Business Management with Foundation Year

At least 3 GCSEs including

• GCSE Maths, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

• GCSE English, Grade C or Grade 4 or above. 

If you don't hold GCSEs, we accept 45 credits at Level 2 or equivalent.

If your qualifications are older than 3 years we also ask to see a professional CV.

We strive to support students to succeed, whatever their background, and we encourage you to apply to study with us even if you don’t meet the academic requirements.

We view all applications holistically – and will consider a minimum of 12 months professional work experience (evidenced with a CV and reference) if you don't meet the academic entry requirements.

You'll also be required to submit a motivation letter that outlines:

• your motivations for choosing this course

• how your work experience has prepared you for the Foundation Year course

• how the course aligns with your career goals.

Thinking of transferring institutions or have you studied before? Your prior learning could mean you're exempt from some modules, bringing you closer to your goals.

Unlock the value of your past learning and experience with our recognition of prior learning process. Simply consult with our Study Advisers, and submit a recognition of prior learning form alongside your application.

If you’re a mature student and you don’t meet our entry criteria, you may be eligible to enrol through our mature student process.

You may be required to submit a CV and a short supporting statement of 500 to 600 words. This should set out why you want to study this programme and how it will support your career plans.

We also consider a variety of qualifications including Functional Skills Qualifications, BTEC Firsts and National Vocational Qualifications.

Overseas qualifications may be accepted, and will be subject to evidence of equivalency normally verified through ECCTIS (UK ENIC).

If you’re a non-native English speaker, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your English language proficiency in one of the following forms.

Alternatively, you may be accepted if you have previously studied in English at an appropriate level and attended a recognised institution.

IELTS grade of 6.0 overall or above, with no element below 5.5.

An online English test is offered (SPEEXX) if IELTS not available. 

TOEFL minimum 80 points.

Trinity College ISE – ISE III at minimum pass. Please note that Trinity College ISE academic results are only valid for two years.

Duolingo English test minimum 95 points. Take Duolingo’s online English test. It takes just 45 to 60 minutes, and you’ll receive your results within two days. You can then send your certificate to us.

Cambridge Certificate minimum B grade overall.

• Foundations of learning

  Develop essential academic skills, including effective communication in groups, time management, and goal setting in this introductory module.

• Academic integrity and writing for business

  Learn the fundamentals of academic writing specific to the business domain, focusing on proper source citation, avoiding plagiarism, and crafting impactful content for various business contexts.

• Personal career plan

  Engage in strategic career planning to identify personal strengths and understand diverse job search techniques while building and maintaining a professional brand.

• Elective: Foundation Year: (see Electives: Foundation Year)

• Applied learning strategies

  Enhance your learning techniques with advanced strategies in self-study, communication, presentation skills, and handling academic challenges effectively.

• Developing a business mindset* – business related track

  Cultivate a comprehensive business mindset, touching on self-management, understanding failures, the importance of sustainability, diversity, equality, and basic financial literacy.

• Business ethics – business related track

  Explore ethical principles in business practices, focusing on social justice, sustainability, and making ethical decisions within a corporate context.

• Project: innovation and investigation

  Apply your cumulative knowledge from the foundation year in a conclusive project designed to integrate theory with practical business applications.

*Please note, this elective will be available to study from April 2025.

• Business 101

  Gain a foundation in business administration, understanding organisational structures, strategic marketing, and basic accounting principles.

• Managerial economics

  Explore the economic interactions in markets, the behaviour of consumers, and entrepreneurial decision-making processes.

• Principals of management

  Acquire knowledge on fundamental management principles, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling within a business.

• Business mathematics

  Address complex business problems using mathematical concepts such as calculus and statistics for business analysis.

• Collaborative work

  Develop essential skills for teamwork and professional collaboration, emphasizing empathy, networking, and emotional intelligence.

• International marketing

  Study marketing strategies within a global context, understanding cultural differences and international market dynamics.

• Management accounting

  Learn about the roles and functions of management accounting in business, focusing on cost analysis, budgeting, and performance management.

• Entrepreneurship and innovation

  Explore the processes of entrepreneurship and innovation, understanding the impacts on economies, and develop skills in business development and innovation management.

• Introduction to academic work

  Develop the skills required to write academically and get an overview of different examination formats and requirements.

• Agile project management

  Learn to distinguish agile project management from a plan-driven approach, understanding the roles of typical agile procedures and practices.

• Corporate finance and investment

  Study financial management and investment decision-making, understanding corporate financial structures, market functions, and financial risk assessments.

• Leadership 4.0

  Adapt to modern leadership challenges, understanding the impacts of digital transformation on leadership styles and organisational management.

• Sustainability

  Integrate sustainability into business practices, learning about ethical responsibilities, sustainable development, and corporate sustainability reporting.

• Digital business models

  Examine how digital transformation influences business models, understanding the creation, delivery, and capture of value in a digital context.

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Elective A (see Electives A section below)

• Corporate governance and strategy

  Understand corporate governance structures, strategic planning processes, and apply these concepts to manage and control corporate strategies effectively.

• Seminar in current topics in digitalisation

  Engage in advanced discussions on digitalisation, developing critical analysis skills through seminars and comprehensive research papers on digital transformation topics.

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective B (see Electives B section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Elective C (see Electives C section below)

• Undergraduate (bachelor) thesis

  Apply the subject-specific and methodological competencies learned throughout your course to present an academic dissertation. You’ll also learn how to tackle a practical-empirical or theoretical-scientific problem.

