2026/27 Summary
At university there are, in general, two kinds of costs for students: 1) course fees, and 2) living costs.
As part of the Astrophoria Foundation Year, the University of Oxford covers the cost of your Foundation Year course fees. In addition, the Astrophoria Foundation Year provides bursaries and grants to cover your living costs.
Below, we've summarised the kinds of costs you might experience and the support that's available to you as a student on the Astrophoria Foundation Year.
The support available to you includes support before you start the course and support while you are on the course. There are also a number of extra support options available if you require additional funding.
Accommodation
Variable amount
General living costs
£6,223* (2026/27 )
Travel to Oxford
Up to £500
Academic costs
Up to £250
Academic costs
Between £50 and £500
Unexpected costs
Between £50 and £750
Unexpected costs
Up to £3,000
Course fees
No cost to you
Before you start the course
Start-up Fund
You will be given part of your Astrophoria Foundation Year Student Bursary in September, before the first term starts. This is to contribute towards the costs of setting yourself up at university, and to pay for items you'll need in the first few weeks of your course.
Students on the Astrophoria Foundation Year are automatically eligible for the start up fund: you do not need to submit a separate application to receive this. However, because this is the first payment we will make to you, you will be asked to complete an online form to let us know the bank details of where you would like these funds to be paid. Students require a bank account that is in their own name to receive this payment, so it is possible you may need to set up a new account in order to receive this payment.
During the Foundation Year
Foundation Year Student Bursary
All students will receive a non-repayable Foundation Year Student Bursary to cover the cost of their general living expenses. This will be made in three payments, on Wednesday of the 1st Week in Michaelmas, Hilary and Trinity terms. In 2026/27, these dates are:
- Wednesday 14th October 2026
- Wednesday 20th January 2027
- Wednesday 28th April 2027
You can find out more about Oxford's term dates on the university website.
Students on the Astrophoria Foundation Year are automatically eligible for the Foundation Year Student Bursary and do not need to submit a separate application to receive these funds. However, please note that if you have opened a student bank account between the payment of the Start-up Fund and the beginning of term, please ensure you have notified the Foundation Year team of your new bank details. Please email admin@foundationyear.ox.ac.uk.
These three payments plus the Start-up Fund payment make up the total Foundation Year Student Bursary of £6,223*.
A note about Student Finance
The Foundation Year Accommodation and Student Bursary, as well as the additional sources of funding mean that we would typically encourage you not to take out student finance for the Foundation Year (however you will need to apply during your foundation year for student finance if you continue to study at Oxford or another university by progressing to a degree course, please see the section below for more information).
Some students may be encouraged to apply for a student loan of £0 during their foundation year to enable them to receive additional financial support in the form of a Disabled Students' Allowance (meaning they do not need to reapply in year 1). Applicants who may be in receipt of DSA and secure a place on the programme will be contacted to discuss this.
After your Foundation Year
If you continue to study at Oxford by progressing to a degree course you will need to pay the course fees and cover your living costs. In most cases this is paid by taking out a student loan.
More information is on course pages and the Fees and Funding section of the University website.