Summer Operations

From May 11 through August 14, 2026, the Office of the University Registrar will offer in-person services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and remote services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Staff will be available to assist students through multiple channels, including email at ourpitt@pitt.edu and by phone at 412-624-7600.

 

Final Exams

Find final exam schedules, conflict accommodation procedures, and resources for students and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.

General Information

Final Exam Resources

The following resources apply to all final examinations at the University of Pittsburgh.

For any questions or concerns about final exam conflicts, please email course@registrar.pitt.edu

Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Guidelines & Procedures

The following guidelines and procedures apply to all undergraduate students on the Pittsburgh Campus. They cover only final examinations — not mid-terms, quizzes, papers, or other assignments. Accommodations are not available for back-to-back finals on the same day.

Who qualifies? Students who have either two final exams scheduled at the same time, or three or more final exams within a rolling 24-hour period, and who submit the accommodation request by the Monitored Withdrawal Deadline for the term.

Options available to students:

  1. Take all exams as scheduled. Students may choose to sit for all finals as posted with no change.
  2. Arrange a voluntary alternative with an instructor. Students may approach their instructors directly to request a reschedule. The instructor may agree to offer an alternative time voluntarily.
  3. Request a mandatory reschedule. If no instructor voluntarily offers an alternative time, the instructor of the course in the middle time slot of the conflict is required to schedule one. If that middle course is a departmental exam administered by the Office of the University Registrar, the instructor whose course has the lowest enrollment among the conflicting courses is required to provide the alternative time.

How to initiate the process:

  1. Download and complete the Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Form and take it to each affected instructor to request a change in exam time. Each instructor must sign the form indicating whether or not they are able to accommodate the request, and if so, provide an alternative time. Return the fully signed form to the Office of the University Registrar by the Monitored Withdrawal Deadline for the term.
  2. If the conflict remains unresolved after following the steps above, the matter will be referred to the Dean’s office of the school in which the course is offered. Students must present evidence of the verified conflict and documentation that all affected instructors were contacted.

For reference, the Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Guidelines (PDF) and Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Procedures (PDF) are available for download.

General Frequently Asked Questions

When are final exams held?

Final exams are held during the final week of the term for both graduate and undergraduate courses. For the undergraduate final exam schedule, refer to your Schedule in PeopleSoft HighPoint Campus Experience (CX) under Schedule > Class Exams. Final exam dates and times are often posted 8–9 weeks after the start of a term.

Graduate daytime and all graduate and undergraduate evening classes that begin at 6:00 PM or later hold their final exam during the last scheduled class meeting of finals week. This information will not appear on the published exam schedule.

If your evening course meets more than once per week, regular class meetings will still occur during finals week on the days prior to that last meeting. Only the final class meeting of the week carries the final exam. For example, a Tuesday/Thursday evening course would hold a regular class meeting on Tuesday of finals week and administer the final exam at the Thursday meeting.

Why is a final exam sometimes scheduled at a different time than the regular class?

The final exam schedule is constructed to minimize the number of students who have three or more final exams within any given 24-hour period, in accordance with University guidelines. The Office of the University Registrar builds the exam grid by mapping regular class meeting days and times to specific finals week slots in a way that distributes exams as evenly as possible across the week. As a result, a final exam time may differ from the regular class meeting time.

How do I read the Final Exam Schedule grid?

The Final Exam Schedule grid maps regular class meeting days and start times to an assigned final exam day and time during finals week. Here is how to use it:

  1. Find your class meeting pattern. Locate the row in the grid that corresponds to the days your class meets (e.g., Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday) and the time your class begins.
  2. Read across to find your final exam slot. The grid shows the assigned final exam day and start time for that class pattern.
  3. Note the exam duration. Final exams for undergraduate daytime courses are typically scheduled for a two-hour block.
  4. Confirm in HighPoint CX. Always verify your individual exam date, time, and room in PeopleSoft HighPoint CX under Schedule > Class Exams, approximately 8 weeks into the term. The exam room may differ from the regular classroom.

Note on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday-only courses: Thursday courses follow the Tuesday grid pattern; Friday courses follow the Monday pattern. Graduate daytime and all evening courses that begin at 6:00 PM or later hold their final during the last scheduled class meeting of finals week and do not appear on the grid.

What are the conflict accommodation deadlines?

The deadline for submitting a Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Form to the Office of the University Registrar is the Monitored Withdrawal Deadline for the given term. Refer to the Academic Calendar for the specific date each term.

I have a graduate or evening undergraduate course. When is my final exam?

All graduate daytime courses and undergraduate or graduate evening courses that begin at 6:00 PM or later hold their final exam during the last scheduled class meeting of finals week — not at a separately assigned time. This exam time will not appear on the published final exam schedule in HighPoint CX, so check with your instructor if you are unsure of the date.

If your course meets once per week: your single class meeting during finals week is the final exam meeting.

If your course meets two or more times per week: regular class meetings will still take place earlier in the week during finals week. Only the last class meeting of the week is the final exam. For example:

A Tuesday/Thursday evening course would hold a regular class meeting on Tuesday and give the final exam on Thursday.

Students

Finding your exam schedule: Log in to PeopleSoft HighPoint Campus Experience (CX) and navigate to Schedule > Class Exams. Confirm the correct term is selected. Exam dates and times are typically posted 8–9 weeks after the start of a term.

