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Business Studies with Foundation Year

Course details
  • BSc (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 23 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site

Course summary

This course is for UK students only. International students should apply for the International Foundation Year.

This extended four-year course allows you to study for a degree in one of the following:

  • accounting and finance

  • banking and finance

  • business management with marketing

  • business management and the human resource

  • economics

  • international business

  • international business and finance

  • international business and marketing

  • management.

The first year of the course is primarily taught by expert academics from the Lifelong Learning Centre (home to the University’s specialist teaching and support for mature, part-time and foundation year students) but could also involve modules delivered by Leeds University Business School (LUBS) depending on your choice of pathway. As a foundation year student you'll be part of the University from day one with all the experiences and opportunities that this offers. The second year of the course involves modules delivered by the both the Lifelong Learning Centre (LLC) and LUBS.

During the first two years, you’ll gain an understanding of the key aspects of business studies, covering subjects such as innovation and enterprise, organisational environment, marketing and organisational behaviour, as well as specialist modules depending on your choice of pathway. The first two years will provide you with intensive and well-structured support to help you develop your skills and knowledge.

On successful completion of the first two years, subject to meeting the specific requirements for progression, you'll advance onto your chosen degree course at Leeds University Business School.

This course is for UK students from a widening participation background (who meet our additional entry criteria) who don’t currently meet the typical entry requirements for direct entry to a degree. This course does not accept students with previous higher education experience, including other foundation years or international students.

Additional highlights
The first year of the course has been specifically designed such that academic, digital and professional skills are developed through a set of three compulsory modules. During the first year, these transferable skills can be acquired and then refined with the help of module tutors and dedicated skills tutors to give you the very best chance of success both on the course and beyond.

Specialist facilities and support
The Lifelong Learning Centre provides a supportive environment to enable you to progress to degree-level study.

At Leeds University Business School, you’ll have access to specialist facilities including state-of-the-art lecture theatres, collaborative learning and teaching spaces with the latest interactive technology and modern study spaces with dedicated computer clusters.

As a Foundation Year student, you’ll have access to dedicated study and social spaces that are designed to be welcoming and accessible. The areas in Beech Grove House and the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building (pictured below) offer computer access, reference books and the space to socialise and work with your peers.

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
BFY0
Institution code:
L23
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Open days

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. We welcome applications from students with a wide range of qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Merit, Merit, Merit in National Extended Diploma.

Access to HE Diploma M: 45 credits

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

Scottish Higher

Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme 24 points

24 overall (12 higher)

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)

Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Please contact the Lifelong Learning Admissions Team

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal P1, P2, P3

T Level

T Levels will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

GCSE: English and maths grade C/4 or above, or equivalent. Applicants interested in following the Accounting and Finance, Banking and Finance, Economics or International Business with Finance pathway will need GCSE maths at grade B/6 or above, or equivalent. Applicants interested in following the Business Management with Marketing or International Business and Marketing pathway will need grade B/6 or above in GCSE English Language and GCSE Maths at grade C/4. Level 2 Functional Skills Maths and English at a Pass are accepted as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or C. Courses requiring a higher grade in GCSE maths or English may not accept Level 2 Functional Skills in its place. Please check with the course admissions team before applying.

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.

You attended a school that 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.

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

If the most common grade accepted is higher than our entry requirements, this is due to the attainment of our applicants. If you have been made an offer and you meet or exceed the grades of your offer, you will be accepted.

If grades lower than our entry requirements have been accepted, in most cases this is because we operate contextual admissions as part of our decision making, which considers factors beyond grades. For more information about contextual admissions, please visit our website.

Learn more on the University of Leeds website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

For further information please see http://www.leeds.ac.uk/undergraduatefees

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