<p>I know this seems like a stupid question but I have seen websites call michigan a semester based school or trimester. Which one is it?</p>
<p>Technically there are two main terms (fall and winter) which pretty much everybody does. Then there are also two half terms (Spring and Summer), with some classes lasting only one session, and some lasting both. It really depends on whether or not you count spring/summer as a "mester" =P.</p>
<p>we're on the semester system. the spring/summer half terms arent included in the yearly tuition..its extra if you want to take them.</p>
<p>Michigan officially runs on a trimester system. However, as dilksy points out, there are two main terms that most students attend and 2 half-terms that roughly a third of the students attend. As such, most students only enroll for two terms each year. This gives Michigan's academic calendar a semester look. The main difference between Michigan and most universities that operate on a semester schedule is that Michigan terms are slightly shorter, starting the academic year in early September (2 weeks late) and finishing the academic year at the end of April (2 weeks early). In short, Michigan has a summer break that is 4-5 weeks longer than the norm. The main drawback is that Michigan students have shorter winter breaks (2 weeks instead of three or four) and a spring break that does not conincide with most other schools.</p>