Bachelor Degree with Integrated International Foundation Year (Business) BA

Course overview

Develop key English language and academic skills, study foundational business topics, then progress onto your chosen undergraduate degree.

Study Business and develop skills that will help you accelerate your career. Whether you want to start your own enterprise or embark on a successful journey in a private or public profession, a BA in Business can take you there.

A four-year Integrated International Foundation degree provides valuable support to help you settle in, learn and gain confidence to successfully study at an undergraduate level. Develop critical English-language and study skills. Choose modules based on the Business degree course you choose to progress onto. Then build crucial knowledge through on-campus lectures, workshops, and seminars – helping ensure you study with confidence through years 2 to 4.

As well as opening the door to professional and academic careers in your chosen Business BA programme, you’ll develop a wealth of transferable skills. Communication, analysis, creativity, critical thinking – you’ll gain expertise valued across a huge range of professions.

“The academic staff are really helpful and easy to contact. If I ever need help or feel confused, I can speak with them, and they will take time to explain things to me in more detail.”

Joses Setianto, Bachelor Degree with Integrated International Foundation Year (Business) BA

Why study at Leeds

• Study with reduced entry requirements: An International Foundation Year lets you enter higher education if you don’t yet meet the entry requirements for an undergraduate (Bachelor) degree.
• Fully prepare for your undergraduate programme: Study a mixture of subject-specific modules along with English language and academic study skills content.
• Strong interdisciplinary, industrial and global links: Leeds University Business School helps you gain skills and understanding applicable across a huge range of contexts and careers.
• Triple accreditation: The Business School holds a prestigious Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), placing it in the top 1% of business schools globally.
• Progress onto a course of your choice: Study one of 18 Business BA and BSc courses after you have completed your foundation year.
• Tailored to your career goals: Hone your skills through a wide range of pathways and optional modules. 
• Be supported to succeed: Benefit from small tutorial groups and regular one-to-one meetings with academic staff to ask questions and discuss your work.
• In the 2025 academic year, 94% of students progressed from the University of Leeds International Foundation Year to Year 1.
• One of the most established international foundation programmes of its type in the UK, offered by a university ranked in the top 100 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026). Since 1989, we have been helping high-achieving students realise their ambition to study with us.

Accreditation

Leeds University Business School holds a prestigious Triple Crown accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS), placing it in the top 1% of business schools globally.

Individual courses are also accredited by a wide range of relevant bodies. View our accreditations.

Course details and modules

In a friendly and supportive environment, the foundation year prepares you for entry onto your chosen Business-related undergraduate degree. Alongside academic study skills and English, you will study subject-specific, tailored modules, designed to ensure that you are fully prepared for your next years of undergraduate study. This will include a selection of business modules such as Foundation of Economics, Introduction to International Business and Maths modules relevant to your chosen degree.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Bachelor Degree with Integrated International Foundation Year (Business) BA in the course catalogue

Year 1

Depending on the subjects you studied, grades obtained in your secondary education and your chosen progression degree with us, you will be placed on one of the following sets of module combinations.

Finance pathway

• Academic Study Skills for Business (40 credits)

• Foundations of Economics (20 credits)

• Introduction to International Business (10 credits)

• Introduction to Mathematics and Statistics (20 credits)

• Introductory Management (10 credits)

• Mathematics for Business and Finance (20 credits)

Business pathway

• Academic Study Skills for Business (40 credits)

• Foundations of Economics (20 credits)

• Introduction to HRM (10 credits)

• Introduction to International Business (10 credits)

• Introduction to Marketing (10 credits)

• Introduction to Mathematics and Statistics (20 credits)

• Introductory Management (10 credits)

Music Enterprise pathway

• Academic Study Skills for Business (40 credits)

• Exploring Music Studies (20 credits)

• Introduction to International Business (10 credits)

• Introduction to HRM (10 credits)

• Introductory Management (10 credits)

• Introduction to Marketing (10 credits)

• Music in Practice (20 credits)

Business Science pathway

• Academic Study Skills for Business (40 credits)

• Elementary Differential Calculus (Version 1) (10 credits)

• Elementary Differential Calculus (Version 1) 10 credits)

• Foundations of Economics (20 credits)

• Introduction to Applied Mathematics 1 (10 credits)

• Introduction to Applied Mathematics 2 (10 credits)

• Introduction to International Business (10 credits)

• Introductory Management (10 credits)

Years 2, 3 and 4

If you complete this year successfully, you would be expected to progress onto one of our three-year undergraduate degrees. Please go to the International Foundation Year website for the list of approved programmes and degrees.

