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Group portrait taken in the Divinity School, Oxford. The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford stands on the far left wearing a red suit, and the Chancellor stands at the centre in a dark suit. At the right is the Director of the Astrophoria Foundation Year

Celebrating progress and achievement

05 March 2026
Students and staff gathered in the Divinity School for this year's celebration
A young woman with glasses and long fair hair standing face on against an illustrated backdrop of Oxford with a mythical creature in the background

Dragons, dialogues and development grants

12 November 2025
Daphne shares her reflections on the summer school and how the experience has shaped her journey from Foundation Year student to undergraduate.
Group photo taken in an outdoor garden setting with stone walls and greenery in the background. The image shows new Astrophoria Foundation Year students for the 2025/26 cohort standing on wooden steps alongside Dr Alison MacDonald, under a clear blue sky.

Astrophoria Foundation Year welcomes 2025/26 cohort to Oxford

13 October 2025
Oxford University is proud to welcome the latest cohort of students joining the Astrophoria Foundation Year.
The Radcliffe Camera Oxford at sunset with purple and blue opaque graphics on the left hand side

Applications are now open for the Astrophoria Foundation Year 2026

08 September 2025
Think Oxford isn't for you? You might be surprised. Applications are now open for the Astrophoria Foundation Year 2026.
The second cohort of Astrophoria Foundation Year students photographed at the 'End of Year Celebration' at Somerville College

Astrophoria Foundation Year Celebrates Second Cohort at Somerville College

02 July 2025
The Astrophoria Foundation Year celebrated its second cohort of students with a sunny event at Somerville College on Sunday, 22 June.
Astrophoria Foundation Year OLLIEs 2025 certificate and award

Astrophoria Foundation Year Wins 'Transformation in Education' Award 2025

30 June 2025
The Astrophoria Foundation Year has been honoured with the 'Transformation in Education' award at this year's Oxford Lifelong Learning Inspiring Excellence Awards (OLLIEs).
The Vice-Chancellor and members of the Astrophoria Foundation Year team at the VC's Awards Ceremony 2025

Astrophoria Foundation Year Programme success in Vice-Chancellor's Awards

19 May 2025
The Astrophoria Foundation Year team were delighted to be named as the winner of the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Innovative Teaching and Assessment
Caitriona Woolhouse, Dr Jo Begbie and former Astrophoria Foundation Year student, Bassam, outside Buckingham Palace

A Royal Adventure: The Education and Skills Garden Party at Buckingham Palace

15 May 2025
The Astrophoria Foundation Year Director, Dr Jo Begbie, and Programme Manager, Caitriona Woolhouse were honoured to be nominated by the University of Oxford to attend
Picture of a crowd of guests inside the Divinity School, bathed in purple light

A celebration of Astrophoria Foundation Year students at the Divinity School, Oxford

17 April 2025
In February, the historic Divinity School at Oxford University played host to a special celebration for the Astrophoria Foundation Year Programme.
Harris Manchester College

Harris Manchester joins the Astrophoria Foundation Year to admit Mature Students

19 December 2024
Harris Manchester joins the Astrophoria Foundation Year to admit mature students
The 2023 Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort, Professor Irene Tracey and Dr Jo Begbie standing outside the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education building

First Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort complete their first term as Oxford undergraduates

12 December 2024
86% of the first cohort have progressed to undergraduate study at Oxford
AFY_2024_shareable_photo1.jpg

New Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort settle in to Oxford

06 November 2024
Astrophoria Foundation Year students were welcomed by Dr Matthew Weait during their orientation week in Oxford
Vee Kativhu and Astrophoria Foundation Year Students standing in the main quad at Lady Margaret Hall College

Astrophoria scholars interview Vee Kativhu

01 July 2024
Astrophoria Foundation Year students interviewed plenary speaker Vee Kativhu at celebration event
Astrophoria Foundation Year Welfare Lead Cat holding OLLIE award

Astrophoria Foundation Year Welfare Lead wins award

21 June 2024
Cat Purtell has won an OLLIE award for supporting students during the Astrophoria Foundation Year
A group of students from the first cohort of the Astrophoria Foundation Year standing on steps outside Talbot Hall at Lady Margaret Hall college

Astrophoria Foundation Year Celebration 2024

19 June 2024
A celebration event was held for the first cohort of Astrophoria scholars who recently completed the year
Mansfield College in the evening

My First Term at Oxford: Julija

09 January 2024
Hear from English Language and Literature student Julija about her experiences on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
Yihao - Chemistry Student

My First Term at Oxford: Yihao

08 January 2024
Hear from Chemistry student Yihao about his experiences on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
Law Foundation Year student Bassam and his friends

My First Term at Oxford: Bassam

08 January 2024
Hear from Law student Bassam about his experiences on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
Chemistry student Nayab

My First Term at Oxford: Nayab

08 January 2024
Hear from Chemistry student Nayab about her experiences on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
Jessica Neate, Bassam al-Meshal and Nargis Ahmadi

Astrophoria Foundation Year: The Guardian Features Student Voices

23 October 2023
Students in the first Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort speak to The Guardian about starting their studies at Oxford
The 2023 Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort, Professor Irene Tracey and Dr Jo Begbie standing outside the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education building

First Astrophoria Foundation Year students begin their studies at Oxford

03 October 2023
Astrophoria Foundation Year students were welcomed by the Vice-Chancellor during their orientation week in Oxford
Wide view of the Bodleian Library

First offers made for the Astrophoria Foundation Year

20 April 2023
Offers for a place on Oxford's innovative new access programme have been made to UK students
Wide view of the Bodleian Library

Studying History on the Astrophoria Foundation Year

17 January 2023
Find out more about studying History on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
A young woman working in a chemistry lab

Studying Chemistry on the Astrophoria Foundation Year

09 January 2023
Find out more about studying Chemistry on the Astrophoria Foundation Year
Lady Margaret Hall College

Changing Lives: From Pilot to University-wide Programme

22 July 2022
'Changing Lives' features the story of four foundation year students