Academic Term - Portugal

Portugal

The school year in Portugal runs from September to June and is divided in three Terms (Períodos, in Portuguese):

• 1st Term: From mid-September until mid-December.
• 2nd Term: From the beginning of January until Easter (March–April).
• 3rd Term: From the week after Easter (April) until the end of June (except for 9th, 11th and 12th grades, which finish early due to exams).

During the school year there are several breaks or holidays (interrupções or férias, in Portuguese):

• Christmas Break: Usually beginning in the 3rd week of December and lasts for two weeks including Christmas and New Year holidays. The 2nd term then begins, often in the first Monday of January.
• Carnival Break: Three days (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) during Carnival. This break used to be one week long but in recent years it has been reduced.
• Easter Break: Two weeks including Easter. It varies form year to year, but it is usually around late March or middle April.
• Summer Break: Usually known as "Férias Grandes" (Big Holidays) it lasts during the summer from late June to middle September and it separates one school year from another.

Universities and colleges follow a different academic year, which consists of two semesters.