London FYE Calendar

Skidmore's London First-Year Experience (FYE) program runs every fall semester in London. Students return to Skidmore's campus in Saratoga Springs, NY for the spring semester. Dates are subject to change.

Fall 2025 - tentative

Program start and end dates have been finalized but other dates listed during the semester are still tentative and subject to change. The calendar will be finalized in May 2025.

Date	Activity
18 August 2025	Program start date. Arrive at Skidmore College campus in Saratoga Springs, NY for pre-departure orientation. Students and families should arrive on campus between 9-11:30 am.* First orientation activity is lunch with Skidmore's President and key campus administrators starting at 12:00 pm for both students and families. Optional Family orientation from 12:00-5:30 pm. Families to depart at 5:30 pm.
18-20 August	Student pre-departure orientation in Saratoga Springs, NY
20 August	Group flight departs from New York City. Students travel as a group by bus from campus to an airport in New York, NY.
21 August	Arrive in London
21-24 August	Orientation in London
25 August	Classes begin August 25th is Bank Holiday in London. Most offices will be closed, but the program center will be open. Skidmore students will have their first day of classes on this day.
6-10 October	Mid-term exam week (classes will still be held this week at regular meeting times)
11-19 October	Mid-term break (no classes held)
20 October	Classes resume
November TBD	Registration begins for spring 2026 Skidmore classes
6 November	Course withdrawal deadline
6 November	Last day to request a personal leave of absence
27 November	Last day of classes
1-5 December	Final exam period
6 December	Program end date. Students must depart London housing. Group flight return to New York City.
17 January 2026	Students arrive at Skidmore for spring 2026 Students should arrive on campus between 9:00 am – 4:00 pm First orientation activity is the Student welcome back dinner at 5:30 pm with Faculty Coordinators, London Peer Mentors, and August Orientation Leaders.
17-19 January	Orientation for London FYE students returning to Skidmore for spring 2026 Orientation activities will continue through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 19th
20 January	First day of classes for spring 2026

*International students may be permitted to arrive directly to London. Please see information for international students on the Arrival and Orientation page.

TBD = to be determined.

Winter Break

London FYE students need to make their own arrangements (at their own expense) for housing and meals over winter break. London FYE students cannot return to campus until the arrival date listed for the spring semester. If you need assistance with housing and meals over winter break, you should consider coming to campus instead of going to London for your first semester. Only students studying on the Saratoga Springs campus for the entire year (both fall and spring semesters) with a full-year housing contract can request housing over winter break.

This page was updated on January 29, 2025.

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