Course contact details
University of Oxford
University Offices
Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JD
Materials Science with Foundation Year
- Master of Engineering (with Honours)
- 5 Years
- Full-Time
- 4 October 2027
- Undergraduate
- Open Application
Course summary
Are you a student from the UK interested in studying Materials Science, but your personal or educational circumstances have meant you are unlikely to achieve the grades typically required for Oxford? If so, choosing to apply for Materials Science with a Foundation Year might be the right option for you.
This course provides a strong grounding in the scientific principles that underpin Materials Science. You will study core topics in physics, chemistry and mathematics, developing your understanding of how materials behave and how their properties can be explained and applied.
About Materials Science
Materials Science is an interdisciplinary subject that brings together physics, chemistry and engineering to understand how materials are structured, how they behave, and how they can be designed for specific applications. You will study the relationships between the structure and properties of materials and how they are processed and manufactured.
Modern society depends on advanced materials in a wide range of contexts, from lightweight composites used in transport, to optical fibres for communication and microchips that underpin digital technology. Materials scientists develop new materials and processes to meet these challenges, contributing to areas such as energy storage, nanotechnology, and medical technologies.
About the Foundation Year in Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science
The Foundation Year in Chemistry, Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS) provides a strong grounding in core scientific and mathematical principles. The course places particular emphasis on building your confidence in applying knowledge, rather than simply acquiring it. Through problem-solving, laboratory work and an independent mini project, you will develop the skills needed to approach unfamiliar questions and work with increasing independence.
You will apply for a specific subject pathway, linked to the undergraduate degree you intend to study. These are:
-
Chemistry with Foundation Year, the use of chemical and mathematical principles to explain the behaviour of atoms and molecules, and their physical and chemical properties.
-
Engineering Science options, with Foundation Year, applying mathematics and science to solve real-world problems
-
Materials Science with Foundation Year, exploring how materials are structured, how they behave, and how they can be designed for different applications
Teaching during the Foundation Year is tailored to support your chosen pathway and prepare you for undergraduate study in that subject. All CEMS students follow a shared mathematics programme during the Foundation Year.
Preparation for Undergraduate Studies
Alongside your subject studies, you will take the Preparation for Undergraduate Studies course. This will help you develop core academic skills, including academic writing and communication skills, and opportunities for reflective practice, to support your progression to undergraduate level.
About the Astrophoria Foundation Year
The Astrophoria Foundation Year is a free, one-year intensive academic programme designed to bridge the gap between school and Oxford’s undergraduate courses. It will help you develop the study skills, subject knowledge and academic confidence needed to succeed at university.
Eligibility
This course is for UK state school students who meet the eligibility criteria for the Astrophoria Foundation Year. International students are not eligible to apply. Please visit the Astrophoria Foundation Year website for more information.
Fees
The Astrophoria Foundation Year is fully-funded, including tuition fees, college accommodation and a bursary for living costs.
This course is not accepting applications for deferred entry.
Ways to study this course
Campuses
- Open Application
Study options
- Master of Engineering (with Honours) • Full-Time • Integrated foundation year • 5 Years
Start dates
- 4 October 2027
Apply by
13 January 2027
This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.
Application codes
- Course code:
- FJ2F
- Institution code:
- O33
- Campus name:
- Open Application
- Points of Entry:
- Foundation
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)
University of Oxford has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.
See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?
How to apply
Apply by
13 January 2027
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- FJ2F
- Institution code:
- O33
- Campus name:
- Open Application
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Foundation
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
A levelAAB
Including Chemistry and Mathematics, with both As in science subjects and/or Maths.
Excluding General Studies (if taken)
Excluding General Studies (if taken)
UCAS TariffNot accepted
Scottish HigherBBBBB
Supplemented by two or more Advanced Highers.
Access to HE Diploma
Conditional offers are likely to be for completion of the Access to HE diploma with all the level 3 credits at Merit, and A grades in any A-levels taken.
Some Access courses allow students to take one or two A-levels as part of the course. This option is strongly recommended for students who wish to apply to Oxford, especially for those courses which have specific subject requirements.
Some Access courses allow students to take one or two A-levels as part of the course. This option is strongly recommended for students who wish to apply to Oxford, especially for those courses which have specific subject requirements.
Scottish Advanced HigherBBC-BB
Conditional offers will usually be for BBC if a student is able to take three Advanced Highers; where this is not possible then a student would be expected to achieve BB in two Advanced Highers.
International Baccalaureate Diploma ProgrammeOffer: 37
With 665 at HL.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)DDM
Conditional offers would usually be:
Extended Diploma with DDM,
Diploma with DD plus a A grade at A-level,
Foundation Diploma with D plus AB at A-level.
Extended Diploma with DDM,
Diploma with DD plus a A grade at A-level,
Foundation Diploma with D plus AB at A-level.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - PrincipalD3D3M1
Pre-U subject requirements are the same as those for A-levels.
It is highly desirable to have Chemistry to A-level or equivalent, and if it is not studied to this level it is strongly recommended that it is studied to AS-level or equivalent. For candidates studying Maths, Physics, Chemistry and FM to A-level, normally our conditional offer will require ABB in the first three (the A in any of these) and an expectation that you continue to study FM; an analogous offer will apply if instead of FM you are studying a different A-level in addition to the first three. We expect you to have taken and passed any practical component in your chosen science subjects. GCSE-level Chemistry, or an equivalent, is also required.
Additional entry requirements
- Interview
English language requirements
| Test | Grade | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 7.5 | Minimum 7.0 per component |
| TOEFL (iBT) | 110 | Minimum component scores: Listening: 22 Reading: 24 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24 |
| Cambridge English Advanced | Overall score of 191 or above, with at least 185 in each component | |
| Cambridge English Proficiency | Overall score of 191 or above, with at least 185 in each component |
Contextual admissions
Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.
Oxford uses a range of evidence about applicants’ academic performance and potential, including personal statements, references, admissions tests (depending on the chosen course), and interview performance (for those shortlisted).
In some subjects, candidates are required to achieve A or A* grades in certain subjects.
A very small number of students are admitted to Oxford who don’t meet their offer conditions in non-essential subjects, and this is often as a result of exceptional circumstances.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.
Additional fee information
For details on fee information, please visit ox.ac.uk/funding.
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