The Astrophoria Foundation Year is Oxford University’s 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.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME
- The programme will support students financially. The students of Oxford’s Foundation Year students will belong to an Oxford college, but their accommodation will be provided free of charge. Students will not have to pay course fees and will receive a non-repayable bursary to cover their living costs.
- Up to 50 places will be offered on the programme each year, with the first batch of students being admitted for entry in September 2023.
- Students will have to apply for their chosen degree course with a foundation year (for example material science with foundation year).
- During their foundation year, the students will follow one of the following courses:
- Foundation year: Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS)
- Foundation year: Humanities (in Classics, English, History, Theology)
- Foundation year: Law
- Foundation year: Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)
- For 2023 entry, students will study at one of ten Oxford colleges: Exeter, Jesus, Keble, Mansfield, Lady Margaret Hall, Somerville, St Anne’s, St Hugh’s, Trinity and Wadham.
- Once the student completes their foundation year at the required level, they will progress onto the undergraduate degree course at the University of Oxford, if they wish to, without the need to re-apply.
- Alternatively, they will be awarded a nationally recognised Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE) and will be supported in their applications for undergraduate degrees elsewhere.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Check if you meet the academic entry requirements
- Submit a UCAS application for your undergraduate course with a foundation year
- Complete the Foundation Year Additional Application Questionnaire (FYAAQ)
- Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview in March
- Offers will be issued via UCAS in April
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- All applicants for September 2023 entry to the Astrophoria foundation course must apply through the UCAS website latest by 25th January 2024, 6 pm UK time.
- Complete the FYAAQ as soon as you submit your UCAS Application. FYAAQ has to be submitted latest by 1st February 2024, at 6 pm UK time.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Besides, the academic entry requirements, the applicant must meet eligibility requirements demonstrating severe personal disadvantage, disrupted education or other specific circumstances shown to have negatively impacted their educational attainment. To be considered for the foundation course, applicants must:
Meet either the criteria outlined in categories 1, 2 and 3 Or meet the criteria of category 4
Category 1: Socio-Economic Indicators
Category 2: School/ College Characteristics
Category 3: Individual Experience
Category 4: Care Experience (care-experienced applicants are automatically eligible).
These eligibility criteria need to be properly evidenced.
For detailed information, please check the eligibility guide published by the University of Oxford.
Please note: The programme is open ONLY to UK state school students who are ordinarily resident in the UK and meet the eligibility criteria. International students are not eligible to apply.
Courtesy: The University of Oxford
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