Oxford Brookes
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Foundation Year Life Sciences Foundation Year

Build the academic knowledge, study skills and confidence to prepare for the next stage of your studies.

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Key facts

Duration
Full time: 1 year (leading to a 3-5 year degree course)
Part time: 2-4 years
Starts
September 2027
Level
Undergraduate
UCAS code
C201
Location
Headington
School
School of Biological and Medical Sciences

About this course

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).

  • 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.

  • Get up to speed

    On one of your first modules you’ll learn new skills such as referencing, source evaluation, academic writing and communication skills.

  • Study abroad

    You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

  • Language courses

    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.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

QualificationTypical offer
UCAS tariff points32
A-levelN/A
BTEC Extended DiplomaPP

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

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees
Fee types2026/272027/28
Home full-time£9,790£10,050
Home part-time£1,220 per single module£1,255 per single module
International full-time£17,250£18,500

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 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.

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)

Learning and assessment

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 topics directly related to your chosen BSc 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.

Our teaching methods are designed to encourage and support students, and include;

  • lectures with question-and-answer sessions
  • demonstrations
  • small-group tutorials
  • practical work.

All modules make use of the Brookes Virtual Learning Environment (typically for additional module resources, but also for blended content, as well as quizzes and coursework submissions).

Assessment

We assess you through a variety of coursework methods, including:

  • essays
  • laboratory practice
  • scientific reports
  • in class tests
  • posters
  • oral presentations.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • BIOL3004

    15 credits

    The module is designed as an introduction to the styles of learning and skills expected of students in higher education, and to the particular academic culture...

    Foundation Academic Skills

    BIOL3004

    15 credits

    The module is designed as an introduction to the styles of learning and skills expected of students in higher education, and to the particular academic culture of Oxford Brookes University. You will develop a reflective approach to study, centred on learning new skills such as referencing, source evaluation, academic writing and communication skills. This will prepare you for your studies in other modules on the foundation year, as well as your undergraduate degree.

  • BIOL3001

    30 credits

    Biology is one of the most exciting and challenging sciences you can choose to study. This module aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of...

    Foundation Biological Sciences

    BIOL3001

    30 credits

    Biology is one of the most exciting and challenging sciences you can choose to study. This module aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of biology, while at the same time developing your study skills to a level required for success on your undergraduate degree. You will be encouraged to explore and gain confidence in a broad range of topics including environmental science, biomedical science, ecology, anatomy and physiology.

  • BIOL3002

    30 credits

    This module is designed to improve your knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry that underpin a modern approach to the life sciences. It also aims to...

    Foundation Chemistry

    BIOL3002

    30 credits

    This module is designed to improve your knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry that underpin a modern approach to the life sciences. It also aims to encourage you to ask fundamental questions of how science develops and to increase awareness of the experimental basis of scientific ideas. The overarching theme is the relationship between experiment, observations and the atomic model of matter. The module will also give you the opportunity to practise using simple mathematical ideas in more applied contexts.

  • BIOL3006

    15 credits

    This module will help you to build on your mathematics knowledge gained on module A and will continue to give you the mathematical competence required to cope...

    Foundation Mathematics A

    BIOL3006

    15 credits

    This module will help you to build on your mathematics knowledge gained on module A and will continue to give you the mathematical competence required to cope with degree level science modules. Throughout the module you will continue to develop mathematical problem solving skills and progress your ability to present mathematical arguments clearly and succinctly.

  • BIOL3005

    15 credits

    This module offers you the opportunity to build on the skills developed in your other modules and to apply skills of collaborative learning and independent...

    Foundation Project

    BIOL3005

    15 credits

    This module offers you the opportunity to build on the skills developed in your other modules and to apply skills of collaborative learning and independent study. You will have the opportunity to further your understanding of an area of interest you have by designing and carrying out a project, which may be literature based or experimental.

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:

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:

How to apply

Start your applicationAttend an open day or webinarAsk a question

Our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, so module availability and course structures may vary from what is listed here. On rare occasions, we may also need to make updates to our course programmes after publication; for full details, please visit our changes to programmes page (opens in a new tab)