The academic year of the University of Oxford runs from January to March and is divided into three terms of eight weeks each. These are Michaelmas, Hilary, and Trinity. The exact dates vary slightly depending on the calendar year, so you can check below for those of the 2024-2025 Term.
Why is Oxford Divided into Terms?
Like many other universities and educational institutions, Oxford University organises its year around terms. In this case, three terms of about eight weeks each. Each term begins on a Sunday, and the week leading up to it is known as the “0th week”, or “Nought week”. This is useful to know, because many events like the Torpids Rowing Race and other Regattas take place on certain days of the term. For this reason, it’s not uncommon to hear Oxford academics using the terms to plan their conferences.
How Do Terms Play into a Student's Life?
When a student starts their journey at Oxford University, they usually ‘comes up’ into residence by midnight on the Friday before full term (the general rule is that a person comes ‘up’ to Oxford and ‘down’ everywhere else!). Oxford Students use the term calendar quite frequently. For example, they can refer to an event taking place on the Wednesday of’2nd week’ (of term). This might sound a bit cryptic to visitors, but makes a lot of sense when you see how the terms organise the academic year.
Oxford's Michaelmas Term
The Michaelmas Term is the first academic term of the year. The name derives from the Feast of St Michael and All Angels, which falls on 29 September. This festivity is observed in some Western liturgical calendars and the name is also linked to the four terms of the legal year in the Courts of England and Wales.
The Michaelmas Term will be as follows for the coming years:
2024-2025: Sunday 13 October – Saturday 7 December.
Oxford's Hilary Term
The Hilary Term is the second academic term and is named after the feast day of St Hilary of Poitiers, which falls during it. St Hilary of Poitiers was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
The Hilary Term will be as follows for the coming years:
2024-2025: Sunday 19 January – Saturday 15 March.
Oxford's Trinity Term
The Trinity Term is the third and final term of the academic year. It’s named after Trinity Sunday, which falls eight weeks after Easter, in May or June. This festivity celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity (three persons of God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit).
The Trinity Term will be as follows for the coming years:
2024-2025: Sunday 27 April – Saturday 21 June.
Provisional Oxford Term Dates 2025-2031
2025-2026
- Michaelmas: Sunday 12 October to Saturday 6 December
- Hilary: Sunday 18 January to Saturday 14 March
- Trinity: Sunday 26 April to Saturday 20 June
2026-2027
- Michaelmas: Sunday 11 October to Saturday 5 December
- Hilary: Sunday 17 January to Saturday 13 March
- Trinity: Sunday 25 April to Saturday 19 June
2027-2028
- Michaelmas: Sunday 10 October to Saturday 4 December
- Hilary: Sunday 16 January to Saturday 11 March
- Trinity: Sunday 23 April to Saturday 17 June
2028-2029
- Michaelmas: Sunday 8 October to Saturday 2 December
- Hilary: Sunday 14 January to Saturday 10 March
- Trinity: Sunday 22 April to Saturday 16 June
2029-2030
- Michaelmas: Sunday 7 October to Saturday 1 December
- Hilary: Sunday 13 January to Saturday 9 March
- Trinity: Sunday 28 April to Saturday 22 June
2030-2031
- Michaelmas: Sunday 13 October to Saturday 7 December
- Hilary: Sunday 19 January to Saturday 15 March
- Trinity: Sunday 27 April to Saturday 21 June
Other Important Oxford Dates
In addition to the standard term dates for the academic year at the University of Oxford, several other important periods and events are noteworthy. For example:
Freshers’ Week
Freshers’ Week is an orientation period designed to welcome new students to the university, helping them acclimate to academic and social life at Oxford. Typically, Freshers’ Week occurs during 0th Week, the week immediately preceding the start of Michaelmas Term. For the 2024–2025 academic year, this would be from Monday, 7 October 2024, to Sunday, 13 October 2024.
Examination Periods
Examinations at Oxford are scheduled at various times throughout the academic year, depending on the course and year of study. Many undergraduate final examinations, known as “Finals,” are held during Trinity Term, typically between May and June.
Matriculation Ceremony
Matriculation is the formal ceremony at which new students are officially admitted to the university. All new undergraduate and graduate students are required to attend, dressed in sub fusc (academic dress). Colleges will provide specific details regarding the ceremony.
