When Mackenzie Wilson decided to enroll in Winter Session last year, she had three goals: to get ahead, finish the final requirement for her minor in human services and lessen her future courseload. 

Five weeks later, she had accomplished all those goals, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the course material. She was pleased with how well she kept up with the coursework. 

At the University of Delaware, Winter Session offers students the opportunity to get ahead, catch up or explore new interests at an accelerated pace. For many, it’s also an opportunity to connect with professors and classmates because of the smaller class sizes.

Registration for Winter Session 2026 is open. Classes begin Jan. 2, 2026. 

Wilson, a senior majoring in elementary education, has taken two asynchronous online courses during Winter Session. 

“The asynchronous course delivery was perfect for me because I work during winter break,” Wilson said. “It was a lot of information to learn in a short time, but I was able to focus on it at my own pace and to dig deeper into the course materials. This improved my study habits because it helped me retain the information instead of trying to memorize it for an exam.”

Winter Session’s fast pace is why John Paul, a senior majoring in construction engineering and management, decided to enroll. 

“It was worth it because in a short time, I finished a required course, and in the long run, it lessened my future courseload,” he said.

Paul and Wilson encourage other students to enroll in Winter Session because it’s an opportunity to quickly earn needed credits while still being able to enjoy winter break. 

This Winter Session will offer many unique courses that are new to UD or are not commonly offered during the winter. This is especially significant for majors with courses that are offered infrequently and a student needs to retake it to improve their grade point average. 

“In mechanical engineering, winter courses are significant for a couple of reasons,” said Heather Doty, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. “If a student needs to repeat a course, or if they transfer into the major from another department or school, it can be a challenge to complete the required courses in four years. Winter term can be an opportunity for students to catch up and stay on schedule with their classmates.” 

Doty highlights the smaller class sizes, in comparison to fall and spring, as another advantage of Winter Session. She said that several of her former students have described the smaller classes as supportive learning environments, and she’s noticed that students seem more engaged.

“I taught statistics last winter and had 15 students, compared to approximately 160 students during a typical fall semester,” she said. “Teaching a small course is such a different experience. I perceived that many students felt much more comfortable asking questions in a small class, which led to some great class discussions.” 

Winter Session courses are open to full- and part-time UD students, as well as those from other colleges. Additionally, on-campus housing is available to UD students who meet specific criteria.

There are plenty of activities and programs for students on and off campus during Winter Session, such as watching Blue Hens men’s and women’s basketball and skating at the UD Ice Arena. 

Winter is also a good time for students to meet with UD Career Center consultants to explore internships and other opportunities, such as their job shadowing program. 

UD also offers a robust Summer Session, which is either a 10-week term or two five-week terms. Registration for Summer Session opens March 30, 2026, and classes begin June 8, 2026.