Academic term

An academic term or term is a portion of an academic year, the time during which an educational institution holds classes. The schedules adopted vary widely.


 * A semester system divides the academic year into two terms, which are usually 14–20 weeks each.
 * A trimester system divides the academic year into three terms which can be as short as eight weeks or as long as 16 weeks each.
 * A quarter or quadmester system divides the academic year into four terms, up to 12 weeks each, and generally counts the summer as one of the terms.

In most countries, the academic year begins in late summer or early autumn and ends during the following spring or summer. In Northern Hemisphere countries, this means that the academic year lasts from August, September or October to May, June or July. In Southern Hemisphere countries, the academic year aligns with the calendar year, lasting from February or March to November or December. The summer may or may not be part of the term system.

Schools
The school year coincides with the calendar year, and the first term begins on January 2 (unless it is a Friday or the weekend). The school year comprises four terms of 10 weeks each.
 * Term 1: January to March (Term 1 holidays: one week)
 * Term 2: March to May (Term 2 holidays: four weeks)
 * Term 3: July to September (Term 3 holidays: one week)
 * Term 4: September to November (Long holidays: seven weeks)

Terms 1 and 2 are known as Semester 1, and terms 3 and 4 as Semester 2. The first year of Junior College begins in February to accommodate the release of the O level results.

International schools in Singapore operate on a different system, often similar to the system in their home countries.

Polytechnics
Polytechnics and universities operate on a different calendar from schools. There are two semesters in a year in polytechnics.
 * Semester 1: April to August (with a break period in June)
 * Semester 2: October to February (with a break period around Christmas)

Universities
The university calendar was influenced by the academic year in India. It has since evolved to match the northern hemisphere calendar more closely.
 * Semester 1: August to December
 * Semester 2: January to May