Academic Information

The academic year at the University of Kentucky is divided into two terms called semesters. The fall semester begins in late August and ends in December. The spring semester begins in mid-January and ends at the beginning of May. 

In addition, UK offers two summer terms. The first, a four-week session, begins in the second week of May; the second, an eight-week session, extends from early June to early August. International students are not required to attend summer school to stay legally in the United States. 

During the application process, students choose a "major," which will be their main field in which to specialize. Whether at the undergraduate or graduate level, each "major" has particular requirements and usually some choices. Click for a complete list of undergraduate and graduate majors. 

In addition to choosing a major, students who qualify may also decide to participate in the UK's Honors Program. The appointed faculty in the Honors program offer small, seminar-style classes, in which students acquire essential critical and analytical skills as they discuss and examine the ideas that shape today's world.