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Introduction
Why choose this course?
Over your 2 semesters, you’ll study several compulsory modules. These will give you the confidence for studying at an undergraduate level, while building your academic and research skills. These modules are taught in small groups and include:
 Business Fundamentals
 Economics for Business
 Culture and Communication
 Extended Research Essay
 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
 University Study Skills.
You’ll also pick optional modules that reflect your learning ambitions, and an undergraduate module so you can experience what it’s like to study at this stage. This is a great opportunity to speak to students at this level and hear about their experiences.
Optional foundation modules include Business Fundamentals, Tourism and Hospitality, and Global Issues. Optional undergraduate modules include Developing and Planning Events and Global Business Communications.
After a year of studying the foundation programme, you’ll have a better insight into what to expect from life as an undergraduate student.
Learning and teaching
You will have around 15 class hours per week. Classes are held Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays), usually between 9am and 4pm. Some subject modules may be between 5pm and 8pm.
You will need to spend at least 20 hours per week on independent study which includes homework, assignments, tutorials, reading and preparation for classes (in groups or individually).
Overview
Get ready to study an undergraduate business degree. This foundation year gives you the essential skills you’ll need for learning at university. It’s ideal if you want to top up your academic skills, or if you’re returning to education after a break.
You can personalise your learning experience by studying modules like Business Fundamentals, Tourism and Global Issues. You’ll also choose an undergraduate module, learning alongside students who are already in their first year of their undergraduate degree.
Completing the programme guarantees you a place on one of our degrees, such as Business and Management or International Tourism and Hospitality Management. During your Foundation, you’ll have opportunities to build your skills and knowledge through a variety of assessment types, including essays and reports, and presentations. Also you’ll get to create films, websites and posters, and write blogs.
Modules
Semester 1
Compulsory modules
University Study Skills
This is your introduction to the institutional culture, practices, norms and expectations of British higher education and will help you to develop effective academic research and communication skills both written and oral. Also you’ll focus on listening, notetaking and seminar skills that you’ll progress while exploring pastoral, social and sustainability subject areas. You will gain confidence in critical, strategic and collaborative thinking Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) competencies through a variety of learning activities that encourages self awareness.
Culture and Communication
Study the basic concepts, theories and importance of Intercultural Communication in a globalised world. You’ll reflect on personal, consumer and global cultural identities and how these may impact on perceptions, behaviours and communication across human relations. Building your awareness of cultural diversity and intercultural competencies you’ll understand how to communicate effectively across cultures, and be able to identify the barriers to doing so. Also you’ll explore your own biases and the lenses through which the self and ‘other’ are viewed, contributing towards the development of key skills for culture and thereby Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) literacy.
Business Fundamentals
Explore business studies, including some of the core areas and concepts associated with the study of business. You’ll look at people’s motives for setting up in business and the different types of businesses they can create, as well as an introduction to marketing and some of the ways in which businesses promote themselves and their products.
You will learn how business performance is measured; including an introduction to cash flow forecasts and the profit and loss account. Finally you’ll study how businesses organise their workforce and manage people at work, including the application of some of the most influential theories and practices associated with motivation.
Optional modules
Maths and Statistics for University Study [Compulsory for Foundation in Business students with less than GCSE Maths at Level 4 or equivalent]
On this module you will study the knowledge, skills and understanding required to interpret mathematical information and carry out the mathematical and statistical activity necessary for your future studies.
This module will help you to develop your confidence with mathematics and statistics. You will build your skills in mathematical fluency, self-reliance and problem solving and how to apply your learning to your studies and in real life. The module adheres to the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) competencies of integrated problem solving and developing an awareness of real-world issues.
Development Studies
Explore some of the key issues (e.g. urbanisation, poverty and social exclusion, environmental concerns and gender issues) within the field of Development Studies and in particular to identify the factors causing poverty in countries defined as less developed. You’ll look at the fundamentals of how sociology, human geography and economics interact in the process of development. You’ll study key topics that will help you to draw on your own knowledge and experience where possible in evaluating the policies that can be undertaken in pursuit of development, and in mitigating the problems faced by least developed countries. You will be able to identify and reflect on some of the key social, economic and environmental issues that challenge sustainable development.
Ideas and Ideologies
You’ll examine the major thinkers, theories and movements of the modern era (Enlightenment to modern day). You will have the opportunity to study and reflect on critically diverse theories of knowledge through weekly lectures, readings and seminar discussions. The thinkers and theories you study will reflect the various disciplines you’ll go on to study in the fields of Science, Humanities, Social Science and Business. You’ll explore and reflect on how these ideas from diverse disciplines are interrelated and can support sustainable development.
Tourism and Hospitality
Build your understanding and knowledge of the nature and function of the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality industry. Your study on this module will take into consideration:
 an historical overview
 the scale and scope of tourism
 the different types of tourism
 the sectors that the travel and tourism industry comprise
 their role and function
 the importance of accommodation and hospitality in meeting the needs of tourists.
You will also explore the tourist gaze, sustainable tourism and the future of tourism to then critically reflect on them. Progressing your essential study skills for your further study.
English Law
Build your foundational understanding of the basic characteristics of the English legal system such as the function of the courts, and key aspects of:
 Criminal law
 Contract Law
 and Tort Law.
Also you’ll develop awareness of the difference between law in theory and law in practice, as well as the purpose and limitations of the law, equality of access to the law and how the value of justice is treated. Justice is the core theme of UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.
Global Issues
You’ll look at current global issues, question their causes and impacts and reflect on how to drive the changes so urgently needed for a more equitable and sustainable future. You will explore three overarching areas;
 Power
 People
 Planet.
