Business and Finance with Foundation Year

This module will introduce you to key concepts of business and management, looking at what business is (and isn’t). You will be encouraged to draw on real-life examples found in the businesses you use in your every day life. You will develop an understanding of the key functions used within contemporary businesses and learn about the tools and techniques used in business for analysis and planning. 

This module looks at what’s involved in starting up a sustainable business. You will discover what is needed for long term business success. We’ll look at financing and funding, business formation, planning, business ethics and sustainability along with other core aspects of start-ups. You will work closely with industry partners to gain insight into the world of start-ups. If you are interested in starting a business, this module will really help you to discover what is involved. You also gain key knowledge which your degree will build upon.  

This module will explain the importance and key elements of digital business. You will explore how digital business ideas drive technology choices and how those technologies support the development of the business.  

This module takes you through how to get to grips with the technology you need to succeed, as well as using the library, how to reference and how to produce the different styles of academic writing. It also helps you to develop yourself; you will create a CV, learn how to write a cover letter and find out what your learning style is. The module has guest speakers who share their expert knowledge and experience with you. All the skills covered in this module will help you to succeed in your chosen degree.

This module brings together everything you have learned so far and gives you the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice. Working in teams, you will develop a business idea and take it through the process of setting up a start-up. You will pitch your idea to a panel to secure investment, launch the business and organise an event, with profits donated to a local charity of your choice. Whatever your chosen business discipline, this module allows you to demonstrate and further develop your skills in a real-world context.

The module aims to acquire and develop an understanding of the employability skills required to succeed in your chosen industry. This is a practical module which will help you create and develop a professional CV and will develop your understanding of the recruitment and selection process. You will learn essential life-long skills to help you succeed in job applications whether they are for part-time work whilst you are a student or for your future graduate career.

Through an immersive and intensive delivery, this introductory module explores how businesses operate through core functions like people management, finance, marketing and operations. Via an organisational visit and case studies, you will learn how organisations work and respond to external change. 

You will compare business types alongside developing essential academic and professional skills in analysis, reporting and presentation of information to support future study and careers. The module will leave you with understanding of appropriate academic practice and expectations of professional behaviour alongside a strong foundation of business knowledge to build on for the remainder of your degree discipline.

This module will begin to prepare you to lead in the evolving world of finance by developing critical thinking and data informed decision-making skills. It explores the impact of digital technologies such as blockchain, DeFi, CBDCs and open banking on financial services. 

You will be encouraged to innovate by interrogating data, challenging assumptions and exploring entrepreneurial opportunities in emerging financial ecosystems. Through applied projects and case studies, you will examine the risks and opportunities of financial innovation. 

With a focus on sustainability, you will consider the long-term ethical, social and environmental implications of digital finance in a global context.

This is the start of your professional career, and this module lays the foundation that will support you in being a successful graduate. In your first year, you will research potential career options and map-out skills and opportunities to be developed through your second and third years. By building a graduate portfolio, and demonstrating employability skills, you will identify your strengths and weaknesses to create a personalised and targeted plan alongside your programme pathway. Starting early will give you the confidence and adaptability as you progress through your undergraduate career.

This module examines the twin forces shaping the future of business: the urgent drive toward sustainability and the disruptive potential of emerging technologies. You will explore ecological economics, climate change and the global energy transition alongside the dynamics of digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, robotics, automation, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, blockchain and virtual reality. 

Through case studies and applied learning, you will develop the ability to lead and innovate responsibly in a rapidly changing world, applying creative and sustainable solutions to transform industries and shape next-generation business strategies.

This module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of corporate finance, equipping you to lead through critical thinking and data-driven financial decision-making. Key topics include capital budgeting, financial analysis, risk and return, time value of money and capital markets. You will be encouraged to innovate by applying financial tools to evaluate performance and explore strategic investment decisions. 

With a focus on sustainability, the module also considers the long-term impact of financial choices on businesses, society and the environment. By the end, you will be prepared to make informed, responsible financial decisions in a corporate context.

This module will examine various aspects of project management through a variety of means, including online content and practical seminars informed by research and industrial collaborations. It will focus on theoretical approaches, tools and techniques of planning and controlling projects. You will learn to appreciate project management as an important and integral part of a business whether product or service based.

This module enables you to develop advanced analytical skills essential for informed decision-making, empowering you to lead with data. Through a blend of theoretical foundations and hands-on practice, you will learn to collect, clean analyse, visualise, and interpret data to support strategic business insights. Emphasising innovation, the module nurtures curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking, encouraging you to interrogate data critically and creatively. With a focus on sustainability, you will explore how data-driven decisions can contribute to long-term value for both people and planet.

This module enhances your understanding of financial markets and introduces you to investment strategies, focusing on security analysis, security valuation and trading techniques. It will enables you to lead in financial decision-making by developing critical thinking and data-driven analysis skills. You will be encouraged to innovate by interrogating financial data, applying entrepreneurial thinking and using digital tools to develop professional investment reports. Through practical and theoretical activities, curiosity and independent judgment will be cultivated. The module also explores how investment practices can sustain long-term value for people and the planet, inspiring responsible financial choices that contribute to ethical and sustainable global markets.

