Have you ever wondered what it's like to study in an iconic UK city where education and innovation have shaped its long-running history?

Oxford is a renowned city in England where academic excellence is regarded as a way of life. And if you intend to begin your higher education in Oxford, start with a Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes University.

The foundation course offered by Brookes provides a structured pathway designed to prepare you for success at the undergraduate level. Beyond the lectures and daily classes, you'll learn about crucial life skills, make multinational friends, and experience a culture rich in both academic tradition and innovation.

Doing a foundation year at Brooke’s isn't just about getting ready for your degree; it's about preparing you comprehensively for your future studies and career in the UK. Detailed information about the Foundation Year at Oxford Brookes University is structured and explained further below.

The purpose of a foundation year

Oxford Brookes University offers the foundation year as a 1 or 2 year-long preparation programme. Completing this programme can cover the entry requirements for students who intend to study an undergraduate degree in a particular subject area offered by Oxford Brookes University.

Foundation Year normally takes 2 semesters or 1 academic year to complete, but there are extended foundation programme that adds additional learning and development skills, which can take up to 2 years to complete.

The main reason for doing the foundation year is to prepare students academically and mentally, so that they can cope with the university curriculum. It teaches core subjects and builds English language communication skills that are required to pursue higher education at the university level. A foundation course is considered less intensive compared to.

What makes the Oxford Brookes Foundation programme a unique option?

• Direct progression to an undergraduate degree right after passing the foundation with the required grades. Which is easily attainable for international students.
  
  
• The university provides a personal academic advisor for every student to support them in their academic studies, and also helps with the right career choice.
  
  
• The classes are compact and resourceful, with modern equipment and spacious library and group study rooms for effective skill development.
  
  
• By enrolling in the foundation programme at Oxford Brookes University, you not only start to learn for your degree early but also experience university life before you even start university.
  
  
• The foundation programme can give you a chance to study and interact with like-minded people and turn classmates into new friends.
  
  
• Foundation studies at Oxford Brookes will provide you with the same level of experience, quality facilities and support services as a degree-level student.
  
  
• Oxford Brookes ranks in the top 10 higher education institutions in the South East of England (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024)

Available Foundation Programmes of Oxford Brookes University: tuition fees and intakes

 *Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years, both for new and continuing students.

The university also offers Integrated Foundation courses. This foundation course takes an additional year of studies as an integral part of a student’s chosen undergraduate degree. Completing the Integrated Foundation course will let you progress automatically to your degree.

Students can choose to study:

• International Foundation in Business & Technology:
  This 1-year-long preparation study can give you access to study an undergraduate degree in Business and Management, Accounting and Finance, Economics, Marketing, Hospitality Management, Computing or Real Estate and Construction.
  
  
• International Foundation in Arts, Humanities and Law:
  Doing a foundation in these subject areas will lead you to choose between Law, Politics & Psychology / Social Sciences / Humanities, Media and Communication.

Scope for Bangladeshi students

Int. Business Management, Computing Science and Int. Hospitality (Events and Tourism Management) are some of the popular subject areas chosen by Bangladeshi students at Oxford Brookes University.

In the current year, the university is offering a £2,000 International Student Scholarship for September entry on foundation, undergraduate or post-graduate courses. This offer is specifically applicable for International Students, and Bangladeshi students can also avail this scholarship by meeting certain criteria mentioned on the university website; Link.

To enroll in a foundation course, students from Bangladesh need to show that he/she has successfully passed a high school certificate, O-levels or equivalent academic qualification.

In addition, you also need to show that you have the appropriate English language qualification, such as IELTS 5 or equivalent.

Student life at Oxford Brookes

The city of Oxford is famous for its stunning historical architecture and the presence of the prestigious University of Oxford. Making the city a preferable study destination for international students around the world.

While studying at Oxford Brookes, you would be able to experience Oxford Museums, holding some of the rarest and oldest findings, visit shops at the large Westgate Oxford Shopping Centre, explore art galleries and also try multinational cuisines from various restaurants, catering for your homesickness.

Moving around Oxford and its surrounding cities is easier, as the university offers a public bus service named BrookesBus, operated by Oxford Bus Company. Students can travel within the main city centre area on foot and by cycling.

The main train station inside the city, known as Oxford Train Station, provides regular services to cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

The university offers multiple extracurricular activities that students can participate in the campus. Joining clubs and societies, doing sport and fitness classes, playing outdoor games, attending workshops, and competitions can be the best way to develop personal skills and extend connections.

Living expenses at Oxford vary between the categories, locations and features of accommodation. There are currently 13 university-owned student halls spread across different locations in Oxford city.

The price for an en-suite, non-en-suite, shared flat, shared room, and en-suite rooms ranges from £135 to £200 per week.

Foundation year scope in Bangladesh

There are many top global universities offering foundation courses, some have a dedicated college through which they provide academic support. Moreover, there are other institutions which work in partnership with foreign universities.

Similarly, NCUK offers foundation and preparation studies through their study centres spread across 110+ locations, in over 35 countries.

In Bangladesh, NCUK operates their study centre through a partnership with MIE Pathways Study Campus. At present, NCUK is offering International Foundation Year, International Year One and Master's Preperation Programme over two pathway study centres in Dhanmondi and Uttara area of the Capital city, Dhaka.

At MIE Pathways, students who have just finished their 0-levels/higher secondary or are struggling to meet university entry requirements or are planning to give their academic career another start after a long study gap, can complete their International Foundation year with just 9 months of studying.

Here, you will be provided with ample academic resources, expert guidance from tutors and a study environment perfect for getting familiar with the university curriculum.

All under strict guidance laid out by NCUK, for a lower tuition fee compared to studying as an internal student. After completing, you will have direct entry into the undergraduate level from 60+ NCUK partner universities.

Student testimony:

“ I’m a dreamer, so I’ve been wanting to study Hospitality Management for years now, and I think I want to explore. It would be amazing to open my own hotel one day. But at the same time, there are so many opportunities because it’s such a broad study, you can kind of discover as well what direction you want to go. Brookes is one of the leading universities for Hospitality Management. Like, employers come to Brookes and they’re kind of already recruiting already their students. So, I don't think you’re going to be jobless when you finish at Brookes.

In the Foundation, I can kind of shape this year how I want it. I feel like I'm completely prepared right now for my undergraduate studies. The education I find here is very personal, there are only small classes which give you a lot of attention, and I think that’s way better for developing yourself. Any question I have, I can just ask, and there’s always time for that. I think Brooks has a lot of opportunities to go abroad and get new experiences, meeting boots of new people and discovering more about yourself.

The library is amazing, it’s so big, and I think the online library has everything I’m looking for, really. Never have I had a moment when I’m looking for a particular source and it was not in the Brookes Library. I'm part of the Latin society, which is really fun because I'm learning Spanish and they’re organising events sometimes or going out, or they’re having dinners. Oxford is incredibly international. I didn’t expect this to be honest. I knew it was a student city but not this international; Brookes is amazing, I mean everything is incredible, you won't forget it, and it’s just amazing”.