last academic year

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "last academic year" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the period of time usually lasting from September to June the year before. For example, "During last academic year, I took courses in chemistry and calculus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"That report referred to the last academic year.

The Guardian

More significantly, during the last academic year my primary supervisor Lisa Jardine left QMUL for UCL.

The Guardian

In the last academic year, tuition for undergraduates at Harvard was $33,696£21,33838).

The Guardian

There were approximately 40 hate crimes reported in the last academic year.

The New York Times

About 33,000 people took the exam during the last academic year.

The New York Times

In the last academic year, it grew by 10%, from 17.5% the year before.

The Guardian

At Birmingham University's Nightline, in the last academic year, loneliness was the most frequent call topic (out of 26 categories).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

In the 2013-14 academic year, 98,000 students were accepted on to STEM undergraduate courses, the highest level recorded and an 8% rise on last academic year.

The Guardian

Last academic year there were nearly 4,500.

The Guardian

Last academic year, average student rents were £226 per week in London and £134 across the rest of the UK.

The Guardian

Last academic year schools visited from as far away as Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Cumbria in the UK and France, Turkey and the UAE.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing trends or changes over time, clearly define what you mean by "last academic year". Be specific about the timeframe to avoid ambiguity, especially in contexts where the academic calendar varies.

Common error

Avoid using "last academic year" without specifying the years involved. If the current year is 2025, mentioning "last academic year" without specifying 2024-2025 can cause confusion. Provide the specific timeframe for better clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "last academic year" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun (e.g., 'results', 'enrollment', 'report'). It specifies a particular timeframe related to academic activities. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

26%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "last academic year" is a grammatically correct and frequently used temporal marker. It is effective in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to specify the actual year (e.g., "last academic year, 2024-2025") to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases like "previous academic year" offer synonymous alternatives. Remember, clarity and context are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

previous academic year

Replaces "last" with "previous" maintaining the exact meaning.

prior academic year

Synonymous with "last academic year", using "prior" instead of "last".

the academic year before

Rephrases the concept by describing the time period in relation to the current one.

the preceding school year

Uses "school year" instead of "academic year", and "preceding" in place of "last".

the academic year just ended

Specifies that the academic year has concluded.

the 2024-2025 academic session

Replaces the relative time indicator with a specific date.

the past school term

Focuses on a shorter duration within the academic year.

year before current studies

Describes the academic year relative to ongoing studies.

immediately preceding academic term

Indicates what happen just before the current academic term.

the previous period of study

Generalizes the timeframe, suitable when the context isn't strictly academic.

FAQs

How is "last academic year" used in a sentence?

You can use "last academic year" to refer to events or data related to the school year immediately preceding the current one. For example, "The enrollment increased significantly in the "previous academic year"".

What are some alternatives to "last academic year"?

Alternatives include "prior academic year", "previous academic year", or "the academic year before". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "last academic year" or "the last academic year"?

Both "last academic year" and "the last academic year" are grammatically correct. The inclusion of "the" often depends on the sentence structure and emphasis. In most cases, "last academic year" is more concise and commonly used.

How does the meaning of "last academic year" differ from "this academic year"?

"Last academic year" refers to the academic year immediately preceding the current one, while "this academic year" refers to the academic year currently in progress. Using them correctly ensures clarity in your writing or speech.