Business with Foundation Year
Kickstart your career with our Business with Foundation year course, designed to give you the essential skills and knowledge to succeed in the dynamic world of business.
Key information
For:
starting September 2026
Typical offer:
32 tariff points at A level, or equivalent.
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
This foundation year is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to progress on to one of our Bachelor's degrees in business, marketing, or economics. You’ll develop critical thinking, digital literacy, and communication skills, alongside subject-specific knowledge in business.
Through interactive workshops and hands-on learning, you’ll gain insight into both the internal functions of businesses and the global business environment. With a strong focus on collaboration, leadership, and professionalism, this course prepares you for success in higher education and beyond.
Course highlights
- Study one subject at a time, helping you fully engage with your learning without juggling multiple deadlines
- Build essential skills in critical thinking, digital literacy, and communication to confidently progress to a full degree
- Interactive workshops and practical projects give you a deep understanding of business functions and global markets. networking events and presentations with business leaders
- Learn in a brand-new, purpose-built campus, designed for teamwork, leadership development, and independent study.
After your foundation year
Once you’ve successfully completed your foundation year, the topics and modules you go on to study will depend on the degree course you choose to take.
Bachelor's degrees you could progress onto:
Quick guide to foundation year courses
A foundation year course allows you to:
- Explore your options before choosing your Bachelor's degree course
- Experience university life and get a taste for the way you'll be taught
- Develop the study skills and knowledge you'll need to succeed in your chosen Bachelor's degree
Find out more about how this course works in our foundation year guide.
Your new home at UoP London
Located just a minute’s walk from Walthamstow’s tube and bus stations, our campus provides easy access to the entire city, placing you at the centre of London’s dynamic business scene.
Come along to an Open Day
Open Days at the London campus vary to those held in Portsmouth.
Contact information
London Campus Enquiries: london@port.ac.uk
Clearing is open
This course is available through Clearing.
Apply now through Clearing
If you have your results, you can apply directly to us now.
Discover how Clearing works
Clearing 2025 opens on 5 July and closes on 20 October
Every year thousands of students find their ideal undergraduate course through Clearing. Clearing matches students who are looking for a different course or university from their original choice, or who are applying for the very first time after 30 June, to courses that universities still have places on.
The majority of people apply through Clearing once they receive their exam results on A level / T level results day (14 August 2025).
You can apply through Clearing if:
- You don't meet the conditions of your offer for your firm (first) or insurance (second) choice courses
- Your exam results are better than you expected and you want to change your course or university
- You don't hold any offers
- You've accepted an offer but changed your mind about the course you want to do
- You're applying for the first time after 30 June 2025
Yes, we welcome Clearing applications from international students and you can apply in exactly the same way as UK students do.
The majority of UK students apply through Clearing once they receive their A level / T level results in August, so as an international student if you already have your exam results you can apply when Clearing opens on 5 July.
Make sure that you have time to get your visa, funding, and English language certification sorted out before the beginning of term.
If you would like further information or guidance, please contact our international office for advice.
No, it's not too late and you should make your application for student finance as soon as possible. You don't have to wait for your results. You can make your application now and just amend it when you know where you're going to be.
If you've already applied for your student loan, you'll need to log into your account and update details about your new course/university. If you haven't applied for your student loan yet, don't panic. Apply today – it only takes 30 minutes.
Find out more in our Student finance for Clearing guide.
Clearing Hotline: 023 9284 8087
Entry requirements
Business with Foundation Year entry requirements
Please note this course isn't currently open to EU or International students
Typical offers
- 32 tariff points at A level, or equivalent.
You may need to have studied specific subjects or GCSEs - see full entry requirements and other qualifications we accept.
English language requirements
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 5.5 with no component score below 5.5.
See alternative English language qualifications.
We also accept other standard English tests and qualifications, as long as they meet the minimum requirements of your course.
If you don't meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
We look at more than just your grades
While we consider your grades when making an offer, we also carefully look at your circumstances and other factors to assess your potential. These include whether you live and work in the region and your personal and family circumstances which we assess using established data.
