What is IAP?
Independent Activities Period (IAP) is a four-week period in January during which faculty and students are freed from the rigors of regularly scheduled classes for flexible teaching and learning and for independent study and research.
While IAP is part of the academic program of the Institute– the “1” month in MIT’s “4-1-4” academic calendar– it is intended as a time for exploration of a wide variety of academic and non-academic topics by all members of the MIT community. IAP offerings are distinguished by their innovative, playful spirit and fusion of fun and learning.
During IAP, MIT community members (students, faculty, staff, and alums) can organize, sponsor, and participate in a wide variety of activities like the ones listed to the right. All members of the MIT Community are encouraged to create offerings aimed at sharing a particular talent, expertise, or interest– not necessarily related to their day-to-day MIT roles– with others at the Institute.
IAP 2025 begins on Monday, January 6, 2025, and ends on Friday, January 31, 2025.
With IAP, the possibilities are endless. We hope you’ll join us in 2024.
Who participates in IAP?
All members of the MIT community may participate in IAP non-credit activities: faculty, students, staff, and alumni. IAP is not intended to serve members of the general public or non-MIT-affiliated groups. Alumni who wish to participate in IAP activities should review MIT’s campus access and visitor policies to understand current campus access requirements and restrictions.
The number of participants in specific IAP activities may be limited, but the ability to participate should not be limited to members of a particular group. Some activities require advance sign-up, but in many cases, participants can simply show up at the stated time.
IAP subjects (for credit) are available to all students registered in the fall or spring terms of the academic year. IAP subject listings will appear in the Online Subject Listing just as they do for fall and spring.
How can I find IAP activities?
Check the MIT Events Calendar for IAP activities such as fun events and non-credit classes. We recommend looking in November as some activities require pre-registration or have a participant limit, but keep checking back as organizers continue to post activities throughout the month of January.
MIT students can also check out…
- Subject listings for for-credit classes;
- ELx for Experiential Learning Opportunities; and
- Dorm-spam for many student-run social events.
How do I plan an IAP activity?