Choose your preferred Oxford Brookes calendar
Would mid-semester enrichment weeks improve your university experience? Should the Semester 1 assignment period extend into January?
Over the past year we have been asking students and staff for feedback on the Oxford Brookes academic calendar so we can make sure it works better for everyone - and now you can have your say on the final options.How will this benefit students?
There isn’t a ‘perfect’ shape of the academic year, but each of the proposed new options has some clear benefits and addresses issues highlighted in previous feedback - particularly around the intensity of Semester 1 (September to December). These benefits may include giving you more time to consolidate learning, prepare for assignments or enrich your studies.By taking part in the survey and picking your preferred option, you will have a say on what your new academic calendar could look like and help improve the experience for future Brookes students and staff.
The three options
Option A
This is the current calendar and changes nothing.Option A+
This calendar:- adds mid-semester enrichment weeks in Week 6. Enrichment weeks are an opportunity to reflect on and consolidate your learning and to take part in voluntary activities organised through Faculties and programmes. These activities may include things like field trips, projects and initiatives that help your personal, academic or career development
- recognises Semester 3 in the calendar for programmes that use it.
Option D
This calendar features the most changes. Option D:- adds mid-semester enrichment weeks
- extends the Semester 1 assignment period until the end of the first week of January to give students and staff more breathing space
- recognises Semester 3
- moves postgraduate Semester 1 resits to Week 6 of Semester 2, allowing students to receive their grades earlier and apply for the Graduate Route Visa if they want to.
How do I take part?
Step 1
Have a look at the project Google Site, where you will find more information. It includes a handy spreadsheet showing the calendars side by side, a table comparing the key differences between each calendar and a more detailed descriptions document highlighting the pros and cons of each option.Step 2
Once you have familiarised yourself with the calendar options and feel ready to give feedback, please complete this Google Form survey. You will be asked to pick your first-choice calendar (giving a reason for doing so), followed by your second and third choices.The survey will stay open until Friday 3 May.
You can ask any questions you might have about the calendars or the project in this document.
What happens next?
Once the survey closes, we will analyse the feedback and a final recommendation - either to stay with the current calendar or implement one of the new options - will be presented at the June meeting of the University’s decision-making Academic Board.There is no fixed date for introducing any new calendar, but it would be 2025/26 at the earliest.