Life Sciences Foundation Year
UCAS code: C201
Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026
Full time: 1 year (leading to a 3-5 year degree course)
Part time: 2 years
Location: Headington
School(s): School of Biological and Medical Sciences
Overview
The course is your opportunity of acquiring the necessary qualifications for progression onto a range of honours degree programmes at Oxford Brookes. This may be due to studying different subjects at level 3, lower than expected grades through a variety of circumstances or a break from education. Since you all have very different experiences of science, often at varying levels, we aim to help you to develop from your current level of performance, to the point where you are ready for progression onto a specific honours degree at Oxford Brookes University.
Our Foundation Year in Life Sciences provides you with the necessary scientific and mathematical background required for the degrees listed. Upon successful completion you’ll have direct entry to the science degrees listed below in the 'Courses I can study after this foundation' section at Oxford Brookes.
The foundation year will form the first year of a four-year degree (or five-year degree if a placement year or the MBiol integrated Masters is chosen).
Why Oxford Brookes University?
-
Get degree ready
This foundation course will provide you with the necessary scientific and mathematical background required for degree-level study in science or healthcare.
-
Direct entry onto a full-time degree
Successful completion of the programme will allow you direct entry on to a wide range of three-year science degree programmes at Oxford Brookes.
-
Learn a language
Our university-wide language programme is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
Course details
Course structure
You will study a range of modules which will enable you to develop fundamental scientific, mathematical and academic skills in the life sciences, preparing you for your chosen degree programme. These skills are vital for success on your chosen degree programme. With the Project module you will have the opportunity to explore Biosciences topics that inspire you and allow you to situate your knowledge in the light of your own experiences or cultural background.
We have designed this course to;
- equip you with an underpinning knowledge and understanding of biological and chemical sciences
- develop your confidence in mathematics for life scientists
- prepare you for degree level study by developing skills including academic writing and communication of information
- to introduce you to subjects that will help you to progress to one of the relevant science degree courses.
Study modules
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Careers
The purpose of the foundation year is to allow you to progress onto one of our undergraduate science courses, rather than preparation for employment directly. Throughout the year you will be developing employability skills as part of your lectures, workshops and assessments. The potential careers the programme leads to will be dependent on the chosen degree.
Subject to additional requirements, the foundation is also an entry pathway to the following healthcare programmes:
- BSc Nursing (Adult)
- BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
- BSc Occupational Therapy
- BSc Paramedic Science.
The additional requirements are to pass a subject-specific interview (which should be completed before joining the Life Science Foundation), occupational health review, disclosure and barring checks (DBS), and - for non-native speakers - English language at IELTS level 6.5:
Courses I can study after completing this foundation
- Biological Sciences (Genetics and Genomics)
- Biological Sciences (Human Biosciences)
- Biomedical Science
- Equine Science
- Medical Science
- Biological Sciences
- Nutrition
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Sport, Coaching and Physical Education
- Psychology
- Sport, Physical Activity and Health Promotion
- Biological Sciences (Zoology)
Related courses
Entry requirements
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 32
A Level: N/A
IB Points: N/A
BTEC: PP
Further offer details
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.
Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
For further information please see our 2025-26 tuition fees FAQs.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Information from Discover Uni
Full-time study
Part-time study
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.