What Is Reading Week?
Reading week is a scheduled break from classes in the middle of a term, intended to give students time to catch up on reading, write assignments and revise. The name is common in Canada, the UK, Ireland and some other countries. In the US, similar breaks go by other names, such as fall break or spring break, and are often more about rest than study.
How it works
During reading week, regular lectures and tutorials are suspended, though libraries and study spaces stay open. Some professors set assignments, projects or midterms for the weeks around it, so the break is not always free. At some institutions a reading week comes before exams, which is sometimes called a study break or reading period.
Timing varies. Canadian universities often have a reading week in February for winter terms, and sometimes in October or November for fall terms. UK universities may build one into the middle of a term, for example in week 6, particularly for first-year students.
How to use it well
- Make a plan before the week starts, listing what you must read, write and revise.
- Set daily targets, and protect time for sleep, exercise and food.
- Get ahead on big assignments, since deadlines often follow.
- Revise notes and start exam preparation if midterms are near.
- Take a real break for at least a day or two, so that you return refreshed.
- Use the library and office hours if available.
Common mistakes
Treating reading week as a full vacation and then facing a pile of work, or using all of it for work and returning exhausted. Plan a balance.
International students
If you travel during the break, check visa and travel rules, and make sure you can return on time. Housing may close during some breaks, so confirm your arrangements.
Related terms
See academic calendar, finals week, term and midterm.
Frequently asked questions
Is reading week a holiday?
Not exactly. It is a pause in teaching so students can read, write and revise, though many people use some of it to rest. Assignments often fall due around it.
When is reading week?
Often around the middle of a term, such as February in Canada or around week 6 in some UK terms, and sometimes before exams. Check your academic calendar.
Do all universities have a reading week?
No. It is common in Canada, the UK and Ireland and some other countries, and less so in the US, where fall and spring breaks play a similar role.