Ross Vet School Academic Calendar

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine provides a professional educational environment that prepares you for both general and specialty practice, and careers across the breadth of the profession and spectrum of care.

The Ross Vet school academic calendar operates on a three-semester calendar year with start dates in September, January, and May. Our academic calendar includes a total of seven weeks scheduled for semester breaks. Traditionally, there are two weeks in the April/May break, two weeks in the August/September break and three weeks in the December/January break. Each semester, the Ross Vet school academic calendar includes a one-day, mid-semester break.

The start date for each semester is the day classes begin.

Classes held and University open on Bank Holidays unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change.

DVM PROGRAM

Your 3.25 year accelerated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program curriculum includes 10 semesters of learning experiences, totaling 150 weeks of preclinical and clinical studies. A credit hour for the Ross Vet preclinical curriculum is equal to one hour of instructional time and two hours of supplementary time. During your clinical training curriculum, one credit hour equals one week of instructional time.

Your DVM preclinical semesters are scheduled at 15 weeks, including final exams, per the Ross Vet school academic calendar. You must successfully complete a minimum of 45 weeks during your clinical year. Mandatory orientation for first semester DVM and Vet Prep students is conducted each semester the week before classes begin as part of the Ross University vet school academic calendar. Applications are accepted leading up our three flexible start dates in January, May and September. Apply year-round or through VMCAS when the cycle is open.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Program hours for the Graduate degree programs vary by degree. Our Graduate degree programs follow the Ross University vet school calendar.

One Health Programs

Applications are due by 30th June with the program starting each September.

MSc by Research

We accept students for each January, May, and September Ross Vet school academic calendar start.

PhD by Research

We operate under rolling admissions and there are no application deadlines. We continue to accept applications leading up to each Ross University vet school academic calendar start term.

2023-2024 RUSVM Preclinical Academic Calendar

 

Fall Term 2023
New Student Orientation and Check-In Aug 28-Sept 1
Continuing Student Check-In Aug 31-Sept 4
Classes Begin Sept 4
Late Check-In with Fee Sept 5
Last Day to Drop Core Courses Without Grade Sept 8
White Coat Ceremony* Sept 11
National Heroes Day Sept 16
Independence Day (No Classes, University Closed) Sept 19
Placement Ceremony* Sept 22
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) Oct 20
Classes Resume Oct 23
Online Registration for Spring Term (Electives Only) Oct 30-Nov 17
NAVLE® Testing Window Nov 1-Dec 16
Transition Ceremony/Banquet* TBA
Last Day of Classes Dec 8
Final Examinations Dec 11-14
Break (No Classes) Dec 15-Jan 5
Final Grades Available via myRoss and Canvas™ Dec 15 at 5pm AST
Christmas Day (No Classes, University Closed) Dec 25
Boxing Day (No Classes, University Closed) Dec 26

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

Spring Term 2024
New Student Arrival Weekend Dec 29-Dec 30
New Year's Day Jan 1
New Year's Day Observed Jan 2
Carnival Holiday Jan 3
New Student Orientation and Check-In Jan 1-5
Continuing Student Check-In Jan 4-8
Classes Begin Jan 8
Late Check-In with Fee Jan 9
Last Day to Drop Core Courses Without Grade Jan 12
White Coat Ceremony Jan 15
Placement Ceremony* Jan 26
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) Feb 23-25
Classes Resume Feb 26
Online Registration for Summer Term (Electives Only) Mar 12-30
Good Friday Mar 29

NAVLE® Testing Window

Apr 1-26 (app Deadline Feb 1)
Transition Ceremony/Banquet* TBA
Easter Monday Apr 1
Last Day of Classes Apr 12
Final Examinations Apr 15-18
Break (No Classes) Apr 19-May 5
Final Grades Available to Students via myRoss and Canvas Apr 19 at 5pm AST

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

Summer Term 2024
New Student Arrival Weekend Apr 26-28
New Student Orientation and Check-In Apr 29-May 3
Continuing Student Check-In May 2-6
Labor Day May 6
Classes Begin May 6
Late Check-In with Fee May 7
Last Day to Drop Core Courses Without a Letter Grade May 10
White Coat Ceremony May 13
Commencement* TBA
Whit Monday May 20
Placement Ceremony May 24
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) June 21 -23
Classes Resume June 24
Online Registration for Fall Term (Electives Only) July 8-26
Emancipation Day Aug 5
Culturama Aug 6
Transition Ceremony/Banquet* TBA
Last Day of Classes Aug 9
Final Examinations Aug 12-15
Final Grades Available to Students via myRoss and Canvas™ Aug 16 by 5pm AST
Break (No Classes) Aug 16-Sept 1

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

2024-2025 RUSVM Preclinical Academic Calendar

Fall Term 2024
Start Date Sept 2
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) Oct 18
Finish Date Dec 12

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

Spring Term 2025
Start Date Jan 6
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) Feb 21
Finish Date Apr 17

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

Summer Term 2025
Start Date May 5
Mid-Semester Break (No Classes, University Closed) June 20
Finish Date Aug 14

*Dates and details of events are subject to change in accordance with safety guidelines. 

FLEXIBLE START DATES

JANUARY

Start at Ross Vet in January and you may complete your DVM at the same time as students who begin in the previous September semester at a U.S. school*. 

Programs start January 6, 2025.

MAY

Start in May and you may finish 6 months sooner than other accredited schools in the U.S. Programs start May 6, 2024.

SEPTEMBER

Start in our fall session and you may finish 4 months sooner than starting at the same time as  other AVMA-accredited programs in the U.S.*  Programs start September 2, 2024.

Office of the Registrar

1221 North Swift Road,
Addison, IL 60101
Phone: 732-509-9003
Fax: 732-509-4820
registrar@rossu.edu

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