Academics

Michaelmas Term - early October - early December (approved as part of full-year study only)

Hilary Term - mid January - mid March

Trinity Term - late April to mid June (required as part of full year or spring only study abroad)

Refer to the Oxford Academic Calendar for actual term dates

Terminology: Oxford offers degrees in many different courses of study, so "course"=major. Individual classes all have tutorials even if there is also a lecture or lab component. Tutorials are often referred to as "papers."
Course load: Students take two tutorials per term (six for the year, or four in the two spring terms).
To find information on specific courses, go to Oxford's undergraduate course listing, and follow the links to the main website of the department you are interested in. Details are generally available under the prospective and current student links on the relevant department's website. Some of our Oxford college partners also provide helpful lists of specific tutorials/classes that they can offer and which terms those classes would be available. Syllabi are not publicly available online, but you should be able to find a brief description. Cornell students studying at Oxford during their third year should be looking at second year at Oxford courses.
For assistance in selecting courses, see your faculty or college advisor. (Note: You may earn elective, distributional, minor or major credit depending on your major and college.)
You may need to look at courses from a previous semester (i.e.: the most recent spring semester if you want to select classes for a future spring abroad)

Study the language of the host country (or take a course in that language) when studying in a non-English speaking country for a semester or year
Take the equivalent of 30 Cornell credits for the academic year, even if it is possible to take fewer and still graduate on time. Oxford has a trimester calendar with three teaching terms. A full course load is typically 2 courses per term, totaling 6 courses for the academic year. Some subjects (like Computer Science) may require more courses per term.
Complete all the academic work and stay until the end of the program, defined as the last officially-sanctioned exam or tutorial for any course you take. The final term in Oxford typically ends in mid or late-June, and leaving early is not an option. Please be sure you are okay with this before committing to the program.
Decisions on the final allocation of credit are made upon successful completion of the course (must earn grade equivalent of a “C” or higher—all courses must award a letter grade).
For more information on courses and credits from abroad, including policies regarding start/end dates, refer to the Academic Policies page on the Education Abroad website.

Grades will appear on the Cornell transcript in the same format as they are recorded on the original transcript generated by the host institution. Grades are not factored into the Cornell GPA.
For information on how grades appear on the transcript and frequently asked questions, including transcript dates for graduating seniors, please refer to the Transcripts and Credits page on the Education Abroad website.
Your program will send your transcript to the Education Abroad Office.

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