This module will enable you to build on the embedded employability skills developed during year one of the programme. Through engaging in various professional development and reflection activities, you will be able to identify or realise, evaluate, plan and lead on the development of your future-focused knowledge, skills, behaviours and activities required to help secure your professional career aspirations, according to your programme of study. You will develop knowledge on how to access career-specific and professional graduate-level job opportunities through exploring graduate-level labour market trends, and job-specific employer requirements. 

You will also draw on the expertise of the school’s Career’s and Employability team, employer visits and workshops delivered by the academic team within the school. This will enable you to identify and engage in innovative development strategies to improve your work experience and employability, enabling you to further strengthen in a sustained way your career-focused digital footprint in relation to your professional career goals and around the graduate level employer selection process.

This module offers you hands-on experience working on a live financial project within a real organisation. Operating in a team, you will tackle current business challenges, applying project, people and time management skills. You will lead by using financial data to make informed decisions and propose impactful solutions. You will innovate by applying entrepreneurial thinking and interrogating data to design creative strategies. You will sustain ethical and responsible practices by considering long-term value for people and the planet. Through client engagement, reflection and final delivery, you will gain practical insight into financial consultancy and develop key skills for future employment.

This module equips you to lead in financial operations by developing critical thinking and data-informed decision making. It explores automation technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA), to inspire meaningful change in financial practices. 

Building on FinTech foundations, you will learn to innovate by interrogating data, applying entrepreneurial thinking and designing automation solutions that enhance efficiency, compliance and analytical judgment. Case studies and practical exercises will be used to foster curiosity and evidence-based problem-solving. 

You will also explore how automation can sustain ethical financial practices, supporting long-term value for people and the planet through reflective analysis and solution-focused design.

You have the option to do a placement year, taking a year in industry to learn in a real-life environment whilst earning a salary and paying no tuition fees.

This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of and we will help you find out about vacancies and make the right connections with high profile employers through regular events and presentations.

 For more information, please visit the placement and internships page. 

This module enables you to step confidently into your future as a professional graduate. Building on your development at Levels 4 and 5, you will critically reflect on who you are, what you offer, and how you will make your contribution. You will deepen your emotional intelligence, evaluate workplace behaviours, and identify strengths and aspirations to shape a compelling professional identity. Using strengths-based diagnostics and simulated recruitment environments, you will learn to lead through critical thinking and data-driven decisions, innovate with curiosity and entrepreneurial skills, and sustain positive impact for people and planet while building a lifelong learning plan.

In this forward-thinking module, you will critically examine the impact of local business decisions across globalised value chains. The module builds on prior learning and integrates multi-disciplinary themes, including ethical leadership, innovation and digital transformation, to explore how businesses can accelerate progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Through case-studies, co-creation activities and student research, you will critically reflect on the assumptions and systems that underpin business as usual before examining the role of managers and leaders in leading change to address the complex challenges of environmental sustainability and social inequalities. The module prepares you for your final year of study and future as an independent learner, by developing your academic skills and problem-solving mindset as you investigate, present and recommend innovative solutions to inspire positive change in both local and global communities.

This module provides an in-depth exploration of international financial management, equipping you with advanced tools and techniques to lead in global finance. You will be empowered to innovate by interrogating financial risks, exploring mitigation tools, and applying advanced techniques to dynamic global markets. Ethical challenges are examined through a lens of curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking. Emphasis is placed on practical decision-making and critical appraisal of financial instruments. You will also explore how responsible financial management can sustain long-term value for businesses and societies in an increasingly interconnected and ethically conscious global economy.

This module develops practical Python programming skills for financial services, enabling you to lead with data-driven, secure and scalable solutions. You will learn programming concepts and apply them to real-world challenges such as data ingestion, API integration and automation. Alongside software craft (e.g. testing, packaging, type hints, performance), you will integrate code within modern cloud environments, security protocols (OWASP) and governance frameworks typical of regulated firms. 

Emphasising innovation, the module fosters curiosity and entrepreneurial thinking through the design of robust, adaptable software. It also highlights sustainability by promoting responsible coding practices and secure systems that support long-term resilience in regulated financial environments. 

This module provides you with in depth understanding of strategy and leadership. Using scenarios, you will be equipped to lead transformational change, make evidence-based strategic decisions and contribute meaningfully to sustainable organisational performance in complex, dynamic environments. You will examine and critique the underlying principles of key leadership theories and critically evaluate how effective leaders embed a culture of innovation in organisations. Finally, you will review and critically examine the strategic role of leaders within organisations.

This module empowers you to lead with informed decision-making by critically evaluating structures in international fixed-income and derivative markets. Through data-driven analysis, you will innovate by interrogating valuation models and exploring how financial instruments support investment, trading and hedging strategies. The valuation of fixed-income and derivatives instruments will be undertaken during the course. The module also enables you to explore financial practices that consider long-term impacts on people and the planet, encouraging learners to sustain meaningful change in global financial systems.

This module equips you to lead in finance by critically engaging with the principles, theories and practices of sustainable and responsible finance. It explores how environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria inform data-driven decision making and investment strategies. You will be encouraged to innovate by interrogating real-world case studies and applying entrepreneurial thinking to financial challenges. Through research and practical examples, you will assess the financial implications of sustainability and develop the skills to inspire change that matters. Emphasis is placed on how finance can sustain long-term value for people and the planet, preparing you for ethical leadership in a global financial context.