** Important Notice for Students **

If an instructor schedules or administers a final exam at a day or time other than that officially scheduled, including prior to finals week, students should report this to the Office of the University Registrar at course@registrar.pitt.edu.

Student Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find my final exam day, time, and room?

Your final exam information is listed in PeopleSoft HighPoint CX under Schedule > Class Exams, approximately 8 weeks into the term. Ensure the correct term is selected. Note that the exam room may differ from your regular classroom.

I have three final exams within 24 hours. Am I eligible for an accommodation?

Yes. You may request to reschedule one of your finals if you have three or more exams within a rolling 24-hour period. See the General Information section above for the full guidelines and step-by-step process, or download the Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Form to get started.

The deadline to submit the form is the Monitored Withdrawal Deadline for that term. Accommodations are not available for back-to-back finals on the same day.

I have two final exams at the same time on the same day. What should I do?

You are eligible for an accommodation. Obtain a Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Form from the Office of the University Registrar and follow the process described in the General Information section above. The deadline to submit is the Monitored Withdrawal Deadline for that term.

Where can I find study space on campus during finals week?

The Office of the Provost maintains a comprehensive list of study spaces available in campus buildings, including locations, hours, and details on reservable rooms. Visit the Study Spaces page on the Undergraduate Studies website to find options that fit your needs.

Study space is also available through the University Library System, where group study rooms can be reserved online.

Faculty

** From the Provost's Office **

Final examinations must be given as scheduled by the Office of the University Registrar during the official final examination week. A final exam may not be moved to a different day or time — even if the faculty member and all students in the course agree to such a change.

This guidance exists to protect students. The final exam schedule is carefully designed so that students can focus on coursework during the last week of the semester, use the study period to prepare effectively, and take exams on a schedule that minimizes conflicts. When finals are moved out of the official exam period — even with student agreement — these protections are eliminated and inequitable experiences are created across courses.

Finals Week Classroom Waiver

If you will not be using your assigned classroom during Finals Week, you are required to submit the Finals Week Classroom Waiver. This allows the Classroom Scheduling team to reallocate the space for other final exams as needed.

Please note that this waiver is only to indicate that you do not need your assigned room for your final. This is not a waiver of the final exam itself. All faculty are required to administer a final exam or other related culminating assignment during finals week, regardless of whether a classroom is needed.

Submit the Finals Week Classroom Waiver:
Final Exam Alternative and Exam Room Waiver — complete this form if you will not use your classroom during Finals Week.

Faculty Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give a final exam before finals week?

No. Per guidance from the Office of the Provost, final examinations may not be given prior to the official final examination week. Final exams must be held during the designated final exam time as listed on the official published schedule. Moving exams into the last week of classes — even when all students agree — eliminates important student protections, including the ability to use the study period to prepare and to take exams on a schedule designed to minimize conflicts.

Can I give my final exam at a time other than the assigned time?

No. The final examination in a course must be given as scheduled by the Office of the University Registrar and not at any other time — even if the faculty member and all students in the course agree to such a change. The exam must be held at its published day and time.

Any exception requires written approval from the student's Dean and the Office of the University Registrar.

Can I hold a review session during finals week?

Yes. Faculty may schedule a review session during finals week by contacting the Classroom Scheduling office at rooms@registrar.pitt.edu to request a room. Please note that final exams may not be given during a review session. Review sessions and final examinations are distinct and must be kept separate.

When do graduate and evening course final exams take place?

Graduate daytime courses and all graduate and undergraduate evening courses that begin at 6:00 PM or later hold their final exam during the last scheduled class meeting of finals week. This information does not appear on the student's published exam schedule — please communicate your exam plan to students in advance.

A student has presented me with a Final Exam Conflict Accommodation Form. What do I do?

Review the form and sign it to indicate whether you are able to accommodate the student and, if so, provide an alternative exam time. The Office of the University Registrar will have already documented the verified conflict on the form.

If none of the affected instructors offer an alternative, the instructor of the course in the middle time slot is required to schedule one — unless a departmental exam is required, in which case the instructor with the lowest course enrollment is responsible. Faculty are required to abide by these accommodation guidelines.

Any unresolved disputes will be referred to the Dean's office of the school in which the course is offered.

Why is final exam scheduling done the way it is?

The final exam schedule is constructed to minimize the number of students who have three or more final exams within any given 24-hour period, in accordance with University guidelines. The Office of the University Registrar builds the exam grid by mapping regular class meeting days and times to specific finals week slots in a way that distributes exams as evenly as possible across the week. This is why a course's final exam time may differ from its regular class meeting time.

Departmental finals are scheduled by examining every enrolled student's complete schedule across all sections. Because departmental exams affect large numbers of students simultaneously, they are generally disruptive to efforts to reduce the number of finals a student has within a 24-hour period. Scheduling departmental finals in the 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM time blocks, Monday through Friday, significantly reduces this disruption by placing them outside the peak conflict windows of the standard exam grid.

Where can I find additional classroom scheduling resources?

Classroom Scheduling Block (PDF)
Classroom Scheduling page

Questions? Contact the Course & Class team at course@registrar.pitt.edu or Classroom Scheduling at rooms@registrar.pitt.edu.