When Are UC Davis Summer Sessions Offered and What Formats Are Available?

Updated

UC Davis Summer Sessions run during the summer months between the regular spring and fall terms, and they are organized into multiple sessions of different lengths rather than one single summer term. Courses are offered in a range of formats, and the exact session dates, course lengths, and delivery modes vary by year and by course, so the current Summer Sessions schedule is the authoritative source for specifics.

How the summer term is structured

Summer Sessions at UC Davis are split into several sessions so you can choose a pace that fits your schedule. The typical structure includes:

  • Multiple sessions across the summer — rather than one long term, the summer is divided into shorter sessions that start and end at different points.
  • Different course lengths — courses are commonly offered in intensive short formats and longer formats, so a class can move quickly or at a more moderate pace.
  • Overlapping and sequential sessions — some sessions run at the same time, while others begin after earlier ones end, which lets you stack courses across the summer.

Because session dates and lengths are set per year, confirm the current schedule before planning around a specific start or end date.

Course formats

Summer Sessions courses are delivered in more than one format. The formats generally fall into these categories:

Format What it means for you
In-person You attend scheduled classes on campus at set times.
Online Coursework is completed remotely, without coming to campus.
Hybrid / mixed Some components are in person and others are online.

The format is tied to the individual course, not to the summer term as a whole, so two courses in the same session can have different delivery modes. Check the format listed for each course when you build your schedule.

Timing and enrollment windows

Two separate timelines matter:

  1. When sessions are offered — the calendar of session start and end dates across the summer.
  2. When you can enroll — the enrollment window, which opens before the sessions begin and may have different deadlines depending on the session.

Enrolling early matters more in summer than in a regular term because course availability and session capacity can be limited, and short sessions leave little room to adjust after they start.

How to confirm the details for your term

  1. Go to the Summer Sessions schedule for the current year.
  2. Identify the session that matches your available dates.
  3. For each course you're considering, check its length, format, and meeting pattern.
  4. Note the enrollment deadline for that session, not just the general summer deadline.
  5. Confirm eligibility and whether the course counts toward your program before enrolling.

The expected result is a short list of courses whose session dates, format, and enrollment deadlines all line up with your summer availability.

Common sticking points

  • Assuming one summer term. The summer is split into sessions, so a course's dates depend on its session, not on a single summer start date.
  • Mixing up session dates with enrollment deadlines. These are different dates and both matter.
  • Overlooking format. A course you expect to take online may be in person, or vice versa.
  • Planning around last year's calendar. Session dates and offerings change year to year, so use the current schedule.

For eligibility, degree applicability, and step-by-step enrollment, see the related Summer Sessions questions on who can take classes, whether courses count toward a UC Davis degree, and how to enroll.