Religious observances which may impact on university activities in 2025/26
This is to advise of the dates of various key religious festivals which are likely to be observed by both staff and students in the course of this academic year. As always, this is not meant to be an exhaustive or complete list of all religious activities, but it concentrates on those where religious obligations may have an impact on aspects of our life and activities together.
The agreed policy is that any requests from students to be absent during term-time for necessary religious observance should be considered by Departments/Faculties as they arise, although the position is that the university is happy to consider such requests for absence for religious reasons as long as they are made sufficiently in advance, and appropriate alternative arrangements should be made to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by their religious observance (see the Timetable Policy at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/governancezone/Assets/Teaching/Timetable-Policy.pdf). Staff members are advised to inform their line managers as soon as possible in advance if they are likely to need leave for religious reasons at any point in the year.
AUGUST 2025
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Arbaeen (Shia Muslim): evening of Thursday 14 August to the evening of Friday 15 August. Work should be avoided so time off may be requested the Friday.
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Janmashtami (Hindu): Saturday 16 August. Those observing may fast during the day, and/or may request time off (although this is not required)
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2025
The Jewish festivals in these months occur during the first few weeks of the new academic year, when it will be difficult for new students to make requests in advance if the need for absence is in their first few weeks at King’s, so some flexibility and understanding will be required.
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Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year festival): sunset on Monday 22 September to nightfall on Wednesday 24 September. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing will request time off for the Tuesday and Wednesday, and possibly also Monday afternoon (to be home by sunset). This may therefore affect Welcome Week and enrolment activities.
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Yom Kippur (holiest Jewish festival): sunset on Wednesday 1 October to nightfall on Thursday 2 October. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing will request time off.
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Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah (Jewish): sunset on Monday 6 October to nightfall on Wednesday 15 October. Work and travel must be avoided for the days at the start and end of the festival, so those observing may request time off either for 6-8 October and 13-15 October, or for the whole period.
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Diwali (Hindu, Jain Festival of Lights)/Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhi): Monday 20 October to Tuesday 21 October. Time off for observance may be requested, but is not required.
NOVEMBER 2025
DECEMBER 2025
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Rohatsu/Bodhi Day (Buddhist): Monday 8 December. Observance may involve overnight meditation and/or fasting, which may affect those observing.
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Hanukkah (Jewish): sunset on Sunday 14 December to nightfall on Monday 22 January. Work does not need to be avoided, but those observing may request time off in the last week of Semester I.
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Christmas (Christian): Thursday 25 December. King’s is likely to close for the holiday break at the end of the day on Tuesday 23 December and re-open on Friday 2 January.
FEBRUARY & MARCH 2026
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Ramadan (Muslim holy month): on or around Tuesday 17 February to on or around Wednesday 18 March. Work does not need to be avoided, but those observing may be fasting during daylight hours, which may particularly affect those on placement. Friday prayers are especially important, which will therefore affect 20 and 27 February, and 6 and 13 March.
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Purim (Jewish): sunset on Monday 2 March to nightfall on Tuesday 3 March. Work and travel should be avoided, so time off for observance may be requested.
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Holi (Hindu): Tuesday 3 March. Time off for observance should not be required.
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Eid al-Fitr (Muslim, end of Ramadan): on or around Wednesday 18 March, depending on sighting of the moon. Time off for observance may be requested.
APRIL 2026
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Pesach (Jewish): sunset on Wednesday 1 April to nightfall on Thursday 9 April. Work and travel must be avoided on the first two days and the last two days (1 and 2 April, and 8 and 9 April), although the end of the festival will be within the vacation period.
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Easter (Catholic & Protestant Christian): Sunday 5 April. Due to the Good Friday bank holiday on Friday 3 April, Semester II will end on Thursday 2 April.
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Easter (Orthodox Christian): Sunday 12 April. Those observing may request time off for Friday 10 April (Holy Friday), although this will be within the vacation period.
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Vaisakhi (founding Sikhi festival): Tuesday 14 April. Time off for observance may be requested.
MAY 2026
If there are instances where observance of a religious festival coincides with exams or with teaching which may still be happening (for instance in the Medical or Dental Faculties), please advise such clashes to Faculties/Departments and the Examinations Office AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY, copying in the relevant Chaplain, so that appropriate alternative arrangements can be made:
Buddhist: Hogets Baerndal
Jewish: Rabbi Dr Harrie Cedar
Muslim: Imam Abdul Choudhury or Romana Kazmi
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Vesak (holiest Buddhist day): Friday 1 May. Time off for observance may be requested, although this should not affect exams, which are not scheduled to start until the following week.
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Shavuot (Jewish): sunset on Thursday 21 May to nightfall on Saturday 23 May. Work and travel must be avoided, so those observing will request time off for the Thursday and Friday, and exams scheduled for those days will need to be rearranged where appropriate.
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Eid al-Adha (Muslim): Tuesday 26 May to Wednesday 27 May. Those observing may request time off, although it is not required.
JUNE 2026