The Oxford academic year is divided into three terms:
Michaelmas (autumn term)
Hilary (spring term)
Trinity (summer term)
In Oxford, a week runs from Sunday to Saturday. Weeks during term-time are known as 0th Week, 1st Week (which is the first standard teaching week of term), 2nd Week etc.
First year undergraduate students
Michaelmas 2021
Sunday 10 October
Saturday 4 December
Hilary 2022
Sunday 16 January
Saturday 12 March
Trinity 2022
Sunday 24 April
Saturday 18 June
Michaelmas Term 2021
Sunday 10th October to Saturday 4th December
Please see 2020 Arrivals page for detailed arrival information for Freshers
Departure will be by 10am on Saturday 4th December
Hilary Term 2022
Sunday 16th January to Saturday 12th March
Arrival and Departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Trinity Term 2021
Sunday 24th April to Saturday 18th June
Arrival and Departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
(NB – in exceptional circumstances, students are able to apply for a small number of vacation residence days at the start/end of Hilary/Trinity terms by prior arrangement and at extra cost. This is NOT available for Michaelmas term)
Some first year courses have University exams after the end of Hilary and Trinity terms. You are therefore advised to wait until you have started your course and know your exam arrangements before booking travel for the ends of Hilary and Trinity terms.
In all other terms, and in later years of your course, undergraduates on courses with standard term dates will be required to sign in at the College by 16.00 on Wednesday of 0th Week in each term.
It is important that you vacate your room promptly by 10:00 on the Saturday at the end of term because your room will need to be prepared for vacation residents (such as admissions interviewees in December).
First year Graduate Entry Medicine students
First year Graduate Entry Medicine course start date is Friday 24th September 2020. Arrival date will be confirmed in due course
Graduate students
Please note that graduate taught courses will likely require you to be in Oxford outside the standard undergraduate term dates. For graduates working towards research degrees, term dates may be of little relevance.
The Oxford academic year is divided into three terms:
In Oxford, a week runs from Sunday to Saturday. Weeks during term-time are known as 0th Week, 1st Week (which is the first standard teaching week of term), 2nd Week etc.
First year undergraduate students
Michaelmas Term 2021
Sunday 10th October to Saturday 4th December
Please see 2020 Arrivals page for detailed arrival information for Freshers
Departure will be by 10am on Saturday 4th December
Hilary Term 2022
Sunday 16th January to Saturday 12th March
Arrival and Departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
Trinity Term 2021
Sunday 24th April to Saturday 18th June
Arrival and Departure dates will be confirmed in due course.
(NB – in exceptional circumstances, students are able to apply for a small number of vacation residence days at the start/end of Hilary/Trinity terms by prior arrangement and at extra cost. This is NOT available for Michaelmas term)
Some first year courses have University exams after the end of Hilary and Trinity terms. You are therefore advised to wait until you have started your course and know your exam arrangements before booking travel for the ends of Hilary and Trinity terms.
In all other terms, and in later years of your course, undergraduates on courses with standard term dates will be required to sign in at the College by 16.00 on Wednesday of 0th Week in each term.
It is important that you vacate your room promptly by 10:00 on the Saturday at the end of term because your room will need to be prepared for vacation residents (such as admissions interviewees in December).
First year Graduate Entry Medicine students
First year Graduate Entry Medicine course start date is Friday 24th September 2021. Arrival date and time will be confirmed in due course
Graduate students
Please note that graduate taught courses will likely require you to be in Oxford outside the standard undergraduate term dates. For graduates working towards research degrees, term dates may be of little relevance.
Matriculation is the ceremony which marks your formal admission to the University, usually at the end of your first week. Normally this takes place in a ceremony at the Sheldonian theatre at which academic dress is worn.
In Michaelmas Term 2020 the University has had to take the difficult decision that it will not be possible to hold matriculation ceremonies this year. Further information will be provided in Freshers’ Week about any changes to plans in 2021.
Visiting and Recognised students are not required to matriculate. For a full list of courses that do and do not have to matriculate, see the University web pages referenced below.
If you are a graduate who completed undergraduate study at Oxford, you do not need to matriculate again.
The Academic Office provides information about your matriculation in the Information for Undergraduates / Graduates pack that you will have received before arrival.
Matriculation is the ceremony which marks your formal admission to the University, usually at the end of your first week. Normally this takes place in a ceremony at the Sheldonian theatre at which academic dress is worn.
In Michaelmas Term 2020 the University has had to take the difficult decision that it will not be possible to hold matriculation ceremonies this year. Further information will be provided in Freshers’ Week about any changes to plans in 2021.
Visiting and Recognised students are not required to matriculate. For a full list of courses that do and do not have to matriculate, see the University web pages referenced below.
If you are a graduate who completed undergraduate study at Oxford, you do not need to matriculate again.
The Academic Office provides information about your matriculation in the Information for Undergraduates / Graduates pack that you will have received before arrival.
Oxford has specific residence requirements for students
In order to be deemed eligible for an Oxford degree, students must usually reside within 25 miles of Carfax, which is a particular tower in the centre of the city, for a prescribed number of academic terms (although this requirement has been relaxed for some terms during the coronavirus pandemic).
The number of terms varies according to the degree being pursued. The number of terms, and the distance from Carfax, together constitute the University’s residence requirements for completion of a degree.