Learning and teaching

We use a variety of teaching and learning methods on this course, with teaching delivered through lectures, workshops and seminars, supported by virtual learning platforms to enhance the learning journey.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Modules in the international foundation year will use a variety of assessment methods including exams, essays, reports and presentations.

Entry requirements

International

Please go to the International Foundation Year website for details on how to apply and entry requirements.

Fees

UK: Not applicable

International: To be confirmed

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

Please go to the International Foundation Year website for details on scholarships.

Applying

Please go to the International Foundation Year website for details on how to apply and entry requirements.

This course is taught by

International Foundation Year

Contact us

International Foundation Year

Email: IFYAdmissions@leeds.ac.uk

Career opportunities

An Integrated International Foundation Year lets you study at an undergraduate level. This will help you pursue careers related to your chosen course and develop transferable skills valued by employers across a wide range of professions.

Employment opportunities for graduates of Leeds University Business School are varied, depending on the course you choose to study. As such, we recommend exploring the careers information on the course pages for the programmes you can choose from after completing your foundation year.

Where this degree could take you

Recent graduates have gone on to pursue exciting careers across a broad range of industries, including:

• consulting
• marketing and advertising
• financial services
• logistics and distribution
• research and development
• business services
• banking

“The academic study skills module is also really helpful, as the way you are taught in the UK is very different to high school in Indonesia. We learn about how to write academic essays, referencing, giving presentations – all skills which are important to my degree programme.”

Joses Setianto, Bachelor Degree with Integrated International Foundation Year (Business) BA

Learn more about the careers our students have pursued – read our undergraduate alumni profiles.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one.

Our Careers Service has the global expertise and sector-spanning industry partnerships that, combined, go way beyond simply helping you get a job. They provide you with the resources you need to upskill and achieve the future you aspire towards – even in the face of lightning-paced change.

• Dedicated Employability Team – meet with our qualified careers consultants and specialist employability and placements officers, on hand to help you choose the right path and develop the skills to get there. They can support with CV and cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile building, mock interviews and navigating AI: get confident with tailored advice and techniques.
• Employability and networking events – get involved in a full range of events, including careers fairs and specialist industry talks with employers who are actively recruiting. You’ll also benefit from mentoring and a supportive careers community, helping you make connections, build your network, and shape your journey as a future professional.
• Skills training – we embed transferable skills training in all our programmes to support your transition to the workplace. Gain expertise employers value, such as communication, problem-solving and research and data analysis.
• MyCareer system —– access a dedicated portal where you can book careers appointments, view helpful resources and browse vacancies and events. Access digital tools, including LinkedIn support, video‑interview preparation, plus global job market and visa guidance. We also offer pre‑arrival support to help you prepare for career planning in the UK and make the most of your time with us.
• Exclusive opportunities – bring your enterprise to market with our award-winning business advice service, Spark. Apply for vacancies only available to our students. And hone your skills further with Leeds University Union, home to volunteering opportunities and over 300 clubs and societies.

Explore more about your employability opportunities at the University of Leeds.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to explore the world, whilst gaining invaluable skills and experience that could enhance your future employability and career prospects too.

From Europe to Asia, the USA to Australasia, we have many University partners worldwide you can apply to, spanning across some of the most popular destinations for students.

This course offers you the chance to spend time abroad, usually as an extra academic year, which will extend your studies by 12 months.

Once you’ve successfully completed your year abroad, you'll be awarded the ‘international’ variant in your degree title which demonstrates your added experience to future employers.

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

Make connections, practice skills and build future confidence in your future with an industrial placement year as part of your course.

A work placement can be a great investment in your future:

• Choose from 100+ organisations in the UK and overseas.
• Build industry contacts within your chosen field.
• Be in direct contact with potential employers thanks to our close industry links.
• Advance your experience and skills by putting course teachings into practice.
• Gain invaluable insight into working as a professional in your chosen industry.
• Improve your employability.
• All placements sourced by the University are paid positions
• We also offer shorter-term placement opportunities.

Our Employability Team are here to help you every step of the way. They run several placement sessions to answer your questions, discuss available opportunities and support you with CV writing and interview preparation.

If your application is successful, during placement, you'll be supported by an industrial supervisor from within the company, plus an academic supervisor who will keep in touch throughout.

If you decide to undertake a placement year, this will take place after you have completed your foundation year. It will extend your period of undergraduate study by 12 months. 

On successful completion of your placement year, you'll be awarded the ‘industrial’ variant in your degree title to demonstrate your added experience to future employers.

We can’t guarantee a work placement. The job market is competitive – and there may be competition for the placement you want. You’ll have to apply the same way you would for any job post, with your CV and, if successful, attend an interview with the organisation. That said, we encourage everyone to apply.

Find out more about Industrial placements.