Overview

The International Foundation in Business Management programme is ideal for those who wish to study a degree in business, but do not currently meet the entry requirements for direct study. Whether you’re looking to build your academic skills, improve your English, or gain foundational knowledge in business, this programme is designed to equip you with the tools you need for success. 

On this programme you will gain a broad understanding of business management, enhance your academic and English language skills, and have the opportunity to choose a specialist pathway to progress onto in areas such as: Accounting & Finance, Business Enterprise and Innovation Management, Global Business Management (including Marketing, Human Resources, and Logistics & Supply Chain), International Banking & Finance and International Tourism, Hospitality and Events.

Benefit from especially designed modules which will provide you with the knowledge and experience needed to flourish at undergraduate study.

Key facts

  • Build both your academic and English language skills
  • Be exposed to key business and management knowledge and practice
  • Gain an awareness of the cultural and ethical contexts through which business and management operate
  • Upon completion, you will progress onto the first year of a business undergraduate degree at Northumbria University London Campus.
  • Gain the chance to study at Newcastle Business School which is accredited by the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). According to AACSB, “Approximately 6% of the world’s schools offering business degree education have achieved AACSB accreditation, demonstrating a commitment to high-quality, rigorous standards, innovation, and continuous process improvement. Read more about our ‘double’ AACSB Accreditation

Northumbria University AACSB Accredited

What will I study?

The Foundation Year in Business Management offers a dynamic pathway for students who wish to study a degree in business but do not currently meet the entry requirements for direct study. The modules on this programme have been specifically designed to help you develop core academic skills and personal attributes necessary to progress and succeed in your future undergraduate study in business management.

On this programme you will cover a variety of core topics including IT & Communication Skills, Business Environment and Society, Introduction to Ethical Practices and Foundations of Mathematics for Business.

You will also benefit from having the Planning for University Wellbeing and Success module, which has been designed to enable you to practice and develop a range of academic skills, learn how to structure written essays and presentations, and be introduced to time management strategies to make your transition into higher education as smooth as possible.

The English for Foundation Studies (EFF) module is another core module which has the main aim of improving your English skills in preparation for you to progress onto your chosen undergraduate degree.

Teaching and assessment

  • Receive all the support you need to succeed with tutors experienced in teaching international students
  • Learn about the UK education system and enhance your academic skills
  • Improve each step of the way through on-going feedback from your personal tutor
  • Make the most of the University’s electronic learning portal (Blackboard) in preparation for your future studies

Teaching and learning: seminars, lectures, tutorials and workshops
Taught hours: 15 hours per week
Assessment: coursework and exams

Which courses can I go on to study?

Upon completing the International Foundation in Business Management programme and subject to specific entry requirements, you will progress onto the first year of a business undergraduate degree at Northumbria University, where you can choose from the following options:

Academic & English requirements

  • 5 GCSE / iGCSE with a pass grade A-C
  • IELTS 5.5 with no single element below 5.5
  • IELTS 5.0 with no single element below 4.5 (reading and listening requires 5.0)

International entry equivalencies

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Please visit our entry requirements page for country-specific qualifications.

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All modules on this course are core and 20 credits unless otherwise stated.

This module will equip you with essential academic, technical and language skills needed for success in university and beyond. Through interactive sessions, you will engage with vital topics such as effective email communication, document creation and formatting, presentation design, and online collaboration tools.

The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and academic integrity, which will enhance your ability to articulate your ideas confidently through continuous feedback on presentations and written assignments. With a focus on employability, you will develop crucial skills in collaboration, problem-solving, and technology use, preparing you for diverse professional environments.

The module will finish with a comprehensive final project, where you will integrate your learning by producing a professional report, a presentation, and a formal email. This integrated approach ensures that you will be  well-prepared to navigate challenges in your future career and make meaningful contributions across various fields.

This module will provide a comprehensive review of key economic models that have shaped modern nations, businesses, public sector organizations, and entrepreneurial activity. You’ll take an international perspective to appreciate the dynamic and complex nature of contemporary organizations.

You’ll be introduced to business environment analysis models to understand the various elements and forces driving organizational change. You’ll also learn how to identify high-quality and reliable sources of business information and data to ensure your knowledge of the business environment is accurate, current, and relevant.

Additionally, you’ll review organizational structures, including functions and departments, and examine how these contribute to business success. You’ll explore management theories to evaluate different organizational settings. Overall, this module aims to equip you with a well-rounded understanding of economic models and their application in diverse organizational contexts.

This module provides you with an opportunity to practise and develop a range of core academic skills for success in future business undergraduate programmes. By the end of this module, you will have a sound understanding of the expectations of higher education learning. You will be supported to develop both academically and in relation to your personal wellbeing.

You will learn how to read texts more effectively, structure different types of written and oral responses including essays and presentations, refer to sources using quotations and paraphrasing in the appropriate style and understand assessments by analysing assessment briefs.

Alongside this academic focus, there is a wellbeing strand of this module which will introduce you to effective strategies to manage your time, cope with stress, work well with others and make a smooth transition to higher education. The focus will be to guide you to develop independence as a learner with the support of experienced and passionate professionals at the London campus.

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the ethical dimensions of modern business practices. It starts with the foundations of business ethics and their influence on decision-making.

You’ll explore corporate governance and how ethics shape relationships with stakeholders, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the broader social and environmental responsibilities of businesses.

Additionally, you will examine ethical challenges and learn measures to prevent unethical practices. By the end, you’ll be equipped with tools and frameworks to apply ethical thinking in real-world scenarios, preparing you to navigate moral challenges in a dynamic business environment.

On this module, you will develop a strong foundation in key mathematical concepts which are essential for understanding and applying quantitative methods in business contexts. You will begin by exploring topics such as ratio, scale, and proportion, which are crucial for financial analysis and decision-making in areas like pricing, investments, and market trends.

