'Things like disrupted schooling, as in my case, really affect students — these factors impact grades and inevitably our chances of getting into an institution like Oxford,' writes LMH undergraduate Maah-Noor Ali in the Financial Times.

Maah-Noor first joined Lady Margaret Hall through its inaugural Foundation Year programme, which she says helped her feel 'so much more prepared to begin my undergraduate degree. My essay writing skills, my interpersonal skills and just the stability of university helped immensely.

The scheme works as a bridge — to the university and then as a way of giving us the preparation for an Oxford entrance interview (which all of us on the foundation year had to go through). The extra time also really helped me to decide whether I wanted to study English at degree level. Now as an undergraduate I can’t imagine studying anywhere else.'

Syeda Maah-Noor Ali in the Financial Times