Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc

If you would like to study for a degree in accounting and finance, banking and finance, business management with marketing, human resource management, economics, international business or management at university, but don’t currently meet the typical entry requirements for direct entry to a degree, then this extended degree is for you (subject to meeting our additional entry criteria).

The foundation element covers two years, during which you'll gain an understanding of key aspects of business studies. You'll study a range of subjects, including innovation and enterprise, marketing and organisational behaviour, as well as specialist modules depending on your choice of pathway.

The foundation year provides a supportive environment where you can make the transition to university study and gain the academic knowledge and study skills you’ll need to succeed.

On successful completion of the foundation year element, and subject to meeting the specific requirements for progression, you’ll continue to year two of your chosen degree course at Leeds University Business School.

The foundation year course is designed specifically for students from a widening participation background and therefore does not accept students with previous higher education experience, including other foundation years.

The foundation element is taught mostly by the Lifelong Learning Centre and caters for a wide range of students whether you’re a school leaver continuing your education or a mature learner returning to study.

Additional support

The Lifelong Learning Centre provides a supportive environment to help you make the transition to degree-level study. We’ll work closely with you during your foundation year to provide guidance.

The Business Studies with Foundation Year is a full-time, four year course which allows you to follow one of seven pathways to study towards a full honours degree from Leeds University Business School.

• Accounting and Finance pathway – this leads to the award of BSc Accounting and Finance
• Banking and Finance - this leads to the award of BSc Banking and Finance
• Business Management with Marketing - this leads to the award of BA Business Management with Marketing
• Economics pathway - this leads to the award of BSc Economics
• Human Resource pathway – this leads to the award of BA Human Resource Management
• International Business pathway - this leads to the award of BSc International Business
• Management pathway – this leads to the award of BA Business Management In your first two years you will gain an understanding of key aspects of business studies. You will study a range of business management subjects including, innovation and enterprise, marketing and organisational behaviour, as well as specialist modules depending on your choice of pathway.

In your first two years you will gain an understanding of key aspects of business studies. You will study a range of business management subjects including, innovation and enterprise, marketing and organisational behaviour, as well as specialist modules depending on your choice of pathway.

These first two years have been designed to offer you academic, personal and professional development in a supportive and encouraging environment. This will help to ensure that you have the academic knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the third and fourth years of study.

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 Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc in the course catalogue

Modules

Year 1

Year 2

Discovery modules

Throughout your degree you will benefit from a range of opportunities to expand your intellectual horizons outside or within your subject area.

This course gives you the opportunity to choose from a range of discovery modules. They’re a great way to tailor your study around your interests or career aspirations and help you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. Find out more about discovery modules on our Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

There is a strong emphasis during the foundation year on helping you to achieve to your full potential. Teaching is imaginative and supportive to make sure that you are intellectually stretched and helped through any sticking points in your learning. Group sizes are small enabling you to engage actively and be well supported by your peers.

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

Methods of assessment during the foundation year reflect those that you will find later in your degree in order to ensure that you are well prepared for continuing study. Assessment is a key way of enabling students to learn by doing and feedback from tutors supports this process.

Entry requirements

A-level: CCC excluding critical thinking and general studies. Applicants taking a Science A-level (in England) will be required to achieve a pass in the practical element in addition to the standard A-level grade requirement.

GCSE: English and maths grade C/4 or above, or equivalent. Applicants interested in following the Accounting and Finance, Banking and Finance or Economics pathway will need GCSE maths at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent.

Applicants interested in following the Business Management with Marketing pathway will need grade B/6 or above in GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths at grade C/4.

Other course specific tests:

Additional entry criteria

As well as the academic requirements above, you must live permanently in the UK and meet at least one of the following:

• Your permanent address is in a neighbourhood with low progression to higher education (we use the OfS postcode checker).
• You attended a school which achieved less than the national average of five A*-C / 9-4 passes (including English and Maths) at GCSE or attainment 8 score at GCSE in a state school. We use the All England State funded attainment 8 score, excluding applicants from selective and/or independent schools.
• You grew up in public care

We actively encourage applications from mature students. Further consideration will be given to the life experience of mature applicants and the circumstances in which they gained prior qualifications.

• Access to HE Diploma

  60 credits overall with 45 graded credits at Level 3 of which 45 must be at Merit or above

• BTEC

  Merit, Merit, Merit

• Cambridge Pre-U

  P1, P2, P3

• International Baccalaureate

  24 overall (12 higher)

• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate)

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

• Welsh Baccalaureate

  Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

Alternative Entry Scheme for mature applicants

If you are a mature applicant (over 21 at the point of entry) and you don’t have the required A Levels or GCSE qualifications you can complete our Alternative Entry Scheme (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the scheme). As part of this you may be asked to take tests in English and maths and to write an essay. Contact the Lifelong Learning Centre for more information.

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Please mention on your personal statement the area you want to progress to.

Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions team, and if you’re successful you’ll be invited to an interview. This could be either in person or on the phone. If you’re entering through the Alternative Entry Scheme you’ll be sent details after your interview.

If you are made an offer you'll be asked to engage with KickStart. This is a pre-entry programme designed to ease your move into studying at the University of Leeds. You're welcome to contact us for further information.

Admissions policy

Lifelong Learning Centre Admissions Policy 2021

Fees

UK: See fees section below

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2021 entry 
For UK full-time students starting in 2021, the fee for 2021/22 will be £9,250.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. Fees for UK undergraduate students are decided by the UK government and may vary if policy changes.

EU students starting in 2021/22 
EU students starting their course in the 2021/22 academic year or later will now be classed as international students and so will need to pay the international student tuition fee.

UK undergraduate tuition fees for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2022/23 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. In other years, the government has confirmed fee levels in the summer. When the fee is confirmed we will publish an update on all course pages.

Tuition fees for new international students for 2022 entry
Tuition fees for international students are published on each individual course page. These are usually published a year in advance, so 2022 course fees should be available from September 2021.

There are no upfront fees to pay. All eligible students are able to borrow the entire cost of tuition fees making study free at the point of entry, with good repayment terms. You are eligible if you are studying for 30+ credits per year on a programme which is at a higher level than any qualification you already hold. Previous study in Higher Education may affect your eligibility.

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 about additional costs

Financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Depending on your circumstances, non-repayable financial support including a fee discount is available from the Leeds Financial Support scheme.

On successful completion of the foundation element you could progress onto a degree in accounting and finance, banking and finance, business management with marketing, human resource management, economics, international business or management taught by Leeds University Business School. For more information about specific career opportunities please check the entry for the degree course you wish to progress to.

A qualification from the University of Leeds counts: our graduates are highly valued by employers. When you complete your degree programme you will also become part of a network of highly employable graduates.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.