Phoebe Mumby, our Explore Oxbridge Programme Manager, explores how Oxford and Cambridge Foundation Years offer alternative routes into Oxbridge for young people who have experienced educational disadvantage or disruption.
Foundation Years are an important part of widening participation in Higher Education, creating alternative routes for talented young people whose educational experiences or circumstances may have affected their attainment.
At Oxford and Cambridge, these programmes offer students who have experienced educational disadvantage or disruption the opportunity to prepare for undergraduate study and pursue their ambitions.
For Leon, starting the Foundation Year in Arts, Humanities and Social Science at the University of Cambridge marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
“I knew I wanted to go to Cambridge, but I’d had some challenges, so I was looking for an alternative route.”
Leon found out about the Foundation Year through our Explore Oxbridge programme, which introduces students to opportunities to study at Oxford and Cambridge. Learning about the course and the support available encouraged him to apply.
Launched in 2022, the Cambridge Foundation Year is a one-year, fully funded course in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for students who have experienced educational disadvantage. Its interdisciplinary approach allows students to explore different subjects and develop new academic skills before progressing to undergraduate study.
The University of Oxford offers a similar route through its Astrophoria Foundation Year. Launched in 2023 following a college-level pilot in 2016, the one-year, fully funded programme supports students who have experienced educational disruption or disadvantage. It offers subject-specific courses in disciplines including Chemistry, Engineering, Law and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).
Foundation Years recognise that academic potential is not always reflected in a young person’s grades. Both universities offer these alternative routes to students who meet their eligibility criteria, with predicted grade requirements typically lower than those for direct entry to undergraduate courses.
Educational disadvantage, disruption and unequal access to opportunities can affect attainment, even when a student has the ability to thrive in Higher Education. As Hannah Rolley, Head of Access at Trinity College, Oxford, explains:
“Foundation Years are an important part of recognising that academic potential is distributed much more widely than educational opportunity. There are exceptionally able young people whose educational experiences and wider circumstances mean that their attainment at the point of application may not fully reflect what they are capable of.[…] For me, their value is also about genuine choice. Too many talented young people rule themselves out of Oxford before they ever reach the point of application, or simply don’t know that a Foundation Year exists.”
As Explore Oxbridge Programme Manager, I often see that a student’s access to Oxbridge may already be limited by the time they have chosen their post-16 options. Living in a postcode where there is a lack of A-Level or Advanced Highers providers, receiving little guidance through choosing post-16 options for highly selective universities, or a lack of resource in schools and sixth forms to run certain subject options hugely limits a student’s choices and future potential.
By the time students begin considering university applications, some of these choices may already have been made for them. At IntoUniversity, helping young people explore their options and make informed decisions about their futures is central to our work. Through Explore Oxbridge, we provide insight into applying to Oxford and Cambridge, including alternative routes such as Foundation Years.
For IntoUniversity alumna Habibah, who has recently completed her Foundation Year and begun her undergraduate degree at Oxford, the experience has helped her feel more confident about making the transition to university.
“It’s given me a lot more confidence. I’m in my first year now and it doesn’t feel daunting. I have a lot of experience of how the system works, like the tutorials and I know what’s expected of me.”
The Foundation Year is not only about enabling students to access Higher Education, but also helping them feel prepared to succeed once they arrive. Dr Matthew Williams, Access Fellow and Tutor at Jesus College Oxford, highlights the importance of this wider support:
“The additional year gives students the time, subject teaching and academic skills development to prepare for undergraduate study, alongside exceptional pastoral care and financial support. Being part of a cohort going through that experience together […] creates a valuable sense of community and belonging.”
Since the programmes began, at least two IntoUniversity students per year have been offered a place on an Oxbridge Foundation Year programme. Their experiences show how access to information, encouragement and the right support can help young people take the next step towards their ambitions.
Find out more about the Foundation Year programmes at Oxford and Cambridge below, or explore opportunities to take part in IntoUniversity’s Explore Oxbridge programme.
