About

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The University of Oxford’s Astrophoria Foundation Year is a one-year fully-funded foundation programme for UK state school students with significant academic potential, who have experienced severe personal disadvantage and/or disrupted education which has resulted in them being unable to apply directly for an Oxford undergraduate degree programme.

It will enable motivated students to reach their academic potential through a supportive and challenging academic course aimed at developing their skills, self-belief and academic confidence.

Up to 50 students each year

Up to 50 places in total will be offered across the foundation year courses each year.

As a foundation year student at Oxford, you will be a member of one of the University’s undergraduate colleges. Our colleges are one of the things that makes Oxford such a special place to live and study as you have the benefits of being part of a large university in a buzzing and student-focused city but also a small and supportive academic community to call home. See our colleges page for more information.

Beyond your college, you will be part of the wider foundation year cohort of up to 50 Astrophoria Foundation Year students.

It is fully-funded

Our foundation year is free for students, including tuition and term-time accommodation in one of Oxford’s colleges. You will get a non-repayable bursary for you to cover your living expenses. Your study costs are taken care of, leaving you able to focus on enjoying your studies and settling into your new learning environment.

The bursary will mean that you do not need to take out student finance for the foundation year, but if you continue to an undergraduate degree course you may need to apply for student finance.

Progressing to undergraduate study

Students that pass the course will be awarded a nationally recognised Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE) qualification. If you pass the course at the required level, you will be automatically admitted to your chosen undergraduate degree course, if you wish to be, without the need to re-apply. If you are unlikely to pass the course at the required level for Oxford, or you decide that Oxford is not for you, you can apply to other universities using your CertHE qualification (and we will help you with the process of doing this). Oxford’s foundation year programme is designed to help you thrive at undergraduate level at whichever university you study.

Access to facilities, clubs and services

You will also have access to everything students expect at university including facilities (like libraries, labs, museums and IT), clubs, societies, sport, support and welfare services.