Exam Schedule Change FAQ
In 2025, the University of Alberta began implementing new scheduling software that allows us to modernize how we schedule exams, reducing direct conflicts and 3-in-4 scenarios. With proven results using last year’s data in a test environment, we are now able to create an exam schedule directly using student registration information, rather than working from an arbitrary schedule.
When will I know the dates of my final exams?
In October, we will post the exam schedule online to the Exam Schedules web page.
Why can’t the exam schedule be released earlier?
As the exam schedule will be built using actual student registration information, it has to be created after the add/drop date. In 2025, there were over 20,000 registration changes between Aug.1 and Sept. 16, and releasing the schedule early would result in many student conflicts once it is updated with the final registration data.
When we tested our methods using data taken after the Fall 2025 add/drop deadline, we were not only able to reduce the number of 3-in-4 rescheduled exam conflicts and direct exam conflicts to zero, but it also provided a more evenly distributed final exam schedule for students, enabling them to perform with confidence.
What exam information do I put in my syllabus/course outline?
We recommend that you put the exam period date ranges in your syllabi, rather than the specific date of the exam. For Fall 2026, the exam period will be Dec. 9-22, 2026. For Winter 2027, the exam period will be April 12-24, 2027. Dates can be found in the Academic Schedule.
You may wish to include a line stating, “Students are expected to be available for the entirety of the exam period until the exam schedule is released.”
Why is this change happening?
This change will drastically reduce the number of 3-in-4 rescheduled exam conflicts and direct conflicts, with the target of reducing them to zero.
I have accommodations, how will I be affected by this change?
Your accommodations processes will be the same, however, this change gives us the opportunity to produce a schedule with more spaces between an individual student’s exams, which may help with your accommodation needs such as time extensions.