You’ll draw on theoretical models such as Systems Thinking and Futures Thinking that support a transformative learning approach that aims to build the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) competencies needed to navigate and respond to today’s problems. You’’l be empowered to build skills of resilience, empathy and hope that are vital for working towards a fairer and fitter future. The module uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UNESCO ESD competencies as a framework of reference.
Semester 2
Compulsory modules
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Through an exploration of issues of local and global concern, you will progress your skills through a holistic critical thinking and problem-solving task. You’ll question the prevailing norms, practices and opinions of key stakeholders that have contributed to these problems and those that are most impacted by them. You will gain key knowledge of transferable skills and techniques used in environmentally and socially critical thinking.
Economics for Business
Learn the basic principles of microeconomic analysis and how to apply them to the real-world situations facing businesses and consumers in the UK and elsewhere. You will develop competencies in applying basic microeconomic concepts and theories with confidence, communicating in the language of economics. Also you’ll learn how to analyse and assess economic issues impacting on business operations and decisions using appropriate economic concepts and theories as well as the use of diagrams.
If you already have an A Level in Business Studies you will be encouraged to select Economics for Business instead of Business Fundamentals as your compulsory module for your Foundation programme.
Extended Research Essay
Plan, research and submit an original paper on an interdisciplinary topic of sufficient depth to demonstrate your understanding of the conventions governing the presentations and submissions of academic papers in British Higher Education. The module will help you to develop your research, academic, personal literacies and your critical self-awareness. For you to gain confidence in critical thinking competency for Education for Sustainable Development. It will also help you to work as an autonomous learner, effectively planning and managing your own time and studies, in preparation for your undergraduate study.
Optional modules
Foundations of Business
This module will help you appreciate the internal and external contexts of business. You’ll also examine the impact of challenges such as globalisation and the increasing pace of change, and how these are evaluated to establish strategy.
Upon successful completion of this module, you’ll develop critical thinking skills to analyse organisational opportunities and resolve problems, and you’ll gain an understanding of the diversity of business and its basic principles.
Global Business Communications
This module aims to equip you to communicate effectively as managers in a global environment, highlighting the importance of intercultural exchange as central to modern business and organisational practice. The module is an introduction to the use of oral and written communication in an international context using a variety of supporting technologies and formats. It includes the opportunity to develop your digital literacies and team working skills through collaboration in virtual teams.
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to use communication and collaboration skills to achieve business objectives, engage in appropriate and effective communications in diverse groups and apply relevant theoretical frameworks to the analysis of intercultural communications.
Entry Criteria
ENTRY REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Home Office Share Code
For EU students only.
IF no Qualification
Please provide CV with at least 2 years of work experience, and employee reference letter.
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Applicants without the appropriate Maths GCSE grade (or equivalent), who wish to progress to a course that requires Maths GCSE (or equivalent), will need to take the compulsory Maths and Statistics module within the foundation year.
Our standard entry requirement is three A-levels or equivalent qualifications. In some cases, courses have specific required subjects and additional GCSE requirements. In addition to A-levels, we accept a wide range of other qualifications including:
 the Welsh Baccalaureate
 the Access to Higher Education Diploma
 a BTEC National Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma at a good standard and in a relevant subject
 the International Baccalaureate Diploma
 the European Baccalaureate Diploma
 Scottish qualifications – five subjects in SCE with two at Higher level or one at Advanced Higher level, or three subjects in Scottish Highers or two at Advanced Higher level
 a recognised foundation course
 T-levels*.
 * T-levels are a relatively new qualification but are already included in the UCAS tariff. We welcome prospective students who are taking this qualification to apply. For some programmes with specific required subjects, particular subject areas or occupational specialisms may be required.
English language requirements
 IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
 Pearson Test of English 51 with 51 in all communicative skills
If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.
The entry requirement for your course will be expressed as an IELTS level and refers to the IELTS Academic version of this test. We are now also accepting the IELTS Indicator test, you can find out more about the test on the IELTS Indication site. The University however does accept a wide range of additional English language qualifications, which can be found below.
The university’s English language requirements in IELTS levels are as follows:
Course IELTS level
All other undergraduate courses 6.0 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Law, Architecture, Interior Architecture, English Literature (including combined honours), English Literature and Creative Writing 6.5 overall with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
Health and Social Care courses 6.5 or 7.0 overall with 6.5 or 7.0 in all components (see individual entries for course details)
Nutrition BSc (Hons) 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component
Built Environment Foundation,
Computing Foundation,
Engineering Foundation 6.0 with 6.0 in reading and writing, 5.5 in listening and speaking
International Foundation Business and Technology,
International Foundation Arts, Humanities and Law 5.5 overall with 5.5 in all skills
International Foundation Diploma 5.0 overall with 5.0 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
International Foundation Diploma (Extended pathway) 4.5 overall with 4.5 in all skills
If you need a student visa you must take an IELTS for UKVI test.
Assessment
ASSESSMENT METHODS
1. INTERNAL ENGLISH TEST if you don't have an English accredited certificate
2. Academic Interview
In your foundation year you will be taught by highly qualified academic staff.
You will gain practice and training in the different kinds of assessment that are common in higher education, for instance essays, reports, individual and group presentations, reflective learning journals and project work.
Career Opportunities
When you pass this course, you’ll be guaranteed a place on one of our undergraduate business programmes. Students regularly go on to study our Business and Management, International Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Events Management degrees.
As well as new knowledge, you’ll have also gained skills in team working, time management, personal reflection, and presentation. All of these are highly valuable to employers across various industries.
Your tutors will encourage you to take part in the voluntary and community activities offered by our careers team. We want you to make the most of your time with us, and see all that Oxford has to offer.
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 80
A Level: BB
IB Points: 24
BTEC: MMP
Further offer details
Equivalent qualifications accepted.
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