Important Dates

For Beginning Your Graduate Degree Program in Fall 2026

New Student Orientation Schedule Details

April 15, 2026 (Wed) - Deadline to accept an offer of admission to the graduate program.

May 15, 2026  (Fri) - Deadline for international students to initiate visa request.

June 1, 2026  (Mon) - Deadline for New Student Health Evaluation FormsRequirement applies only to full-time students. (There is a grace period through August 31, 2026 for graduate students, though we request you submit as soon as possible). 

July 31, 2026 (Fri) - Deadline for W&M-sponsored Student Health Insurance Enrollment and WaiversRequired for all full-time students; part-time students must submit a part-time student status form to be exempt from the insurance requirement.

August 3, 2026 (Mon) - New Student Registration Begins

August 3, 2026 (Mon) - Deadline for Photo Submission for W&M Student ID Card. 

August 18-20, 2026 (Tues-Thurs overnight) - Mandatory Orientation: In-Person New Student Overnight Field Orientation at our Eastern Shore Lab Campus in Wachapreague, VA. Required for all matriculating graduate students. Reach out to Jennifer Dahnke if requesting an exemption.

August 21, 2026 (Fri) - Optional "Behind the Scenes Tour" of our Gloucester Point Campus. 

August 22, 2026 (Sat) - Mandatory International  Orientation:  In-Person at William & Mary Williamsburg campus. Required for all matriculating graduate international students.

August 24, 2026 (Mon) - Mandatory Orientation: In-Person New Student Orientation at the Batten School & VIMS Gloucester Point, VA campus. Required for all matriculating graduate students.

August 25, 2026 (Tues) - Mandatory Orientation: In-Person New Student Orientation at William & Mary Williamsburg campus. Required for all matriculating graduate students.

August 25, 2026 (Tues) - Graduate Assistantship Start Date. Last day to provide original I-9 verification documents to Academic Affairs Finance & Program Administrator.

August 26, 2026 (Wed) - First Day of Fall Classes

August 26, 2026 (Wed evening) - W&M Opening Convocation on Williamsburg campus.  Strongly encouraged for all matriculating graduate students.

September 16, 2026 (Wed) - First pay date for graduate assistantships starting August 25, 2026. 

Got Questions? Contact Jennifer Dahnke at 804-684-7256 or admissions@vims.edu.

Last updated by J. Dahnke on May 11, 2026.