Toward the end of each term your tutors will be asked to provide a brief written report of your work and progress during the term and to give assessment. This is usually based on your written essays and tutorial discussions; in some cases tutors may set a written examination as well. You will be measured against the standards expected of matriculated degree students and graded accordingly. No allowance is made for unfamiliarity with the Oxford system.
The scale used in Oxford is based on Greek letter grades and although it cannot be directly translated into American terms the following table (written in consultation with the dons who have taught at leading US colleges) offers a carefully considered comparison:
| Oxford Grade | US Grade | US GPA Point Value |
| Alpha, Alpha – | A+ or A | 4.0 |
| Alpha –, Alpha Beta | A | 4.0 |
| Beta Alpha, Beta + | A- | 3.7 |
| Beta, Beta -, Beta — | B+ | 3.3 |
| Beta Gamma, Gamma Beta | B | 3.0 |
| Gamma +++, Gamma ++, Gamma + | B- | 2.7 |
Your grade evaluation will be discussed at the end of each term (see above under ‘Academic Advisor’). However, you must be aware that these grades are not open to negotiation and that only in exceptional cases will tutors be asked to reconsider their marking – your Academic Advisor will already have discussed directly with the tutor any grade which seems unclear, or incompatible with the written evaluation.
Because your Oxford tutors and your home college advisors want you to have the opportunity of completing a substantial and coherent body of academic work during your relatively short time in Oxford your term as an Associate Member will be thirteen weeks in length (your housing is included for 3 months). A one term student, therefore, will be able to complete the academic work of a US semester (14 semester credits).
Students enroling for the full academic year will normally have 12 or 13 tutorials a term and thus will be able to earn 36 to 39 US semester credits for the academic year.
All credits are actually awarded (via transfer) by the home college; it is the student’s responsibility to see that proper arrangements have been made in advance. Some U.S. colleges may limit the number of credits that may be earned abroad, or have some unusual credit system, in which case your registrar will make an appropriate adjustment.
Students may request a transcript from an accredited US university which has worked closely with OSAP for many years. They must enroll before the deadlines listed elsewhere on our website.