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.

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.