Terms of the University in Tom Brown’s time
From the University Calendar, 1859:
University terms, and how many are required to be kept for each degree.
- MICHAELMAS TERM, which begins on the 10th of October, and ends on the 17th of December.
- HILARY TERM, which begins on the 14th of January, and ends the day before Palm-Sunday. But if the Saturday before Palm-Sunday should be a festival, in that case the Term does not end till the Monday following.
- EASTER TERM, which begins on the tenth day after Easter-Sunday, and ends on the day before Whit-Sunday.
- TRINITY TERM, which begins on the Wednesday after Whit-Sunday, and ends the Saturday after the Act,* which is always on the first Tuesday in July.
If the day on which the beginning or end of any Term should take place happen to be a festival, the beginning or end of such Term shall be deferred till the day after. This rule, however, is not to apply to Easter Term; for if the day on which it should end happen to be a festival, the Term shall end the day before.
The full Term is understood to begin on the first day of the week after the first Congregation is held; so that if the Congregation be held on the Monday, the Sunday after is considered the first day of the full Term.
* The Act is Encaenia.
