Termindelningen

Termindelningen refers to the division of the academic year into terms or periods, a scheduling framework used in education and related administrative processes. A term is a distinct interval during which teaching activities occur, followed by assessment periods and holidays. While the term structure varies by country and institution, the concept broadly aims to regulate teaching, examinations, staffing, and budgeting.

In many Swedish-speaking contexts, the school year is divided into two main terms: höstterminen (autumn term) and vårterminen (spring term). The period typically runs from late summer through late spring, with a longer summer holiday between the two terms. In primary and secondary education, this division helps organize curricula and assessment schedules. Universities may follow a similar two-term pattern or use a semester or quarterly system; in practice, higher education often uses two semesters (hösttermin and vårtermin) or a three- or four-term calendar in some programs.

Variations exist across countries. In Norway, for example, the term system is commonly divided into høsttermin and vårtermin, whereas many universities in Finland use lukuvuosi with separate terms or semesters. Some institutions adopt three or four terms per year to accommodate shorter teaching blocks or intensive examination periods. The termindelningen has implications for timetable planning, funding, and student deadlines, and it is typically defined in national education acts, school curricula, and institutional regulations.

If there is a need for precise dates, institutions publish annual calendars that outline the start and end of each term, holidays, and examination periods.