Skip to content Accessibility statement
Home>Student home>York Online students>Online learning periods

Online Learning Periods

The York Online academic year is made up of six online learning periods numbered OL1 (the September start) to OL6 (the June start), plus a winter and a summer break.

Each online learning period lasts eight weeks, and students study a single module in that time. Most online learning periods run consecutively without any break.

Exceptions: The capstone project module runs over two consecutive online learning periods, and may require you to continue studying during the winter or summer break.

If you are not studying on a York Online programme, please see Semesters for information on the academic year.

Online learning periods

Contact us

Student Success Coordinator

[email protected]
+44 1904 221232

Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 2 Sep 2024 25 Oct 2024
OL2 28 Oct 2024 20 Dec 2024
Winter break 23 Dec 2024 10 Jan 2025
OL3 13 Jan 2025 7 Mar 2025
OL4 10 Mar 2025 2 May 2025
OL5 5 May 2025 27 Jun 2025
OL6 30 Jun 2025 22 Aug 2025
Summer break 25 Aug 2025 5 Sep 2025
Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 8 Sep 2025 31 Oct 2025
OL2 3 Nov 2025 26 Dec 2025
Winter break 29 Dec 2025 9 Jan 2026
OL3 12 Jan 2026 6 Mar 2026
OL4 9 Mar 2026 1 May 2026
OL5 4 May 2026 26 Jun 2026
OL6 29 Jun 2026 21 Aug 2026
Summer break 24 Aug 2026 4 Sep 2026
Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 7 Sep 2026 30 Oct 2026
OL2 2 Nov 2026 25 Dec 2026
Winter break 28 Dec 2026 8 Jan 2027
OL3 11 Jan 2027 5 Mar 2027
OL4 8 Mar 2027 30 Apr 2027
OL5 3 May 2027 25 Jun 2027
OL6 28 Jun 2027 20 Aug 2027
Summer break 23 Aug 2027 3 Sep 2027

No teaching or marking takes place during the winter or summer break, but you may need to study if you have an upcoming assessment.

Module schedules

Further information on the York Online modules including any pre-requisite modules can be found on the module catalogue

Programme structure

York Online programmes contain a total of 180 credits, which is made up from ten 15-credit taught modules, and a 30-credit capstone project module. Each 15-credit taught module comprises seven weeks of teaching, followed by a short assessment period. The 30-credit capstone project module usually takes place at the end of a programme and lasts 16 weeks.

Module type Credit value Duration (per module)
Taught module 10x15 credits 7 weeks teaching, followed by assessment period
Capstone project module 1x30 credits 16 weeks independent study

The exact modules required for your programme of study are set out in the programme specification.

Programme duration

York Online programmes can be completed in two years of part-time study (approximately 18.75 hours per week on average). Students can choose to study up to six modules per year. 

Students that take a break from their studies will extend their programme duration, and may have to wait for any missed modules to become available to study. It is therefore important to understand the implications of taking a Leave of Absence

Assessment timings

The assessment period for taught modules runs from the beginning of week 8 to the end of week 1 of each online learning period. As most online learning periods run consecutively without any break, assessments may be due for a previous module as the next module starts. You can view more details in our York Online student guide: Assessment Timings.

Future online learning periods

Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 6 Sep 2027 29 Oct 2027
OL2 1 Nov 2027 24 Dec 2027
Winter break 27 Dec 2027 7 Jan 2028
OL3 10 Jan 2028 3 Mar 2028
OL4 6 Mar 2028 28 Apr 2028
OL5 1 May 2028 23 Jun 2028
OL6 26 Jun 2028 18 Aug 2028
Summer break 21 Aug 2028 1 Sep 2028
Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 4 Sep 2028 27 Oct 2028
OL2 30 Oct 2028 22 Dec 2028
Winter break 25 Dec 2028 5 Jan 2029
OL3 8 Jan 2029 2 Mar 2029
OL4 5 Mar 2029 27 Apr 2029
OL5 30 Apr 2029 22 Jun 2029
OL6 25 Jun 2029 17 Aug 2029
Summer break 20 Aug 2029 31 Aug 2029
Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 3 Sep 2029 26 Oct 2029
OL2 29 Oct 2029 21 Dec 2029
Winter break 24 Dec 2029 4 Jan 2030
OL3 7 Jan 2030 1 Mar 2030
OL4 4 Mar 2030 26 Apr 2030
OL5 29 Apr 2030 21 Jun 2030
OL6 24 Jun 2030 16 Aug 2030
Summer break 19 Aug 2030 30 Aug 2030
Online learning period (OL) Start date Finish date
OL1 2 Sep 2030 25 Oct 2030
OL2 28 Oct 2030 20 Dec 2030
Winter break 23 Dec 2030 10 Jan 2031
OL3 13 Jan 2031 7 Mar 2031
OL4 10 Mar 2031 2 May 2031
OL5 5 May 2031 27 Jun 2031
OL6 30 Jun 2031 22 Aug 2031
Summer break 25 Aug 2031 5 Sep 2031

Contact us

Student Success Coordinator

[email protected]
+44 1904 221232

OSZAR »