• Foundations of academic English

  Refine academic English proficiency focusing on grammar, sentence structure, and academic integrity vital for academic and professional success.

• Skills for business

  Learn practical business communication skills necessary for drafting professional emails, handling business meetings, and effective public speaking.

• Maths foundations

  Reinforce foundational mathematical concepts essential for tackling complex mathematical problems in business contexts.

• Digital skills

  Understand the impact of digital transformation across various professions and master essential digital skills needed in the modern workforce.

• Change management

  Explore various change models and learn to manage change effectively within a business, understanding roles, communication, and potential challenges in implementing change processes.

• Innovation management

  Delve into innovation management processes, learning to innovate within corporate environments, manage creativity, and drive sustainable business practices through innovative strategies.

• Customer relationship management

  Develop a comprehensive understanding of customer relationship management, focusing on customer loyalty, retention strategies, and the effective application of CRM tools in business.

• International management

  Gain insights into managing businesses on an international scale, understanding global market trends, cultural differences, and strategies for successful international operations.

• Introduction to process management

  Learn the fundamentals of process management, focusing on designing, implementing, and improving business processes to enhance efficiency and productivity.

• Self-arranged internship I (*)

  Develop your practical and analytical skills by doing an internship and improving your employability. In several preparation tutorials, you’ll consider the working environment and the overall goal of your placement.

• Self-arranged internship II (*)

  As with the first internship, this is an opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge in a business environment. Develop your communication style, problem solving ability and time management.

  
  

*You'll be responsible for arranging a suitable internship for your field of study. Once arranged, please complete an application to the internship module via your online study platform, to make sure your internship can be recognised and credited towards your course requirements.

Human resource management

• Introduction to new work

  Study new organisational work structures and their impact on leadership and human resources, exploring agile processes and the shift towards more democratic and empowering work environments.

• Organisational behaviour

  Understand the dynamics of behaviour within organisations, analysing group and individual behaviours to improve performance and engagement across corporate settings.

Marketing and sales

• Applied sales I

  Focus on key aspects of sales including organisation, customer acquisition, and negotiation techniques, understanding the changing dynamics in sales due to globalization and digitalisation.

• Applied sales II

  Continue exploring advanced sales strategies and customer management techniques, focusing on building long-term relationships and effective customer retention strategies.

Data and business intelligence

• Statistical computing

  Acquire skills in statistical computing using R programming, applying these techniques to real-world business datasets to make informed, data-driven decisions.

• Data analytics and big data

  Learn the intricacies of big data analytics, understanding data structures, mining techniques, and the legal frameworks governing data analysis.

Supply chain management & industry 4.0

• Supply chain management I

  Explore foundational concepts of supply chain management, understanding logistics, flow standards, and network challenges in modern supply chains.

• Supply chain management II

  Advance your understanding of supply chain strategies, focusing on planning, sourcing, making, delivering, and returning processes within the supply chain management framework.

Accounting, planning and control

• Accounting and balancing

  Build a foundational knowledge of financial accounting, preparing and analysing financial statements, and understanding the implications of financial data on business decisions.

• International accounting

  Compare international financial reporting standards (IFRS) with national accounting principles, focusing on the preparation and analysis of global financial statements.

IT project management

• Fundamentals of IT and ERP systems

  Develop an understanding of IT strategies and enterprise resource planning systems, learning about software and hardware systems that support business operations.

• Requirements engineering

  Study the techniques and methods for defining and managing business requirements in IT systems, focusing on the documentation and verification of these requirements to ensure system efficiency.

Human resources

• Digital HR

  Explore how digitalisation impacts human resource management, understanding the potential of digital technologies to enhance HR processes and strategies.

• International HR management

  Gain insights into human resource management in an international context, focusing on cultural diversity, international staffing strategies, and global HR challenges.

Marketing and sales

• Online marketing

  Develop strategies for effective online marketing, understanding digital channels, customer engagement, and measuring the success of online campaigns.

• Social media marketing

  Learn the strategies behind effective social media marketing, focusing on content management, target audience engagement, and legal aspects of digital advertising.

Accounting, planning and control

• Corporate planning and control

  Learn strategic corporate planning and control processes, focusing on budgeting, performance analysis, and the alignment of corporate strategies with operational goals.

• Digital finance and controlling

  Explore the impact of digital transformation on finance and controlling processes, understanding the technologies that drive efficiency and innovation in financial management.

Supply chain management and industry 4.0

• Product development in industry 4.0

  Explore modern product development strategies within the context of Industry 4.0, learning about digital tools and techniques that enhance product design and manufacturing processes.

• Project: Smart product solutions

  Work on designing smart product solutions, applying knowledge of digital business models and using innovative tools to solve practical business problems.

Banking and financial service

• Foreign exchange exposure and management

  Understand the complexities of managing foreign exchange risks in multinational corporations, focusing on currency exposure and hedging strategies.

• International investment appraisal

  Study investment decision-making in an international context, analysing the financial strategies and investment opportunities for multinational enterprises.

Data and business intelligence

• Business intelligence

  Understand the concepts and practices behind business intelligence, focusing on data analysis, information management, and decision-making processes supported by BI tools.

• Project: Business intelligence

  Apply your knowledge in a practical BI project, designing and developing business intelligence solutions based on specific organisational requirements.

IT project management

• IT project management

  Understand the fundamental principles and practices of managing IT projects, focusing on methodologies, risk management, and effective project execution strategies.

• IT architecture management

  Develop a strategic understanding of IT architecture management, learning about the frameworks and models that guide the design and implementation of effective IT structures.