Information for Oxford tutors and staff about the Astrophoria Foundation Year programme
Why participate in the Astrophoria Foundation Year? Watch our internal information video to find out.
Further information for internal University of Oxford staff
What is the Astrophoria Foundation Year?
The Astrophoria Foundation Year is a one-year fully-funded programme for UK state school students with significant academic potential who have experienced disadvantage or disruption during their education. It is designed to help them bridge the gap between Level 3 study and the challenging undergraduate degrees at Oxford.
These courses provide the space for personal and academic growth, offering invaluable preparation for an undergraduate degree and the opportunity for students like me to explore their potential, which may have been inhibited by previous disruption or disadvantage.
Julija, English with Foundation Year Student at Mansfield
Who is the Foundation Year for?
Since 2023 the Foundation Year has admitted 50 students who all support meeting the targets of the University of Oxford's Access and Participation Plan and the University's ambition to widen access.
There are still communities, still types of disadvantage that are shutting the door in people's faces and the foundation year is opening that door. That's got to be right in terms of what this university stands for. As well as being absolutely life changing for the individuals involved, we're saying something very powerful about ourselves by saying we want to make the world a fairer place and we want to give these students a chance.
Helen King, Principal at St Anne's College
How do students perform on course?
Students engage in a one year intensive course taught by Oxford tutors. Their programme covers subject-specific content and a preparation for UG study course.
The AFY Programme and the Courses are subject to the Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations and comply with Regulations and Conventions for each subject. Summative assessments and examinations occur throughout the academic year and are subject to scrutiny and ratification by the Foundation Year Exam Board.
To see the students develop in such a short period of time and follow a very steep upward trajectory is very rewarding. It's wonderfu to see them prepared by the end of the year to pursue undergraduate study, be it here at Oxford or possibly at another university.
David Campbell, Foundation Year Law Course Lead
What does college participation involve?
- Admitting between 1 and 5 students (essentially as a deferred entry student) across the range of subjects that offer Courses with Foundation Year
- Welcoming and matriculating the AFY student(s) into the college community
- Providing accommodation in college (funded by AFY)
- Regular opportunity to input into the programme if desired
- Opportunity for tutors to be as involved as they wish to be in selecting AFY students for places in college
What does the AFY programme provide?
- The Foundation Year course content has been specifically designed by Oxford academics using sector wide research for the purpose of student academic development with a view to thriving in year 1 of an Oxford UG course.
- All examinations are subject to the Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations and are overseen by the Foundation Year Board of Examiners
- All teaching arranged by the AFY programme and delivered by Oxford tutors
- Welfare Lead within AFY programme team to support students
- Funding to cover all college accommodation costs
- A full student funding package including a non-repayable bursary, travel grant, study grant & various hardship grants
- Support for transition to either Oxford undergraduate courses or other HEIs
Further information
Applicants for the AFY programme have to meet specific eligibility criteria. These criteria enable targeting of the programme, and support the University in meeting the APP targets which now include both student access and success on course. This results in the AFY programme students contributing towards both University and College targets as reported in the Annual Admissions Statistical Report.
More information about eligibility for the programme can be found at the following links:
Students apply through UCAS for the undergraduate degree programme with Foundation Year. The AFY programme uses the January UCAS deadline (main cycle UCAS closing date) to ensure that students who are not traditionally targeting early application courses have the opportunity to apply. Through the AFY programme specific admissions process applicants provide additional information to enable assessment of their individual personal circumstances, and for their academic potential to be considered in this specific context.
The admissions process is designed such that there is flexibility in a Tutor's involvement for them to be able to do as much or as little as desired by the College/individual.
More information about admissions process for the programme can be found:
- Application guidance for potential students on our webpages
- The AFY Admissions Handbook is available on the front page of ADSS
The AFY programme is subject to the Regulations for the Conduct of University Examinations (referring to the Regulation for the Conduct of University Examinations Part 1 to 20). The Courses that make up the AFY programme are subject to the General Regulations for the Foundation Year Certificate of Higher Education, and Regulations for the Certificate of Higher Education in the associated subject.
Summative assessments for the AFY programme occur throughout the academic year and are subject to ratification by the Foundation Year Board of Examiners. For the academic year 2023/24 the progression rate to Year 1 undergraduate degree programmes at Oxford is currently 86%.
Tutors will be able to access a large amount of information about the progress of their AFY students (equivalent to deferred offer holders) through AFY programme. Colleges will receive regular reports through TMS and an update on the students' examination and assessment progress each term which can be shared with Tutors if desired. The final outcome of progression will be known by Colleges by the end of July, meaning Colleges can enter confirmation with a firm understanding of the status of their AFY students with regards to progression to undergraduate year 1.
The Examination Conventions for each course are also available to view.
The Foundation Year course content has been specifically designed for the purpose of student academic development with a view to thriving in Year 1 of undergraduate degree programmes. Should subject academics wish to see the course content they would be most welcome to do so. The handbooks are available online and tutors can be given access to Canvas courses on request from the 4 course leads:
- Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Sciences (CEMS) – Dr Rachel Quarrell
- Humanities – Dr Aurelia Annat
- Law – Dr David Campbell
- PPE – Dr Natalie Quinn
The academic team who deliver all of the teaching on the AFY programme has been recruited through a competitive recruitment process. All of the tutors on the AFY programme have previous experience of delivering teaching at Oxford, and there is a continuing professional development programme delivered by the Centre for Teaching and Learning for the tutors to share pedagogical approaches.
For details of the full teaching team please see the teaching organisational chart.