Back to university in Málaga: when classes start for the 2026/2027 academic year at each faculty

The countdown to the new academic year has begun at the University of Málaga (UMA). The 2026/2027 academic year will generally start on 9 September 2026, although not every student will return to campus on the same day.

Each faculty and school follows its own teaching calendar within the university’s overall academic framework. As a result, while most degree programmes begin on 9 September, some centres will start on 10, 14 or even 21 September.

This is particularly important for students returning to Málaga after the summer and for those beginning university for the first time.

Most faculties start on 9 September

Wednesday 9 September will be the main back-to-class date at UMA.

Classes will begin that day at the School of Architecture, School of Computer Engineering, School of Telecommunications Engineering, Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Sciences, Faculty of Education Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Business Studies, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, and Faculty of Tourism.

In many of these centres, first-semester teaching will continue until 22 December 2026.

There are some exceptions. Fine Arts and Philosophy and Arts will finish teaching on 18 December, while Health Sciences will extend its first-semester classes until 8 January 2027.

Medicine and Industrial Engineering start on 10 September

Students at the School of Industrial Engineering and the Faculty of Medicine will return one day later.

Both centres will begin first-semester teaching on Thursday 10 September.

A few days later, on Monday 14 September, classes will start at the Faculty of Marketing and Management, Faculty of Social and Labour Studies, and Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy.

Communication Sciences will be the last to return

The latest start date belongs to the Faculty of Communication Sciences.

Classes there will not begin until Monday 21 September, almost two weeks after the university’s general starting date.

Its first teaching period will also end earlier than in many other centres, on 18 December 2026.

Start dates for each UMA faculty and school

These are the scheduled first-semester start dates for the 2026/2027 academic year:

• School of Architecture: 9 September
• School of Computer Engineering: 9 September
• School of Telecommunications Engineering: 9 September
• School of Industrial Engineering: 10 September
• Faculty of Fine Arts: 9 September
• Faculty of Sciences: 9 September
• Faculty of Communication Sciences: 21 September
• Faculty of Education Sciences: 9 September
• Faculty of Health Sciences: 9 September
• Faculty of Economics and Business Studies: 9 September
• Faculty of Marketing and Management: 14 September
• Faculty of Law: 9 September
• Faculty of Social and Labour Studies: 14 September
• Faculty of Philosophy and Arts: 9 September
• Faculty of Medicine: 10 September
• Faculty of Psychology and Speech Therapy: 14 September
• Faculty of Tourism: 9 September

When does the second semester begin?

After the Christmas break and the corresponding examination period, most faculties will begin second-semester teaching on 15 February 2027.

There are again a few exceptions.

The Faculty of Social and Labour Studies will return earlier, on 8 February, while Fine Arts and Communication Sciences will not begin until 22 February.

The end of teaching also varies by centre. Many faculties will finish on 28 May or 4 June, while Fine Arts will continue until 11 June and Health Sciences will be the latest to finish, with classes running until 9 July 2027.

Different calendars depending on the faculty

Although UMA’s general academic calendar runs from 9 September 2026 to 31 July 2027, this does not mean all students will have classes throughout that entire period.

Each school and faculty has its own teaching timetable, while exam dates should be checked directly with the relevant centre. Individual degree programmes and postgraduate courses may also follow different schedules.

Students planning travel, accommodation or their return to Málaga in September should therefore check the calendar for their specific faculty before making arrangements.

All official teaching dates for the 2026/2027 academic year can be checked on the University of Málaga’s official faculty and school calendar.