| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Life Sciences Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes University is a one-year preparatory program designed to equip students with the scientific and mathematical foundations necessary for success in undergraduate science degrees. It enhances academic skills, introduces core life sciences subjects, and prepares students for further study in disciplines such as biology, chemistry, nursing, and physiotherapy. Upon successful completion, students can progress directly into specific honors degree programs at Oxford Brookes.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Life Sciences Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes University is a one-year program designed to prepare students for a range of honors degree programs in the life sciences. The program is tailored for students who have studied different subjects at level 3, achieved lower-than-expected grades, or have taken a break from education. It aims to help students develop their current level of performance to the point where they are ready for progression onto a specific honors degree at Oxford Brookes University.
Objectives:
- Provide students with the necessary scientific and mathematical background for degree-level study in science or healthcare.
- Prepare students for degree-level study by developing skills such as academic writing and communication of information.
- Introduce students to subjects that will help them progress to one of the relevant science degree courses.
Description:
The Foundation Year in Life Sciences provides the scientific and mathematical background required for various science degrees. Successful completion of the program allows direct entry into specific science degree programs at Oxford Brookes. It forms the first year of a four-year degree (or five-year degree if a placement year or the MBiol integrated Masters is chosen).
Outline:
Course Structure:
The program consists of a range of modules designed to develop fundamental scientific, mathematical, and academic skills in the life sciences. The Project module allows students to explore Biosciences topics that inspire them and allows them to situate their knowledge in the light of their own experiences or cultural background.
Modules:
- Foundation Academic Skills: Introduces students to the styles of learning, skills expected in higher education, and the academic culture of Oxford Brookes University. Develops skills such as referencing, source evaluation, academic writing, and communication.
- Foundation Biological Sciences: Provides a fundamental understanding of biology, including topics such as environmental science, biomedical science, ecology, anatomy, and physiology.
- Foundation Chemistry: Improves students' knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry that underpin the life sciences. Encourages students to ask fundamental questions about how science develops and increases awareness of the experimental basis of scientific ideas.
- Foundation Mathematics: Develops mathematical problem-solving skills and the ability to present mathematical arguments clearly and succinctly.
- Foundation Project: Allows students to build on skills developed in other modules and apply skills of collaborative learning and independent study. Students have the opportunity to further their understanding of an area of interest through a literature-based or experimental project.
Assessment:
Students are assessed through a variety of coursework methods, including:
- Essays
- Laboratory practice
- Scientific reports
- In-class tests
- Posters
- Oral presentations.
Teaching:
Teaching methods include:
- Lectures with question-and-answer sessions
- Demonstrations
- Small-group tutorials
- Practical work All modules make use of the Brookes Virtual Learning Environment for additional module resources, blended content, quizzes, and coursework submissions.
Careers:
The primary purpose of the Foundation Year is to prepare students for progression onto undergraduate science courses, not direct employment. However, students will develop employability skills throughout the year as part of lectures, workshops, and assessments. The potential careers after the program depend on the chosen degree. Subject to additional requirements, the foundation is also an entry pathway to the following healthcare programs:
- BSc Nursing (Adult)
- BSc Nursing (Children’s)
- BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
- BSc Midwifery
- BSc Occupational Therapy
- BSc Paramedic Science
- BSc Physiotherapy Additional requirements for these programs include a subject-specific interview, occupational health review, disclosure and barring checks (DBS), and English language proficiency at IELTS level 6.5 for non-native speakers.
Other:
- Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of the courses at Oxford Brookes.
- The program is reviewed regularly as part of the quality assurance framework, meaning the modules offered may vary from those listed.
- The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to students.
2023 / 24 Home (UK) full time £9,250 International full time £16,100 2024 / 25 Home (UK) full time £9,250 International full time £16,900 Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