Careers and opportunities
This degree will prepare you to climb the career ladder in any sector that appeals to you and will open doors to a wide variety of careers in the business world. You’ll graduate with the skills to start a successful career in any commercial arena, or even start your own business.
Previous graduates have started their own businesses or gone on to secure various jobs, such as:
- Account Manager
- Business Development Manager
- HR Manager
- Marketing Manager
- Project Manager
Our graduates have gone on to work for some of today’s best-known organisations, including:
- BAE Systems
- Deloitte
- Disney
- Estée Lauder
- HM Government
- IBM
- John Lewis Partnership
- Microsoft
- Santander
- Volkswagen Group UK
Modules
What you'll study
Core modules
All modules in this year are core modules.
Delivered through interactive workshops, this module equips you with practical skills in financial analysis and business analytics using industry-standard tools like Excel. You will explore key financial concepts, financial statements and ratio analysis. You will learn how financial information supports business planning and decision-making, developing the ability to interpret basic financial data. The module also introduces business analytics, covering numerical techniques, data visualization, and data-driven decision-making. You will gain proficiency in using Excel to organize and analyse business data. By the end of the module, you will be able to apply financial and analytical techniques to solve business problems effectively, preparing you for further studies or professional development in finance and data analytics.
You will be introduced to leadership techniques you can use to motivate others and to provide constructive feedback. You will learn to make use of creative thinking to tackle real-world challenges and to communicate professionally while taking account of diverse perspectives. The interactive workshops include group simulation activities where you will work collaboratively over several weeks to address challenges or problems. Following the activity, you will give and receive feedback on how you managed the tasks. You will also reflect on your own learning and the feedback you provide to others, a skill that will help you to be a valuable team player throughout your degree and beyond.
You will explore diverse businesses, from small enterprises to multinational corporations, and examine how external factors, such as political, economic, social, and technological influences, shape strategies. Topics include the role of stakeholders, the dynamics of different market structures like perfect competition and monopoly, and the far-reaching effects of globalization and international trade. The module highlights the ethical considerations businesses face in a complex, interconnected world. Through practical frameworks and real-world examples, you will develop the skills to analyse business environments, understand decision-making processes, and recognize the critical factors influencing success in the modern business landscape.
You will examine the roles and interdependencies involved in achieving organizational goals, while gaining insight into marketing communications, employee engagement, operational efficiency, and financial management. Through scenario-based learning, you will develop problem-solving skills, presenting practical solutions to real-world business challenges. The module emphasizes effective communication and cross-functional collaboration in dynamic and competitive business environments, preparing you for further study in business and management.
You'll learn about and practice some coaching techniques and skills to manage your time and priorities effectively, while reflecting on your strengths, values, and goals to build your professional identity. You will explore concepts like emotional intelligence, resilience and cultural awareness. Through engaging workshops including discussions, group and individual activities, quizzes and surveys, you will learn about evidence-based ways to navigate ethical dilemmas, considering diverse perspectives, and to present your ideas confidently. You will practice different presentation techniques to improve your communication strategies, both in-person and online.
This module focuses on essential academic and professional skills in sourcing, analysing, and presenting information. Through practical, interactive workshops, and by exploring topics that interest you, you will learn to identify credible sources, evaluate arguments, and consider the advantages and limitations of AI and other digital tools while upholding academic integrity. You will practice using numerical data and writing clear, audience-specific written communication. You will also reflect on the insights gained through writing drafts and acting on the feedback you receive on your work.
The modules you study in years 2, 3 and 4 will depend on which degree you move onto at the end of year 1.
Bachelor's degrees you could progress onto:
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
- UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £5,760 per year (may be subject to annual increase)
Apply
Ready to apply?
Please note this foundation year isn't currently open to EU or International students
To start this course in September 2026, apply through UCAS. You'll need:
- the UCAS course code – N116
- our institution code – P80
If you'd prefer to apply directly, use our online application form:
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
To apply directly, use our online application form:
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
To apply directly, use our online application form:
You can also sign up to an Open Day to:
- Tour our campus, facilities and halls of residence
- Speak with lecturers and chat with our students
- Get information about where to live, how to fund your studies and which clubs and societies to join
If you're new to the application process, read our guide on applying for an undergraduate course.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.