Foundation Year in Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS)

Introduction to the course

Are you a student from the UK interested in studying Chemistry, Engineering Science or Materials Science but your personal or educational circumstances have meant you are unlikely to achieve the grades typically required for Oxford courses? If so, choosing to apply for your course with a Foundation Year might be the right option for you.

Whichever pathway you choose, students also take the Preparation for Undergraduate Studies course. 

What will my week look like on the Foundation Year in CEMS?

During your foundation year you will be expected to attend around five hours of lectures and classes per unit per week, participate in regular meetings with tutors to discuss work, carry out independent research and participate in laboratory work. All CEMS students follow two or three units per week.

Your time will be spent both on academic work for your CEMS programme and work related to the Preparation for Undergraduate Studies course.

In each term you will study modules which will lead to your degree pathway. In your final term you will complete a written project on a subject related topic of your choice, deepening your subject interest and building your skills in independent study.

Tutorials are usually for around two students and a tutor. Classes and laboratory sessions (MATLAB coding for Engineers and, optionally, for Materials Scientists) are slightly bigger, they may vary depending on the modules that you choose. There are likely to be around four students in a class or laboratory session, except when the whole CEMS cohort is together. Lectures are a larger format again, and are likely to be delivered to the foundation year cohort as a whole.

Most tutorials, classes, and lectures are delivered by staff who are tutors in their subject. Some teaching may also be delivered by postgraduate students.

Subject pathways

Chemistry with Foundation Year 
  • UCAS code: F10F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Chemistry at A-level (or equivalent)

 Chemistry with Foundation Year on UCAS

Materials Science with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: FJ2F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Materials Science with Foundation Year on UCAS

Engineering Science options

Whichever subject pathway you choose, all Engineering Science with Foundation Year students follow the same course structure and study the same course content. This continues in the first two years of the undergraduate degree. The subject requirements for all Engineering pathways are the same: Maths and Physics A-level or equivalent.

Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H81F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Biomedical Engineering with FY on UCAS

Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H80F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Chemical Engineering with FY on UCAS

Civil Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H20F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Civil Engineering with FY on UCAS

Electrical Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H62F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Electrical Engineering with FY on UCAS

Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H10F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Engineering with FY on UCAS

Information Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H63F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Information Engineering with FY on UCAS

Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year
  • UCAS code: H30F 
  • Subject requirements: Maths and Physics A-level (or equivalent)

 Mechanical Engineering with FY on UCAS

 

Entry Requirements

Subject requirements depend on the undergraduate degree course you wish to study: 

  • For Chemistry with Foundation Year, students are expected to have Chemistry and Mathematics to A-level (or any other accepted equivalent qualification). An additional science subject or further mathematics are also recommended.
  • For all Engineering with Foundation Year courses, students are expected to have Physics and Mathematics to A-level (or any other accepted equivalent qualification).
  • For Materials Science with Foundation Year, students are expected to have Physics and Mathematics to A-level (or any other accepted equivalent qualification). GCSE-level Chemistry is also required and Chemistry at A level is highly recommended.

The typical A-level entry requirements are AAB, with an A in the relevant subject:

  • For Chemistry with Foundation Year, an A in Chemistry is required
  • For all Engineering with Foundation Year courses, an A in Physics is required
  • For Materials Science, an A in either Physics or Maths or Chemistry is required

We do accept other types of qualifications. More information about the academic entry requirements and accepted qualifications is available on the Foundation Year in Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science course page on the University of Oxford website.  

Do you have a question about studying Chemistry, Engineering or Materials Science as part of the Astrophoria Foundation Year?

You can ask your questions about the Foundation Year in Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science here. We'll answer questions regularly and as soon as we can until the application deadline in January 2026. 

More about Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science at Oxford University

Oxford's facilities for studying and exploring science are amongst the best equipped and most advanced in the UK. Students can take advantage of the enormous range of laboratories and research equipment available. The University of Oxford has invested over £400 million over the past ten years into its science facilities and infrastructure.

Oxford is home to the History of Science Museum and the Museum of Natural History.

Oxford's alumni include many famous scientists and engineers. See a list of some of the most famous Oxonians.

There are also a number of student science societies you can join including: Chemistry and Biochemistry Society; Bioengineering Society; Biochemical Society; Biotechnology Society; Engineers Without Borders; Materials Society; Physics Society; Technology and Innovation Association; Women in Engineering, Science and Technology.