Guidance for Schools and Teachers
This page provides guidance and resources for schools, colleges, teachers and advisers supporting students who may be eligible for the Astrophoria Foundation Year at the University of Oxford.
Events and engagement
We offer online information sessions for schools and colleges. If you would like to arrange a session for your students or staff, please contact us.
Resources for schools and colleges
Updated resources will be available soon. Please sign up to our newsletter for the latest news and updates.
Supporting students applying to the Astrophoria Foundation Year
The Astrophoria Foundation Year is a one-year, fully funded academic programme for UK state school students with significant academic potential, who have experienced severe personal disadvantage and/or disrupted education. Students who successfully complete the programme progress directly into their chosen undergraduate degree at Oxford.
Foundation Year courses
Academic entry requirements vary by course and subject pathway. Full details are available on the relevant course pages:
- Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science
- Humanities
- Law
- PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics)
Please note that we do not offer courses in, or that lead onto, Psychology or Medicine at the University of Oxford.
Advising students where to apply
It is not possible to apply to both the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in the same UCAS cycle. This applies to all combinations of Foundation Year and standard undergraduate courses.
Students should carefully review the Foundation Year and undergraduate course pages before deciding where to apply.
If a student is likely to meet the standard entry requirements for the undergraduate course at Oxford University, we would normally recommend that they apply directly to the undergraduate course. The Astrophoria Foundation Year is designed for students with strong academic potential whose personal or educational circumstances mean they are unlikely to meet the standard undergraduate entry requirements.
Eligibility for the Foundation Year
Applicants must:
- Have been educated at a UK state school*
- Be ordinarily resident in the UK with Home fee status
- Meet the eligibility criteria for the Astrophoria Foundation Year programme
To be eligible for the programme, applicants should:
- Meet the criteria outlined in Categories 1, 2 and 3
- Or meet the criterion of Category 4
Eligibility Categories
In brief:
- Category 1 covers socio-economic indicators, including the applicant's home address and Free School Meal (FSM) status.
- Category 2 looks at the characteristics of the schools the applicant has attended
- Category 3 considers the applicant's individual circumstances.
- Category 4 covers care experience. We consider an applicant to be ‘care experienced’ if they have been in the care of their local authority for any length of time at any point in their lives.
*Applicants should have been educated at a non-selective UK state school unless they meet the criteria for category 4. Students from UK selective state schools are eligible to apply if they meet the criteria for category 4. Applications are not accepted from students who have attended private schools, for any amount of time.
Learn more about eligibility for the Astrophoria Foundation Year here
Oxford colleges
Applicants do not apply to a specific college when applying for the Foundation Year.
When applicants receive offers, these will be made by one of the Astrophoria Foundation Year participating Oxford colleges. College allocation will be confirmed after UCAS results day.
We cannot guarantee placement at a particular college. All colleges provide core facilities including accommodation, library access, dining facilities and welfare support.
The application process
Applications are made through UCAS.
Please note: The deadline to apply for the Astrophoria Foundation Year is different from the deadline for undergraduate admissions at the University of Oxford. Applicants have until the UCAS equal consideration deadline in January to apply to the Astrophoria Foundation Year.
Applicants apply directly to a specific Foundation Year course. Entry requirements vary by subject.
Explore the Astrophoria Foundation Year courses
Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ)
- Applicants will also be asked to complete the Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ). This is sent to all applicants via email shortly after the UCAS deadline.
- Applicants have approximately two weeks to complete it, and are provided with a written guide and an instructional video to help them.
- When completing the FYAAQ, applicants will be asked to indicate which criteria they meet, and to upload evidence if required.
- If the FYAAQ is not submitted by the deadline, the application will be deemed as incomplete and therefore will not be considered any further.
Supporting students with their applications
Teachers and advisers can support students by:
- Ensuring they review the relevant course page carefully
- Advising on appropriate course choice
- Supporting preparation of the UCAS personal statement
- Providing a detailed and contextual UCAS reference
Personal Statement guidance
Students should use their personal statement to demonstrate:
- Academic interest in their chosen subject
- Evidence of independent engagement beyond the curriculum
- Their motivations for studying.
The Foundation Year is academically demanding. Students should show clear readiness for intensive study.
Please note: We understand that applicants may be applying to a range of similar courses. As part of the Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ) applicants will have the opportunity to add more detail about why they have chosen to apply to the Astrophoria Foundation Year.
UCAS also provides a Personal Statement toolkit for teachers and advisers.
UCAS references
The UCAS reference plays an important role in contextualising a student’s academic potential and educational circumstances.
References should:
- Provide an accurate academic profile
- Indicate predicted grades clearly
- Explain any educational disruption or contextual factors
- Outline the student’s academic potential and suitability for Higher Education
Where relevant, advisers may wish to highlight how a student’s circumstances have affected their educational trajectory.
Interview preparation
Interview preparation resources will be made available for all applicants.
We will continue to update this section with more general information for teachers and advisers over the coming months. Please sign up to our newsletter for the latest news and updates.
Progression
Students who successfully complete the Foundation Year are awarded a nationally recognised Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE).
Students who achieve the required standard for Oxford will automatically progress to their chosen undergraduate degree at the University (selected at the point of application to the Foundation Year). It is not possible to change undergraduate course after starting the Foundation Year. If a student wishes to study a different course at Oxford, they would need to reapply.
If a student decides not to continue at Oxford, or does not meet the required progression standard, the CertHE qualification can be used to apply to other universities. The Astrophoria Foundation Year team supports students in this process, and we are a registered UCAS centre.
