New Astrophoria Foundation Year cohort settle in to Oxford

As we reach the halfway point of the first term, the Astrophoria Foundation Year (AFY) programme team are delighted with how well the new cohort are settling into Oxford.

This year 28 students from across the UK have been admitted to this fully funded programme, which is designed to help bridge the gap between A-levels and the challenging undergraduate degrees at Oxford.

Students have been working hard, participating in the orientation, freshers and academic induction weeks. This has involved starting work on key elements of their academic courses, as well as introductions to university life, welfare and finance, alongside taking part in group tasks which encouraged them to develop teamwork, communication and critical thinking skills.

"It was great to spend time with the second cohort of Astrophoria Foundation Year students during their orientation week. The students embraced the challenges that we set them and I hope they found it a good chance to begin understanding the academic life at Oxford as well as making make new friends and seeing what Oxford has to offer. They bring a sense of curiosity and excitement and I look forward to following their journeys over the coming year.’ 

Dr Jo Begbie, Astrophoria Foundation Year Director

The students are now thoroughly immersed in their academic courses (Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Sciences; Humanities; Law or PPE) and their colleges whilst also engaging in Preparation for Undergraduate Studies sessions throughout the term.

The Astrophoria Foundation Year programme admitted the first students in 2023 and is for UK state school students who have experienced disadvantage or disruption during their education. The programme is part of the University of Oxford’s efforts to increase participation from students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.