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Business Management - Foundation Degree

Strengthen your case for a career in Business Management

This professionally accredited Business Management degree equips you with the skills and confidence to progress into a wide range of roles across private, public and third‑sector organisations – in the UK and internationally.

Developed in collaboration with employers, the course combines hands‑on learning with a broad, contemporary curriculum. You’ll build strong leadership and people management skills, while gaining a solid understanding of key business areas that employers value.

A degree designed for real‑world leadership

Throughout the course, you’ll develop highly sought‑after management, leadership and decision‑making skills, embedded across all modules. You’ll also have the opportunity to shape your studies by choosing optional modules, including:

  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Human Resource Management

In your later studies, Work‑Based Learning and the Dissertation allow you to deepen your chosen specialism and apply your learning to real organisational challenges.

Wide career opportunities

A Business Management degree offers exceptional flexibility. Graduates progress into roles across:

  • National and international organisations
  • Private and public sector employers
  • Small and medium‑sized enterprises
  • Start‑ups and self‑employment

This broad skill set ensures you’re well prepared for a rapidly changing business environment.

A university‑awarded qualification with professional recognition

Although taught in Blackpool, this degree is awarded by Lancaster University, giving you a respected university qualification. You’ll also have the opportunity to gain a Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualification in Leadership and Management, further strengthening your employability.

Learn from industry‑experienced professionals

You’ll be taught by a supportive, professional teaching team with extensive real‑world management experience. Our graduates go on to work for well‑known employers, including Tesco and the NHS, and the course achieves an outstanding 100% student satisfaction rate.

Before applying, please check whether you meet the entry requirements under 'Key Information' for this course. Don't hesitate to call us on 01253 504343 if you need assistance.

  • £31,000 average annual starting salary
  • Opportunities in both established businesses and dynamic start-ups
  • 34,700 job openings per year

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 80 UCAS points (excluding Functional Skills) in an appropriate discipline:

  • MMP from Extended Diploma or DM from Diploma in appropriate discipline
  • Mathematic and English Language GCSE at grade C/4 or above
  • Full Access to HE Diploma with Merits in Level 3 subjects
  • Applicants for whom English is not their first language are expected to achieve a minimum 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component

Applicants who are able to demonstrate relevant work/life skills or knowledge will also be considered on an individual basis.

  • Course code TH1HE188
  • UCAS code N190
  • Duration 2 Years
  • Day/s of week Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday
  • Time 09:00 - 16:30

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
07 Sep 2026
University Centre
2 Years
13 Sep 2027
University Centre
2 Years

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Good leadership skills are a genuine asset to any company so a programme that promises to develop them is ideal for anyone wanting to develop a career in business management. Even if you don't work directly in an area like human resources, being able to lead a project or team effectively is critical to success. What's more, because the leadership element of this degree is embedded in broader business concerns, students are able to utilise what they learn in a real-world context.

Next steps at B&FC

Successful completion of this foundation degree will allow you to ‘top up’ your qualification to a full honours degree with the BA Hons Business Management top up.

Other study options

Other graduates, who have chosen to top-up the foundation degree with our honours programme, have then progressed to teacher training, professional qualifications and masters' degrees.

Employment Opportunities

Our graduates find rewarding employment all over the world as well as locally, with leading companies such as Tesco, NHS, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Transport and the Federation of Small Business. Some graduates have even gone on to set up their own businesses.

Good leadership skills are a genuine asset to any company so a programme that promises to develop them is ideal for anyone wanting to develop a career in business management. Even if you don't work directly in an area like human resources, being able to lead a project or team effectively is critical to success. What's more, because the leadership element of this degree is embedded in broader business concerns, students are able to utilise what they learn in a real-world context.

Successful completion of this foundation degree will allow you to ‘top up’ your qualification to a full honours degree with our one-year BA (Hons) Business Management degree. 

Our graduates find rewarding employment all over the world as well as locally, with leading companies such as BAE, Tesco, NHS, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool Transport and the Federation of Small Business. Some graduates have even gone on to set up their own businesses.

Other graduates, who have chosen to top-up the foundation degree with our honours programme, have then progressed to teacher training, professional qualifications and masters' degrees.

Key information

Qualification obtained

FdA Business Management

Fees and funding

Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding.

Extra costs and equipment

You will not be required to purchase any additional equipment to undertake this programme as the college has resources available to students. However, there may be some opportunities that will not be a requirement of the programme but will be available to students at an additional cost.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: Lancaster University

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

All students have the opportunity to experience work-based learning through the Work Based Learning module this is studied at Level 5.

Also, the industry experience of the team feeds into the assessments through engaging authentic assessment equipping you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that you will need as you progress into employment. 

  • Modules at level 4

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Managing People TH4MD336 20 No
    Operational Leadership TH4MD337 20 No
    Finance for Business TH4MD338 20 No
    Marketing TH4MD339 20 No
    Dynamic Business Environment TH4MD340 20 No
    Professional and Academic Skills Humanities TH4MD375 20 No
  • Modules at level 5

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Leadership Practice TH5MD348 20 No
    Project Management TH5MD349 20 No
    Managing Teams TH5MD350 20 No
    Work Based Learning TH5MD351 20 No
    Professional Skills Development TH5MD352 20 No
    Digital Marketing Strategy TH5MD353 20 Yes
    Coaching and Mentoring TH5MD354 20 Yes
    Resourcing and Talent Planning TH5MD355 20 Yes
    Financial Decision Making TH5MD356 20 Yes

Learning Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group learning support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support

Programme Specification

Download our Programme Specification for this course.

Tutor Profile - Daniel Hogg

Industry Background:
Worked in sports marketing at Blackpool FC before moving on to an operational management role at PlayFootball.net.

Area of Expertise:
Strategy and Innovation, Global Marketing, Leadership, Operations.

Enjoys teaching at B&FC because:
It gives me the opportunity to use my academic knowledge to develop new and engaging course content for our degree-level provision.

How will I learn?

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of higher education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.

Learning Methods

Learning Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Scheduled 288 273 0
Independent 912 897 0
Placement 0 30 0
Total 1200 1200 0
Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

Not the course for you?

Take a look at some of our other degree-level study options and see what sparks your imagination.

How will I be assessed?

Coursework

Most courses are assessed via a combination of coursework and exams – the percentage weighting of each of these is outlined above. Coursework might range from written tasks and assignments to the collation of a portfolio of evidence based around a work placement. Coursework differs from exams in that it is usually non-timed and carried out independently.

Exam

Exams are formal, timed written assessments, carried out in a controlled environment and overseen by one or more invigilators. They assess your grasp of the theory and underpinning knowledge related to your chosen career area. The opposite of practicals, they require you to set out your practical understanding within an academic context. Some courses have no exams – the exam/coursework ratio is outlined below.

Practical

Practical assessments identify your technical ability to apply theory to hands-on tasks in your chosen career area. They can be timed or non-timed and involve observation of your practical skills and competencies, either in a work-based environment or a dedicated College setting that closely resembles the workplace. Practical work-based assessments are supported and carried out by a trained assessor.

Assessment Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Coursework 64% 71% 0%
Exam 30% 8% 0%
Practical 6% 16% 0%