Understanding fractions, decimals, and percentages will enhance your ability to work with data, particularly in calculating profit margins, interest rates, and tax implications.

As the module progresses, you will delve into equations and formulae, equipping you with the tools to solve real-world business problems, including cost-revenue analysis and break-even calculations. The module will also introduce probability to help you assess risks and make informed decisions based on uncertainty.

You will study how to work with data and information, focusing on key statistical techniques such as finding central tendency (mean, median, and mode) and measures of dispersion (range, variance, standard deviation) to interpret data sets. Concepts like correlation and regression will further allow you to understand relationships between variables, useful for market research and forecasting.

Finally, you will be introduced to forecasting techniques, including time series analysis and index numbers, providing valuable insights into predicting future trends and understanding economic data such as inflation rates.

By studying this module, you will have the opportunity to improve your English for your undergraduate degree. You will develop your skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in addition to both grammar and vocabulary. You will learn by various seminar activities, self-directed study and applying what you learn to assessments.

You will study this module over two terms, using a mixture of seminars and self-study. Tutor-guided and self-study activities are timetabled in a learning plan which shows the stages of your learning.

The course information displayed on this page is correct for the academic year 2026/27. We aim to run the course as advertised however, changes may be necessary due to updates to the curriculum (due to academic or industry developments), student demand or UK compliance reasons.

Tuition fee 2026/27

  • International students: £17,250 per annum
Included in your tuition fees
Class hours (lectures, seminars and tutorials)
Online resources
24/ 7 Library with over 400,000 e-books and 50,000 electronic journals
Facilities (computers, printers, vending machines)
On-campus Wi-Fi
Study spaces
Academic Support
Student Support
Careers & Employment Service

 

Tuition fees do not include the cost of course books you may choose to purchase, stationery, printing, photocopying, accommodation, living expenses, travel or any other extracurricular activities.

We recommend you allow an additional £250 for the duration of your studies should you choose to purchase any additional reading materials.

Information for international students

Northumbria University is committed to providing the best possible experience to all our students. To ensure you secure your place with us, we require our international students to pay a deposit towards their fees. More information can be found here.

Scholarships and bursaries for international students

Depending on the country you are from, you may be eligible for a country bursary and/or scholarship when studying this undergraduate programme.

All of our scholarships and bursaries are automatically applied when we process your application and one of our team will be able to confirm your eligibility.

London Cost of Living Bursary

Eligible international students will receive an automatic bursary for £1,334, applied at the Conditional Offer as a fee discount. This bursary is effective for intakes in May 2025, September 2025, January 2026 and May 2026. This offer excludes Pre-sessional English, standalone Graduate Certificate programmes and sponsored applicants.

If you receive this bursary, you may still be eligible for additional bursaries and scholarships, these will be confirmed at the Unconditional Offer stage. Full maintenance costs still need to be evidenced when applying for your visa.

This bursary is only available for international students from specific countries. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information.

Region Scholarship
Southeast Asia 20%
Africa 20%
Russia & CIS 20%
South Asia 20%
Latin America 25%
Middle East: Levant regions (Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon) 20%

Payment plans for self-funded students

If you need support to spread the cost of your tuition, you may be eligible for our payment plan.

Payment plans

How to find out more

Enquire now to find more information about the course, studying with us, the application process, and to ask any other questions you may have.

Enquire now

How to apply

Direct applications – international students

We strongly recommend that you submit your application as early as possible to allow you to complete all of the preparations needed to study in the UK. After receiving an offer it can take time to arrange your finances and apply for your visa and it is important that you arrive in good time to enrol on your course. Please refer to the Dates and Fees page.

You can apply online to study the International Foundation in Business Management. This method allows you to upload your supporting documents at the time of application and automatically receive your student application number.

Please note: For applications you will be redirected to the Northumbria website to select which intake you would like to apply for.

Apply for the International Foundation in Business Management with:

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Accounting and Finance

Business Enterprise and Innovation Management
Global Business Management
Global Business Management (Marketing)
Global Business Management (Human Resources)
Global Business Management (Logistics and Supply Chain)
International Banking and Finance

International Tourism, Hospitality and Events

 

Supporting documents

For us to assess your application in a timely manner, it is important that you provide us with the following documents:

  • Fully completed application form
  • A personal email address must be included on the application form
  • Transcripts and/or certificates (including a certified translation if not English)
  • Passport – a copy of personal details page
  • Proof of financial sponsorship if applicable
  • Reference
  • Confirmation of immigration history including copies of previous and current visas if applicable

You can check more information on how to apply here, including guidelines for the application forms.

Information For Disabled Applicants

At Northumbria University London we welcome applications from disabled students and are committed to ensuring an equal and accessible application journey. Your application will be considered on an equal basis to all other applications. Please contact us if you require any assistance. This website is continually optimised to adhere to accessibility best practice guidelines; tools to assist users with specific accessibility requirements have also been provided. More information is available in our accessibility statement.

Course Information

Level of study:

Undergraduate degrees

2026/27 Tuition fee:

UK/Home Fee: N/A
International Fee: £17,250 (26/27)

Entry requirements:

5 GCSE / iGCSE with a pass grade A-C IELTS 5.5 with no single element below 5.5 or IELTS 5.0 with no single element below 4.5 (reading and listening requires 5.0)

English language requirements:

IELTS 5.5 with no single element below 5.5 or IELTS 5.0 with no single element below 4.5 (reading and listening requires 5.0)

Mode of study:

Full-time classroom

Duration:

2 semesters

Assessment methods:

Scholarship or bursaries:

Available

Student finance:

Not available

Payment plan:

Available

Starts:

January, September

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