Our mission is to educate and open doors for well qualified students from a limited number of participating US colleges and universities through a relatively short, intensive period of study under the guidance of Oxford tutors to the same standard and in the same manner as matriculated Oxford undergraduates, while providing a high level of support and pastoral care.
Dates, Credits and Arrival
THE ACADEMIC year at the University of Oxford is made up of three terms:
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- Michaelmas (Oct – Dec)
- Hilary (Jan – Mar)
- Trinity (Apr- Jun)
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The core teaching in Oxford takes place during these terms. For the Michaelmas and Hilary Terms students are required to complete additional academic work by their home university. These students will complete additional introductory group tutorials, selected from C S Lewis, Shakespeare, or British Politics.
The dates for the current academic year 2022/23 are:
Michaelmas | Hilary | Trinity | |
Arrival in Oxford: | 08 Sept 2022 | 05 Jan 2023 | N/A |
Orientation: | 09 Sep 2022 | 06 Jan 2023 | N/A |
Pre-term Travel: | 27 Sep 2022 | N/A | N/A |
Back in Oxford: | 3 Oct 2022 | N/A | N/A |
Start of Zero Week: | 3 Oct 2022 | 09 Jan 2023 * | 16 Apr 2023 * |
Travel Break: | 06 Dec 2022 | 24 Mar 2023 + | 15 Jun 2023 |
Final Departure: | 14 Dec 2022 | 04 Apr 2023 + | 22 Jun 2023 |
The dates for the next academic year 2023/24 are:
Michaelmas | Hilary | Trinity | |
Arrival in Oxford: | 31 Aug 2023 | 04 Jan 2024 | N/A |
Orientation: | 01 Sep 2023 | 05 Jan 2024 | N/A |
Pre-term Travel: | 23 Sep 2023 | N/A | N/A |
Back in Oxford: | 1 Oct 2023 | N/A | N/A |
Start of Zero Week: | 2 Oct 2023 | 08 Jan 2024 * | 15 Apr 2024 * |
Travel Break: | 05 Dec 2023 | 21 Mar 2024 + | 13 Jun 2024 |
Final Departure: | 12 Dec 2023 | 03 Apr 2024 + | 20 Jun 2024 |
Arrival Day. Students may arrive in Oxford at any time between 0900 and 1500 on the arrival date indicated. It is advisable to arrive as close to 1200 noon as possible. If there is a possibility of arriving after 1500, or if you are delayed on the arrival day, please email or phone the office for advice. There is free wi-fi on the bus from the airport.
Students may participate for the extended Michaelmas Term, or the extended Hilary Term, or alternatively for the combined Hilary and Trinity Terms. It is not possible at present to apply for the full academic year (all three terms) continuously which would require Tier 4 licencing. OPUS is not Tier 4 listed.
It is possible for students to extend their participation for one OR two additional terms subject to satisfactory performance in their tutorials.
Students are required to prepare 12 essays every term, each essay earns one US semester credit. For the extended Michaelmas and extended Hilary Terms there is a further requirement to complete a seminar course (group tutorials) worth three US semester credits, for a total equivalent of 15 US credits each term.
ALL students attending for two consecutive terms are entitled to housing during the travel break. Housing assignments may change for subsequent terms, however housing will always be provided. There is no requirement for students to store their luggage or carry it while traveling!
* Students who are continuing from the previous term are permitted to be back in Oxford one week AFTER these dates for the Hilary Term and the Trinity Term respectively.
+ Students participating for the combined Hilary and Trinity Terms are exempt from group tutorials and may begin their travel break TEN DAYS earlier. The final departure date indicated for Hilary Term refers to ONE term only students, two term Hilary & Trinity students will depart in June.
The Late Trinity (Summer) Term
It is possible to attend the six week Late Trinity Term from May to June and earn six credits in one subject. This is the period when the spring semester at many US universities is just ending but the academic year at Oxford University has several weeks further to run.
The relevant dates are:
Late Trinity 2024: Arrival 14 May 2024, Departure 20 June 2024.
Increasingly popular in recent years as the most affordable option, Late Trinity provides the shortest experience of the tutorial method: sometimes the only feasible option for some students, and frequently utilised by students submitting an Honours thesis.