Application process

Before applying check you meet the eligibility criteria. You must be eligible to make a competitive application.

You apply for the undergraduate course you hope to study with a foundation year. 

For example, 'English with Foundation Year' found under the Humanities Foundation Year, or 'Law with Foundation Year' found under the Law Foundation Year.

You can find the available subject pathways listed on the course pages on this website. A UCAS code and link for each course can be found under the 'Subject Pathway' drop down menus on each course page.

You can also see all the subject pathways listed on the UCAS website.

Check you meet the academic entry requirements for your chosen subject pathway. The requirements are listed on the following foundation year course pages:

• CEMS
• Humanities
• Law
• PPE

We accept a number of different qualifications including Advanced Highers, BTECs, IB and Access to HE Diplomas. If you are not sure whether your qualification will be accepted please contact us.

Please note that as with undergraduate admissions at Oxford our offers on the foundation year are based on A-level (or equivalent) grades, not on the UCAS Tariff. For example, AAC at A-level would not meet BBB entry requirements. Some foundation year courses also require a specific grade in the most relevant subject(s) to your course of study.

Applications for 2024 entry closed on 31 January 2024.

Applications for 2025 entry need to be submitted before the UCAS deadline on 29 January 2025.

Your UCAS application will include a Personal Statement. If you are applying to a foundation year course at Oxford as well as other courses at other universities, your Personal Statement can focus on the subject you are interested in and it does not have to mention your motivations for studying the foundation year specifically. You will get the chance to expand on this in the Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ).

There is advice on the UCAS website on how to submit an application.

The University of Oxford provides guidance on several parts of this UCAS application. This is primarily aimed at undergraduate applications but much of the advice is still useful. Please note that some of this guidance refers to the undergraduate application deadline in October however the deadline to apply for the foundation year is in January.

• Personal Statement
• Academic Reference
• Education
• Declaring Your Disability

Please not the Astrophoria Foundation Year programme does not admit students for deferred entry. All applications received will be considered for admission at the next point of entry. 

Applicants must provide information relating to the eligibility criteria they meet by filling in a Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ). The FYAAQ is sent to eligible applicants shortly after the UCAS deadline in January. Applicants are also provided with a written guide and an instructional video to help them complete this questionnaire.

When completing the FYAAQ, applicants will be asked to indicate which criteria they meet, and to upload evidence if required. If an FYAAQ is not submitted by the deadline an application will be deemed as incomplete and therefore will not be considered any further.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are held online in March.

Successful applicants will receive their offer via UCAS in April.