When is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy set? Timeline explained

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With the arrival of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, viewers might be wondering how it fits into the show’s overall history, given the many seasons and series that have aired.

Star Trek: Discovery, which premiered in 2017, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the franchise, as Paramount broadened the established Star Trek universe.

Over time, the franchise has expanded with many different types of releases, including funny animated movies, shows for young children, stories set before the original, sequels that continue the original characters’ stories, and films created specifically for streaming services.

With Alex Kurtzman leading numerous Star Trek projects, the show’s timeline can often feel confusing and inconsistent.

Need a hand? Here’s where Starfleet Academy fits on the current Star Trek.

When is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy set?

The ninth live-action Star Trek series takes place in the 32nd century, a completely new time period for the franchise. It follows the adventures at the recently reopened Starfleet Academy in San Francisco.

The series is set more than 800 years after the events of the popular era of Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry and Rick Berman, which included shows like The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager.

Starfleet Academy feels like a continuation of Star Trek: Discovery, bringing back familiar faces like Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), and Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) from the 32nd century.

The series begins by detailing ‘the Burn’ – a devastating galactic event that nearly destroyed the Federation and Starfleet. It then follows Starfleet’s efforts to rebuild and forge ahead with a new generation in the distant future.

Where does Starfleet Academy sit in the Star Trek timeline?

Here’s where Starfleet Academy sits on the Star Trek timeline:

  • 2151 to 2161: Enterprise
  • 2256 to 2258: Discovery (seasons 1-2)
  • 2259 onwards: Strange New Worlds
  • 2265 to 2269: Star Trek TOS
  • 2324: Section 31
  • 2364 to 2370: The Next Generation
  • 2369 to 2375: Deep Space Nine
  • 2371 to 2378: Voyager
  • 2380 to 2382: Lower Decks
  • 2383: Prodigy
  • 2399 to 2401: Picard
  • 3191: Starfleet Academy*
  • 3188 to 3191 onwards: Discovery (seasons 3-5) – plus throw in the 20-30 year time skip in the season finale epilogue

Starfleet Academy begins with a brief introduction set in the year 3176. The main story then jumps forward about fifteen years to 3191, connecting it to the timeline of Discovery season 5.

Why is Starfleet Academy set so far in the future?

Still set far in the future of ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ Alex Kurtzman is focusing on the 32nd century as a time of great exploration. This means encountering new life and species, though the series continues to be affected by the devastating event known as ‘the Burn,’ which Discovery briefly investigated.

The latest Starfleet Academy location is connected to the main ‘Modern Trek’ storyline, as shown in the touching final moments of Discovery season 5. The season finale features Leto Burnham-Booker, the son of Michael Burnham and Book, who is now a young captain in Starfleet.

The news that Burnham’s friends, like Sylvia Tilly, are now helping the growing school honors her mother’s work. This new generation is striving to achieve the same success and embody the values of the Federation’s past heroes, even as they face an unpredictable future.

The show takes place in a time that connects fans to classic series like Voyager, even bringing back Robert Picardo as the Doctor, while also introducing a new generation of Starfleet cadets. It’s the first time Starfleet has trained new officers in over a century.

Kurtzman, the show’s executive producer, recently shared with the LA Times that his decision to feature younger cadets was partly inspired by his relationship with his 17-year-old son.

I understand how my son is feeling as he thinks about the future. I realize the world he’s facing is much more uncertain than the one I grew up in, and many things I assumed would always be there aren’t guaranteed for him.

What really strikes me about this new series is how thoughtfully it acknowledges the challenges facing young people today. It’s not set in a perfect, utopian future like some sci-fi, but rather in a time where things are genuinely complicated. The creator really gets that this generation is inheriting a lot of problems – a real mess, honestly – and it’s a huge weight to put on anyone, especially kids. I think setting Starfleet Academy in a more turbulent era is brilliant because it feels much more relevant to what young viewers are actually experiencing right now.

The show’s location is a nice nod to past Star Trek stories, especially Starfleet Academy, which has been a key part of the franchise for years. We’ve seen it in episodes of The Next Generation – like the one focusing on Wesley Crusher, “The First Duty” – as well as Deep Space Nine and the 2009 Star Trek movie. And who could forget Kirk’s infamous trick during the Kobayashi Maru test?

I just finished watching the latest installment, and while it remains to be seen if it’ll convert a new generation into die-hard Trekkies, one thing’s for sure: the adventure is officially underway! It feels like school’s back in session, and I’m ready to see where this journey takes us.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is coming to Paramount+ on 15th January.

Don’t miss out! Add Starfleet Academy to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download it today for daily TV suggestions, exclusive features, and more.

Authors

Nicola AustinFreelance Writer

Nicola Austin is a freelance journalist with a passion for sci-fi, fantasy, and animation. She’s written for many publications like Empire, Digital Spy, and SciFiNow, among others. She’s a big fan of ‘The Mummy’ and considers it one of the best movies from the 90s.

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2026-01-15 11:16