1. Introduction

1.5 The Academic Year

The academic year at Oxford is in three terms, named Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms. You will often see these written as MT, HT and TT. Each term has 8 weeks, and weeks begin on Sunday. The University publishes dates of term for upcoming years. 

There is also a '0th week' before the official start of each term. In Michaelmas term, 0th week is akin to an induction or 'freshers' week, with many induction talks and events happening in departments and colleges.

Please note, in-person written exams are scheduled in 0th week of Hilary and Trinity terms (as well as further exams later in the term). 

The term dates for the academic year 2026-2027, not including 0th weeks, are as follows:

Term
Start Date
End Date
Michaelmas
 Sunday, 11th October 2026 Saturday, 5th December 2026
Hilary
 Sunday, 17th January 2027 Saturday, 13th March 2027
Trinity
 Sunday, 25th April 2027 Saturday, 19th June 2027

Note, many timetables, emails and schedules will refer to dates by week number, not by the Gregorian calendar date,

e.g. 'the lecture on Bosons is rescheduled to Tue, Week 4.'

You might even see a week written as 4 MT for '4th week Michaelmas term' or the terms MT26, HT27, TT27 to indicate the term and year.