall reading week usually happens around the Thanksgiving weekend in October. Winter reading week—the legendary one—happens in late February. If you’re booking a flight home, don't just look at the Concordia University start date; look at the "End of Instruction" date. There is a massive difference between the last day of classes and the last day of exams. You might finish classes on December 7, but have a math exam on December 22.
Moving to Montreal: Timing the Move
If you’re moving from outside Quebec, your personal Concordia University start date should be at least August 15. Montreal leases almost exclusively start on July 1. If you wait until September 1 to find an apartment, you’re going to be living in a broom closet in Laval or paying $2,000 for a studio in the Plateau.
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Get here early.
Walk the underground tunnel between the Hall building and the Metro.
Find the best cheap dumplings in Shaughnessy Village.
Figure out which library (Webster or Vanier) fits your study "vibe."
The transition isn't just about the first lecture. It’s about getting your Opus card (the transit pass) before the lines at Berri-UQAM station become three hours long. It’s about hitting the Bookstore before the "Used" copies of your textbooks vanish.
Specific Dates for the 2026-2027 Cycle (Projected)
Based on historical patterns and the 2026 calendar structure:
- Fall 2026 Kickoff: September 8, 2026.
- Last Day to Add/Drop (DNE): September 21, 2026.
- Fall Reading Break: October 12–16, 2026.
- Winter 2027 Kickoff: January 6, 2027.
Final Logistics and Actionable Steps
Don't just wait for an email. Concordia sends a lot of them, and half end up in the "Promotions" tab or spam. You need to be proactive. The university doesn't hold your hand the way high school does. If you miss the Concordia University start date because you were "waiting for a letter," the seat in that competitive elective will be gone.
- Step 1: Validate your schedule in the Student Center. Log in to the MyConcordia portal. Look at the "Weekly Schedule" view, not just the list. Sometimes labs start a week after the lectures.
- Step 2: Sync your calendar with the DNE and DISC deadlines. DNE is for a refund; DISC (Discontinued) is for when you realize halfway through the term that you're failing but don't want an "F" on your record.
- Step 3: Sort your ID card now. You can upload your photo online. Do it. If you wait until the Concordia University start date, you’ll spend your first day in a lineup in the basement of the LB building instead of meeting people.
- Step 4: Check your Concordia email. This is the only way the registrar communicates. Link it to your phone.
Knowing the date is just the beginning. The real work is the logistics that happen in the weeks leading up to that first Tuesday in September. Get your transit pass, secure your housing by mid-summer, and make sure your tuition deposit is cleared. Once you’re standing on Ste-Catherine Street on day one, you’ll be glad you didn't leave it to the last minute.