diff --git a/matlab/utilities/dates/string2date.m b/matlab/utilities/dates/string2date.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7237c90e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/matlab/utilities/dates/string2date.m
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+function date = string2date(a) % --*-- Unitary tests --*--
+    
+% Copyright (C) 2013 Dynare Team
+%
+% This file is part of Dynare.
+%
+% Dynare is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+% (at your option) any later version.
+%
+% Dynare is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+% but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+% MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+% GNU General Public License for more details.
+%
+% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+% along with Dynare.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+date = struct('freq', NaN, 'time', NaN(1,2));
+
+if ~ischar(a) || ~isdate(a)
+    error('dynDates::string2date: Input must be a string that can be interpreted as a date!');
+end
+
+if isyearly(a)
+    year = 1:(regexp(a,'[AaYy]')-1);
+    date.freq = 1;
+    date.time = write_time_field(a, year);
+    return
+end
+
+if isquaterly(a)
+    year = 1:(regexp(a,'[Qq]')-1);
+    date.freq = 4;
+    date.time = write_time_field(a, year);
+    return
+end
+
+if ismonthly(a)
+    year = 1:(regexp(a,'[Mm]')-1);
+    date.freq = 12;
+    date.time = write_time_field(a, year);
+    return
+end
+
+if isweekly(a)
+    year = 1:(regexp(a,'[Ww]')-1);
+    date.freq = 52;
+    date.time = write_time_field(a, year);
+    return
+end
+
+function b = write_time_field(c, d)
+    b(1) = str2num(c(d));
+    if ismember(c(d(end)+1),{'Y','y','A','a'})
+        b(2) = 1;
+    else
+        b(2) = str2num(c(d(end)+2:end));
+    end
+
+%@test:1
+%$
+%$ % Define some dates
+%$ date_1 = '1950Q2';
+%$ date_2 = '1950m10';
+%$ date_3 = '1950w50';
+%$ date_4 = '1950a';
+%$ date_5 = '1967y';
+%$ date_6 = '2009A';
+%$
+%$ % Define expected results.
+%$ e_date_1 = [1950 2];
+%$ e_freq_1 = 4;
+%$ e_date_2 = [1950 10];
+%$ e_freq_2 = 12;
+%$ e_date_3 = [1950 50];
+%$ e_freq_3 = 52;
+%$ e_date_4 = [1950 1];
+%$ e_freq_4 = 1;
+%$ e_date_5 = [1967 1];
+%$ e_freq_5 = 1;
+%$ e_date_6 = [2009 1];
+%$ e_freq_6 = 1;
+%$
+%$ % Call the tested routine.
+%$ d1 = string2date(date_1);
+%$ d2 = string2date(date_2);
+%$ d3 = string2date(date_3);
+%$ d4 = string2date(date_4);
+%$ d5 = string2date(date_5);
+%$ d6 = string2date(date_6);
+%$
+%$ % Check the results.
+%$ t(1) = dyn_assert(d1.time,e_date_1);
+%$ t(2) = dyn_assert(d2.time,e_date_2);
+%$ t(3) = dyn_assert(d3.time,e_date_3);
+%$ t(4) = dyn_assert(d4.time,e_date_4);
+%$ t(5) = dyn_assert(d5.time,e_date_5);
+%$ t(6) = dyn_assert(d6.time,e_date_6);
+%$ t(7) = dyn_assert(d1.freq,e_freq_1);
+%$ t(8) = dyn_assert(d2.freq,e_freq_2);
+%$ t(9) = dyn_assert(d3.freq,e_freq_3);
+%$ t(10) = dyn_assert(d4.freq,e_freq_4);
+%$ t(11)= dyn_assert(d5.freq,e_freq_5);
+%$ t(12)= dyn_assert(d6.freq,e_freq_6);
+%$ T = all(t);
+%@eof:1
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